Music Business News: North America

Live Nation just spent $16m on a management company and a promoter

Sweden's SPG claimed some of the money - plus a mystery firm

Spotify selling 3 months of ad-free music for less than $1 in the US

Offer available for non-existing subscribers

The creator of Google Maps is launching a new music start-up

Lars Rasmussen quits Facebook to work on new app

Max Martin wins ASCAP Songwriter of The Year Award for 8th time

Sony/ATV picks up Publisher Of The Year prize

Grooveshark is no more – and says sorry to the music industry

Major labels agree to settle with notorious copyright infringer

Erik Huggers, ex-iPlayer exec, confirmed as Vevo CEO

Huggers is also a former President of Intel's media division

Google, Amazon and Pandora join forces to fight music industry over royalty rates

Powerful lobbying group ready to scrap on performance rights and radio

Tunecore posts 5% rise in Q1 artist payouts to $36m

Firm now looks after 300k+ compositions through publishing arm