Spotify has announced a new player with a variety of new social features that allow users to connect and share music on Facebook.

Check out this YouTube video mashup of the Top 25 Billboard Hits for 2009 by DJ Earworm.

I received an email reminder today about this video from Brooklyn indie-rock artist, Ariel Aparicio; it's a cover of the Psychedlic Furs punk classic Pretty In Pink. The original rock number featured on his latest album, All These Brillian Things, is a beautiful ode to a friend stricken with cancer. Pocketknife turned that sweet, melodic version into a synthetic house number with a noticeably darker, yet resonant flavor. Ariel's guitarist from his back up band provided a few licks, while Pocketknife laid down sublime, moody electronic instrumentation.

Google and Facebook will be adding music to their offerings through agreements with iLike.com, Lala.com and Imeem.com. According to a NY Times blog post, next Wednesday, Google will announce a new feature of its popular search engine that will return with search results music files hosted by a iLike and Lala. If a user types in a search for Tiesto or Kaskade, the search results will provide links to pop-up music players and the user may stream the tracks directly from the search engine, without having to go to the site's themselves.

Beatport shuts down its affiliate program leaving partner sites with no explanation and no where to turn. Just another blunder on a long list of customer service and business development decisions that could have a long term, detrimental impact on the popular DJ download service.