Apple Computer said Wednesday that its iTunes digital music store had sold more than 800,000 songs during its first week of operation in European markets. The news marked a strong start for the service in a region that is already substantially more competitive than the U.S. market was when iTunes initially launched in early 2003. The store opened its digital …

Having learned a thing or two about the guitar and songwriting, Geoff Byrd is practicing another instrument that could prove even more important to his musical career: the Internet. News.context What’s new: Independent musicians are augmenting traditional promotional methods such as touring, word of mouth, fan clubs and posters with Web sites, e-mail lists and blogs. Listener recommendations, online preview …

Executive ranks are shifting at MusicNow, the online music service that Circuit City Stores recently purchased. CEO Scott Kauffman will step down but will stay on the company’s management board. Co-founder Gary Cohen will take the company’s reins as president. No new CEO will be appointed, since the company is now inside Circuit City’s corporate infrastructure, a spokesman said.