Music industry news from Hypebot:

This week EMI ousted long time head Eric Nicoli, but new owners Terra Fima have plans to cut further.

The Japanese paid download market is softening. Is this the start of a worldwide trend?

Apple is aggressively fighting off the competition with bigger hard drives and WiFi on some iPod models, lower iPhone prices and a new over the air music store including free access at all Starbucks.

What MySpace can learn from Google and how it could change the new music business. (more) Be sure to read the comments section.

Amazon appears to be a week or two away from finally opening its mp3-only download store.

Rhapsody has created an MP3 Directory to make it easier to find DRM-free product in its download store.

Sony is shutting down its Connect online music store.

mtvU and Cisco’s Digital Incubator name finalists in college web 2.0 contest including RapHappy.

Indie music community is joining together to help LI, NY retailer Looney Tunes which was devastated in a fire last week.  Get involved!

See ProHipHop’s Hypebot Industry News category for past roundups.