Portal:Music/Music news

December:

• Friday, 8th December 2006: The European Commission is to investigate the planned takeover of BMG Music Publishing by Universal Music Group. The commission is concerned about the effect the proposed merge would have on competition in the music publishing market. [1]
• Thursday, 7th December 2006: Musicians in the United Kingdom are calling for an extension of copyright on sound recordings from 50 years to 95 years. [2]
• Monday, 4th December 2006: Recordings of three Syd Barrett songs are being released by David Gilmour. [3]

November:

• Monday, 27th November 2006: Former BBC Radio presenter Alan Freeman has died at the age of 79. [4]
• Tuesday, 21st November 2006: A Japanese musician has developed the 'Laser Koto', a zither made with lasers. [5] [Article (with video)]
• Sunday, 19th November 2006: The military-backed Government of Thailand has threatened to ban the opera of a Thai composer based on the poem Ramayana, fearing that the death of the demon-king Thotsakan on stage will bring bad luck. The death will now be taking place off-stage, but the composer has said that officials have warned him that the opera will be blamed for any misfortunes which befall those in power. The tradition that showing Thotsakan's death brings bad luck is usually only limited to Thai masked theatre. [6]
• Wednesday, 8th November 2006: Singer Britney Spears has filed for divorce from husband Kevin Federline citing "irreconcilable differences". [7]

Recent deaths: Emanuel Hurwitz • Alan Freeman • Paul Mauriat • Jabu Khanyile • Gerald Levert