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ASL Group (formerly known as Audiophile Systems Ltd.) announced December 19 that it had acquired Naim North America, the US distributor of Naim Audio and NaimNet, a deal that strengthens both ASL and Naim NA. Naim Audio's CEO Paul Stephenson said, "It's like going home, since we originally were distributed by Audiophile Systems when we first moved into the US."

Houston, Texas-based AstroJamshttp://www.astrojams.com/">AstroJams; is back online with Grateful Dead MP3s. The site shut">http://www.stereophile.com/news/10430/">shut down its offerings of Grateful Dead and Jerry Garcia Band downloads after receiving a cease-and-desist order from attorneys for Grateful Dead Productions in April. At issue was the site's use of advertising to generate revenue. GDP claims the sole legal right to commercial benefits stemming from the use of the band's music and logos, but had "never">http://www.stereophile.com/news/10440/">never objected" to the free sharing of music in the Dead tradition, according to Dennis McNally of GDP's publicity department.

What music lovers have suspected for months, and record labels vehemently deny, has apparently been confirmed by Forrester">http://www.forrester.com">Forrester Research: Piracy is not responsible for the 15% drop in music sales in the past two years. According to a new report from Forrester, "Labels can restore industry growth by making it easier for people to find, copy, and pay for music on their own terms."

Having a great product at a fair price is mandatory practice in the ever-competitive audio business. But getting the word out and placing those products in front of the customer is just as critical—some might argue, even more important. If this is true, then Canadian speaker company Athena has just made the score of a lifetime.

Theta Digital, the "Digital Done Right" pioneer of separate DACs and transports, has been sold to Amplifier Technologies, Inc. ATI has pledged to immediately begin work on selected Theta audiophile and home-theater products.

Next to join the online ATRAC parade, Warner">http://www.music.warnerbros.com/">Warner Music Group announced last week that it has agreed to license the ATRAC3 audio compression technology from Sonyhttp://www.sony.co.jp/">Sony;, for use in the electronic distribution of music. Warner says it expects to launch its electronic distribution business during the second half of 2000, using ATRAC3 on a non-exclusive basis.

Back in 1992, Stereophile got into the business of concert promotion when it booked Canadian pianist Robert Silverman for two evenings of recitals in order to record his performances for a live double CD, Concerthttp://www.stereophile.com/musicrecordings/315">Concert; (STPH005-2). We don't believe in rushing to repeat a success, so 15 years later, on February 10, we're promoting another concert, this time featuring Attention">http://www.myspace.com/attentionscreen">Attention Screen, the quartet led by Stereophile reviewer and jazz pianist Bob Reina.