"Media Vision, a Swedish polling firm, on Thursday released a study suggesting the rising popularity of web-based music streaming services has triggered a substantial decline in music piracy in its home country. According to the results, 23 percent of Swedes now download music illegally, down 25 percent since 2009."

"Since its U.S. launch, Spotify -- a cloud-based music service -- has gained 400,000 new paying subscribers, bringing the service's total user count to 2 million paying subscribers and 10 million total listeners. Online music sellers should take note, because if Spotify continues to grow at this rate, it may become the latest service to disrupt the music industry."

"Sources familiar with the discussions between Apple, record companies, and music publishers, say Apple is seeking international music licenses for its iCloud service. The licenses would be similar to those the company has already obtained for U.S. operations, the sources said. If iTunes managers wrap up negotiations in time, they could announce the offering at a Tuesday press event at Apple headquarters in Cupertino, Calif., where the company is expected to roll out the iPhone 5, the next generation of the iconic smartphone."

Legendary hip-hop music executive Sylvia Robinson, co-founder of Sugar Hill Records, has died. In addition to her work on the business side of music, she was also a singer, musician, music producer.