Music

Expanding on traditional music countdown shows, AOL Latino will launch the “Top 11 AOL Latino Countdown,” an interactive music video countdown program.

Music execs must be clicking up their heels.

At one point not so very long ago, music executives thought that digital downloading would be their death knell, and they were locked in legal battles from coast to coast to stop the practice.

But things change.

“I’ll take Madonna’s ‘Jump,’ you can have Tiesto Ft. Maxi Jazz’s ‘Dance4life.'”

In a study of nearly 1,500 6-to-13-year-olds in Britain, released jointly by the newsweekly New Media Age and Intuitive Media, children admitted that they use the Bluetooth wireless feature of their phones to swap music — without the consent of copyright holders.

‘Los Cocorocos’ is the first release to be launched by indie CMG (Coalition Music Group) distributed by Universal/MOTOWN.

Last week, fellow Spin writer Cory Treffiletti explored the notion of what constitutes a “hit” in today’s fragmented music landscape, where personalization and niche interests now rule over a marketplace that was once dominated by artists with mass appeal.

Some of the forward-thinking folks on the fringes of the music business see a label-less future coming for music artists, in which the majority of revenues and profits are not derived from record sales, but from touring and merchandise sales. It’s an interesting concept, especially considering that labels are less apt these days to place a significant chunk of promotional dollars behind niche acts, and that bands have historically made a good deal of money from their live shows.

Fania, the famed label that originated Salsa, announced the release of Johnny Pacheco A Man and His Music, a two-disc retrospective commemorating Pacheco’s celebrated career. The release coincides with the Fania All Stars reunion concert to celebrate Pacheco’s 50th Anniversary in music on Friday, October 20th at The Theater-Madison Square Garden.