archives

o IFPI Blames Piracy for 5% Drop in Global Recorded Music Sales
o Satellite 'Net Access Provider StarBand Gets $50 Million from EchoStar
o Financial Services Firm Buys Upside Magazine, Replaces CEO
o Game Developer Activision Postpones Stock Offering
o Excite@Home Australia Lays Off Half Its Staff
o Digital Jukebox Developer ECast Raises $12.4 Million
o Briefly Noted: Adelphia - TVN, PlayStation 2 - DVD remote, Wippit -
Association of Independent Music - AudioBooksForFree.com, CD
copy-protection, The Onion
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> Job Postings: General Mgr., Ad Sales Mgr., Online Editor,
Marketing Associate

> Events/Services: "Silicon Alley Community Meeting," "SHORTSPAN Film
& Video Festival, Northern U.S./SoCal Tours, Oct. 10-23," "Digital
Media Revolution in the Americas"

Full Job/Event/Services 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/Service: http://www.digitalmediawire.com/events.html
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o IFPI Blames Piracy for 5% Drop in Global Recorded Music Sales

London -- Sales of recorded music have tailed off 5 percent in the first
half of 2001, compared with the same period a year ago, according to a
report released on Friday by the International Federation of the
Phonographic Industry (IFPI). The organization, which is an international
version of the U.S. Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), said
that the drop can be attributed to "the economic slowdown, a massive
proliferation of CD-burning and increasing availability of unauthorized
internet downloads." IFPI Chairman and CEO Jay Berman added that, "There
is no doubt that multiple CD burning poses a significant threat to the
recording industry and to the copyrights of song writers, artists and
producers and everyone else involved in the music business."
http://www.ifpi.org/press/20010928.html
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o Satellite 'Net Access Provider StarBand Gets $50 Million from EchoStar

McLean, Va. -- StarBand Communications, a provider of high-speed Internet
access using satellites, said on Friday that EchoStar Communications has
made a $50 million cash investment in StarBand. The agreement was
previously announced on July 11, 2001. EchoStar's equity stake in StarBand
is now about 32 percent. EchoStar is the parent company of the DISH
Network, which has 6 million subscribers in the U.S.
http://www.starband.com/whoweare/pr/092701.htm
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o Financial Services Firm Buys Upside Magazine, Replaces CEO

San Francisco -- Technology publication Upside Magazine has been acquired
by financial services firm MCG Capital. The purchase was made in the midst
of the foreclosure of the magazine's parent company, Upside Media. The
magazine will continue to publish under a new CEO -- Upside's former chief
financial officer Edward Ring. Upside Media's UpsideToday online news site
was shut down earlier this week due to lack of funding. The site was
founded by Aaron Bunnell, son of former Upside Media CEO David Bunnell.
http://www.upside.com
http://www.mcgcapital.com 
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o Game Developer Activision Postpones Stock Offering

Santa Monica, Calif. -- Activision, a developer, publisher and distributor
of video games, announced on Friday its decision to postpone its planned
public offering of six million shares, citing "current market conditions
and volatility resulting from recent events." The company did not provide
a new date for the proposed offering, but did provide guidance as to its
current financial situation. "We remain confident about the outlook for
our business and the prospects for the interactive entertainment software
industry generally," said Activision CEO Robert A. Kotick. "With $288
million of shareholders equity, $106 million of cash and only $5 million
of debt as of June 30, 2001, Activision is in a very liquid and strong
financial position."
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/010927/lath090_1.html
http://www.activision.com
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o Excite@Home Australia Lays Off Half Its Staff

Sydney, Australia -- Excite@Home Australia has laid off 46 of its 100
employees and will lay off most of the rest in coming weeks, CNET reported
on Friday. The layoffs come as a result of the sale of the company to
access provider Optus, which will take on a few of the remaining employees
to transition subscribers to the new network. Parent company Excite@Home
laid off 500 employees and shut down its MatchLogic unit earlier this
week, and is expected to file for bankruptcy soon. The company previously
warned investors that without an immediate cash infusion it would not be
able to operate as a going concern.
http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1004-200-7329046.html?tag=cd_mh
http://www.excitehome.com.au
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o Digital Jukebox Developer ECast Raises $12.4 Million

San Francisco -- ECast, a developer of digital jukeboxes that can connect
to the Internet to retrieve content, announced that it has raised $12.4
million in its latest round of venture capital financing. St. Paul Venture
Capital led the investment round; Doll Capital Management, El Dorado
Ventures and Leisure Link Group also participated. San Francisco-based
ECast's jukeboxes offer content provided by companies including EMusic and
Listen.com for music, and Activision for video games.
http://www.ecastinc.com
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o Briefly Noted:

(Burbank, Calif.) Cable TV operator Adelphia Communications announced on
Friday that it has partnered with TVN to provide video-on-demand
technology as well as content to its subscribers. The five-year agreement
will make VOD services available to Pennsylvania-based Adelphia's 5.7
million subscribers.
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/010928/laf015_1.html
http://www.tvn.com
http://www.adelphia.com

(Foster City, Calif.) Sony Computer Entertainment America announced on
Friday that it has released a new controller for its PlayStation 2. The
wireless device lets users access advanced DVD features on the game
console, which features built-in DVD player capability. The new $20
controller -- which can also be used to play PS2 games -- is the only
method through which PS2 owners can access advanced DVD features like
chapter selection, slow-motion play, shuffle and repeat.
http://www.scea.com

