According to a study presented at the 42nd International Computer Music Conference, when music is compressed into MP3 form, it tends to sound more "mysterious, shy, scary and sad." Happy songs sound less happy, and sad songs sound sadder. The researchers "suggest that the background noise added by low-quality compression could be what intensifies the negative emotions," reports NME.

Jay Z wanted to manage Prince's music

According to court documents released Tuesday, Jay Z’s company Roc Nation made a bid to be selected as the manager of Prince’s musical assets after the icon's death. A proposal from Roc Nation cited Prince's rapport and shared values with Jay Z. "However," notes the Associated Press, "Bremer Trust in June instead chose L. Londell McMillan, Prince's longtime attorney, manager and friend, and business executive Charles Koppelman to manage Prince's music."

Today's benefit concert news

Two January concerts will benefit Planned Parenthood and the ACLU. Sharon Van Etten, Beirut, and Daniel Rossen of Grizzly Bear are among the performers booked for the New York City shows, which support "two charities whose important work will only become more vital in the years to come," according to the organizers. (Pitchfork)

On Dec. 18 in Los Angeles, artists including Fiona Apple, TV On The Radio, and Devendra Banhart will play a show to benefit the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, who are protesting a planned route for the Dakota Access Pipeline. (Pitchfork)

Apple has also shared a politically pointed rewrite of "The Christmas Song." In Apple's version, she sings, "Everybody knows some money and entitlement can help to make the season white/ Mothers of color with their kids out of sight will find it hard to sleep at night." You can hear the protest carol at Pitchfork.

Surprise bestseller: Mozart

Who's sold more CDs than any other artist in 2016? No, it's not Adele: it's Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, who's sold more than 1.25 million CDs as part of what's been called the largest box set of all time: a 200-disc collection of the composer's complete works. Selling 1.25 million discs at 200 per set means that 6,250 copies of the whopping collection have been sold. (Billboard)

Dolly preps "Jolene" TV movie

After the success of last year's TV movie adaptation of her autobiographical song "Coat of Many Colors," and last week's holiday-themed sequel, Dolly Parton says that her next TV movie will be inspired by her 1973 classic "Jolene." The movie won't sugarcoat the actions of the fictional temptress. "I can't hold back on who Jolene is," says Parton. (Rolling Stone)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b9re90HG2dw

This year's strangest music collectibles

This news item takes a little explaining. "Caganers," according to Consequence of Sound, "are little figures depicted with theirs pants down, squatting and defecating on the ground. In the Catalonia region of Spain and other Catalan cultures, the little [figures] appear hidden in or around nativity scenes as a means to either represent fertility of the Earth or the 'outsider' spoiling ornamental extravagance, depending on your source."

Celebrity Caganers are common, and one Spanish site is selling figures depicting Madonna, Bono, Bruce Springsteen (in signature '80s headband), Michael Jackson, Shakira, Freddie Mercury, Dire Straits’ Mark Knopfler (also in signature headband), Elton John, Mick Jagger, John Lennon, and — yes — even Prince, all in traditional Caganer pose.

Madonna teases minivan jam

Speaking of Madonna, she's going to be James Corden’s next guest on Carpool Karaoke. (NME)