Hypebot’s Music Industry QuickNews For Monday April 17, 2006

– MySpace strengthens it’s already robust music offerings with a new concert performance area called The List.  The special destination will offer streaming of exclusive concerts available only on MySpace. Taking Back Sunday provides the first performance. (Digital Music News)

– Shares off Napster jumped last week after analysts ThinkEquity initiated coverage of the company with a "buy" rating.  Napster rose 46 cents or 12% to close at $4.44 on the Nasdaq. ThinkEquity feels that Napster’s recent deal with Swedish cell manufacturer Ericsson will be a "significant growth driver" of digital music.   This analyst thinks that’s a bit of a stretch.

– Net radio listenership exceeded 52 million in 2005 in the US, up from 37 million in 2004.  A third of those had salaries of more than $100,000 with satellite radio showing a similarly affluent demo/ Podcasting had a fairly low awareness levels.

– Reuters reports from London that The Beatles – long holdouts from the digital revolution – are preparing their masters for download release. Full story here.

– The LA Times reported that music and film agency CAA is getting into the sports agency business in a big way hiring three top sports agents representing top stars ranging from Peyton Manning and Derk Jeters to this year’s top NFL draft pick Matt Leinhart. Some rumors hint that the move may be in part to replace falling music industry revenue and tighter margins throughout the entertainment industry.  A couple of weeks ago Hits had CAA music head Rob Light in the rumor mill, but not details have emerged beyond a luck Light scoring a hole in one on a course in Hawaii.

– Online indie retailer CD Baby is making it’s 120,000 plus titiles available to record stores worldwide via a deal with one-stop Super D Phantom.  Read the full pressrelease here.

– R.I.P. Pointer Sister June Pointer.