• Album sales were down 2% last week and were 13% lower than the same week last year. For the year, album sales are down 14% (a number that is improving as the months pass). Digital track sales were up 1% last week and were 39% higher than the same week last year. For the year, digital track sales are up 48%.

• Terra Firma gained approval from 91.5% of EMI's shareholders and finally has control of the music group. (The Guardian)

• Virgin Entertainment Group North America posted a 15% comparable store increase last quarter. That's what shutting down underperforming stores will do for you. CEO Simon Wright says the chain's new-ish loyalty program has 150,000 members. The only thing I have to add about Virgin is that the Union Square store was practically a morgue when I walked in on an early Saturday afternoon a few weeks ago. (Billboard.biz)

• Douglas Wolk has an article on the inevitable Internet leak and how labels approach them. Its facts are almost correct, but I've heard from one label that Wolk got some of the details wrong. Doesn't change the main thrust of the article, though. I have a completely unproven theory that a leak does less damage the farther it is from the album's release date. When awareness of the leak comes near the album's release date, I think there is a convergence of awareness (album promotion plus leak hype) that is more detrimental to album sales. (Spin, via Idolator)

• PureTracks is the first Canadian retailer to offer EMI downloads in unprotected MP3 format. Even though the tracks will cost CDN $1.29, the press release does not indicate if the downloads have a higher sound quality than the standard DRM'd, WMA downloads. I really think it would be a mistake to raise the price and not raise the bit rate in tandem. (Press release)

• Epic signed Alkaline Trio. As Kings of A&R points out, major labels are attracted to bands that have done the dirty work and built up a following (not a make believe Internet following, mind you, but a real following based on years of touring and recording). There's less risk, less tour support and a better payoff at the end of the day. (Press release, via Kings of A&R)

• Good news for the concert business: The Eagles are planning to tour extensively in 2008. (Hollywood Reporter)

• Lots of articles have been written about iTunes reaching three billion downloads. All of them missed a few key points. First, iTunes is not just an American store. It has stores in many countries, and they all contributed to the sales of three billion. Sales have picked up as more iTunes store have launched. Second, it doesn't matter what profit Apple makes from iTunes (yes, there is a profit in there). The iPod would not be as successful without the iTunes store. They're a package deal. If you're going to look at profits of one, include the profit of the other.

• I'll be back in Nashville in two weeks and will have to check out the city's traffic lights that play country music. (The Tennessean)