The Week Ahead In Digital Music

Sirius Satellite Radio has hit 3 millionth subscribers, an increase driven in part by the arrival of Howard Stern on January 9th. Meanwhile, XM is widely expected to announce this week that they hit 6 million subscribers.

Watch for more in the coming days and weeks at NY Attorney General Eliot Spitzer continues his probe into download pricing at the major labels.

The ever aggressive and creative Concord Music Group has added jazz and classical indie Telarc to is portfolio of labels.  Expect more indie label consolidation in 2006.

Wary music consumers will be reminded again and again this week that the major labels may not their friends. The RIAA is suing downloader Patricia Santangelo, but she is the one getting all of the good press as she battles the industry both in court and in the media.  And the Sony BMG DRM settlement in the New York court should bring that label nightmare back into the public consciousness.

WMG has settled a nasty contract dispute with Linkin Park for $15 million and a reported future royalty rate of 20%.  But will it prove to be a smart move to pay big for a band that few fans care about any more?  Given the media’s penchant for making fun of L.P., there should be some amusing comments from the pundits as the week progresses.