Robbie Williams signed a limited one album deal with Universal Music Group. Rdio is launching in Brazil in partnership with Oi on November 1st. RealNetworks' app Rinse, which cleans iTunes libraries, has launched in the UK. VibeDeck is adding premium paid features to its free music services like custom themes and Soundscan reporting. Merlin signed a licensing deal with Cricket Wireless' music service Muve. Reports suggest EMI's recording and publishing units may be sold separately.

1. Also: UMG, Robbie, Rdio, RealNetworks, VibeDeck, Mayer, Merlin, EMI...
alexandra
Monday, October 24, 2011
And the exit door continues to swing at Universal Music Group. We're hearing about more
reorg rumblings from sources on the inside; stay tuned for specifics and developments.
But one guy entering the UMG building? That'd be Robbie Williams, who just inked a limited,
one album deal with the mega-label according to the Financial Times.
Looks like Rdio is now launching in Brazil, a collaboration with Oi. The release, Oi Brasil, will
happen November 1st according to Telecompaper and other sources.
RealNetworks' Rinse, an iTunes-cleaning app similar to TuneUp, has now launched in the UK.
VibeDeck is now layering premium features onto its free services. The a-la-carte 'Extras'
include things like Soundscan reporting and custom page themes, with more paid options
ahead.
And, who else was Jobs dishing on in his posthumous biography? That would be John Mayer,
a friend who Jobs chided for being "out of control" and risking "blowing it big time" (but besides
that, doing great).
Merlin has just inked a licensing deal with Cricket Wireless' Muve, according to details shared
by the indie consortium.
And, looks like the EMI dump-off is getting closer, with more information suggesting separates
sales of the recording and publishing units.