• The rumor of the day is that Jay Z, who recently stepped down as president of Def Jam, may start a record label with Apple. I wonder if the partnership will release only albums. (AppleInsider)

• Virgin Megastores are figuring out how to combat sluggish music sales. The retailer reported a same store revenue increase of 6.6% in December 2007. In Q4 2007, DVD sales were up 18.1%, fashion increased 35.1% and videogames increased 111.9%. The West Hollywood location will close its doors this month. (Video Business)

• During Christmas week, UK digital track sales rose 100% versus the same week last year. That's a lot of gift cards. UK digital track sales rose 47.7% in 2007. (MarketWatch)

• The most notable part of last week's album sales was the fact that Radiohead's In Rainbows debuted at #157 on the album chart based solely on street date violations. (Billboard.biz)

• Claiming unpaid royalties for the sampling of his music, blues musician Syl Johnson has sued the estate of Tupac Shakur, KRS One and his Boogie Down Productions, Peedi Crack, Young Chris, N.W.A., Sony BMG, Universal Music Group and Universal Publishing. (SOHH)

• News.com's Greg Sandoval calls on the Washington Post to correct its story that claims the RIAA equates CD ripping with piracy. Rather than retract his incorrect article, the Post's Marc Fisher once again donned his activist hat in a response to Sandoval. "Rather than suing its customers and slamming reporters," wrote Fisher in an email, "the RIAA might better spend its energies focusing on winning back the trust of an alienated consumer base." (News.com)

[music jobs] Brand and Online Marketing Manager at The Ascot Club/Am Only; Brooklyn, NY.