ACM Honors Celebrates Glen Campbell, Miranda Lambert

Kim Campbell, daughter

Country music’s finest packed Ryman Auditorium on Tuesday night for the 10th ACM Honors — a night to celebrate country music's legends, current stars and those who work behind the scenes to make artists' careers sparkle, reports The Tennessean.

The star-studded event recognizes the special honorees and off-camera category winners from the 51st Academy of Country Music Awards, which were held in the spring. Before the show started, awards were handed out for musicians of the year, audio engineer of the year and producer of the year.

“ACM Honors are like the night for those making it happen, like the songwriters and people that don’t really get the TV time,” said Cam, who joined Alicia Keys for a duet on “Girl Crush” in honor of Little Big Town (ACM Crystal Milestone Award). “Something about the music feels a little more real on a night like tonight.”

In addition to Cam and Keys’ soaring collaboration, other show-stopping pairings included Chris Young and Dan + Shay’s harmony-rich version of “Flowers on the Wall” in tribute to The Statler Brothers (ACM Cliffie Stone Pioneer Award); Cole Swindell and Luke Bryan’s duet on Eddie Rabbitt’s (ACM Poet’s Award) “I Love a Rainy Night”; and Keith Urban, Blake Shelton, Dierks Bentley and Toby Keith, who performed a medley of Glen Campbell’s hits. Campbell was honored with the ACM Career Achievement Award.

“Glen has been a real influence for me,” Urban said. “His guitar playing, his singing. We always talk about pop country and what’s going on, but you look at someone like Glen Campbell and what he did with ‘The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour’ … blending and fusing and collaborating with a myriad of people. He really was light-years ahead of his time.”

Hosted by Lady Antebellum, the 10th annual ACM Honors' other memorable performances included The Band Perry’s inspired version of “MacArthur Park” in tribute to ACM Poet’s Award winner Jimmy Webb; Urban’s soulful “Blue Ain’t Your Color”; Kelsea Ballerini’s smooth take on “Don’t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue” for Cliffie Stone Pioneer Award winner Crystal Gayle; and Miranda Lambert’s tribute to Merle Haggard, a stone cold country acoustic version of Haggard’s “Misery and Gin” that brought the audience to its feet.

Lambert, the most awarded female in the history of the Academy of Country Music, was given the first Merle Haggard Spirit Award by one of her heroes, Emmylou Harris.

The 10th annual ACM Honors will air at 8 p.m. Sept. 9 on CBS.

Chicago's Iconic Tribune Tower Sold To Investors

Los Angeles-based developer CIM Group has agreed to buy the Tribune Tower for up to $240 million.

According to The Chicago Tribune, Chicago developer Golub & Co partnered with CIM to buy the tower and adjacent property from Tribune Media. The deal, announced by Tribune Media Tuesday, is expected to close by the end of September.

Tribune Media unveiled conceptual plans last year to redevelop the parcel, adding several buildings to maximize the space with residential, retail and hotel components.

Built in 1925, Tribune Tower was designed by New York architects Raymond Hood and John Mead Howells, who won a contest held by Chicago Tribune co-publishers Robert R. McCormick and Joseph Patterson to create the newspaper's headquarters. It was named a Chicago landmark in 1989.

Peter Liguori

"Tribune Tower has been a unique part of Chicago's skyline since the 1920s," Tribune Media CEO Peter Liguori said in a news release. "It is a gem of architectural and structural accomplishment and a constant reminder of the important role that Tribune has played in the development of the city itself."

The deal to sell Tribune Tower is the latest news in Tribune Media's ongoing efforts to sell its entire $1 billion real estate portfolio. This month, the company said the Times Mirror Square building and Olympic printing plant in Los Angeles were under contract with nonrefundable deposits, and the transactions were expected to close in the third quarter. Tribune Media also has sold six smaller properties for about $90 million this year.

