• The New York Post reported this morning that EMI owner Terra Firma has been seeking additional funding in order to lower its position -- and therefore risk -- in the music company. Sources logically wonder how Terra Firma could dilute its equity position so soon if it wasn't disillusioned by EMI's prospects. (The article says Terra Firma performed "limited due diligence" and now has a better understanding of EMI's financial position. I'd be surprised if Terra Firma performed anything but thorough and exhaustive due diligence given the target's precarious position.) In addition, the private equity group is reportedly mulling the sale of EMI's distribution unit as a way to cut costs and raise cash. (New York Post)

• MTV is moving into song lryics. Using Gracenote's technology and database, MTV will incorporate lyrics into its websites and plans to launch a new television series called "Name That Tune." (Crave)

• The New York Times' Janey Morrissey has an article on how rock bands today are minding their money and creating non-album revenue streams. (New York Times)

• Labels are pleased with initial results of album-specific download cards. Sixteen percent of digital downloads of Eddie Vedder's "Into the Wild" -- six percent of all sales -- came from 4.5" by 6.25" iTunes cards. (Billboard)

• Pollstar asks why more artists don't sell CDs of their own performances. Short answer: Some promoters have rights to venue recordings, there are origination fees to pay and the CD-creating hardware isn't cheap. If consumers would be happy with getting files on their own thumb drives, at least part of those costs could be avoided. (Pollstar)

• An interesting comment from The Eagles' Don Henley on this article about the band's upcoming, Wal-Mart-distributed album: "The Internet is a wonderful thing, but as a tool for distributing music, it doesn't matter if you can reach the whole world if your fans can't find you. The Internet has not worked out on a large scale for anyone I know. So some people are going with indie labels, which for the most part are distributed by majors. And some have gone with certain large coffee companies." (Boston Globe)