Although the deal was <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com/news/11038/">announced</A&gt; by both companies only weeks ago, it appears that <A HREF="http://www.audioadvisor.com">Audio Advisor</A> will in fact not be distributing Musical Fidelity products in the US after September 1. In AA's place, Musical Fidelity has chosen Kevro International as the exclusive US distributor for its complete line of electronic products. According to Kevro International spokesperson Kathy Ginn, "Musical Fidelity [has] chosen to market [its] products through independent specialists rather than [continue] their previous approach [of distributing the line] through mail order and the Internet. And, unfortunately, AA will no longer be a dealer."

<A HREF="http://www.umusic.com">Universal Music Group</A> and <A HREF="http://www.wmg.com">Warner Music Group</A> are more than friendly competitors, in the view of the <A HREF="http://www.ftc.gov">Federal Trade Commission</A>. They are also partners in crime, according to charges filed against the two on July 31 in New York.

The <A HREF="http://www.nab.org">National Association of Broadcasters</A> has lost a round in its fight to avoid paying royalties for music streamed over the Internet.

Like the proverbial camel who took over the tent after getting just his nose in, it appears that once copy protection is given an inch, it will inevitably try to get in all the way. At least that's how it appears with an increasing variety of CD copy protection systems now currently being tested <I>en masse</I> by the major record labels. Latest to announce a new "evaluation agreement" is BMG Entertainment, which will use and evaluate SunnComm's MediaCloQ "digital content cloaking technology", first put to the test earlier in the year on a Charley Pride CD (<A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com/news/11004/">see previous</A>).

"He's putting the drums in the <I>rear</I> channels?!?"

Sharp Electronics has announced a new lineup of "one-bit" digital amplifiers that may herald a new generation of audio products.

Larry Greenhill says he'll never forget his first encounter with the <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com//loudspeakerreviews/382/">Krell LAT-1 loudspeaker</A> at a meeting of the Westchester Audiophile Society. Suitably impressed, Greenhill reports, "I'd been bitten. I made arrangements to continue the audition in my own listening room." His complete analysis awaits.

A "digital rights management" (DRM) company has been awarded a patent for its "tickets" to Internet-based entertainment. Bethesda, MD&ndash;based <A HREF="http://www.contentguard.com">ContentGuard Holdings, Inc.</A> announced July 27 that it has been granted a patent for its "digital ticket" system, which allows users access to digital entertainment&mdash;music, video, graphics, and e-books&mdash;from any Internet-connected device.

If you haven't seen much in the mainstream press about the new satellite radio services from XM and Sirius, both poised to launch before the end of the year, you soon will. First out of the chute with the big media bucks, <A HREF="http://www.xmradio.com">XM Satellite Radio</A> unveiled last week its national advertising campaign called "Radio to the Power of X."