The Daily Chord Weekly Recap – Friday, January 6

The first week of the new year brings the Daily Chord out of holiday hibernation to roam the interwebs for music biz stories to share. 2016 sales recaps confirm the central role that streaming services now hold among listeners. Lists of upcoming music and emerging artists offer topics for research as March Magic approaches.

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Monday, January 2

• Run DMC sues Amazon and Walmart for $50 million
  Story from CNN Money
• Mariah's team says NYE performance was 'sabotaged' for ratings
  Item from NY Post
• Bruce Springsteen, Beyoncé post top-grossing tours of 2016
  Story from LA Times
• Organisers blame Falls Festival crowd crush in Lorne on 'confluence of events'
  Story from Sydney Morning Herald
• Allan Williams, Beatles' first manager, dead at 86
  Obituary from Rolling Stone
• George Michael mattered beyond the music
  Appraisal from NY Times

Tuesday, January 3

• Record sales: Vinyl hits 25-year high
  Post from The Guardian
• Here's why vinyl isn't about to save the music business and why albums need rethinking
  Post from Music Industry Blog
• A new year's gift from Brian Eno: A growing musical garden
  Review from NY Times
• Music industry cases to watch in 2017
  Post from Forbes
• Forget 2016 - Here's some of 2017's best music
  Post from NPR
• BuzzAngle 2016 music report
  Overview from BuzzAngle

Wednesday, January 4

• Coachella's 2017 lineup reflects America and refracts its troubles
  Post from LA Times
• The short list: Michelle Obama's best music moments
  Video from Pitchfork
• Google mulling SoundCloud buyout, say whispers - as Sony and Universal's stakes are revealed
  Post from Music Business Worldwide
• Music industry advice for women, by women
  Post from Complex
• Janet Jackson, 50, gives birth to boy, Eissa Al Mana
  Item from BBC News
• When celebrities used MySpace: The profiles A-listers try to forget
  Story from The Guardian

Thursday, January 5

• iHeart officially rolls out its Spotify rival
  Story from CNET
• Drake's 'Views' is Nielsen Music's top album of 2016 in the US
  Post from Billboard
• Syncing feeling lifts music industry
  Story from BBC News
• Bill Drummond responds to The KLF reunion rumors
  Post from NME
• Why did CNN air a documentary about the band Chicago produced by band members?
  Story from Washington Post
• Merlin works to make independents equal with majors on streaming services
  Interview from Hypebot

Friday, January 6

• Streaming is the king of music now, Nielsen says too
  Post from CNET
• AEG owner Phillip Anschutz says anti-LGBTQ reports are 'fake news'
  Story from Billboard
• Henry Rollins: Will I be able to finish listening to all my records before I die?
  Column from LA Weekly
• Sound of 2017: Unsigned soul singer Ray BLK wins
  Post from BBC News
• David Bowie did not know he was dying until final few months
  Post from The Guardian
• The 32 albums we're most excited for in 2017
  Feature from Pitchfork