Tribune Media spun off its publishing division — including the Chicago Tribune, Los Angeles Times and other daily newspapers — in August 2014, retaining the broadcasting business and real estate portfolio.

As part of the sale and redevelopment, Tribune Media is planning to move out of its namesake building, but will remain in Chicago, Liguori said in a note to employees Tuesday.

Tribune Media may sell more than just its real estate. In February, the company hired financial advisers to explore a possible "sale or separation of select lines of business" in a bid to enhance shareholder value. Tribune Media's assets include 42 TV stations, national cable channel WGN America and Gracenote, its entertainment metadata business.

Salisbury NC Radio: WSTP 1490 AM Signs Off

Salisbury's first radio station, WSTP 1490 AM, on the air since 1939, is gone from the airwaves.

In a press release, station manager Buddy Poole says the ownership group, 2B Productions, has tried to improve the signal but after “much expense and engineering consultation has learned it can’t increase the station’s coverage area.”  Poole said the station was designed to cover Salisbury with a 2 millivolt signal and does not have good coverage outside of the city limits in Rowan County.

“We are just tired of pouring money into a dark hole,” Poole shared.  He noted that only six AM stations have been sold since 2006 in the Charlotte ADI.  WSAT, WSTP and WTIX in Concord of three of those six AM stations and all are owned by 2B Productions.

According to WBTV,  WSTP signed on New Year's Eve in 1939 in a studio at what was then the Yadkin Hotel.  The station's call letters actually stood for "Salisbury Time and Post," since the owners of the Salisbury Post also were part owners of WSTP.

In 1963 Tom Harrell bought WSTP and owned the station for the next forty years.  The station was located on Statesville Boulevard until it moved to the WSAT studios in 2014.

WSTP 1490 AM (1 Kw)

Harrell added WSTP-FM, later WRDX 106.5, to simulcast some WSTP programming along with its own format of country music.

Several notable broadcasters came through WSTP, including Cincinnati Reds announcer Marty Brennamen, sportscaster Bob Rathbun, Doug Rice and Kent Bernhardt of the Performance Racing Network, popular morning show host Bill Henderson, announcer Larry Bruton, sportscaster Howard Platt, and many more.

WSTP broadcast several different formats over the years, from classical music to top 40, talk radio with Dr. Laura, G. Gordon Liddy, Michael Savage, and Larry King, to Business Radio, and finally to a syndicated country music format.

R.I.P.: Radio Talk Pioneer Dr. Joy Browne

Nationally syndicated radio host and licensed clinical psychologist Dr. Joy Browne died suddenly on Saturday.

Her sister Alanna Sinclaire tells CBS Radio News that she was on the phone talking with her about food and movies when her heart stopped.

Her sister says Dr. Joy Browne would never disclose her age but one referenced source says she was believed to be 71.

Dr. Browne won numerous awards for her work, including the American Psychological Associations President’s Award, the Talkers magazine award for Best Female Talk Show Host, #10 on the list of the 25 Greatest Radio Talk Show Hosts of All Time, and has been named one of the 100 Most Influential Talk Show Hosts. She has been singled out for News/Talk National Personality of the Year as well as Syndicated Talk Show of the Year by Radio & Records magazine every year since the list was formed.

In an interview with RadioInk Publisher Deborah Parenti in 2011, Dr. Browne spoke about how she subscribed to the “stupid and cheerful” philosophy on life:

“I am a great fan of 'stupid and cheerful.' If someone says something negative, instead of responding, “Oh my God, I can’t believe you said that,” turn it around. Try saying, “It’s so helpful to have somebody give me feedback.” If you just take the superficial approach to things that may be hurtful or insulting, it makes the other person do the heavy lifting. If they really want to criticize, they are going to have to do more work. So if you respond to, “Gee, you look tired,” with “It’s because I have too much to do here,” you took on all of the work. If someone is trying to insult you, let them do the work. And if that wasn’t their intention, a negative reply just might have cost you an ally. Keep your response neutral, “simple and stupid!”

