More News: UMG Direct Licenses Last.fm, Spotify Update, Google+ Expands, Apple Patent Trial, More

Another Big Blow For Collection Societies: Universal Music sets up direct licensing agreement with Last.fm (Music Week) Recently EMI limited ASCAP's digital licensing for part of it's US catalog.

• Spotify could launch as early as this week. When it does "The service will execute a slow launch, giving pre-existing members invites to distribute," according to Mashable
• What is really driving the rise in music sales? (CNet)
• Google+ invitations are getting much easier to come by.  I added a Google+ button to each post last week (please use it) and signed up myself this morning.

MORE:

• Twitter Ads Will Get Harder to Ignore: ‘Promoted Tweets’ Coming to Your Timeline This Summer (AllThingsDigital)
• Apple Told to Pay $8 Million in Patent Trial Over iPod Playlists (Bloomberg) 
• YouTube sensation Rebecca Black to self-release a new single and EP. (Hollywood Reporter)
• The Canadian Recording Industry Association (CRIA) formed in 1964, has officially changed its name to Music Canada. (RadioandMusic)'
• Clear Channel swipes at Pandora with iheart revamp (AP)