"We do not want to fight and boycott your company but we will." That's the message/threat from some 150 artists and songwriters—including PAUL MCCARTNEY, KATY PERRY, CHARLIE PUTH and STEVEN TYLER—to SIRIUSXM as the MUSIC MODERNIZATION ACT heads for a vote in the US SENATE. (One constituency largely missing from that artists/songwriters appeal, though: current pop and hip-hop stars. Why?) SiriusXM is the last significant holdout to a sweeping bill that would overhaul the royalties collection system in the US, and which has bipartisan support across both CONGRESS and the music industry minus the digital radio giant. The MMA could come up for a voice vote in the Senate anytime this week, and while it appears likely to pass, passage isn't guaranteed. And a failure this late in a legislative session could leave the music business with "a major mess in its hands," BILLBOARD's ROBERT LEVINE writes. The musician and songwriting community persuaded SESAC, another holdout, to withdraw its objections a month ago, but SiriusXM, which opposes the way the bill handles pre-1972 recordings and which says the bill favors terrestrial radio over satellite radio, continues to fight. Sirius says. Record companies say. Sirius says. Publishers say. Soul legend says. Singer-songwriter legend says. War is declared. Can one large state successfully hold out against the other 49? MusicSET: "Money for Something: Debating the Music Modernization Act"... MARTIN BANDIER officially stepping down at SONY/ATV, not without intrigue... PUJA PATEL stepping up at PITCHFORK... This past weekend was a horrific one at music festivals around the world: Seven dead and five in comas in Hanoi, Vietnam, apparently after taking the same, unspecific drug during the TRIP TO THE MOON electronic dance festival. Two dead in Sydney, Australia, of suspected overdoses during the DEFQON.1 festival. Two dead at the LOST LANDS fest in Thornville, Ohio, from still-unknown causes. Hanoi officials have banned all dance music festivals while an investigation is under way, and the premier of New South Wales says, "We will do everything we can to shut [Defqon.1] down"... JEREMY DUTCHER wins Canada's POLARIS MUSIC PRIZE... How is this even a question?... RIP JAZZTIMES founder IRA SABIN.