• A lawyer for the IFPI heralded "three strikes" rules, also known as graduated response mechanisms, as a strategy that has an emerging worldwide consensus. (Ars Technica)

• The Orchard has hired Michael Bull, formerly the VP of Label Relations with Caroline Distribution, to be the GM of TVT Distribution. The new physical distribution division was born from The Orchard's acquisition of TVT Records' distribution assets. (Press release)

• Game companies Atari, Topware Interactive, Reality Pump, Techland and Codemasters are "writing to 25,000 people in Britain suspected of illegal downloading and demanding £300." Not only that, the companies are said to plan on taking the first 500 non-payers to court. While it is working with ISPs to curb music piracy, the BPI has no plans to work in any way with the game companies. (Music Week)

• A CL King & Associates analyst predicts a 6-7% decline in radio revenues for July -- worse than Wall Street's estimate of a 4% decline. "The industry's larger groups do not appear ready to institute revolutionary changes yet in sales, programming, promotion, or station clusters," he wrote. "There is a notable sense of denial of how harsh the prospects have been and continue to be for radio." (Radio Ink)

• In an op-ed yesterday, The Los Angeles Times supported records labels' calls for greater compensation for their music. "It would help matters if the music industry stopped resenting the occasional jackpot struck by risk-taking companies with new music-powered ventures. But labels and artists have the right to seek as much as they can for the use of their works, even if they end up setting too high a bar for some companies to clear." (LA Times)

• A profile of Newbury Comics and its expansion mindset. "'Every time the economy goes into a recession, that’s when you want to invest,' said (co-founder Mike) Dreese ... 'We’re relatively strong going into it. Virgin (Records) just pulled out of town, Tower is bankrupt. If we’re going to expand, we should do it now.'" (Boston Herald)