archives

o Oxygen Media Raises $100 Million From Vulcan Ventures
o Top-Level Music Domain Name Dot-MU To Launch In December
o Magex To Test European Music Download Service For BMG
o Creative Planet Raises $30 Million, Acquires U.K. Professional Database
o Software Developer Adaptec Postpones IPO For Roxio Spinoff
o Playboy To Launch Channel On Lycos Network
o Streaming Media Firm OnAir Cuts Ad Division, Lays Off 12% Of Staff
o Content Marketer Digital Goods Partners With Reciprocal
o DigiScents Receives Investments From Perfume Companies
o Online Marketing Firm DotClick Offers Music Player Plug-In
o Streaming Video Provider On2 Secures Equity Financing Commitment
> Digital Media Wire Networking Event: DC Area
o Briefly Noted: Salon.com - Nerve.com, HollywoodOnSet - Canadian
Broadcasting Corporation International, Fisher, Friskit, The Eels,
Electronic Arts - Boxerjam
_____________________________________________

o Oxygen Media Raises $100 Million From Vulcan Ventures

New York -- Women's entertainment provider Oxygen Media announced on
Monday that it has raised $100 million in venture capital financing from
Vulcan Ventures. New York-based Oxygen said that the investment will allow
it to develop new online, cable and convergence programming services and
tools. "This major investment in Oxygen by a company that intimately knows
our business is a powerful vote of confidence in our ability to continue
to attract and grow an audience," said Geraldine Laybourne, CEO of Oxygen
Media. Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen's Vulcan Ventures also supplied
Oxygen with an earlier $100 million investment, in exchange for a minority
stake in the company.
http://www.oxygen.com
_____________________________________________

o Top-Level Music Domain Name Dot-MU To Launch In December

Beverly Hills -- SamsDirect Internet (SDI), an Internet marketing company,
announced on Monday that top-level music domain names with a ".mu" suffix
will be available later this month. The names will function in exactly the
same manner as the traditional dot-com, dot-net and dot-org Internet
addresses when typed in by users. "Dot-MU offers artists, labels and
anyone with a passion for music the opportunity not only to reserve
valuable domain names that are important to their businesses, but to stand
out from the very cluttered dot-com market as well," said David Sams,
chief executive of SDI. Beverly Hills-based SDI will register domain names
for $50 per year, and also offer free dot-mu domains for personal names.
SDI also marketed the dot-cc top-level domain for radio broadcaster Clear
Channel Communications.
http://www.hot.mu
_____________________________________________

o Magex To Test European Music Download Service For BMG

New York -- Magex, a provider of secure e-commerce services for content
owners, announced on Monday that it has been chosen by BMG Entertainment
International UK & Ireland Limited to test a paid, downloadable music
service for BMG's music in the U.K. An internal trial will be conducted in
December, and a "semi-commercial" trial is scheduled for early 2001. New
York-based Magex uses security technology developed by InterTrust to
protect content. The company's service can process transactions in a
variety of currencies; it also has plans for translated software and an
international help desk. "The Magex fulfillment and software coupled with
the InterTrust solution is one which we believe could grow with us as we
continue our advancement into the digital market," said Hasse Breitholtz,
director of commercial and new media for BMG.
http://www.magex.com
http://www.bmgentertainment.com
_____________________________________________

o Creative Planet Raises $30 Million, Acquires U.K. Professional Database

Los Angeles -- Creative Planet, a business-to-business provider of online
resources for the entertainment industry, announced on Monday that it has
raised $30 million in financing from United News and Media, a London-based
media and market information company. Creative Planet also announced that
it has acquired United's The Knowledge, a database of TV and film
production professionals in the U.K. and Ireland, in a separate exchange
of equity. Under the agreement, United will receive exclusive sales and
marketing rights for all Creative Planet products and services in the U.K.
and Ireland. Los Angeles-based Creative Planet provides information and
develops software for the entertainment industry, including software that
allows studios to manage film production schedules and budgeting, and
outsource equipment and services from vendors. "Creative Planet shares our
vision for revolutionizing the provision of services to the film and TV
production industry," said Clive Hollick, CEO of United. United News and
Media's assets include business technology publisher CMP and wire service
PR Newswire.
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/001204/ca_creativ.html
http://www.creativeplanet.com
http://www.unm.com
_____________________________________________

