• The MCPS-PRS has predicted UK songwriter royalties from concerts and music aired in public places will exceed royalties from CDs for the first time this year. (BBC News)

• Sony BMG will put its Platinum MusicPass download cards in Winn-Dixie's 521 grocery stores throughout the Southeast. (Press release)

• Mama Group and Nettwerk Music are forming a joint venture music publishing company called Manett Publishing Limited. Mama Group is a UK-based, publicly traded company that owns music venues, an artist services unit and magazines. Manett will be administered by Nettwerk's existing publishing arm, Nettwerk One Music. (Music Week)

• Fort Lauderdale city officials approved a music festival that is slated to be held May 23 and 24, 2009. Former Live Nation executive Michael Cohl and his Events Acquisition Corp will produce the show. (Sun Sentinel)

• A report says Ticketmaster will cut 300 jobs, 5% of its global workforce, as its goes ahead with its previously announced plan to reduce operating expenses by about $35 million. In January, the company will begin to lose some business from Live Nation as the promoter launches its own ticketing service. (LA Times)

• Sign of the times. The New York Times' Jon Pareles on CMJ's goody bags: "Seriously shrunken swag at convention. CMJ bag nearly empty and few exhibitors. Lean music biz indeed." (NY Times Arts Blog Twitter feed)

• A profile on SoundExchange general counsel Michael Huppe. (Law.com)

• Gregg Gillis (Girl Talk) does a Q&A with Time. "Sometimes people seem to think me or my record label don't understand the law, that we're just idiots, that we're just releasing this music and waiting to be sued. And that's so far from the truth." (Time.com)

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