plus: Christian music sales grow. Joey Ramone [ tickets ] Place. Can guitarist dead at 53. Anti-copying snafu leads BMG-UK to replace CDs. Vivendi Universal consolidates. Lisa Loeb [ tickets ] ponders baking at concerts.

Elvis Presley Enterprises laid off 50 employees--about 15% of its workforce--because of declining attendance at Graceland since the Sept. 11 attacks. The Memphis Commercial Appeal reported that the number of visitors to Presley's mansion has declined by at least 15%.

Sales of contemporary Christian and gospel music have increased by 20% since the Sept. 11 attacks, according to the Christian Music Trade Organization.

A sign reading "Joey Ramone Place"--named for the late Ramones frontman--will be erected at the corner of East Second Street and the Bowery in New York--a site near the famous punk club CBGB--sometime next year.

Guitarist Michael Karoli, 53, of the experimental German act Can, died on Saturday (11/17), according to Spoon Records. According to a posting on the website of his bandmate Holger Czukay, Karoli died unexpectedly in his home "while playing his favorite instrument." No further details could be immediately confirmed.

People in the United Kingdom who purchased Natalie Imbruglia's recent CD "White Lilies Island" and found that its anti-copying technology prevented them from playing the CD in their CD or DVD players can call a hotline established by major label BMG and get a replacement copy, CNet.com reported.

From a press release issued by major label Vivendi Universal:

Vivendi Universal announced today [11/19] the formation of U.S.-based Vivendi Universal Net USA Group, Inc. ...

The company's charter is to consolidate Vivendi Universal's music, games, and educational web sites under a single management structure. The new company will be based in Los Angeles.

Websites under Vivendi's umbrella include MP3.com, EMusic.com, GetMusic.com and RollingStone.com.

The Los Angeles Times reported that Lisa Loeb is "contemplating having a real oven onstage for shows on her 2002 tour, so she can actually bake a pie during each concert. It would be a natural play on the title of the album, 'Cake and Pie,' due for U.S. release on Feb. 26."