August 31 Radio History

In 1916...TV/radio correspondent Daniel Schorr was born in the Bronx, New York.  Recruited to CBS News in 1953 by Edward R. Murrow, Schorr was instrumental in the network’s exposes in the Watergate scandal that bought down President Nixon. He would later move to CNN, and in the last 25 years of his life, was a Senior News Analyst for National Public Radio.  He died July 23 2010, five weeks short of his 94th birthday.


In 1920...The first news program to be broadcast on radio was aired. The station was 8MK in Detroit, MI.

Circa 1920

8MK soon became WWJ and was founded by The Detroit News; the mixed letter/number calls were assigned to the station by the United States Department of Commerce Bureau of Navigation, the government bureau responsible for radio regulation at the time. The 8 in the call sign referred to its location in the 8th Radio Inspection District, while the M in the call sign identified that the station operated under an amateur license. It is not clear why the Detroit News applied for an amateur license instead of an experimental license. As an amateur station, it broadcast at 200 meters (the equivalent of 1500 AM).

8MK was initially licensed to Michael DeLisle Lyons, a teenager, and radio pioneer. He assembled the station in the Detroit News Building but the Scripps family asked him to register the station in his name, because they were worried this new technology might only be a fad, and wanted to keep some distance. Later that year, Michael and his brother Frank, also assembled the first radio in a police car in Toledo, Ohio (with Ed Clark who started WJR 760 AM in Detroit). They captured a prowler using the radio, making national headlines. RCA got the contract to install radios in police cars across the country.




In 1941...Premiering on NBC, The Great Gildersleeve moved the title character from the McGees' Wistful Vista to Summerfield, where Gildersleeve oversaw his late brother-in-law's estate and took on the rearing of his orphaned niece and nephew, Marjorie (originally played by Lurene Tuttle and followed by Louise Erickson and Mary Lee Robb) and Leroy Forester (Walter Tetley). The household also included a cook named Birdie. Curiously, while Gildersleeve had occasionally spoken of his (never-present) wife in some Fibber episodes, in his own series the character was a confirmed bachelor.  The show Aired to 1957.




On 1946...Superman returned to radio on the Mutual Broadcasting System after being dropped earlier in the year. Bud Collyer was the voice of Superman



In 1968...The Rolling Stones released the single "Street Fighting Man" in North America. The song was inspired by an anti-war rally Mick Jagger attended in March 1968 at London's U.S. embassy, during which mounted police attempted to control a crowd of 25,000. Some American radio stations refused to play the song based on its lyrics which were perceived as being subversive.


In 1976...A judge ruled that George Harrison was guilty of copying from the song "He’s So Fine" (by the Chiffons)

In 1981...Now WXLO 98.7 FM adopted the “Kiss” brand.  The station's transition to new urban contemporary format was completed. Early on, WRKS played a great deal of R&B and dance music, and became an almost instant hit with listeners, as its ratings skyrocketed from 22nd place to third. Notable Kiss FM Mixmasters at the time were Shep Pettibone and the Latin Rascals, who relied heavily on freestyle music. Longtime urban contemporary leader WBLS was caught off-guard by the sudden rise of the new station, which represented its first direct competition in that format.

In 1995...The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum opened in Cleveland, Ohio with a seven-hour concert featuring dozens of artists.


In 2008...CBS News radio/TV reporter Ike Pappas died of heart failure at 75. During his 25 year CBS career Pappas covered the Jack Ruby shooting of JFK assassin Lee Harvey Oswald in Dallas for New York’s WNEW radio.


In 2011...Radio broadcaster Bob Laine, who in his 46 years at CHUM 1050 AM Toronto did everything from hosting the all-night show to managing the station, died of cancer at the age of 72.

In 2012...Hal David, who with Burt Bacharach was one of the most successful songwriters of the Rock Era, died of a stroke at the age of 91 in Los Angeles.