o Software Developer Adaptec Postpones IPO For Roxio Spinoff

Milpitas, Calif. -- Adaptec, a developer of hardware and software for the
transfer and storage of digital content, announced that it has postponed
the proposed initial public offering for its software spinoff Roxio,
"until at least the first quarter of 2001, due to unfavorable market
conditions," the company said in a statement. Milpitas-based Adaptec's
Roxio creates software that allows users to personalize and store music,
photos, video and data on recordable CDs. The company produces the popular
Easy CD Creator and Toast software programs.
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/001201/ca_adaptec.html
http://www.roxio.com
http://www.adaptec.com 
_____________________________________________

o Playboy To Launch Channel On Lycos Network

New York -- Playboy.com Inc. announced that it has partnered with Lycos to
create an entertainment channel for the Lycos Network. New York-based
Playboy.com will select content from its site to offer on the Lycos
Playboy Channel, as well as offer merchandise from its e-commerce outlet,
PlayboyStore.com. Users will also be able to create a personalized
"Playboy start page." The site will also feature content from Wired News,
another company within the Lycos Network. "Playboy.com's powerful brand
and content make us the ideal partner to help Lycos further reach the
18-34 male demographic," said Christie Hefner, chairman of Playboy.com.
Playboy.com said it expects to launch the channel in early 2001.
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/001201/ny_playboy.html
http://www.playboy.com
http://www.lycos.com
_____________________________________________

o Streaming Media Firm OnAir Cuts Ad Division, Lays Off 12% Of Staff

Los Angeles -- Streaming media firm OnAir announced on Monday that it will
lay off about 12 percent of its staff, as part of a restructuring that
eliminates the company's ad-share network. The network streamed music to
70,000 websites in return for a share of advertising revenue. The company
said that all of the layoffs are associated with the elimination of the
ad-share network. Los Angeles-based OnAir will now focus on its streaming
media software, applications and services. "After being in the online
music business for more than a year, we've seen where the market is going
and what works for us," said Scott Purcell, CEO and founder of OnAir.
"Our strengths are in the innovation and creativity of our technologies."
http://www.onair.com
_____________________________________________

o Content Marketer Digital Goods Partners With Reciprocal

Maynard, Mass. -- Digital Goods (formerly called SoftLock.com), an
Internet marketing firm for digital content, announced on Monday that it
has signed an agreement with Reciprocal, a provider of digital rights
management technology. Under the agreement, the two companies will combine
their services, enabling clients to go to one source to securely publish
and market their content. New York-based Reciprocal will offer Digital
Goods' marketing tools, including an online affiliate network, search
engine optimization, contextual mapping and customized merchandising and
promotions, along with its digital rights management software.
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/001204/ma_digital_2.html
http://www.digitalgoods.com
http://www.reciprocal.com
_____________________________________________

o DigiScents Receives Investments From Perfume Companies

Oakland, Calif. -- DigiScents, a developer of digital scent technology,
announced on Monday that it has raised an undisclosed amount from two
European fragrance manufacturers. Details were not disclosed, other than
Switzerland-based Givaudan and Netherlands-based Quest International will
both receive equity stakes in DigiScents. Oakland-based DigiScents has
developed a device, the iSmell, which can produce various scents by
emitting a combination of several different chemicals into the air. The
company plans to connect the device to computers, and add the element of
aroma to interactive games, e-commerce, movies, music and educational
software.
http://www.digiscents.com
_____________________________________________

o Online Marketing Firm DotClick Offers Music Player Plug-In

Boston -- DotClick, an Internet marketing firm for online music, announced
on Monday the launch of its music player plug-in software, designed to
give users information on music, and advertisers information on the users
of the software. The plug-in works alongside many music player software
programs, and offers users music recommendations, artist biographies and
album liner notes, as well as links to retailers. Boston-based DotClick
has attracted 150 affiliates for its software -- including record labels
and musicians -- who will be able to track the frequency of song plays,
test new music and merchandise, and interact with fans of their music.
"Until now, the Internet has given music fans a lot of choices, and the
music industry a lot of headaches," said Oliver Jones, co-founder of
DotClick. "By opting to become part of the DotClick Music Network,
listeners give DotClick affiliates an opportunity to engage them
one-on-one while they receive a more exciting, information-rich
experience." Affiliates will receive custom-branded versions of the
DotClick program to distribute to music fans. The company expects that the
software will then be distributed virally, among users with common musical
interests.
http://www.dotclick.com
_____________________________________________

