• The CEO of Activision commented to the Financial Times on Warner Music Group chief Edgar Bronfman's statement that labels and publishers are not being compensated properly for use of their songs in video games. "We’re going to favour those publishers that recognise and appreciate how much we can add value to their artists," said Robert Kotick. (Financial Times)

• The publishing divisions of Universal Music Group and EMI have signed deals with ARTISTdirect that will put their song lyrics on a new section of the ARTISTdirect website. (Variety)

• Only two albums by new artists -- the lowest level of the decade -- have gone platinum in the UK this year. (Music Week)

• A report says there are indications that Guns N' Roses upcoming album Chinese Democracy will be a retail exclusive carried at Wal-Mart (which has a policy on explicit content that would probably have to bend quite a bit) or Best Buy (which sells albums cuss words and all). (Billboard.biz)

• Wal-Mart will definitely have an exclusive on Black Ice, the new AC/DC album due out October 20. The Columbia Records album will have a $11.98 price tag. (MarketWatch)

• Music magazine The Source is relaunching this week. (Variety)

• Here's the latest "vinyl makes a comback" article. It focuses on Original Recordings Group, a vinyl-only label that primarily licenses recordings from Universal Music Group. "The resurgence is having a snowball effect. At Record Technology Inc., a once-beleaguered pressing plant in Camarillo, owner Don MacInnis said that 'business is the best it's been in 20 years.'"(Los Angeles Times)

• John McCain's just-released technology platform addresses a "global epidemic of piracy," calls for "fair rewards to intellectual property" and indicates that "McCain supports efforts to crack down on piracy, both on the Internet and off." (JohnMcCain.com)

[music jobs] New York University is seeking a Department Chair for The Clive Davis Department of Recorded Music.