Internet Service Providers, like Virgin or BT, the Government has decided, should not be made to disconnect illegal file sharers from their connections.

This is the latest controversial twist in the piracy saga that has the BPI pitting its (now very disgruntled) wits against an unconvinced ISP collective who are unwilling to take part in the battle against piracy. The participation of internet companies, with their abilities to control a customers’ connections, seems to be the most logical step in attempts to stem the transference of illegal files. So much so that last year Government officials spoke of

Pop songstress Lily Allen has been out and about promoting the release of her second album ‘It’s Not Me It’s You’ (released February). Appearing on Q-Radio however she gave the impression all things aren’t quite so rosy as we’re led to believe. Frustrated at the lack of money she is receiving from a hit album and a number one single she let out a stark warning to future bands and acts that presume putting pen to paper is their route to riches.

If you’ve been struggling to find that all important, all impacting name for your band then look no further for your inspiration than the Heavy Metal Band Names Flowchart.

Breaking up your basic topics of satanic indulgence – like Death and Religion – over the points of a pentagram, each category is then broken down into its sub-categories with the appropriate names following. There’s a section for the trusty umlaut, a bit for names referencing (gothic American author) Faulkner, and a viking section to name a few.

This has set us off at amazingtunes, since amazingtunes obviously has its fair share of gore-inspiring metal acts gracing its pages, so below is a handful of our favourite metal monikers for you to devour.

Rigor Mortis by Dark Pariah
Flesh by Offcuts
F@@k the System
by Kill To Gain
Russian Roulette
by Screaming Blue Murder
Destroy All Humans by Baptized In Blood

…amazingtunes.com

New figures printed this week in the IFPI Digital Music Report 2009 reveal the massive extent to which music piracy is still plaguing the music industry.

Legitimate digital-music distribution organisations like amazingtunes.com or iTunes, are growing, with digital platforms accounting for 20% of all recorded music sales (up from 15% in 2007).

But the IFPI believe this figure represents just 5% of all music downloads. The other 95% are illegally-transferred tracks.

On amazingtunes we support artists and oppose theft – whether by illegal downloads or unfair record label contracts. When you download from amazingtunes, it

It’s 50 years ago on this day, January 12th 1959, that Berry Gordy, a Detroit businessman and songwriter, ventured to set up the now famous Motown Records.

Starting out with an $800 loan and a studio in his house, Gordy originally named his business Tamla, though the label name soon changed to the iconic Motown, reflecting the booming motor trade that its home town Detroit thrived upon.

It’s a name that few are unfamiliar with today, and Motown’s first US Number 1 came in 1961 with the Marvelettes and “Please Mr. Postman”. What came next is something of a musical explosion; from 1961 to 1971, Motown had 110 Top Ten hits, and artists such as Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross & The Supremes, The Four Tops, and The Jackson 5, were all signed to Motown labels. Their influence on the industry is huge and those artists mentioned that are linked will take you to just a handful of artists from amazingtunes who draw inspiration from these Motown acts.

50 years on and the label is still running strong, the reigns now held by Universal Music, with them having achieved over 200 Number 1 songs around the world and introduced a monumental list of household names.

You can check out some more of our Motown influenced acts here. Never mind the grapevine, you heard it here!

…amazingtunes

• The HMV poll of polls has been released revealing the critics top 50 albums of the year. Elbow walked away convincing winners with their Mercury Prize winning album The Seldom Seen Kid. Portishead’s long awaited release ‘Third’ and Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds’ ‘Dig Lazarus, Dig’ came 2nd and 3rd respectively while Fleet Foxes’ and Vampire Weekend’s eponymous albums made up the rest of the top 5.

• Bjork has joined teams with Audur Capitol of Rekjavik in an attempt to encourage investment into Icelandic businesses after the country took a major blow in the global financial crisis. It’s estimated the involvement of Bjork will bring in almost $17 million in investment.

• Robert Plant has been voted the greatest rock singer of all time by music fans in a recent Plant Rock organised poll. The Led Zeppelin front man beat off competition from Freddie Mercury of Queen and Free’s Paul Rodgers to the one off gong. You can see the top 20 here.

…amazingtunes