• A report says Thomas H. Lee and Bain Capital Partners LLC are having a tough time coming to terms with Clear Channel and may not go through with the $19.5 billion buyout of the media giant. (AP)

• MySpace will stream the first NME US Awards. (The Guardian)

• The Paradigm Talent Agency has added a few of those valued 360 degrees with the hiring of anewly-created Head of Artist Marketing position. (Digital Music News)

• Live Nation will promote the first ever tour for NYLON Magazine. The 36-date tour will feature She Wants Revenge, Be Your Own Pet, The Virgins and Switches and will play House of Blues venues in such often ignored markets as Myrtle Beach and Anaheim. (Press release)

• The RIAA has a predictable spin on the DOJ's approval of the XM-Sirius merger. "On the heels of this decision, the logic for a performance right for terrestrial radio has never been clearer. Terrestrial radio – unlike satellite, Internet and cable radio – continues to reap special interest subsidies in the form of free government spectrum and an outdated exemption from compensating artists and record companies." (Press release)

• New York Times blogger gets beat down for taking pictures of a street team member illegally putting up posters in Manhattan. Blogger will not press charges over the assault, then places blame on "the suits who made the decision in the first place to undertake an illegal marketing campaign." Will go to jail to protect a source, won't put an assailant in jail, will blame a company that didn't throw the punches. Great profession. (City Room, via Daily Swarm)

• Strangest quote of the day comes from University of Georgia journalism professor William Lee at a campus panel on illegal downloading. "Congress is not really interested in people who don't vote, and there is no lobby for illegal downloaders. Honestly, you have a better shot with your crack ho." (Red and Black)