• Tiny Swedish label X5 topped the classical music charts last year, with sales on par with Universal. If you want to start a label, X5 provides an inspiring model.
     

  • Thanks to Lil Wayne, digital album sales topped digital track sales for the second time ever in the U.S. (the first being when the Beatles catalog was released in 2010). Tha Carter IV sold 964,000 copies in its first week alone.
     

  • EMI exec known for signing Katy Perry to Capitol, Angelica Cob-Baehler, is leaving EMI to join LA Reid’s division at Epic.
     

  • The Black Eyed Peas raised $1.3 million at a benefit concert for flood relief in North Dakota. Now I don’t feel so bad for listening to “Just Can’t Get Enough” over and over again.
     

  • Speaking of flood benefit concerts, Phish is going to play a benefit in Vermont to raise money for Hurricane Irene victims in the state.
     

  • Indie bands and fans alike are banding together to save independent record store Criminal Records in Atlanta. The store has to raise $150,000 by November 1. Manchester Orchestra and Atari Teenage Riot have already agreed to play benefit shows.
     

  • Who says the music industry is dying? The music industry is reportedly worth $168 billion. Most of that comes from radio, musical instrument revenue and consumer electronics.
     

  • Material Girl no more? Madonna’s court case to trademark “Material Girl” has been thrown out by a judge. Madonna’s lawyers have decided to go to trial and make their case to a jury.
     

  • Vivendi (Universal Music Group’s parent company) acquired the British-based See Tickets for $135 million. Vivendi already owns 65 percent of French online ticketing company Digitick. Vivendi is making a real push into the ticketing market and beat out big European names to acquire See.
     

  • Metal Blade removed its entire catalog from Spotify. This is the second hard rock label to remove its catalog from Spotify. Metal Blade removed Gwar, Goo Goo Dolls, Cradle Of Filth, As I Lay Dying and other artists from the streaming music service.
     

  • Turntable.fm iPhone app is set to launch next week!
     

  • Muve Music, a music subscription service from cellphone company Cricket, has attracted 200,000 subscribers in the last two months alone. It is now behind only Rhapsody in paid music subscription services. It launched in January.
     

  • Clear Channel has inked a deal with Echo Nest to incorporate music intelligence platforms into iHeartRadio. This will enhance users’ abilities to build their own radio stations.