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Two headlines greeted me this morning that made me laugh, both related to the against piracy in Sweden.

Pirate Bay lawyer calls for retrial after judge confirms ties to copyright groups via CBC

Peter Althin, who represented Pirate Bay spokesman Peter Sunde in the case, said Thursday he would request a retrial after Judge Tomas Norstrom confirmed Swedish Radio reports that he was a member of two copyright-protection organizations.

Norstrom acknowledged to Swedish Radio that he was a member of the Swedish Association for Copyright and sat on the board of the Swedish Association for the Protection of Industrial Property.

However, he rejected the notion that there was any conflict of interest.

“I don’t think there are any circumstances that have made me biased in this case,” Judge Norstom said.

While in related news, for the past few weeks there has been widespread coverage of the drop of internet traffic/illegal downloading following the passage of anti-piracy law IPRED in Sweden.

The reports sited a company in Sweden called Netnod that supposedly provided the stats widely shared by anti-priacy groups such as Antipiratbyran. Problem there is that Netnod is now denying they ever made such comments, or COULD even provide such stats regardless:

“We do not have any data on ‘web traffic in Sweden’ and have not made any such statements,” Netnod executive Nurani Nimpuno told Digital Music News on Wednesday.

Instead, Netnod operates six internet exchange points (IXPs) in five
cities in Sweden. An IXP is a physical hub that allows various ISPs to exchange traffic easily between their networks. In the case of Netnod, a large number of non-Swedish ISPs participate, throwing the entire analysis into disarray. “There is no way of knowing [what percentage of] Swedish internet traffic is present at the Netnod IX,” Nimpuno continued.

via Digital Music News: Netnod Responds: No Data on ‘Web Traffic in Sweden’…

[I ramble, details below].

Ambitious, creative folks looking to get into the music biz should sign up for this course so I can pick your brains on breaks during class, steal all your good ideas, make you famous by doing so and then other people will hire you!  Instant music business career! 

In only slightly more serious terms though – I will be at the Hub during the nights this course is held and would love to talk to folks about their ideas on music/business.

I have a bunch of changes coming at the Rock Garden, new music/changes with the label and two related new music businesses in start up now. I am always looking for feedback and I have made so so so many mistakes I can guarantee saving you time/money if you are going to do anything I can speak to.

If anyone is considering this course and starting their own business I will talk your ear off to the point you may hate me. Could also help set you up at the Hub post course and on your way working for yourself [Hub members include graphic designers, programmers, my lawyer (he quit his firm to start his own practice there!) - so it is close to being a one stop shop for any services you'd need to get up and running]. I was pretty excited when Waye suggested this, and think anyone taking the course would get their money’s worth from Waye alone – but thought I would add my excitement at the potential for having the course at the Hub
/end ramble
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From Waye Mason:
I am really happy to be able to take the wraps off of this after working on it for awhile. This is the actual intro credit course from the music business program. In time, we plan on offering everything part time, but this is the pilot class. Best part, it takes place every Thursday at the Hub in downtown Halifax!

Please feel free to PM me or post questions here. Registration is limited to 25 students. It is an actual class, with assignments, tests, reading, learning, and a total dose of awesome.

BART1000 – Intro to the Music Industry

Description:
Through a combination of lectures, research, group projects and industry speakers, this course will introduce participants to the current landscape of the Canadian music industry. It will convey a broad understanding of various non-music functions that exist within the industry, and how they interact with the artist and each other. Participants will be introduced to the core activity areas of the music industry, including the business of publishing, recording, live performance, artist development and management. They will gain a basic knowledge of the mandate and scope of the organizations that support the music industry with a focus on how those organizations relate to revenue generation and collection.

Details:
Topics cover will include grant writing (focusing on the Nova Scotia Emerging Music program), introduction to the business of songwriting & publishing, live performance and touring, recording, artist development and marketing.
This is a full credit course toward the completion of the NSCC Music Business Certificate.
The course information will also be listed at http://www.coned.nscc.ca

Location:
Every Thursday, April 23 through until June 25, 6:30 to 9:30
The Hub Halifax, 1673 Barrington Street, 2nd Floor

Registration:
Registration is open to any high school graduate. Registration is NOW OPEN call NSCC Admissions at 491-4911 or drop in to any campus. Price is $260 + purchase of a textbook.