David and Bacharach's hits include "(They Long to Be) Close To You", "Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head", "This Guy's in Love with You", "One Less Bell to Answer", "What the World Needs Now Is Love", "The Look of Love", "Do You Know the Way to San Jose", "I'll Never Fall in Love Again" and "Walk On By".  David was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1972.

Tony Kornheiser Podcast Launches Sept. 6

Tony Kornheiser

IMG is diving into the podcast space with ESPN host Tony Kornheiser, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

The Tony Kornheiser Show, which originated as a radio program in 1992, will be the first foray into podcasting for the agency's original content division. IMG is partnering with on-demand audio provider DGital Media for the daily podcast, which launches Sept. 6.

"On-demand audio gives me the chance to connect with my audience in a very personal, meaningful way," said Kornheiser, who left WTEM 980 AM in Washington DC in June.

"The relaunch of the show to a platform that gives us more freedom to be the combination of smart and funny that we strive to be as we babble about the sports, politics, news and absurd stories of the day is a perfect match. I'm excited to partner with DGital Media and IMG as we look for ways to give our fans, new and old, more of what they love about the show."

Kornheiser has co-hosted ESPN's Pardon the Interruption with Michael Wilbon since 2001. As a print journalist, he wrote for The Washington Post from 1979 to 2012 and began his career as a reporter at Newsday and The New York Times.

"Tony is one of the few national personalities who continues to generate both buzz and news on a daily basis," DGital Media chief content officer Chris Corcoran said in a statement. "His storytelling expertise and sports knowledge are unmatched, and we are excited to create an exciting new home for his show and his fans."

E-U Slaps Apple With Huge Tax Bill

(Reuters) -- EU antitrust regulators ordered Apple (AAPL.O) on Tuesday to pay up to 13 billion euros ($14.5 billion) in taxes plus interest to the Irish government after ruling that a special scheme to route profits through Ireland was illegal state aid.

The massive sum, 40 times bigger than the previous known demand by the European Commission to a company in such a case, could be reduced, the EU executive said in a statement, if other countries sought more tax themselves from the U.S. tech giant.

Apple, which with Ireland said it will appeal the decision, paid tax rates on European profits on sales of its iPhone and other devices and services of between just 0.005 percent in 2014 and 1 percent in 2003, the Commission said.

"Ireland granted illegal tax benefits to Apple, which enabled it to pay substantially less tax than other businesses over many years," said Competition Commission Margrethe Vestager, whose crackdown on mainly U.S. multinationals has angered Washington which accuses Brussels of protectionism.

Online retailer Amazon.com Inc (AMZN.O) and hamburger group McDonald's Corp (MCD.N) face probes over taxes in Luxembourg, while coffee chain Starbucks Corp (SBUX.O) has been ordered to pay up to 30 million euros ($33 million) to the Dutch state.

A bill of 300 million euros this year for Swedish engineer Atlas Copco AB (ATCOa.ST) to pay Belgian tax is the current known record. Other companies ordered to pay back taxes in Belgium, many of them European, have not disclosed figures.

For Apple, whose earnings of $18 billion last year were the biggest ever reported by a corporation, finding several billion dollars should not be an insurmountable problem. The 13 billion euros represents about 6 percent of the firm's cash pile.

Read More Now

Fed Court Throttles FCC Over ATT Lawsuit

(Reuters) -- A federal appeals court in California on Monday dismissed a U.S. government lawsuit that accused AT&T Inc (T.N) of deception for reducing internet speeds for customers with unlimited mobile data plans once their use exceeded certain levels.

The company, however, could still face a fine from the Federal Communications Commission regarding the slowdowns, also called "data throttling."

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit said it ordered a lower court to dismiss the data-throttling lawsuit, which was filed in 2014 by the Federal Trade Commission.

