Yet another big news week, eh? Here's some of the music related news and such you may have missed while glued to (insert news channel of choice):

1. The 2008 Video Music Awards will premiere Sunday at 9pm (and will then air virtually around the clock roughly until December). Will you be watching? I'm not sure I can bring myself to sit through all of that Russell Brand. Not a fan. And oh yes, Kanye will be back again - so much for the boycott.
2. This ABC news article was brought to my attention this week by someone on Twitter this week. It's a really cool look at the intersection of hip hop and politics in Senegal (where hip hop is credited for pushing political reform). Lots of food for thought here. For more musings about the relationship between music and politics, check out the Sarah Records interview.
3. Word came this week that the new Metallica album has been leaked online. And what do these anti-file sharing warriors, this most litigious of metal bands think about said leak? They love it!. It's just part of the music business these days, they say. Well, sheesh, you could have saved a lot of people (like your fans) a lot of trouble by coming around to this viewpoint a little earlier.
4. The ladies of Heart were less than amused to hear their song Barracuda being used at the Republican National Convention (Sarah Palin = "Sarah Barracuda", hence the use of the song). They've issued a cease and desist order to the McCain campaign telling them not to use the song again. For me this brings up two questions I've never quite been able to figure out - one, why do politicians use songs like this without permission all the time? It's pretty embarrassing to have the artist tell the press that they're not ok with it. The other question is how can some music supervisors be so seemingly lyrically oblivious? Barracuda contains lines like, You'd have me down, down, down on my knees, now wouldn't you, barracuda?. I wonder about this every time I see a certain cruise line trying to sell family cruises using a song about heroin as well. Is it just me?

Consider yourself caught up! Let me know about any news of your own for possible inclusion in another weekly round-up.

Working in the music industry is not usually your typical 9 to 5 kind of gig, and it doesn't pay like one either. Sure, some people get a steady paycheck, but it is far more common for people in the music business to be getting their cash through percentage shares and one off projects. Additionally, different jobs are typically paid in different ways. This list breaks down the common ways to make money in several different music industry jobs, so you can get a feel for what life in these careers is like.

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Music and politics are never far apart, but often their relationship is one of convenience. You don't need to look much further than the current election for examples of this - really, John McCain, Sarah Palin and DADDY YANKEE are on the same team? With this image in mind, it's easy to forget that every once in awhile politics is more than fashion for someone in the music industry. Case in point? Sarah Records. In addition to building up one of the most beloved indie pop labels ever, Clare Wadd and Matt Haynes of Sarah never once compromised their convictions for record sales. Challenging ideas about women in the music industry and economic realities in Britain and beyond was as much a part of Sarah Records as the music. But yes, the music was very good, too. In this interview, Clare and Matt talk about life running Sarah, the difficulties they encountered along the way, and their thoughts about the 21st century music industry.

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