Music Biz
Commentary on Music Industry Figures & Happenings
Elio Speaks: What, Me Worry?
The following is an internal memo from EMI’sElio Leoni-Sceti to his staff: Dear all: Over the past couple of days, there have been some misleading and inaccurate media reports about EMI’s financial position. You may receive questions from artists and business partners. The facts are as follows: EMI’s financial structure EMI has an extremely stable and flexible financial structure.... »
EMI Tapped Out
The Wall Street Journal reported last week that Terra Firma had to put up another $44.8 million to bail out EMI. Of course everyone at EMI didn’t know about it because they’ve been forced to cancel their subscriptons to the WSJ in cost cutting moves. So this brings Terra Firma’s investment in EMI to... »
Commentary: Are Record Labels Having A Sunni Awakening?
The Brits released the results of a new study yesterday claiming that 7 million people in the UK are illegally file sharing, costing the economy billions of pounds. Consequently the Strategic Advisory Board for Intellectual Property (SABIP) says it may be hard to change attitudes. Duh. You think? This is news? Give me a... »
EMI: Cost Cutting For Fun And Profit
Amidst all the bad news for record companies lately, the newly reconstituted EMI was bubbly last week when the company announced a $246 million profit. Of course that profit was a direct result of massive cost cutting. And from what I hear, the cuts are very, very deep. A buddy of mine was visiting the... »
Why Is Junior Smiling? Because He Won The Gene Pool Lottery
A few short weeks ago, Goldman Sachs analyst Ingrid Chung gave Warner Music some big love. She upgraded her rating of Warner stock, giving it a 14.6% bump in one day, sending shares from an April 13 opening of $3.08 to a close at $3.53. Chung saved some extra big hugs for Junior, saying... »
Coldplay Does It Again!! Here Comes Another Lawsuit
I’m sure you recall that pablum rockers Coldplay have been accused of plagiarizing their biggest hit “Viva La Vida” not by one other songwriter, but two. Guitarist Joe Satriani filed a lawsuit and Brooklyn band Creaky Boards also accused the band of stealing their stuff. Well, according to a report in the Brit... »
Breaking News: Coldplay Tries To Get Hip
Wimp soft rockers Coldplay are trying to get hip by giving away their new CD. Fans who attend one of their upcoming North American tour dates will get a free copy of their new live album The CD, called “LeftRightLeftRightLeft,” will also be available as a free download through the band’s website www.coldplay.com This isn’t the... »
Pissed Off Musicians Take Center Stage; NMS Comes Back To Life
My old buddy Tom Silverman is reviving the New Music Seminar, a seminal music biz event that was last held in 1995. Tommy, along with two other guys, founded the New Music Seminar in 1980 and grew it into a must attend annual gathering. The revived NMS will be held in NY on July... »
Beyonce Redeemed: YouTube Video Fake
Yes, the video that made the rounds yesterday of Beyonce shrieking through “If I Were A Boy” on the Today Show last November is a fake. Matthew Zeghibe, a 26 year-old computer arts student from Connecticut, admitted that he faked the whole thing with a little pitch correction software. Why did he do it?... »
Subscribe
The Music Void
- Parasite Non Promoters Part 2
- EXCLUSIVE: Video Interview – Vanessa Thomas (SVP Sales) and David Bakula (SVP Analytics) of Nielsen Entertainment Canada
- EXCLUSIVE: Video Interview – Mark Ramsey, President of MRM
- Job: iTunes Label Business Manager – Apple Inc (CA, US)
- Exclusive: Q & A with Thomas Reemer, Chairman of 88tc88