Friday MusicNewsNet Bits - Sony Music Sales Decline, The Whigs, Scott Weiland's Pants, ...

Music News Bits Friday Wrap-up -

* Sony Music Sales Slip - To add to Sony corp's ills, during the period ended Dec 31, Sony Music Entertainment generated only105.2 billion yen ($1.16 billion), a 22% decrease on a dollar basis compared with the same quarter of the previous fiscal year. Sony attributed the sales drop to the decline of the physical music market .
* THE WHIGS report they've been thrilledto open forKings Of Leon on KoL's current North American tour. A highlightincluded a performance last night at the legendary Madison Square Garden in New York City. Following three extensive tours at the end of 2008 with The Kooks, Kings Of Leon and Tokyo Police Club and a New Year's Eve show with Band Of Horses, The Whigs arehappyto return to Georgia after the MSGgig to begin writing their next album and restup for their March headlining shows to promote their ATO Records debut, MISSION CONTROL (see itinerary below).

* Death Cab for Cutie will hit the road in a US tour in support of 2008's Narrow Stairs . The quartet returns to North America, after a few shows in Japan and Australia. Theykickoff March 7 at Miami's Langerado Festival. (see itinerary below). They will be supported by Cold War Kids in April and Matt Costa in May. Ra Ra Riot will open every show on the tour. Ticketsare on pre-sale for Fan Club members with the general public having the opportunity startingthe weekend of January30.

* Will you wear ScottWeiland's pants??? Theformer front man for Stone Temple Pilots and Velvet Revolver, now on a solo tour for his release, is launching a clothing line. He's partnered with Christopher Wicks, designer and owner of Rock & Roll Religion, for a line of contemporary men's clothing that will be known as Weiland for English Laundry. "From early on, I was inspired by rock icons like David Bowie and Keith Richards who helped in molding my personal sense of style," said Weiland, in a statement. Scott- i'm a 34 waist, 32 long.

* Torque Recording Company of Canada, has signed indie alt rockoutfit Gentlemen and Scholars . Theguys,from Evanston, Indiana,will be recordingthis April for a release scheduled for July 2009. They will then tour withas yet-to-be determined Torque artists after the release.

* Reunion Blues is launching a new site to help touring bands findplaces to eat, hang out and crash for the night while out on the road. It's also a way for musicians to find venues to perform??? and even offers a free link to the band's sound clips, photos and web sites which helps generate exposure for their music!Called the Touring Bands' Guide- a digital handbook to help independent bands plan and book their tour!Check it out atReunionBlues.com/TourGuide .The info is submitted by touring musicians, for touring musicians, and it helps new bands to book their own independent tour. The site showcases club names and booking personnel's contact info for 27 of the largest US cities??? and growing. Check it out.

* Electronic pop outfit, M83 and the Los Angeles Philharmonic will perform a co-headlining concert pairing the orchestra and M83's chief star-gazer Anthony Gonzalez in a program that features individual performances, as well as M83's debut performance with an orchestra. This one-night-only concert,will be Saturday, March 7, at 9 pm. It willalso mark M83's debut at Walt Disney Concert Hall. JulianKuerti , Assistant Conductor of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, conducts. Tickets on sale today, January 30 at Laphil.com .

THE WHIGS TOUR DATES:



HEADLINING RUN:

March 4th Black Cat Washington, DC
March 5th The Note Philadelphia, PA
March 6th Paradise Boston, MA
March 7th Bowery Ballroom New York, NY
March 9th The Basement Columbus, OH
March 10th Magic Stick Detroit, MI
March 12th Birdys Indianapolis, IN
March 13th Bottom Lounge Chicago, IL
March 14th Fubar St. Louis, MO

Death Cab for Cutie Spring 2009 tour-