New Music Business Briefing: SoundExchange Softens, mtvU Expands, iPhone On Target & More.
>>> Royalty collection agency SoundExchange may be softening its stance slightly on higher royalty rates that many net broadcasters say will put them out of business. Yesterday they issued a press release calling for dialog. They did not however offer any particular remedies.
>>> mtvU, the on-campus and online college network created by MTV, is partnering with online video services provider ROO to be offer multi-channel branded video payers and content to the 500 college newspapers in mtvU’s College Publisher network.
>>> Apple’s iPhone is on target for a June launch and a new survey says a staggering 1 in 10 US adults wants one.
>>> Don’t miss the big stories that we posted late yesterday. Page down for:
- WMG may buy major management firm Frontline in an attempt to diversify.
- Digital distributor Digital Music Group has grabbed more established catalog.
- EMI sales are down 15% as they spin a plan to borrow against it’s lucrative publishing catalog.
>>> NEXT WEEK: We’re hard at work on an in depth multi-part series on eMusic, If you or your company is or ever has worked with eMusic or even if you’ve just got a strong opinion please email us at hypebot@skylineonline.com.
SoundEx is putting on its prettiest face for the public.
“What, us do anything unconscionable?”
This doesn’t match anything in RIAA/SoundEx recent history, reaching out to anyone who has been targeted by their ruinous campaigns. Short of having an indie-piphany, why start now?
Many webcasters see this is a bald-faced PR move, anything to stem the tide of pro-webcasting press that has emerged and the public opnion drubbing that the RIAA/SoundEx are currently weathering.