The Norwegian courts have decided that Infernus is the rightful owner of the Gorgoroth name. Expect former members King ov Hell and Gaahl to announce a new name for their project shortly. Full details at Blabbermouth: https://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=115847
In a very forward-thinking move, the Norwegian broadcasting corp NRK has started to distribute on-demand content via bittorrent. Read more at MIC Norway: https://www.mic.no/mic.nsf/doc/art2009030910415155239642
Full details for the new ultra-limited Bob Hund single "Fantastiskt": https://www.bobhundfantastiskt.com/
PSL reports that the new Bob Hund single "Fantastiskt" will be offered as a single edition dubplate: https://blogg.svt.se/psl/2009/03/03/extra-extra-bob-hund-kontrar-slapper-lat-i-ett-enda-exemplar/
To which Service replies, the new ultra-limited 12" single from The Embassy will be engraved with the names of each auction winner on their copy.
NRK reports that Norwegian punkrockers Death is not Glamorous are at an impasse with the publishing organization TONO over their anti-piracy stance: https://www.nrk.no/nyheter/kultur/1.6506427 (in Norwegian)
I've seen a few mentions of this here and there, but this is the first place I've found the full reprint: https://www.musikindustrin.se/artikel/565/tbc_090227.html (in Swedish)
Fixe Records is the name of a new Swedish label and their first release will be melancholy indie act New Found Land's debut album "We all die", tentatively set for a May 2 release. Hear a couple tracks at myspace: https://www.myspace.com/fixerecords
Norwegian label Lilac Sky has been resurrected as Lilla Himmel Plater. Expect a new 7" from Okkultokrati (ft. members from Haust) later this year.
Export Music Sweden has revamped their website: https://www.exms.com/
Very clean and easy to ready - nicely done!
MIC Norway reports that Ida Maria has signed a new international deal with Island Def Jam/Mercury: https://www.mic.no/mic.nsf/doc/art2009022313550386828564
Finnish act Viola, a longtime favorite of mine - they have a track on "Reader's companion volume two", has decided that from now on all their music will be free and posted for download right here: https://www.violamusicclub.com/
Not only that, the band also says that starting in April, they'll be posting a new song on the first of every month. There still might be some limited edition physical objects in the distant future, but the music will always be available to everyone. Says the band: "There are plenty of reasons for our new approach, but the one main thing is that releasing records hasn't been economically speaking very reasonable for us. And since we can create and record music practically without expenses we have decided to get rid of all intermediary agents like pressing factories and record shops so that people have a chance to get our music free of charge. This new method also creates a new spontaneity since there are no more waiting periods before getting our music to reach the ears of our listeners."
It's not as historic as Touch & Go's announcement, but Swedish punk/crust label Halvfabrikat has decided to go on hiatus: https://www.halvfabrikat.net/
Danish music industry workshop consortium Musikparlamentet will be concentrating on the international market at their next meeting on February 25: https://www.bandbase.dk/musikparlamentet
Hommage Records is a new Norwegian label devoted to early 80s synth music and their first release is "Maskindans", a 2CD comp exploring the roots of Norwegian postpunk. See their website for more detail: https://www.hommage.no/
I'm pretty excited to hear this as is one of my absolute favorite genre timeperiods.
Music Export Finland's February newsletter is now online: https://musex.fi/mxf/news?articleId=179