Ne-Yo Launches U.K. Office

Ne-Yo's production and artist development/management and company, Compound Entertainment is opening up a branch in the U.K. The business is set to look for "U.K. talent in all its forms - artists, songwriters, whatever's out there." The venture will also service music publishing rights. The first British act signed to Compound Entertainment is R&B boy band, FDM who has a record deal with Geffen Records. "Compound is co-managing the group and co-executive producing its forthcoming album. Compound Entertainment was founded by Ne-Yo and his manager/business partner Reynell "Tango" Hay, who run the company as joint-CEOs. Ne-Yo said the U.K. arm was likely to be its only international office for the foreseeable future."

For more information check out Billboard.biz

MTV, a Record Label?

MTV is expanding into the territory of the record labels and planning to release Snoop Dogg's upcoming album "Malice in Wonderland" which is due later this year. According to Billboard.biz, Snoop Dogg "signed a multi-rights deal with MTV to distribute, market and promote" the album. We don't know how MTV plans to get the product on retail shelves but digital downloads will probably play a more crucial role as it continues to trump actual record sales. Especially given the fact that, Snoop Dogg's "Sensual Seduction" single sold 869K digital downloads and the album only sold 382K units. Snoop's previous label was Interscope. The lines between media, advertising/branding and music are continuing to blur as artists turn to acting in television shows and movies and endorsements/partnerships with brands for more revenues. In the same token, the greater media/entertainment business is modeling itself after these dynamics.