archives

o EMusic in Preliminary Deal to be Acquired for $25 Million
o Yahoo to Offer "Duet" Streaming Music Service from Sony, Universal
o Napster More Popular Among Web Users in Canada, Argentina than in U.S.
o Listen.com Acquires Streaming Services Provider TuneTo.com
o EMI Licenses Songs to HitHive for Wireless Music Service
o Vitaminic Re-launches IUMA, Covers Unpaid Artist Royalties
> Digital Media Wire Panels: "Digital Copyright Crossroads" - LA, D.C.
o Briefly Noted: Accenture - ContentGuard, Video Networks - Universal
Studios, Entertainment Network - Timothy McVeigh, MoodLogic, "Leader of
the Bandwidth?", "Digital songfest could fall flat," eUniverse -
Listen.com
_____________________________________________

> Job Postings: Copywriter, Researcher/Editor, Acct. Executive,
Content Writer

> Events/Services: "Call for Entries: Short Attention Span Festival"

Full Job/Event descriptions listed below "Briefly Noted" section or at
http://www.digitalmediawire.com/postings.html

To Post a Job: http://www.digitalmediawire.com/jobs.html
To Post an Event: http://www.digitalmediawire.com/events.html
_____________________________________________

o EMusic in Preliminary Deal to be Acquired for $25 Million

Redwood City, Calif. -- Downloadable music retailer EMusic announced on
Thursday that it has entered into a letter of intent to be acquired by a
"major publicly-held media company" in a cash transaction valued at about
$25 million. The Washington Post reported that Vivendi's Universal, which
owns Universal Music Group, is the company that will buy EMusic. The $25
million figure is based on a proposed acquisition price of $0.57 per
share. The deal is subject to due diligence and other requirements.
Redwood City-based EMusic also announced that it will likely receive a
notice that it will be delisted from the Nasdaq, which it plans to appeal.
The company's stock has been trading below the Nasdaq's $1 minimum
requirement since October.
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/010405/sfth059.html
http://washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A41066-2001Apr4.html
http://www.emusic.com
_____________________________________________

o Yahoo to Offer "Duet" Streaming Music Service from Sony, Universal

Santa Clara, Calif. -- Yahoo announced on Thursday that it will be a
provider of the Duet subscription-based music service being created by
Vivendi Universal's Universal Music Group and Sony Music Entertainment.
The companies said the service is expected to launch this summer, and will
initially offer on-demand streaming music and video, with the ability to
download songs coming later. Duet will offer users the ability to create
streaming playlists and share these lists with other users, among other
things. Sony and Universal have said that they are seeking to license
music from other major labels for the service, and will license Duet to
other online music providers.
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/010405/2055.html
http://music.yahoo.com
_____________________________________________

o Napster More Popular Among Web Users in Canada, Argentina than in U.S.

New York -- A greater percentage of Web users in Canada, Argentina, Spain
and Brazil are using Napster at home than do in the U.S., according to a
report released Thursday by analyst firm Jupiter Media Metrix. Overall,
the report found that 14.3 percent of people online used Napster in
February, based on figures from 13 wired countries. Napster's Canadian
audience reach in February 2001 was 30.3 percent, Argentina's was 25.0
percent, Spain's was 23.8 percent and Brazil's was 18.8 percent, compared
with 16 percent in America. The U.S. recorded the greatest number of
Napster users overall though, with 13.6 million at-home users in February.
"Napster's phenomenal global growth points to its user-driven nature… It
is one of the few real-time global marketplaces of culture," said Jupiter
analyst Dannielle Romano.
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/010405/nyth037_3.html
http://www.mediametrix.com
_____________________________________________

o Listen.com Acquires Streaming Services Provider TuneTo.com

San Francisco -- Listen.com, an entertainment site and syndicator of music
editorial content and media delivery technologies, announced on Thursday
that it has acquired TuneTo.com, a provider of streaming media services.
Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Redwood City-based
TuneTo.com's technology offers "near CD-quality" music that uses a
combination of streaming and caching to reduce the amount of bandwidth
needed to provide better quality streams, while reducing associated costs.
San Francisco-based Listen.com said that it will explore using
TuneTo.com's technology to provide music on-demand subscription services
and for streaming music over wireless connections.
http://www.listen.com
http://www.tuneto.com
_____________________________________________

