Free Republic

Nettwerk Music Group, based in Vancouver, has joined forces with a Texas family after an American recording organization launched a lawsuit against the family for illegally downloading songs. Nettwerk, Canada's largest private record label, has offered to pay for the Greubel family’s legal fees and any fines they might incur because of a lawsuit brought by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). “Suing music fans is not the solution, it’s the problem,” Terry McBride, CEO of Nettwerk, said in a statement. “Litigation is not ‘artist development.’ Litigation is a deterrent to creativity and passion and it is hurting the...

Sony Music has launched the first major music label dedicated to nurturing lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender artists. The label, Music with a Twist, is a joint venture with Wilderness Media & Entertainment, the company led by Matt Farber, who has founded MTV's new gay and lesbian channel LOGO. "It's an idea whose time has come," Mr Farber said. "Only now are media and entertainment brands being created for the gay and lesbian audience following the success of brands for other minorities," he said. Mr Farber says the success of brands dedicated to the African American and Hispanic audiences has...