The FTC sued AT&T on the grounds that the No. 2 U.S. wireless carrier failed to inform consumers it would slow the speeds of heavy data users on unlimited plans. In some cases, data speeds were slowed by nearly 90 percent, the lawsuit said.

The FTC said the practice was deceptive and, as a result, barred under the Federal Trade Commission Act. AT&T argued that there was an exception for common carriers, and the appeals court agreed.

Asked about the appeals court ruling, a spokesman for AT&T said: "We're pleased with the decision."

An FTC spokesman said the agency has not yet decided whether to appeal. "We are disappointed with the ruling and are considering our options for moving forward," FTC spokesman Jay Mayfield wrote in an emailed comment.

The company, however, could face action from the FCC. In June 2015, the agency proposed a fine of $100 million for AT&T's alleged failure to inform customers with unlimited data plans about the speed reductions. AT&T has contested that proposed fine.

CBS Radio Name Change Coming With Spin-Off

CBS expects to sign a joint digital services agreement which will allow CBS Local Digital Media to continue operating the websites for 40 CBS Radio news and sports-formatted radio stations which are jointly packaged with sister CBS-TV properties. According to InsideRadio, this is one of the new details being publicly shared as CBS Radio advances toward a likely split of the 117-station radio group from its parent company.

In an updated filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, CBS says the two companies will still have post spin-off ties. “We will share advertising revenue generated on the market-focused local websites in our markets with CBS,” the filing says. “We believe this joint digital services agreement will allow us to benefit from the powerful CBS brand, including CBS’s existing local audience and operational scale in our markets.” CBS Radio will however stop generating revenue from other joint ventures within the conglomerate which generated $3.1 million during the first half of the year.

For all that will remain the same, other elements are certain to change—none more front and center than the name of the company. After the spin-off is finalized CBS Radio will be required to rebrand itself without the CBS name. It’s a move similar to CBS Outdoor, which became Outfront Media after it was spun-off.

The filing says the radio arm will also need to sign several intellectual property license agreements with CBS to continue using the heritage call letters on radio stations that are also used by local television stations, such as WCBS in New York and KCBS in Los Angeles and San Francisco. And the radio company will also need to license the CBS brand for use on the syndicated CBS Sports Radio Network.

CBS is currently planning a two-step spin-off that will see the radio division file an IPO in the first quarter of 2017, followed by a complete split from CBS in the second half of next year. The company has however left open the door to “other potential alternatives,” according to chief executive Les Moonves. “Our strategy is to maximize the value of this asset,” he added during a recent conference call with analysts.

Ahead of the spin-off, revenue at CBS Radio has declined 3% to $471.3 million during the first six months of 2016. CBS says a 3% drop in local revenue is the result of weakness in the New York, Chicago and Detroit markets.

The filing also reveals that CBS Radio isn’t currently considering any additional station spin-offs or acquisitions.

Tribune Media Names Chris Wayland VP/Group Operations

Tribune Broadcasting, a division of Tribune Media Company, Monday announced the appointment of Chris Wayland as Vice President/Group Operations. Wayland joins Tribune Broadcasting on September 19 reporting to Larry Wert, President, Broadcast Media and Kathy Clements, SVP/COO, and will work alongside Greg Easterly, SVP/Group Operations.

Since 2007, Wayland has served in several executive management roles for Sunbeam Television where he was most recently Executive Vice President and General Manager for WSVN/Miami, WHDH/Boston and WLVI/Boston overseeing strategy for the three stations. He previously served as General Manager and General Sales Manager for the stations, where under his guidance, the station's profits consistently grew year over year and ratings increased, with the station's newscasts growing to #1 and #2 positions in key demographics across all dayparts.

"Chris has acquired unique industry experience with Sunbeam developing and executing strategies to grow both advertising and distribution revenue," said Wert. "He is a perfect solutions-oriented fit to join Tribune Broadcasting's management team."

