archives

o Launch Media Lays Off 25%, Cancels Expansion; Will Raise $5 Million
o "Acoustic Fingerprint" Software Firm Cantametrix Lays Off 55% of Staff
o Wireless Entertainment Software Firm Jamdat Gets Investment from Sun
o Digital Video Firm iPIX Gets Funding Commitments of $30 Million
o EMI Music Asia, GigaMedia to Launch Subscription Digital Music Service
o CD-Burner Software Firm Roxio Begins Trading on Nasdaq
o Digital Asset Management Firm iBase Raises $6 Million
o Tribune Media Services Buys Majority Interest in TV Data Technologies
o Business Streaming Services Provider Ten TV Raises $5 Million
> Digital Media Wire Seminar: E-Publishing - NYC
o Briefly Noted: RealArcade, Sony Electronics Content Developer Program,
Quincy Jones - XM Satellite Radio, iUniverse.com - Microsoft, Third Stream
Media - Muze, File-sharing "spyware"
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> Job Postings: PR Account Director, Desktop Publisher, Strategic Alliance
Manager, Copy Writing Project Coordinator

> Events/Services: "The SIBL Project Songwriting Contest,"
"SpyWorm's SEX* Awards," "Sensory Circus"

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 Launch Media Lays Off 25%, Cancels Expansion; Will Raise $5 Million

Santa Monica, Calif. -- Launch Media, a provider of streaming audio and
video music-related entertainment, announced on Monday that it will lay
off about 25 percent of its staff, or 60 employees. The company said it
has canceled plans for expansion into Europe as well as its agreement with
Softbank Media & Marketing to jointly create a Japanese Launch subsidiary.
It also consolidated its Santa Monica, California operations into a single
facility. Launch said that the layoffs and consolidation will allow it to
become profitable in the third quarter of this year. Finally, the company
said it has entered into a non-binding agreement to receive financing of
$5 million from an undisclosed investor, which it expects to close in the
next ten days.
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/010514/0515.html
http://www.launch.com
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o "Acoustic Fingerprint" Software Firm Cantametrix Lays Off 55% of Staff

Bellevue, Wash. -- Cantametrix, a developer of digital music "audio
fingerprinting" technology, has laid off 55 percent of its staff, or 15
employees, Webnoize reported on Monday. The company said the layoffs are
part of a strategy to attract investors, and that it will increase its
staff once again when the company receives funding and fully deploys its
services. Washington-based Cantametrix's technology allows digital music
files to be identified by an acoustic fingerprint of the song, which is
unaffected by any name a user gives to the file.
http://news.webnoize.com
http://www.cantametrix.com
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o Wireless Entertainment Software Firm Jamdat Gets Investment from Sun

Los Angeles -- Jamdat, a developer of "middleware" software for the
wireless entertainment industry, announced on Monday that it has received
an investment from Sun Microsystems. The investment brings Jamdat's second
round total to $12 million. Also participating in the round are Patricof &
Co. Ventures, Intel Communications Fund and Qualcomm. Los Angeles-based
Jamdat said that it will collaborate with Sun on technologies related to
the optimization, provisioning and monitoring of wireless entertainment
software.
http://www.jamdat.com/html/press4.html
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o Digital Video Firm iPIX Gets Funding Commitments of $30 Million

San Ramon, Calif. -- iPIX, a provider of 360-degree Internet video
technology, announced on Monday that it has received commitments for
investments totaling $30 million, led by Paradigm Capital Partners and the
Memphis Angels. Additionally, the company announced that CEO Jim Phillips
will step down from his position and become Chairman Emeritus. Current
president and COO Donald Strickland will assume the role of chief
executive. San Ramon-based iPIX said the funding will help its revised
business strategy to "focus on core technologies in higher margin, higher
growth businesses," and will last until the company becomes profitable.
The company recently sold off its residential real estate business, where
it provided online 360-degree pictures of available real estate locations.
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/010514/nym053.html
http://www.ipix.com
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o EMI Music Asia, GigaMedia to Launch Subscription Digital Music Service

Taipei, Taiwan -- EMI Music Asia announced that it will work jointly with
Taiwan-based GigaMedia, a broadband Internet access provider, to create
digital music initiatives that include a paid subscription music download
service. EMI will take a minority stake in the new venture -- dubbed
GigaMusic. As part of the deal, GigaMedia will spin-off its Juice.com.tw
music site and change the name and address to GigaMusic.com. In addition
to the subscription service, which is expected to launch sometime this
year, the companies will collaborate to design and host websites for
local, emerging and established artists.
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/010513/hssu001.html
http://ir.giga.net.tw/
http://www.emigroup.com
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o CD-Burner Software Firm Roxio Begins Trading on Nasdaq