(London) Wippit, a provider of peer-to-peer networked digital music
subscription services, announced on Friday that the Association of
Independent Music (AIM) and AudioBooksForFree.com will provide content to
its service. AIM distributes music on behalf of 550 independent record
labels in the U.K. and Europe. London-based Wippit's service is supported
through advertising as well as subscription fees.
http://www.wippit.com
http://www.musicindie.org
http://www.audiobooksforfree.com

(San Francisco) CNET on Friday offered a report on the steps that record
labels are taking to prevent future piracy of CDs by including
copy-protection technology on new releases. The technology aims to
eliminate the pristine digital copies of songs that have existed on CDs up
to this point, which have fueled the growth of file-sharing services such
as Napster.
http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1005-201-7320279-0.html?tag=tp_pr

(San Francisco) Wired News reported on Friday on the return of new content
to The Onion, a print publication and accompanying website that offers
parodies of current news stories. Headlines from the new issue include,
"Not Knowing What Else To Do, Woman Bakes American-Flag Cake," "American
Life Turns Into Bad Jerry Bruckheimer Movie," and "Bush Sr. Apologizes To
Son For Funding Bin Laden In '80s." "It was kind of a tense few days while
we waited for it to come out," Onion writer John Krewson said. "Some
people on staff didn't think we should do it at all. Once we had an issue
mocked up, we decided to go ahead."
http://www.wired.com/news/culture/0,1284,47155,00.html
http://www.theonion.com

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

> CyberRep, General Manager- Coos Bay, OR

Lead the activities associated with the management of all departments
within the Customer Interaction Center. This includes the analysis and
review of the day-to-day operations, risk assessment planning, P&L
management, and budget review.
Send resumes to pmadison@cyberrep.com
http://www.cyberrep.com
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> FierceMarkets, Ad Sales Manager - Washington, DC

Fast-growing online publisher seeks smart, creative self-starters to drive
our ad sales effort. Candidates should have a proven sales track record
with at least two years of experience. Come join the fun! Send resumes to
jeff@fiercemarkets.com
http://www.fiercemarkets.com
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> American Express Publishing, Online Editor - New York City

Leading travel magazine seeks an Online Editor responsible for all site
production, in addition to editing, writing and proofreading copy for
various areas of the site; working with magazine editors to create
customized online content; writing a weekly newsletter; scheduling and
conducting online chats with writers and editors; planning ways to enhance
site design & architecture, increasing traffic, facilitating e-commerce
and improving user experience. Send resumes to angelaaexp@aol.com
______________________

> Bluefly, Marketing Associate - New York City

Manage marketing relationships with online companies for leading retailer
of designer fashions at outlet prices. Traffic creative to advertising
partners, as well as track and evaluate creative performance. Implement
marketing promos and customer retention programs. Assist in implementing
an affiliate program, as well as email marketing initiatives. Must have
atleast 6 months exp. in Internet advertising/marketing. Send resumes to:
marketingjobs@bluefly.com
http://www.bluefly.com

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

> Silicon Alley Community Meeting, October 3, 2001 - New York City

In response to the recent terrorist attacks in New York City, The New York
Software Industry Association (NYSIA) is hosting a Silicon Alley Community
Meeting on "Relief, Recovery, and Rebuilding" for all displaced and
affected companies in New York's technology community. This meeting will
offer "one stop shopping" for displaced companies. For more information,
please contact: nchen@nysia.org
http://www.nysia.org/community_meeting.cfm
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> SHORTSPAN Film & Video Festival, Northern U.S./SoCal Tours, Oct. 10-23

SHORT MOVIES! Dreamspan presents the 9TH Annual Short Attention Span Film & Video Festival. Shortspan is a non-stop two hour program of ALL NEW
two-minute-or-shorter films, including ultra-short documentaries like
"Peekaboo Sunday," a story about raising miniature horses or "Exotic
World," an inside look at the lives of some of America's first burlesque
performers-- and 57 more shorts! The tour will travel to 30 North American
cities.

CHICAGO, IL: Columbia College - Oct. 10 - 7PM
BOSTON, MA: Boston University - Oct. 10 - Call for times
BROOKLINE, MA: Coolidge Corner Theatre - Oct. 12-18
WASHINGTON, D.C.: The Lucky Bar - Oct. 23 - 8PM

HOLLYWOOD, CA: The American Cinematheque - Oct. 17 - 7:30PM
SAN DIEGO, CA: San Diego Museum of Art - Oct. 18 - 7:30PM

For more info: http://www.dreamspan.com/shortspan
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> Digital Media Revolution in the Americas, 11/29-12/01 -- Pasadena, CA

Presented by the Institute of the Americas and Annenberg School for
Communication, this 2 1/2 day forum will include Sr. Exec. Networking w/ a
special focus on Latin Americas & U.S. Hispanic markets, copyright, rights
mgmt., dist., infrastructure, digital film, iTV, streaming, device trends,
content financing. Early-bird 40% off till 9/30. Keynote Steven Bandel,
Pres. - The Cisneros Group. Sponsors: JP Morgan, Motorola, Global
Crossing, Walt Disney Company, Digital Media Wire, Cahners International
TV, iHollywood, Motion Picture Assoc., National Assoc. of TV Prog. Exec.,
National Assoc. of Theatre owners. For more information:
martin@iamericas.org
Register at: http://www.iamericas.org/events
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Copyright 2001 Digital Media Wire