UMGD and EMI Music Distribution are finalizing their merger today. No names have been released, but UMGD was reportedly able to integrate over 20 positions from EMI into their system.  Since the Oct. 1 finalization of the deal, insiders are saying this was an incredibly efficient process and we are told this is the end of the move….

Veteran label exec Scott Seviour has been named EVP Marketing & Artist Development at Epic Records, reporting to label COO Mark Shimmel. Seviour will develop marketing strategies for label artists, overseeing brand partnerships, publicity, video production, creative, digital, artist development and making sure L.A. Reid’s cuff links match. Seviour comes to the label from RCA Music Group, where he was SVP…

A big part of our job, these days, is coming up with new ways to think about how many records Taylor Swift is selling. So grok this: This week, Big Machine‘s big Red monster will likely sell more than the rest of the Top 50 albums combined. It may, in fact, have the biggest opening since 2005, when 50 Cent‘s The Massacre lived up…

Apple is planning to launch a free ad supported Pandora-like online music service in the first three months of 2013. Current negotiations with labels are focusing on differentiating features and how to share ad revenue. The talks could be completed next month according to Bloomberg. Pandora and other online radio services operate under a compulsory…

Apple Inc., the company that makes your iPhone, iPad, iPod, iSexRobot and associated other devices that are smarter than you are, is now the proud owner of the Granny Smith apple logo associated with The Beatles‘ Apple Corps, Patently Apple reports.  The Cupertino innovator first applied to take possession of the music venture’s logo in 2011; the transfer of ownership…