Milpitas, Calif. -- Roxio, a developer of software that lets users with
recordable CD drives on their PCs create music and data CDs, completed its
spin-off from parent company Adaptec and began trading on the Nasdaq
Monday. The company weathered allegations of patent and trademark
infringement on Friday from music database provider Gracenote.
Milpitas-based Roxio's stock closed the day up just over 3 percent at
14.69.
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/010514/sfm028b.html
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/010511/sfth099_2.html
http://www.roxio.com
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o Digital Asset Management Firm iBase Raises $6 Million

Ilkley, U.K. -- iBase, a provider of digital asset management services,
announced that it has raised $6 million in its second round of venture
capital financing from Charterhouse Specialist Investments and MTI
Partners. U.K.-based iBase's software lets companies organize, retrieve
and distribute their multimedia assets. The company plans to use the funds
for expansion in Europe and into the U.S.
http://www.ibase.com/site/home.html
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o Tribune Media Services Buys Majority Interest in TV Data Technologies

Chicago -- Tribune Media Services announced that it has purchased a
majority interest in TV Data Technologies, a provider of print and
interactive TV programming information and editorial features to media and
entertainment companies. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
New York-based TV Data will continue under the same name and staff. The
two companies will work together to provide TV Data's 4,000 customers --
which include newspapers, on-line services and broadcasters -- with print
and electronic TV, movie and Internet listings and other informational
products.
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/010511/cgf005.html
http://www.tvdata.com
http://www.tms.tribune.com/
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o Business Streaming Services Provider Ten TV Raises $5 Million

New York -- Ten TV, a provider of live and on-demand streaming media
services for businesses, announced on Monday that it has raised $5 million
in its third round of funding from Crest Communications Holdings. New
York-based Ten TV said it is now fully-funded. The company's streaming
media and video portal creation services let businesses put video on their
corporate websites for investor relations, marketing, continuing
professional training and distance learning. Ten TV will use the funds on
marketing and to expand its services to a larger range of businesses.
http://www.tentv.com/news/press.cfm
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> Digital Media Wire Seminar: E-Publishing - NYC

"E-Publishing: The Promise Of A New Book"

New York City | Tuesday, May 29th at The Cornell Club

For more information and to register:
http://www.acteva.com/booking.cfm?bevaid=14290&Referrer_id=4074

MODERATOR:
- M.J. Rose, Journalist - Wired News,
Author of 'How to Publish and Promote Online' and 'In Fidelity'

PANELISTS:
- Wendy Silbert, Vice President of Media Development, LiveREADS
- Claire Zion, Editorial Director, iPublish.com - Time Warner Books
***Additional panelists TBA***
_____________________________________________

o Briefly Noted:

(Seattle) RealNetworks announced on Monday the launch of its RealArcade
paid games service. The service offers 3-D downloadable games, massively
multiplayer games and Web-based games. The downloaded 3-D games come as
free demos for a limited time, and then ask users to pay between $9.99 and
$19.99 for the full version. Online multiplayer games are free for 30 days
and then cost $4.95 per month to continue to play. The Web-based games are
available for free.
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/010514/sfm082.html
http://www.realarcade.com

(San Diego) Sony Electronics announced on Monday the launch of a Content
Developer Program for outside developers to create interactive TV
applications and services based on Sony's interactive digital cable
technology. The site offers tools that facilitate the creation of iTV
software, and is intended for Web developers, content providers, studios,
network and cable operators. Sony has partnered with cable operator
Cablevision to deploy an iTV system in New York.
http://www.sony.com/digitaltvdeveloper

(Washington, D.C.) XM Satellite Radio, a developer of satellite-delivered
digital music subscription services, said on Monday that legendary
producer and musician Quincy Jones will act as a musical consultant,
create programming for and promote the company's service. Jones'
accomplishments include 26 Grammys, and owning both a record label and
film and TV production company.
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/010514/dcm022.html
http://www.xmsatelliteradio.com

(Campbell, Calif.) E-publishing provider iUniverse.com and Microsoft have
partnered to offer custom-designed books for Microsoft Press. The new
service lets users browse and compile individual chapters from selected
titles as a single book, which is then published in electronic or print
form for the reader. Initially, the offer will include only
Microsoft-product-related titles.
http://www.iuniverse.com/b2b/media/content.asp?id=14633&cid=61
http://www.mspress.microsoft.com/

