Summary: After years of humoring the idea it looks as if two of Hollywood's largest labor unions may actually merge. Detailing the history of SAG and AFTRA, Jonathan Handel (http://digitalmedialaw.blogspot.com/), a contributing editor at The Hollywood Reporter and an entertainment attorney, explains the reasons behind why the unions might want to merge and what it all means for the entertainment industry. The telecast of Super Bowl XLVI proved to be another ratings winner and as in previous years, is expected to be the most watched show of the year, if not all-time. Were audiences tuning in for the game or to watch Madonna's extravagant half-time show? Despite gaining a million subscribers last year the minuscule royalties paid by Spotify to independent musicians barely budged at all. Some industry veterans have grown weary of subscription music services and are advising they be used for promotional purposes only. We also cover the week's top entertainment headlines including a new CEO at Sony, why you won't see Bon Iver perform at the Grammys and how Facebook might turn U2's Bono into a billionaire. Super Bowl XLVI: No TV Ratings Record, According To Early Stats http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/tv-column/post/super-bowl-xlvi-no-tv-ratings-record/2012/02/06/gIQAVAD6tQ_blog.html (http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/tv-column/post/super-bowl-xlvi-no-tv-ratings-record/2012/02/06/gIQAVAD6tQ_blog.html) "Rango" Tops Annie Award Winners http://www.cartoonbrew.com/top/rango-tops-annie-award-winners.html (http://www.cartoonbrew.com/top/rango-tops-annie-award-winners.html) Kodak Asks Court to Remove Its Name From Oscars Theater http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/oscars-kodak-theater-academy-awards-286451 (http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/oscars-kodak-theater-academy-awards-286451) Survey Says: How Would Releasing Movies Earlier In The Home Impact Movie Spending and Piracy? http://www.btigresearch.com/2012/02/03/survey-says-how-would-releasing-movies-earlier-in-the-home-impact-movie-spending-and-piracy/ (http://www.btigresearch.com/2012/02/03/survey-says-how-would-releasing-movies-earlier-in-the-home-impact-movie-spending-and-piracy/) Spotify's Royalty Rate For Indie Artists Up Just $0.001 In 2011, Despite Big Subscriber Growth http://www.hypebot.com/hypebot/2012/02/spotifys-royalty-rate-grew-only-0001-for-indie-artists-in-2011.html (http://www.hypebot.com/hypebot/2012/02/spotifys-royalty-rate-grew-only-0001-for-indie-artists-in-2011.html) Bon Iver's Justin Vernon On (Not) Playing The Grammys http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/industry/branding/bon-iver-s-justin-vernon-on-not-playing-1006086352.story (http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/industry/branding/bon-iver-s-justin-vernon-on-not-playing-1006086352.story) ‘Watchmen’ Prequels: DC Dares To Expand On Classic http://herocomplex.latimes.com/2012/02/01/watchmen-prequels-dc-dares-to-expand-on-classic/#/0 (http://herocomplex.latimes.com/2012/02/01/watchmen-prequels-dc-dares-to-expand-on-classic/#/0) Daniel Radcliffe: My Days As ‘Messy Drunk’ Were Less Than Magical http://herocomplex.latimes.com/2012/02/03/daniel-radcliffe-my-days-as-messy-drunk-were-less-than-magical/ (http://herocomplex.latimes.com/2012/02/03/daniel-radcliffe-my-days-as-messy-drunk-were-less-than-magical/) Random House Will Raise Library E-Book Prices, But Commits To E-Book Lending http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/digital/content-and-e-books/article/50478-fair-trade-random-house-will-raise-library-e-book-prices-but-commits-to-e-book-lending.html (http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/digital/content-and-e-books/article/50478-fair-trade-random-house-will-raise-library-e-book-prices-but-commits-to-e-book-lending.html) George Harrison Guitar Collection Explored In New iPad App http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/music_blog/2012/01/george-harrison-guitar-app-ipad.html
