From Ars Technica’s “Fifth major” Merlin signs 12,000 indie labels, eyes MySpace: “In the last month, 12,000 of the world’s independent record labels have joined forces to create a ‘virtual fifth major’ meant to earn respect at the bargaining table in a world dominated by EMI, Warner, Universal, and Sony BMG…This sort of indie alliance should secure the labels a major-label size payout from online stores and webcasters. More money pumped into thousands of independent labels, each doing their own unique thing, should be a boon for musical diversity. It could also give smaller labels a bit more of the capital needed to promote their up-and-coming bands.”