Idolator

Borders is opening a "concept store" in Michigan today that, the retailer hopes, will cause shoppers to return to the struggling chain's stores; among the renovations is—perhaps unsurprisingly—a downsized music section, with the space being used for "several computer stations where customers can burn music CDs [and] download music and audiobooks onto MP3 players." Borders' library contains 2.4 million songs, although there's no word as far as which labels are on offer. Still, it sounds like a somewhat decent idea as far as getting people in the habit of buying music again, right? And yet: A seven-song CD with art costs $9.99; and "the digital services don't work with Apple's iPod, something Borders says it's working on." [Ann Arbor News]

- Paul McCartney has confirmed a one-album deal with Starbucks' Hear Music label; in addition to being sold in the chain's 4.2 kajillion stores, the new album—due in early June—will be made available to other retailers. McCartney's Chaos and Creation in the Backyard bored approximately 533,000 listeners, according to Nielsen SoundScan. [NYT]
- Borders is scaling back its brick-and-mortar outlets, and will sell or franchise its 73 overseas superstores. The chain also plans to reduce the number of CDs it sells, and is planning new "digital centers" in which customers can download music. As Borders' CFO notes: "We are looking to get into the downloading business." And why not? It's going so well these days! [WSJ]
- Stagecoach, the countrified Coachella spin-off, will offer 3,000 reserved seats set up by the front of the stage, which will allow Willie Nelson to wander off mid-set and take a nap under a lawn chair. [LA Times]