o EMI Licenses Songs to HitHive for Wireless Music Service

Seattle -- HitHive, a developer of wireless music delivery services,
announced on Thursday that it has licensed songs from EMI Recorded Music
for its service, which allows users to "share" songs with one another.
Users who receive songs are allowed a limited number of times to listen to
the file before they are asked to buy the song or album, and have it
automatically loaded into a personal locker account with Seattle-based
HitHive. Currently, there are no wireless providers offering the HitHive
music sharing service, although Sprint PCS has partnered with the company
to develop an offering.
http://www.hithive.com/B2B/releases.html#release13
http://www.emigroup.com
_____________________________________________

o Vitaminic Re-launches IUMA, Covers Unpaid Artist Royalties

San Francisco -- Vitaminic, the online music provider that recently
acquired the Internet Underground Music Archive (IUMA), announced on
Thursday the re-launch of the IUMA service for unsigned musicians. San
Francisco-based Vitaminic has re-hired IUMA's top management, including
founder Jeff Patterson, who will join the company's San Francisco
operations. The company also said it will begin accepting new artists to
the IUMA service, and will reimburse all unpaid IUMA artist royalties for
the fourth quarter of 2000, when IUMA was operating without funding and
could not pay its artists.
http://www.vitaminic.com
_____________________________________________

> Digital Media Wire Panels: Hollywood, CA and Washington, D.C.

"Digital Copyright Crossroads:
Does Digital Rights Management Have The Right of Way?"

Hollywood | Sponsored by Jones Day Reavis & Pogue

MODERATOR:
- Jim Griffin, CEO of Cherry Lane Digital, Founder of Evolab,
Co-founder of the 'pho' list

PANELISTS:
- Scott Dinsdale, EVP of Digital Strategy, Motion Picture Association
(MPA)
- Russell Frackman, Attorney, Mitchell Silberberg & Knupp LLP,
Lead counsel for the RIAA in their litigation vs. Napster
- Robin Gross, Attorney, Fair Use & Intellectual Property,
Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF)
- Jonathan Potter, Executive Director, Digital Media Association (DiMA)

*Additional panelists TBA.
Date: Wednesday, April 25th, 2001
For more information and to register:
http://www.digitalmediawire.com/panel2.html
Sponsorships >> Michael Hoinski at michael@digitalmediawire.com

- - - - -
Washington, D.C.

SPEAKERS:
- Fritz Attaway, EVP & Washington General Counsel,
Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA)
- Russell Frackman, Attorney, Mitchell Silberberg & Knupp LLP,
Lead counsel for the RIAA in their litigation vs. Napster
- Jonathan Potter, Executive Director, Digital Media Association (DiMA)

*Additonal panelists TBA.
Date: Wednesday, May 9th, 2001
http://www.digitalmediawire.com/panel2.html
Sponsorships >> Michael Hoinski at michael@digitalmediawire.com
_____________________________________________

o Briefly Noted:

(New York) Technology consulting firm Accenture announced on Thursday that
it has partnered with Maryland-based ContentGuard to offer its clients
digital rights management technologies. The technologies will be used by
entertainment providers to regulate the distribution of their e-books,
music and video content online.
http://www.accenture.com
http://www.contentguard.com

(Universal City, Calif.) Video Networks, a U.K.-based provider of
entertainment on-demand, announced on Thursday a partnership with
Universal Studios International B.V. Under the terms, Universal will offer
movies and TV programs for Video Networks' closed-network, home video
on-demand service.
http://www.videonetworks.com/

(Tampa, Fla.) Entertainment Network, Inc. said on Thursday that it has
filed suit against the U.S. Bureau of Prisons for not allowing it to
provide a live webcast of the execution of Oklahoma City bomber Timothy
McVeigh on the Internet. The suit seeks a restraining order and injunction
against the bureau from enforcing its decision not to allow the webcast.
The company said that if allowed to webcast the execution, it would use
technology to prevent minors from viewing the event, and give proceeds to
families of the bombing victims. Florida-based Entertainment Network also
operates the adult websites VoyeurDorm.com and DudeDorm.com.
http://www.entertainmentnetwork.com/mcveigh.html
http://www.entertainmentnetwork.com

