universal music group

meltdowns
The fake crisis that's killing startups
Ever heard of Uber.com? Join the club. But the Los Angeles-based social networking startup now says it's a victim of "the crisis in the economy." Investors like Discovery Communications and Universal Music Group, which sunk up to $7.6 million in the social network-turned-publishing platform, want what's left of their money back. Discovery's investment came just last May, with the company looking to use the site for its Miami Ink and LA Ink shows on TLC. But was it really the economic meltdown, or just investors coming to their senses? More »

9:00 AM on Fri Sep 26 2008
By Jackson West
3,676 views, 18 comments

Most discussed Shadowlayer: "Artist and designer Glenn Kaino originally envisioned the site as a social network for jetset hipsters" Full of FAIL! I tell more »
copyfight
Prince can't keep babies from dancing on YouTube
U.S. District Judge Jeremy Fogel has ruled that fair use — a complex set of exemptions to copyright meant to allow for commentary, criticism, and parody — must be taken into consideration before rightsholders request the removal of infringing content from websites like YouTube. The improper takedown suit was brought by Stephanie Lenz after Universal Music Group asked the popular video-sharing site to remove a clip of Lenz's then 13-month old son dancing to party-jam classic "Let's Go Crazy" by his purple majesty, the pied piper of Minneapolis, Prince. Lenz and her lawyers from the Electronic Frontier Foundation can now proceed with their case seeking damages against Universal for issuing an improper takedown request.

11:20 AM on Thu Aug 21 2008
By Jackson West
289 views, 5 comments

Latest by WagCurious: I was going to prove how happy I am with these guys by raising my Adwords bid on "film and more »
music
Buzznet receives $25 million from Universal Music Group
Los Angeles-based social network Buzznet finally confirmed a long-rumored investment from Universal Music Group, which PaidContent earlier reported to be around $25 million, brining the total invested in the company to over $32 million. The social network, which has been focused on music fans from the start, has also become quite acquisitive, picking up popular music blog Stereogum and, most recently, Gawker Media title Idolator. And they may be looking to add more, according to an email published by The Daily Swarm. (Via Tech Confidential)

4:40 PM on Thu Apr 17 2008
By Jackson West
632 views, Comment
digital music
What MySpace Music backers don't get: Recorded music is no longer a product, but advertising
Shawn "Jay Z" Carter signing with LiveNation demonstrates that one of the most entrepreneurial artists of our generation has decided that the business of recording music is advertising. The No. 1 digital music retailer, iTunes, has understood this for some time — Apple sells iPods, and iTunes is a service to make it relatively cheap and easy to fill those iPods. Carter will be happy to make a little chump change from digital sales, but the MC knows the real money is in branded events and merchandise. What the labels call "piracy" is actually free distribution of promotional material, and such a model is not without precedent. More »

11:20 AM on Fri Apr 4 2008
By Jackson West
2,004 views, 4 comments

Latest by PhilWil: ok... here we go. Live Nation has it right. I have noticed this since back in the day... not sure how more »
digital music
Qtrax spends $1 million to tout free online downloads -- but record industry begs to differ
Free P2P music service Qtrax launched at Cannes yesterday with the support of all four major labels: Warner, Universal, EMI and Sony BMG. Or so Qtrax claimed in its announcement, a star-laden extravaganza which reportedly cost $1 million. But Silicon Alley Insider reports that Warner, Universal, EMI, and Sony are only in negotiations with Qtrax and have not settled on final terms. More »

12:20 PM on Mon Jan 28 2008
By Nicholas Carlson
404 views, 1 comment

Latest by scoobydoo: All you have to do is read their website (the corporate one): [www.ltdnetwork.com] Once you see all the BS terms they more »
Universal Music Group has partnered with Nokia to provide a subscription music service to mobile phones. Unlike PC-based subscription services such as Napster, Nokia's offering will let users keep any music downloaded after their one-year subscription expires. Of course what they don't tell you is how much this will cost, or limits on numbers of downloads. [Digital Music News]

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doug morris
The world's stupidest recording exec, in easy-to-read comics format
In one interview with Universal Music Group CEO Doug Morris, Wired was able to unravel years of consumer perplexity at the record labels' digital naiveté. Why, exactly, were they being so stupid about selling music online? Morris not only likened the music business to a Shmoo, but he also admitted that he (nor, apparently, anyone in the industry) understands technology. In case his rambling about faucets that produce Coca-Cola were too confusing, Joel Watson has broken the interview down into more understandable terms with his Web comic Hijinks Ensue. More »

1:30 PM on Thu Nov 29 2007
By Mary Jane Irwin
759 views, 1 comment

Latest by Columbiagirl: I could have told you they don't understand technology. Heck, they don't understand business. At Columbia we had "guest speakers" more »
"We make a lot of money from him, and suddenly you're wearing golden handcuffs. We would hate to give up that income." — Universal Music Group chief Doug Morris, on why Universal won't leave Apple's iTunes store anytime soon. Steve Jobs does have an interesting relationship with his girlfriends, doesn't he? [The Register]

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digital music
Is Universal's Doug Morris the stupidest recording exec ever?
Earlier this month Edgar Bronfman, the mogul behind Warner Music Group, copped to starting the current file-sharing war between the recording industry and consumers, blaming the business's "glacial" adoption of digital sales. If the recording industry ever needed a poster boy for its digital naiveté, it could sign up Universal Music Group's Doug Morris. Seth Mnookin spent an afternoon with Morris on behalf of Wired magazine. Along with equating the music industry to a Shmoo, Morris blamed college students for stealing music while admitting he's ignorant of technology. More »

2:49 PM on Tue Nov 27 2007
By Mary Jane Irwin
1,141 views, 6 comments

Latest by mandarin: Only a matter of time these guys will be out in the streets... Know nothing about technology? Study up just more »
"There was a cartoon character years ago called the Shmoo. It was in Li'l Abner. The Shmoo was a nice animal, a nice fella, but if you were hungry, you cut off a piece of him and put onions on it, and if you wanted to play football you just made him like a football. You could do anything to him. That's what was happening to the music business. Everyone was treating the music business like it was a Shmoo." — Universal Music Group CEO Doug Morris, on the "opportunities of digital music." [Wired]

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