o Streaming Video Provider On2 Secures Equity Financing Commitment

New York -- On2, a provider of streaming video technology for broadband,
announced on Monday that it has secured an equity financing commitment
from a private investment fund. In a complex transaction, the company will
receive a multi-million dollar financing commitment in exchange for stock.
New York-based On2 develops full-screen video software for users with
high-speed Internet connections. The company offers services including
video encoding, hosting, streaming, interface design, customized technical
support and consulting services to its clients. The company's chairman is
Strauss Zelnick, former president and CEO of BMG Music.
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/001204/ny_on2_com.html
http://www.on2.com
_____________________________________________

> Digital Media Wire Networking Event: DC Area

DC Area -- Digital Media Wire will host its next networking event on
Wednesday, December 6 in Vienna, Virginia for subscribers and those
interested in the convergence of entertainment, technology and the
Internet. Light hors d'oeuvres will be served and there will be a cash
bar.

Exclusive Sponsor:
Telseon

Date: Wednesday, December 6, 2000
Time: 6:30 - 8:30
Location: Clyde's of Tyson's Corner
8332 Leesburg Pike - Vienna, VA

There is no charge for the event, but attendees must register at the link
below.
http://www.digitalmediawire.com/washington.htm
_____________________________________________

o Briefly Noted:

(San Francisco) Online magazine Salon.com announced on Monday that it has
partnered with Nerve.com, a site that features photography and articles
about sex, to develop an online personals service. Membership will cost
between $14.95 and $49.95, and promises to attract "a young, hip and urban
demographic." "We have a high percentage of singles visiting Salon on a
regular basis and they're interested in meeting like-minded people," said
Michael O'Donnell, CEO of Salon.com.
http://www.personals.salon.com
http://www.nervecenter.com

(Los Angeles) Streaming entertainment provider HollywoodOnSet announced on
Monday an international distribution partnership with Canadian
Broadcasting Corporation International (CBC), Canada's national public
broadcaster. Under the deal, HollywoodOnSet will produce three one-hour
episodes for worldwide exclusive distribution through CBC. Each program
will focus on a major film festival -- Sundance, Cannes and Toronto -- and
follow filmmakers as they attend the festivals, as well as profile
attendees, judges and festival organizers.
http://www.hollywoodonset.com
http://www.cbc.ca

(San Francisco) Wired News today ran a feature on the band Fisher, a group
that was awarded a record contract in part because of its large online
following. The group's first album was released last week, and SoundScan
record sales reported that it sold only 2,892 units. Fisher's music was
downloaded frequently and given much hype at music sites including MP3.com
and Farmclub.com, but poor sales figures question the ability of online
marketing to have a positive effect on record sales.
http://www.wired.com/news/culture/0,1284,40435,00.html

(New York) Inside.com profiled Friskit, a new search engine that seeks out
streaming music content on the Internet. Users enter music search terms,
and resulting links to streaming music files can then be bookmarked.
Friskit also creates "buy" links for each file that lead to online
retailers. In response to questions about copyright infringement, New
York-based Friskit's co-founder George Aposporos replied, ''We never
stream media, we never copy media, and we don't facilitate copying media."
http://www.inside.com/story/Story_Cached/0,2770,16557_9_12_1,00.html
http://www.friskit.com

(Los Angeles) ARTISTdirect, a network of music group websites, announced
on Monday that DreamWorks recording artists The Eels will release a live
CD exclusively on its new site for the network, eelsdirect.com. The album
features 17 tracks and costs $9.99 on the site.
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/001204/ca_artistd.html
http://www.eelsdirect.com

(Redwood City, Calif.) Game developer Electronic Arts announced on Monday
that it has partnered with online game show developer Boxerjam. Under the
agreement, Virginia-based Boxerjam will provide online game show content
to Electronic Arts' entertainment site, EA.com. Boxerjam also provides
game content to AOL.com and Compuserve.
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/001204/ca_elec_ar.html
http://www.ea.com
http://www.boxerjam.com
___________________

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