HMV sacks workers painfully, clumsily

When HMV went into administration, management were quick to stress they'd continue business as usual, and yesterday's sacking of 190 staff at head office and across the distribution network was done in typical HMV style - management behaving carelessly and loading pain on top of humiliation.

The Guardian captured screenshots as staff got wind of what was happening, and took to Twitter:

But, you might be asking, how could the poor management at HMV know that Twitter would be seized by the people who were paying the price for their mistakes?

They might have had a clue from the official Twitter account of the Irish stores, which even now sports an angry cross and the name "Store closed":

There's also some pretty direct criticism of the HMV management, sitting there:

What's that? Maybe it wasn't an officially-sanctioned account, and perhaps the London HMV communications and management people didn't even know of its existence?

Unlikely, as here is a message from the account - sent in (marginally) happier times, but now carrying the piratical 'store closed' and grim cross - in HMV spokestwitterer Gennaro Castaldo's account:

My Chemical Romance dump their drummer

Apparently, My Chemical Romance are keen for people to not speculate over this:

Some shit happened last night and before the blogosphere gets all crazy with false statements and ridiculous opinions we want the true story to come from us... But please listen close because this is the only time we are ever going to talk about this. The relationship between My Chemical Romance and Michael Pedicone is over.

He was caught red handed stealing from the band and confessed to police after our show last night in Auburn, Washington. We are heartbroken and sick to our stomachs over this entire situation.

The band has no intention of pressing charges or taking this matter any further than we have to. We just want him out of our lives. The people who play in this band are a family, and family should not take advantage of each other like he did. We are currently moving forward, and hope to have a new drummer in place for our show in Salt Lake City, Utah. The show must go on.

Yes, that's not a statement which leaves any questions hanging in the air - like what was it he could possibly have "stolen" that was bad enough to demand a sacking, but not talking to the police? And is it entirely fair to dismiss an employee, brand him a thief, but not allow him either right of reply or the dignity of a proper investigation of the claims by the police?

There will be a £3.75 handling charge for delivery of the P45s

According to Fuckedstartups, Ticketmaster is about to axe over a third of their employees.

Seeded out: City drop drink-drive dj

Kev Seed, who has been with Radio City for over a decade, has been axed after pleading guilty to driving on the M6 while over the limit.

Seed is somewhat surprised, to say the least:

"I am in a state of total shock. After 11 years, I just did not expect this."

He's appealing against the decision.

Are there enough people left to fill EMI's latest job loss programme?

As Guy Hands continues to try and make sense of EMI's finances - a job we're sure he actually wanted this time last year - the Telegraph is reporting he's going to be cutting even more jobs than he originally planned to. Of the 4,500 staff he started with, he could be left with just 2,000:

People familiar with the situation said Mr Hands was looking to cut more jobs at the company because, even after the round of redundancies announced in January, the business will still have more employees generating less revenues than its competitors at Warner Music and Universal.

Of course, he could have tried to balance that out by raising revenue rather than reducing staff, but apparently sacking people is easier than making music people want to buy.

No more Ne-Yo

Having lost a PR person earlier in the week, R Kelly is now a support act down, too. Ne-Yo has been kicked off the tour several dates in; apparently some sort of contractual wrangle is at the heart of it all.

LiveNation boss gets slow handclap

After eight years with the company through a range of owners, Stuart Galbraith, hitherto Managing Director of the UK arm of LiveNation, has been bottled off by the company. A terse "breach of contract" has so far been the only public explanation.

Mother, you're fired

We don't know what Usher is planning to get his mum for the American Mother's Day this coming Sunday, but he's probably going to need to supersize it: he's just fired her. She had been his manager as well as his mom, but now Usher wants to build a wall, he says, between work and private life:

"She and I are on great terms and support each other in our life's endeavors. We are both very happy but are now working in different areas of the business," he said in a statement to The Associated Press. "This is great for me because it means I now get to have my mother strictly as my mother with no added pressure."

"At this time in my life, I am simply more interested in building the strength of my family. And in order to do that, I feel it's best to separate my business life from my personal life."

Let's hope Mrs. Usher doesn't decide to simplify her personal life by sacking her son in response.

Amy Lee: You're sacked - but don't tell anyone

After yesterday's description by John LeCompt of getting kicked out of Evanesence by Goth-Thatcher Amy Lee, now Rocky Gray has blogged about apparent attempts by Lee and her management to stop him doing the same:

"Amy Lee's management emailed me last night to tell me that, in their view, the contract I signed to record, perform and tour with the group says I'm not allowed to have any free speech in regard to Evanescence.

"They way they spin it, I'm not even allowed to say I quit the group, I guess. But the news is out there, so, there ya' go. I need to have a lawyer read over all that mess to tell me what, when and how I can tell you all- the REAL FANS- what really went down, if I ever can, haha."

Amy Lee, of course, is apparently the only person who she isn't trying to keep quiet. She's churned out a statement, too:

"Evanescence is alive and well. John and Rocky were in Evanescence for four years and we shared some great times together playing live, but they were ready to move on and so we have parted ways. Evanescence is something I have loved and nurtured since I was fourteen, and I will continue to protect and fight for it as I always have.

"Terry, Tim and I are very excited to play live with some amazing new musicians and we will rock harder than ever. Stay tuned for more news on that front. And don't worry about the tour, guys. Nothing will be cancelled and we will see you soon!"

It's not known if she delivered this statement, dressed in a wedding frock, from the top of a burning building, but we wouldn't be at all surprised.

Amy Lee loses another couple from Evanesence

The increasingly one-woman band that is Evanesence has lost a couple more members, with Amy Lee firing John LeCompt and Rocky Gray walking out in sympathy. LeCompt blogged about his cashiering:

"Around 3:30 pm yesterday I recieved a call on my cell from Amy. This call wasn't from a friend who appreciated me but from an enemy who was prepared to hurt me and my family. Without any warning or negotiotiations for my future, I was fired for no good reason. We have not always seen eye to eye on everything, but who does?

"Our common goal was always the same. To make Evanescence the best rock band it could ever be. I have always given blood, sweat and tears to make that happen but apparently that is not enough. I have now become just another of the people fallen by the wayside on the revolving door of her life. It's funny how many of us there are now. I guess it's good for lyrical content, though. Maybe I will be among the blessed to have a song written about me, too. Maybe the song will be 'Call Me When You're Broke'."

It's fascinating that Amy Lee seems to be going about becoming solo by a really circuitous route. She's always tried to play down the Christian origins of the band - presumably that's why she's behaving with so little compassion or charity.

Wouldn't you love to see LeCompt bring an unfair dismissal suit?