'Home' and 'Away' victories on European album chart.

Just four days after the $2.6 billion acquisition of Warner Music Group, one of the key members of the buyout team valued the music company's assets at $3.5 billion. Scott Sperling, managing director of Thomas H. Lee Partners, made that assessment in a keynote address today (March 4) at the 3rd annual Billboard Music & Money Symposium, held at the St. Regis Hotel in New York.

Koch Records signs a slew of new acts, including Melissa Manchester, Abra Moore and Jimmie's Chicken Shack.

Songwriter/producer Peter Kipley was named SESAC's 2003 christian songwriter of the year during an awards dinner Tuesday (March 2) at Nashville's Acorn restaurant. Kipley's "Word of God Speak," recorded by MercyMe, dominated the Christian radio airwaves in 2003. The Dallas native also penned MercyMe's "Spoken For."

A five-month boycott of Rolling Stones product at HMV Canada will end tomorrow (March 4), when the 100-store chain begins restocking titles by the rock legends. The move follows an online survey of 3,000 Canadians, which indicated continuing interest in seeing the band's CDs back on HMV shelves.

While total U.S. shipments were down 7.2% last year, a strong fourth quarter at retail helped stem the tide. According to figures released today (March 4) by the RIAA, the U.S. industry shipped 798.4 million units last year to all channels, including direct and special markets. In value terms, total shipments declined 6% from the previous year, to $11.9 billion.