Bjork defends Tibet outburst

Pop singer Bjork has spoken out after she was condemned by Chinese fans for raising Tibet during a Shanghai concert. The Icelandic musician repeated three times “Tibet! Tibet!” as she finished her song Declare Independence during the last show of her Asian tour this week. In a garbled, typo-ridden statement, the eccentric singer today defended her actions. (Times Online, Music 2.0)

Chinese music industry groups file suit against Baidu

Two industry groups representing China's local musicians and songwriters have filed a lawsuit against the country's Web search leader, Baidu.com Inc, accusing it of copyright violation. The move signaled that domestic artists as well as international firms are disgruntled at the firm's free music search service. "This lawsuit is just the beginning," the statement quoted Music Copyright Society executive Qu Jingming of China as saying. (Reuters)

'Chaos' of China's music industry

The huge numbers of pirated CDs and high levels of illegal downloading are forcing Chinese pop stars to find alternative ways to make a living, as a Beijing-based BBC reporter finds out. The singer made about $2000 (£1,000) a month from music royalties and live shows with her band Mika Bomb when she lived in London. But in China, her band Long Kuan Jiu Duan can almost double that by singing just one song at a commercial gig. (BBC News)

Film studios seek damages from Chinese online firm

Six U.S. film studios have filed civil complaints against Chinese file-sharing firm Xunlei Networking Technology Co Ltd, part-owned by Google Inc, for copyright infringement and are seeking more than 7 million yuan ($1 million) in damages and costs, the Motion Picture Association said. MPA said that Xunlei facilitated the unauthorised transmission of hundreds of Hollywood movies produced by its members, including "Spiderman 3," "War of the Worlds" and "Miami Vice." (Reuters, PR)

Two China Watchers React To Google Music News

If Google's free music service in China eventually matches Baidu for clarity of results and efficiency of process then this will be a game-changer, not just in China, but globally," music consultant and writer Ed Peto wrote us from China. (Hypebot)

Google Elbows Into China With Free Music

In an effort to boost its market share in China, Google (Nasdaq: GOOG) Latest News about Google is reportedly in the final stages of a deal with Universal Music Group that would enable the Internet search giant to provide free music downloads to Chinese users. Citing sources close to the negotiations, The Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday that two other global music labels -- EMI and Sony BMG -- are also being courted by Google and venture partner Top100.cn, an online music retailer out of Beijing. Warner Bros. Latest News about Warner Bros. is also said to have indicated its interest in the project. (eCommerce Times)

Google to launch music service in China

Google is preparing to extend its range of music-related services by launching a free, legal music search service in China, according to reports, as the web goliath attempts to increase its share of a market dominated by the domestic search portal Baidu.com. (The Guardian, Silicon Alley Insider, Billboard)

Music Companies Sue China's Baidu, Sohu

Music companies have started a new fight with China's Internet industry over piracy, filing lawsuits accusing popular Web sites Baidu.com and Sohu.com of aiding illicit online copying, the IFPI said Wednesday. (AP)

Mathew Daniel, R2G: So You Want To Sell Music In China…

Ahead of MIDEM 2008's focus on China, MidemNet speaker Mathew Daniel, of local online music specialists R2G (interviewed previously on this blog), has written an informative post about how to sell music in China. He gives his main tips for surmounting the challenge. (Midemnet's Blog)