Sony Music

Sony Entertainment Inc. CEO Michael Lynton has renewed his contract. Lynton also is chairman and chief executive of Sony Pictures Entertainment. He joined Sony Pictures as chairman in January 2004. Lynton oversees Sony Pictures with Amy Pascal, co-chairman of the studio. He was appointed to the additional role of CEO of Sony Entertainment in March 2012. PHOTOS: Celebrities by The Times “I am grateful to work with some of the finest minds in the entertainment business, starting with my partner at Sony Pictures, Amy Pascal, as well as Doug Morris at Sony Music and Marty Bandier at Sony/ATV," Lynton said in a statement.

Two of the bigger rock bands of the past are suing over the future of their music. In a lawsuit filed Thursday in New York, the Allman Brothers Band and Cheap Trick allege that they and other groups are being shortchanged by Sony Music, a division of music giant Sony BMG, as digital music downloads explode. The suit seeks class-action status.

Thomas D. Mottola has been given the green light to usher Sony Music Entertainment into the 21st century. Mottola signed a five-year, multimillion-dollar contract this week with Sony Inc. to continue running the Japanese entertainment conglomerate's most profitable division. The move, which comes just four months after Sony President Nobuyuki Idei ousted Mottola's former boss Michael P. Schulhof, sends a signal to competitors that the Japanese conglomerate is pleased with Mottola's performance.

Only months after resolving a bitter battle over the company's top executive slot, Sony BMG Music Entertainment announced Thursday the departure of two of its senior-most executives. Don Ienner, an 18-year veteran of the company, stepped down as chairman of Sony Music Label Group U.S. less than three months after being promoted to the position. Michele Anthony, who joined Sony Music in 1990, resigned as president and chief operating officer. Company insiders said the two were forced out.

Sony BMG Music Entertainment was sued by the U.S. on Wednesday for collecting and disclosing personal data about 30,000 children without informing their parents. The Federal Trade Commission filed the civil lawsuit in federal court. The suit, which alleges violations of the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act, seeks unspecified damages and an injunction.

The recording industry is coming out of the closet. Sony Music said it was launching the first major music label dedicated to nurturing lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender artists. The label, Music With a Twist, is a joint venture with Wilderness Media & Entertainment, a company led by Matt Farber, who founded MTV Networks' new gay and lesbian channel Logo, which is available in an estimated 20 million homes.

Sony Loses Round in Court: A British court has ordered Sony Music Entertainment to turn over copies of the highly confidential recording contracts of such superstars as Barbra Streisand, Michael Jackson, Bruce Springsteen and the Rolling Stones. The action comes in response to a lawsuit brought by singer George Michael, who is asking the British court to nullify his contract with Sony. Michael is also asking that he be awarded the master copies of his recordings.