Prior to his post at Sunbeam, Wayland served as Director of Sales for Comcast Spotlight where he maximized inventory and increased revenue by 15%. Wayland has also held sales leadership positions at WHDH 7 NBC, FOX Sports Net and WLVI in Boston.

"I am thrilled to start the next chapter in my career and join Tribune Broadcasting," said Wayland. "It is an incredible opportunity to work with Larry Wert and the talented team he has in place. Larry has a clear vision for the growth of Tribune Broadcasting and I look forward to helping execute that plan."  

Wayland, a former professional hockey player, holds a Bachelor of Arts in from Elmira College in New York.Active in many charities, Wayland and serves on several boards including Youth Connect, Boys and Girls Club and Best Buddies.

Colin Cowherd Launches New Digital Platform

Colin Cowherd

Colin Cowherd, host of FOX Sports Radio and FS1’s “The Herd,” launches a new sports website, TheHerdNow.com​, today.

The site serves as the digital home for content created and curated by Colin Cowherd including bold opinion pieces, viral news stories, exclusive podcasts, and original video series. The new site also serves as a portal for fans to find stories covering the best moments and interviews from Cowherd’s radio show, as well as the daily podcast and streaming audio of “The Herd.”

TheHerdNow.com expands Cowherd’s already impressive multiplatform reach. “The Herd” launched in September 2015 on FOX Sports Radio, iHeartRadio and FS1 and has amassed over 100 radio affiliates. Cowherd’s podcasts on iTunes, including the “Best of The Herd” and “Full Show,” consistently rank atop the Sports & Recreation category.  The Herd also ranks No. 1 among sports podcasts on iHeartRadio, and the show’s 24/7 iHeartRadio channel The Herd consistently amasses more than one million listening hours each month. Clips of “The Herd” drew 186 million video views over the show’s first 10 months via Facebook, YouTube, FOXSports.com, the live-streaming FOX Sports Go app and Twitter video player.

The site is a partnership between Cowherd, Premiere Networks, and Red Seat Ventures. Red Seat specializes in building and monetizing digital businesses for talent and brands.

“I’ve chosen to work with the best people in the industry, and the support I’ve received has been like nothing I’ve ever experienced,” shared Cowherd. “I feel incredibly lucky to launch this venture for fans to connect with my best content whenever and wherever they happen to be.”

Julie Talbott, President of Premiere Networks, said, “Colin’s ability to connect with millions of fans is evident in the rapid growth and success of ‘The Herd’ across multiple platforms. The launch of TheHerdNow.com is the next step in fully engaging those loyal fans and creating a digital destination for Colin’s unique brand of sports entertainment.”

Red Seat CEO Christopher Balfe said “Colin has built an incredibly loyal audience by bringing a unique and entertaining show to radio and TV each day. We look forward to building a digital platform that matches the energy and enthusiasm his fans have come to expect.”

Neil Cavuto Returning To Fox News, FBN

Neil Cavuto

Neil Cavuto is expected to return to air on Sept. 6 after undergoing heart surgery earlier this summer, TheWrap has learned.

Cavuto will return to host both Fox Business Network’s “Cavuto: Coast to Coast” and Fox News’ “Your World with Neil Cavuto.” His first day back on television will be his first day back at the office, where he is also a managing editor

The 57-year-old has been off the air since May 31. He was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1997, and also successfully battled cancer. Cavuto is extremely well-liked among colleagues and was recently given a shout-out by Donald Trump during a rally.

Maria Bartiromo, Trish Regan and Stuart Varney have filled in for Cavuto on Fox News during his recovery, while Connell McShane and Charles Payne have filled in for him on Fox Business

In Legal Filing, Fox News Calls Tantaros "Opportunist"

Andrea Tantaros

Fox News has filed a response to former anchor Andrea Tantaros who filed a lawsuit claiming she was sexually harassed by Roger Ailes at the network.  According to legalnewz.com, Tantaros also named Fox News and several executives as defendants claiming that they allowed the network to be run, as she put it, like “a sex-fueled, playboy mansion-like cult.”

