Metal | Hard Rock

Pop | Rock

• HIM working on new music
• Children of Bodom announce Japanese dates and a tour of Australia
• Nightwish’s Imaginaerum track list and cover art revealed
• Melodic metallers Sonata Arctica reveal track list and cover for live DVD

• Good-time glam metal band Reckless Love are ready with second album
• Singer Manna’s hotly anticipated third album released
• Progrockers Von Hertzen Brothers play The Garage in London
• Michael Monroe rocked Stockholm
• Melodic rockers Stala & So license records to Europe, South America, Japan…
• Traveling duo Eva & Manu are touring France

Indie | Electronic

World | Jazz

• Synthpop duo Zebra & Snake signs to 100% Records
• Artrockers Rubik to tour world until the cows come home
• Electronic composer Luomo/Vladislav Delay releases new albums
• Krautdroners Siinai sign to Headquarter Entertainment
• Indie dreamers Regina reviewed by Pitchfork
• Pitchfork features K-X-P’s new track
• Big guitar indiepoppers Big Wave Riders gain blog traction

• Jazz pianist Iiro Rantala to receive award during Berlin Jazzfest
• Aito Records nominated for WOMEX Top Label award
• Rogue joik-singer Wimme’s "MUN" released in China
• Downbeat Magazine praises pianist/harpist Iro Haarla’s album

Industry News

Digital Music News

• Songwriters Nalle Ahlstedt and Jussi Nikula score a hit in Germany, Austria and Switzerland
• Finnish indie Texicalli co-operates with US labels Burnside and Cravedog
• Universal Music becomes market leader in Finland
• Tapio Korjus elected to IMPALA board

• Live-over-the-net service provider LiveMusicStage.com launches in Europe
• AudioDraft helps Nokia crowdsource a new tune
• Social music discovery service Hitlantis nominated for innovation award
• Browser-based music making tool Geisha Music Soundlab opens in beta
• Mobile Backstage in the news

  Behind the Scenes

The saying “Behind every great man there’s a great woman” kind of defines the concept of “consolation prize”. As compliments go, it’s hard to tell whether it’s back- or cackhanded. You decide.

Luckily, these days there are other prizes available, too, such as Woman Entrepreneur of the Year award given for a valuable contribution to the business of Finnish music. The aim of the award is to encourage more women to consider entering the field. Nomination is currently open.

The Billboard Women in Music award is also currently accepting nominations, until September 16. Billboard wants to recognize women executives that drive the business forward. That’s much better than standing behind some great, big fat man…

  Behind the Numbers

38 000 artists petitioned to push through the EU decision to extend copyright terms from 50 to 70 years. Globally copyright terms range from 70 to 95 years. It took over 3 years for the extension to go through.

The law is sometimes colloquially referred to as the Living Doll Law, as it came in the nick of time before the copyright on Sir Cliff Richard’s hit of that name expired.