News Brief: WMG Update, Black vs. Ark, MySpace Exit & Trials, Apple vs. Amazon, Pirate Radio, More
Hypebot posts this roundup of music business news each weekday morning and publishes breaking stories throoughout the day. For breaking new also follow @hypebot on Twitter.
- With sale and bid rumors flying, analysts Zacks Investment reiterated a “neutral” rating on shares of Warner Music Group last week and analysts at Needham reiterated their “buy” rating.
- The WSJ takes a look at whether or not a WMG auction can hit the right notes.Rebecca Black is fighting Ark Music Factory over 'Friday'. She's pursuing the production company for control of her music. (Rolling Stone) Lesson: Alwways be prepared for success.
- Another MySpace executive has left: SVP Tish Whitcraft has joined social network Tagged.
- MySpace is also reportedly tracking all site activity and to aggregate it into a new engagement measurement tool called Wildfire. But are metrics from a shrinking MySpace representative of broader web activity; and what will they offer that other music analytics firms don't?
MORE:
- Will Apple Tweak iOS 5 To Match Amazon's Cloud Music? (NewsFactor)
- Sony's CEO accidentally revealed secret details of the iPhone 5 (Mashable)
- Radio Caroline: Will the pioneering pirate station take over the UK's AM dial? (NYT)
- Is it OK for bands to court brands? Corporate sponsorship used to be seen as detrimental to a band's credibility. Now it can be more attractive than signing to a major, as OK Go prove. (Guardian)
- Most of the team behind Engdaget has left the Huffington Post and will launch a new tech blog for online media company SB Nation.
- The new term of Berklee's online school begins today. I'll be teaching a section of The Future of Music and it's not too late to sign up for it or any of the other great courses.