Don Passman is an entertainment lawyer and author of the essential book, “All You Need to Know About the Music Business.” In this clip, Don Passman talks about the current state of the music business and where he thinks the business is headed.

Pink Floyd have won a High Court battle to stop their record label EMI selling individual songs online.  Signed with EMI since 1967, the British group’s contract spelled out that album works could not be split up without their permission. The band was asking for clarification of their more than 10-year-old recording contract with EMI, Pink Floyd’s lawyer, Robert Howe, said at a hearing in a London court this week.  The judge agreed, saying the contract contained a clause to “preserve the artistic integrity of the albums”.

The battleground over performance royalties in the US just got uglier. A giant inflatable pig has appeared in front of the Dupont Circle offices of the National Association of Broadcasters in Washington in protest of the industry’s refusal to pay additional royalties to musicians when airing their music. The 18-foot-long pig was the latest barb exchanged between the music industry and broadcasters over the Performance Rights Act. A lobby of artist groups wants Congress to legislate broadcasters to pay royalties to performers and artists since other radio formats–online, satellite and cable–all pay musicians. The pig is supposed to symbolize the “piggish” attitudes of corporate radio stations.

Elio Leoni-Sceti’s sudden decision to quit as EMI CEO was driven partly by a lack of support for his strategic plan for the label and his not wanting to be the fall guy should that plan fail to deliver, sources tell The Post. The Telegram headlines the latest fallout as ‘bankers show us they can’t dance’ and The Guardian begs the question, ’same old song?’

Justin Bieber stopped by the home shopping channel QVC on March 9 to perform songs from his debut album, My World 2.0. He started off his set with an acoustic version of “One Less Lonely Girl” and then performed “Smile” which he earlier tweeted “is the song I wrote for my fans and dedicate to them.” The little nipper’s audio marvel hits ToysRUs and iPods everywhere on March 23.

Winfield, AB’s Blackwater Crude is quick off the mark with this rousing anthem, a rewrite of Stompin’ Tom Connors Hockey Song, penned by Ray Blackmore and produced by Kevin Lambert.  Acknowledgement to Warren Cosford for bringing this gem to our attention.

OK, let’s pay attention this year. Last CMW season I tipped you on Down With Webster (worldwide deal with Universal Canada/Motown, platinum single for “Rich Girl” and hosts of MuchMusic’s “Spring Break in Cancun), Hollerado, (winners of Ottawa’s Live 88.5 “Big Money Shot” with a prize of $250,000.00, distribution deal with Arts And Crafts and the single “Juliette” blowing up at radio across the country), Amos The Transparent, (“Big Money Shot” finalists for $50,000.00, charting at Canadian and American colleges with “The M.O.B. Catalogue” and working on their epic new disc), and Dinosaur Bones and Isle Of Thieves who continue to collect both radio stations and bigger and bigger venues. Let’s rock the 2010 candidates.

The Rock Files: When Radio and Records Ruled The World continues with Part 10 Southern Rock and Disco add to the confusion.

Part 9a and links to 1-9 can be found here.

The Monterey International Pop Festival was a much more important event than most people realize. Not only did it usher in the ‘Summer of Love’ in 1967, it also spread the gospel according to Bill Graham (the Fillmore) Chet Helms (the Avalon) and Tom Donahue (KMPX) through the media, i.e, genre is of no consequence to music lovers, therefore, as long as the music is of worth, people who love music will see and hear the value and embrace not only what they already enjoy, but also be receptive to new and different genres, music, and artists, they had not heard or appreciated before. AM radio, meet the new kid on the block, FM radio.

The 4th annual Luminato arts celebration set in Toronto will pay tribute to Toronto singer-songwriter and guitarist Bruce Douglas Cockburn at its annual Canadian Songbook event, set for Massey Hall on June 16.

The celebration in song will be the culmination of “40 years of longevity or just refusing to go away,” Cockburn quipped Tuesday when the arts festival announced its 2010 music lineup.