Monday , Fox News fired back saying, “Tantaros is not a victim; she is an opportunist,” in a motion to compel Tantoros into arbitration. They also accuse Tantoros of shopping her “supposed harassment” story to media “without any success” and call her a “wannabe.”

Here is more from Fox News’ attorneys:

Tantaros’s unverified complaint of August 22 in this Court bears all the hallmarks of the “wannabe”: she claims now that she too was victimized by Roger Ailes, when, in fact, contrary to her pleading, she never complained of any such conduct in the course of an investigation months ago. 

Not to be outdone by anyone, she contends that she was sexually harassed by an ever-shifting collection of employees at Fox News; she charges that outside counsel retained by 21st Century Fox deliberately ignored her purportedly important harassment story (actually, her lawyer, Joseph C. Cane, Jr., failed to return a telephone call from the law firm, Paul Weiss, retained to conduct the investigation); and she claims retaliation even though she concedes that she has not been terminated and remains on Fox News’ payroll.

Attorneys for Fox News argue that the complaint should not have been filed in court at all, because under the terms of her employment contract, she must resolve disagreements through a private arbitration agreement.

Spotify Releasing Some New Music To Paying Customers Only

Spotify reportedly is discussing making some new music available only to paying subscribers in hopes of ending a months-long impasse with the major record companies, The NYPost has learned.

In meetings with label execs the past few weeks, the Swedish outfit has signaled a willingness to “window” — putting new releases on its paid tier and off its free service for a set time, sources said.

Spotify’s current business model calls for making all music available on both its free and paid services to attract the most users and boost its valuation, sources said.

But that strategy has led to tension with the labels and artists, including a blowout with Taylor Swift, who yanked her music from the service back in 2014 in protest.

The recent change of heart for Ek stems from a desire to make Wall Street happy, sources said.

Investors are worried about Spotify’s chances of pulling off an initial public offering — possibly as soon as this fall, according to sources — without locking in long-term deals with the labels.

“There is mounting pressure from artists and labels. There is not going to be an IPO unless they have deals,” said one source close to the talks.

Spotify is currently operating on rolling month-to-month contracts with all three major labels: Universal Music Group, Sony and Warner Music Group.

As part of its negotiations, Spotify wants to lower its revenue split and make its finances more attractive to potential investors.

Taylor Swift Excused From Jury Duty

Swift, fellow potential juror

Taylor Swift took care of her civic obligation in Nashville Monday morning when she arrived at the criminal courthouse, and was instantly recognized by fellow citizens who probably woke up dreading jury duty this morning, and then became pleasantly surprised.

According to local reports, Swift posed for photographs and videos with fans, and when prosecutors asked her profession during jury selection, T.Swift replied, "I am a songwriter."

E! News reports that Swift was called on to be a prospective juror for a trial, but was ultimately dismissed due to her own ongoing legal case that is similar in nature.

David Muller

A courthouse witness tells E! News, "Taylor Swift was part of the panel of prospective jurors on a case with charges of aggravated kidnapping, aggravated rape and aggravated domestic assault. Therefore, the judge excused Ms. Swift because of her pending sexual assault case against Mr. Mueller."

That refers to a lawsuit filed in Colorado by David Mueller, who went by the names "Jackson" when he was a morning chosot on KYGO 98.5 FM in Denver.  He filed a lawsuit over allegations that he grabbed Swift's butt while taking a photo.

The incident took place during a photo session on June 2, 2013, before Swift performed at Denver's Pepsi Center. Mueller, who was then host of 98.5 KYGO's "Ryno and Jackson" morning show, was invited as part of his job to a meet and greet backstage.

Swift is demanding a jury trial and, according to the court documents, any money she wins from the trial will go to "charitable organizations dedicated to protecting women from similar acts of sexual assault and personal disregard."