IFPI WARNING ON SPAIN, FRANCE, BRAZIL

The IFPI has warned that music markets in Spain, France and Brazil are "suffering acutely" from piracy - and one leading label executive says Spain risks becoming a "cultural desert."

APPLE APPROACHING LABELS WITH STREAMING PLANS

Apple's acquisition of Lala last year foreshadowed a plan to add some sort of music streaming service to iTunes.

TERRA FIRMA PROFITS DROP

EMI owner Terra Firma's profits dropped 43% in the year to March 2009.

Ron Bension Named TicketsNow CEO

Veteran entertainment industry executive Ron Bension has been named as the new CEO of TicketsNow, the secondary ticketing division of Ticketmaster Entertainment in what would seem to be an indication that Ticketmaster will not favor shedding the division to gain regulatory approval for the proposed merger with Live Nation.

Korn, Rob Zombie To Headline 2010 Mayhem Tour

Hard rock veterans Korn and Rob Zombie have singed on as headliners for the 2010 Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival, a 24-date tour scheduled for July and August in the U.S. and Canada.

Factory Records HQ Reborn As Live Music Venue

The onetime base of Manchester, England label Factory Records is to re-open as a live music venue and club entitled FAC 251 - the Factory.

Business Matters: Live Nation, AEG, Online 'Spectators' Vs. 'Conversationalists'

Live Nation and AEG; Virgin Media's planned music subscription service is expected to launch in July; and more.

Jay-Z, Muse, Gorillaz Top Coachella 2010 Lineup

Jay-Z, Muse and Gorillaz will headline the 11th annual Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival, to be held April 16-18 at Empire Polo Field in Indio, Calif. Also confirmed are LCD Soundsystem, Faith No More, Thom Yorke, Pavement and the Specials.

Alejandro Sanz To Open Tour With 4 Mexico City Dates

Alejandro Sanz will kick off his "Tour Parai­so" Feb. 23 with four concerts at Mexico City's Auditorio Nacional.

Business Matters: IFPI Sweden, Guvera, Virgin Media, Pemberton Festival

Recorded music sales in Sweden posted a big turnaround in 2009; Ad-supported music startup Guvera has raised $20 million in second round funding; U.K. ISP Virgin Media will begin testing piracy-detection software; Live Nation says the next Pemberton Festival is on hold.

Melbourne's Tote Closed After 27 Years

Last drinks have been served at Melbourne's Tote Hotel, a familiar gathering place for the city's gig-goers over the past 27 years.

Suede To Reform For Charity Show

U.K. rock act Suede is to reform for what is described as a one-off performance at London's Royal Albert Hall, as part of the annual series of concerts in aid of the Teenage Cancer Trust.

Lady Gaga Collapses In Indiana, Cancels Show

Lady Gaga cancelled an Indiana concert appearance Jan. 14 after collapsing backstage due to exhaustion and dehydration.

Owl City Flies To UK Chart Peak

Owl City's former Billboard Hot 100 chart-topper "Fireflies" (Universal Island) climbed to No. 1 on the new U.K. singles chart, while another Island release, Florence and the Machine's debut album "Lungs," started a second week at the summit.

@MIDEM: Brands Reveal Music Strategies

Brands were the focus for several of the panels at the MIDEM music conference in Cannes, with executives from Converse, NASCAR, Carhartt and PepsiCo revealing details of their music strategies.

Pink Adds Seventh U.K. Stadium Date

Pink has added a seventh and final stadium date to her 2010 U.K. "Funhouse Summer Carnival."