Next Big Sound (a/o May 16th):
Like CMJ, but better? New Music Seminar (NMS) is now morphing into a festival, starting in New York. The action runs June 17-20th, and features 17 venues and 150 bands. Full schedule here.
Even closer to the present, EDMbiz in Las Vegas is right around the corner. The pre-EDC executive conference has cemented its lineup, with most of the action starting Wednesday.
Also on the topic of EDM, Buzzmedia has just acquired electronic-oriented blog (and once physical mag) XLR8R. The official announcement is slated for this (Thursday) morning, according to the genre-diversified blog umbrella.
Genesis legend, 80s fixture, and American Psycho accomplice Phil Collins is unfortunately now suffering from a series of health complications. Displaced vertebrae, hearing loss and nerve damage are making drumming difficult, and part of a broader reason to step away from the industry. But why the hate? "I'm sorry that it was all so successful," Collins recently told FHM, while strongly hinting at retirement. "I honestly didn't mean it to happen like that. It's hardly surprising that people grew to hate me."
Facebook (FB) is starting to look like a certified dog, with retail investors forced to clean up the mess. The stock got taken for another walk on Wednesday, landing at the lowly $28.19. Deeper questions continue to hover around Facebook executives, brokers, and the constellation of Facebook-connected, IPO-lusting companies.
Actually, that cluster of companies includes Pandora (P), thanks partly to a shared challenge of mobile monetization. The issue has been touched upon this week, and part of a robust, internet-focused presentation issued by KPC&B's Mary Meeker at D10 on Wednesday. And basic gist is this: mobile is commanding a stronger share of usage every day - ie, around 70 percent of engagement for Pandora - and a lower amount of monetization. It's just less effective than the bigger PC screen; though this sounds more like a challenge than a near-term Wall Street worry.
Still burning! Let's see how the recovery goes, though Turntable.fm is actively recruiting several positions for its NY-based startup-y location.
And, there's high-level employment drama at Warner Music Group, at least according to the New York Post. That includes plans to sunset current CEO Stephen Cooper. The temporary hatchetman could be going the Edgar Bronfman route, which involves a temporary warming of the Chairman seat before an eventual kick. The status of the well-compensated, Hamptons fixer-upping Lyor Cohen also seems highly uncertain.
MegaUpload is now asking District Court judges to toss the piracy case brought by the US Government. Lead litigator Ira Rothken has deftly pointed to serious procedural and due process problems. "This is an experiment in stretching US criminal law well past the breaking point," Rothken alleged, echoing the sentiments of many observers. Separately, a New Zealand judge has ordered American authorities to hand over critical evidence to allow a proper defense.
© 2013 All Rights Reserved
Follow Us