(Denver) In-store digital kiosk maker Third Stream Media said on Monday
that Muze has licensed its library of streaming samples and entertainment
product information for use in the company's kiosks.
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/010514/2055.html
http://www.thirdstream.net/
http://www.muze.com

(San Francisco) CNET featured an article on Monday on controversial
"spyware" that is being added to some file-sharing programs that sends
targeted ads to the user or reports on their web-surfing habits back to
the company. Some of the software makers -- which include the creators of
BearShare and Audio Galaxy Satellite -- say the software is a way to keep
the file-sharing programs free while generating revenue for their
creators.
http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1005-200-5921593.html?tag=tp_pr

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

> The Hoffman Agency, PR Account Director - New York City

Seeking senior-level PR professional w/ 8-12 yrs. high-tech PR exp.,
strong client management skills and proven media & analyst relationships.
Investor Relations experience a big "plus". Duties include: mentoring
account teams, communicating strategies to client & team, developing
'launch' strategies, product positioning, messaging & creative tactical
ideas.
Send resumes to resume@hoffman.com
http://www.hoffman.com
______________________

> Dow Jones & Company, Desktop Publisher - Washington, D.C.

Seeking Desktop Publisher to produce the Dow Jones Newswires family of
Newsletters. Responsible for producing at least one 8-12 page newsletter
per day, combining text, graphics & data graphs exported from
spreadsheets. Must have 3+ yrs. exp. in daily publishing environment.
Knowledge of PageMaker, Acrobat, PhotoShop or Illustrator required.
Send resume to mary.pergament@dowjones.com
http://www.dj.com/careers
______________________

> ClassMates.com, Strategic Alliance Manager - San Francisco

Seeking someone w/ 3+ yrs. strategic selling exp., specifically online
media products and sponsorships to join the Online Media Sales Team.
Proven ability to exceed quotas of $1M/yr. Strong sales, negotiation &
business presentation skills. Must have a 'Rolodex' of contacts. History
of building strategic relationships online & through traditional brick &
mortar channels.
Send resume to lnguyen@corp.classmates.com
http://www.classmates.com
______________________

> Globix, Copy Writing Project Coordinator - New York City

The Project Coordinator will be an accomplished copywriter with talent for
writing original promotional, advertising, informational and technical
copy. Other duties include coordinating projects, dealing with graphic
designers & printers, securing estimates, follow-ups, trade show support,
proofreading & editing. Minimum 2 years copy writing experience.
Send resumes to xyz@globix.com
http://www.globix.com/jobs

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

> The SIBL Project Songwriting Contest, May 1 - August 8

The SIBL Project launches a national and international songwriting contest
on May 1st 2001. If you've written a song inspired by a book, poem or
play, submit it to The SIBL Project Songwriting Competition. Deadline for
entries is September 8, 2001. All proceeds benefit adult literacy
programs.
For more information: annie@mentlmusic.com
http://www.siblproject.org
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> SpyWorm's SEX* Awards, September 13 - Los Angeles

SpyWorm, a webcasting production house based in Venice, CA, is recruiting
thirty filmmakers to each create a 5-minute "reality based" short on SEX.
Each filmmaker will be provided with DV gear, $100 lunch money and three
(3) days of postproduction services. The top fifteen (15) pieces, as
determined by a panel of esteemed judges, will screen at SpyWorm's SEX*
Awards on September 13, 2001, and compete for cash prizes: 1st Prize
$5,000; 2nd Prize $2,500; 3rd Prize $1,000. All interested filmmakers are
encouraged to e-mail their resumes & best short pitch about SEX* by June
15 to
pitches@spyworm.tv
http://www.spyworm.tv
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> Sensory Circus, June 9 - Los Angeles

Art, fashion, music, technology and film come together for the debut of
Sensory Circus on June 9, 2001 at the Wyndham Bel Age Hotel in West
Hollywood. This electric and sophisticated event will extend throughout
every ballroom, terrace and rooftop showcasing new bands and DJ's, the
latest fashions, and visual, technological and sculpture artists.
Sponsors include The Wyndham Bel Age Hotel, Digital Media Wire, SpyWorm,
DreamSpan, Lisa Kline, Otto Models and Green Galactic. Artists are invited
to submit works for consideration. To submit an artistic work, inquire
about sponsorship or register for the event, please visit
http://www.sensorycircus.com
______________________

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