(San Francisco) MoodLogic, a provider of music search, recommendation and
management technologies, announced on Thursday that it will offer a
"datafeed" service to music retailers, content aggregators and
subscription services. The service will give users the ability to navigate
and organize vast music libraries on the basis of song qualities such as
tempo, genre, mood and instrumentation. San Francisco-based MoodLogic
recently integrated its music information into the Muze music database.
http://www.moodlogic.com

(Los Angeles) The Los Angeles Times on Thursday featured an interview with
Kevin Conroy, AOL's chief of music operations. The article discusses what
Conroy's role will be in AOL Time Warner's digital music distribution
plans, including its recent announcement that it would partner with
RealNetworks, EMI and BMG on a subscription service.
http://www.latimes.com/business/20010404/t000028663.html

(San Francisco) CNET featured an analysis of the digital music industry on
Thursday that focused on the task the major labels are facing with
launching their music subscription services -- asking users to pay for
what used to be free on services like Napster. The article notes that the
format the music comes in will be key, adding that consumers have embraced
MP3s and may be reluctant to adopt formats that restrict how they can use
their music files.
http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1005-200-5510393.html?tag=tp_pr

(Los Angeles) Interactive entertainment network eUniverse said on Thursday
that it has partnered with San Francisco-based Listen.com to create a
co-branded site to offer its users a music video guide, download
directory, radio stations and music news and reviews. Los Angeles-based
eUniverse will promote the site on its network of websites.
http://listen.euniverse.com

===================================================
Job Postings:
===================================================
To Post Jobs: http://www.digitalmediawire.com/jobs.html

> nFusion Group, Copywriter - Austin, Texas

nFusion Group is seeking a Copywriter to write copy for Web sites, sales
collateral material and email newsletters. Ideal candidate will combine
strong written communications skills with a demonstrated ability to
clearly articulate key client messages. 2-3 years experience writing
marketing communications copy. B2B communications experience a plus. Send
resumes to employment@nfusiongroup.com
http://www.nfusiongroup.com
______________________

> Sekani, Researcher/Editor - Los Angeles

Top West LA broadband media and stock footage company seeks
RESEARCHER/EDITOR to join our team. Candidate should have a discerning eye
for images, should have high energy and great organizational skills.
Related experience and BA preferred. Computer and Internet savvy a must.
Send resume and salary requirements to hr@sekani.com
http://www.sekani.com
______________________

> Corbis Stock Market, Account Executive - New York City

Seeking sales rep. to grow & service business selling stock photography to
creatives at advertising & design firms. Candidate will possess a minimum
of 2 years business-to-business sales experience, is Internet savvy &
service driven. Excellent phone presence, computer friendly and a team
player. Negotiating and listening skills are very important. Send resume
w/ salary history to: bridget@corbisstockmarket.com
http://www.corbisstockmarket.com
______________________

> Vendaria, Inc., Content Writer - Seattle

The Content Writer will be part of our Media Services Group who is in
charge of the content related to our clients' products. Research & write
scripts for short-form product video clips for streaming applications.
2-years of professional copywriting experience in direct-response
advertising or E-retail web sites. Knowledge of the streaming media
production cycle is preferred. Send resume to jobs@vendaria.com
http://www.vendaria.com

===================================================
Event Postings:
===================================================
To Post Events: http://www.digitalmediawire.com/events.html

> Call for Entries: Short Attention Span Festival

The Ninth Annual Short Attention Span Film and Video Festival will travel
to 30 cities in the U.S. and Canada. Entries up to 2 minutes TRT will be
accepted. This year there is NO ENTRY FEE! Cash prizes and all kinds of
other good stuff will be awarded to the lucky winners.
Official Entry Form: http://www.shortspan.com/submit_work/index.cfm
ACT NOW! DEADLINE IS APRIL 15TH!!!
______________________

To subscribe, go to:
http://www.digitalmediawire.com

Questions or comments? Send email to:
mark@digitalmediawire.com

News tips, press releases. Send email to:
editorial@digitalmediawire.com