My favorite one is the guy who looks like a cross between Newlydeads-era Taime Downe and the fly on a pair of leather pants, personally.

New Slipknot Masks - Exclusive [Spinner]
NEW SLIPKNOT MASKS REVEALED TODAY [Imperiumi]

CBS Radio and AOL, who partnered on a online streaming radio player earlier this week, have announced that a modified version of the player will be available for the new iPhone. Now, whenever you want to hear "Lollipop" and you can't be bothered to load it into iTunes, just turn on your phone.

Here is how someone will be able to listen to the radio next month: Buy an Apple iPhone and download the new AOL Radio application. It will connect to AOL's servers by way of the cellular network. The phone's GPS system will monitor signals from satellites orbiting 12,000 miles in space in order to determine your location. This will automatically determine your location and tune to the digital stream from the nearest CBS station.

What is most disturbing about this announcement is that it appears the GPS function will restrict you to only tuning in local stations. In my case, that would be Jamz 101.5, as well as a country station and a "'Brown Eyed Girl' every hour on the hour" oldies station. I've spent a fair amount of time and money trying to avoid those stations, so adding them to my phone isn't entirely appealing. Also, it would seem that the streams would have audio commercials added in from the start (and the possibility of graphic ads later on), which makes me wonder who wouldn't just stick to the music they've loaded themselves. I suppose there's some value to having the AOL stations for when you've become disgusted with your own choices, but when traffic, weather, and news are easily available via other iPhone functions, I can live without my local Jamz.

AOL Turns the iPhone into an Expensive Radio [NY Times]

From the press release:

Both sites will provide music fans access to their favorite artists, including video and song premieres, news, photos, exclusive interviews, and original editorial features. The sites will be monetized through varying advertising packages that will be sold exclusively through AOL's Platform-A services....

Last year, AOL Music underwent an extensive redesign that included the successful launches of Spinner and PopEater. According to comScore, Spinner is consistently the Web's most visited indie music site, while PopEater has emerged as one of the most popular destinations for mainstream music. As a whole, AOL Music has increased its page views by 55% year over year.

"Despite these genres' popularity, the Web has grossly underserved these fans, until now," said AOL Music Vice President and Editor in Chief Bill Crandall. "With the launch of The Boot and The Boom Box, we're taking the next step in providing users with an all encompassing music offering and experience."

You have to admire AOL for making the most of their power and influence, but the sites are a little dull at the moment. The Boot is leading with a scare Jewel had on a flight recently, while the Boombox has a Michelle Williams video premiere. While that certainly might change as writers specific to each site are hired (it appears that the writers are shared among all of AOL's music sites at the moment), traffic-boosting tricks like placing each question of an interview on its own page will keep me checking The 9513 for my country news instead until further notice.

AOL Music Launches Country and Urban Music Sites [Business Wire]

While none of the Web companies involved would comment on the judge's decision, a source close to the three sounded like the players on a baseball team after the other side just hit a walk-off home run.

"This wasn't good for us, to say the least," the source said, adding that the judge's order isn't yet final and that the three companies plan to continue fighting.

If the final fee structure looks anything like what is prescribed in the judge's written opinion, RealNetworks, Yahoo, and AOL would likely have to raise prices. It may also mean that the cost of doing business for anyone streaming music over the Web just went up.

"What this means to other licensees is, they now see what a standard benchmark fee should look like," [ASCAP CEO John] LoFrumento said. "They now know what to expect from the rate court."

Somehow no online-music services announced that they'd be closing today, but I guess part of that is because the fees were retroactive to 2002 so they'd be in for paying up anyway.
What the ASCAP decision means for consumers [news.com]
Court Sets Royalty Fees To Be Paid To ASCAP [WSJ]

Lou looked miserable. He ended a song, looked out and, in that distinctive Lou Reed voice, said to the crowd: "Maybe you can talk louder."

He continued: "I can turn the sound up and hurt you."

Some people cheered.

Lou gave the order to the sound guy: "Turn it up."

He strummed a blaring chord, then spoke some more, turning up the irony.

"This is the moment I've waited for my whole life. When I was on St. Marks Place I thought, someday there'll be a cyberspace and I'll be playing for AOL." (There was a big AOL banner behind the band.)

Hey, it could have been worse, Lou. You could have been opening for the Bank of America guy.

UPDATE: Valleywag has video of Reed's performance, as well as estimates of his take-home.

Lou Reed Meets Web 2.0 [The Key]
Hello bubble: Lou Reed plays "What's Good" at Web 2.0 dinner (with video) [Valleywag]

So what's the payoff for AOL's investment? A Stereogummed-up MP3 blog, some live sessions, a "comedian"-hosted rehash of last week's jokes, and some streaming radio stations. And one bit of idle speculation on our part: The folks at Spin.com are probably more than a little peeved about this new kid on the block's branding.

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