This could be a crucial turning point, or end up meaning nothing at all: Cox Radio Inc., one of the nation’s largest radio chains, plans to sever its ties with independent record promoters to distance itself from a payola-like practice rampant in the music business. The decision makes Cox the …

Hey, it’s getting cold up here in Ohio – too bad we’re starting to move that week or I would bop on down to this great show in a sunny land that knows not snow. ACA WORLD SOUND FESTIVAL announces finalized talent lineup for 2002, November 1-2 in Acapulco, Mexico. …

Kirby Puckett has been charged with assaulting a woman - I had my own encounter with the Hall of Famer ten years ago.

Just when it appeared a compromise had finally been reached regarding webcaster royalty payments, the bill now appears dead in the Senate: Legislation that would steeply discount the royalties small webcasters will pay for streaming music was dealt a potentially fatal blow Thursday night when it failed to clear the …

Cindy Chaffin is not the only person miffed about VH1’s Music Behind Bars, an immensely tasteless concept that ignores the feelings of crime victims and their families, adding insult to injury: Families of Pennsylvania crime victims are in an uproar over a new VH1 documentary series that spotlights prison music …

The crew is back and talent auditions begin Monday: Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson will return for the second edition of Fox’s “American Idol,” joining fellow judge Simon Cowell, who had already reupped with the hit talent show. Fox also confirmed Thursday that the next version of “American Idol” will …

Intertainer goes dark: Intertainer, an online video-on-demand site, will shut down and lay off most of its remaining staff while pursuing a lawsuit against the major movie studios, its chief executive said on Thursday. The Culver City, California-based company plans to close its movie-selling service on Oct. 23 and lay …

RIAA pres Cary Sherman (see Blogcritics interview here) responds to Consumer Electronics Association CEO Gary Shapiro’s commentary in CNET on downloads and copyright from last month: Last month, Consumer Electronics Association CEO Gary Shapiro took the debate over peer-to-peer file sharing to a new level. In brief, he declared that …

Some very interesting feedback on the increased concert ticket price story we discussed yesterday. Nick Snow of Foundmusic.com points us to an article from last year: Members of the popular heavy-rock band Godsmack say they want to make tickets affordable for their current U.S. tour. But the economics of the …

Check out Cindy Chaffin’s ripsnorting new TexasGigs.com site. There are concert reviews, interviews, gig listings (for Texas, or course), and Cindy’s thoughts on such things as VH1 hosting a show about bands in prison: not playing in prison, bands made up of prisoners, like murderers and rapists and child molesters. …