Digital Music News (digitalmusicnews.com)

Beatles Meets Guitar Hero? Discussions Underway

March 18, 2008

Is a Beatles-branded Guitar Hero in the works? Sony/ATV Music Publishing chairman and chief executive Marty Bandier apparently likes the idea, and is pursuing the possibilities with Guitar Hero creator Activ... Read More...

NY Times Excoriates Starbucks Music, Criticizes Bland Brew

Paul Resnikoff

March 17, 2008

Starbucks was once a media darling, adored for its brew of business brilliance and customer connectedness. Now, amidst over-expansion and total marketplace saturation, that sentiment is starting to sour. On... Read More...

Boston Buyout: LiveWire Plucks Groove Mobile, $14.5 Million

Alexandra Osorio

March 17, 2008

Boston-based LiveWire has now plucked crosstown competitor Groove Mobile for $14.5 million, according to paperwork surfacing Monday. Groove Mobile is an expert in over-the-air (OTA), full-track song delivery, and carries a global portfolio of carrier client... Read More...

Bebo Music Meets AOL Music (Or Something Like That)

Paul Resnikoff

March 13, 2008

The ink is still drying on the massive, $850 million buyout of Bebo by AOL. That means that integration details are largely unresolved, including those related to music. AOL Music is one of the largest stand-... Read More...

Rock Brand 2.0: What Advertisers Really Want

Paul Resnikoff

March 13, 2008

If music is the soundtrack to our lives, then advertisers want a piece of the experience. But how can artists forge powerful and profitable relationships with brands? At South by Southwest on Thursday, entrepr... Read More...

Trent Reznor to Social Media Users: "Nobody Gives a [Expletive] What You Think"

How to Make $1.6 Million In a Week, by Trent Reznor

Paul Resnikoff

March 12, 2008

NIN identity Trent Reznor has now lured $1.6 million from a direct-to-fan album download initiative, according to figures revealed Wednesday. The album, Ghosts I-IV, is being offered in numerous configurations for various price points, including free. Al... Read More...

Partner Details Emerge on PushButtonMusic Initiative

Paul Resnikoff

March 12, 2008

More details emerged Wednesday on PushButtonMusic, a pre-loaded portable music concept scheduled for summer release. The idea, developed by Broadcast Data Systems (BDS) founders Hal Oppenheimer and Robert Uh... Read More...

Another P2P Grabs Serious Cash; Pando Pulls $8 Million

Paul Resnikoff

March 12, 2008

File-sharing has been a headache for major content owners, though smaller artists frequently tap the platform to spark early-stage interest. Major labels are also watching the action closely, and using monit... Read More...

Luxurious Fairmont Offers Pampered Music Downloads

Alexandra Osorio

March 12, 2008

Anyone staying at a luxury hotel can afford a music download, though even the elite surf with the riff-raff on LimeWire. But the Fairmont, known for its pampered inns, is now creating its own music download store. The guests-only destination, appropriate... Read More...

Online, Mobile Percentages Keep Tilting at Majors

Paul Resnikoff

March 11, 2008

Online and mobile formats make up a massive chunk of major label revenues - and the percentages keep tilting. Just last month, top digital executives Ted Mico (Island Geffen A&M) and Thomas Hesse (Sony B... Read More...

Are Carriers Crushing US-Based Mobile Music?

Paul Resnikoff

March 11, 2008

The US-based mobile media market has always been a giant step behind its European - and especially Asian - counterparts. But what is stunting growth in the stateside market? Plenty of factors are potentia... Read More...

Reznor Numbers Remain Elusive; Criticism Handed to Radiohead

Paul Resnikoff

March 9, 2008

Trent Reznor has yet to offer hard numbers on his recent, direct-to-fan album download initiative. Ahead of broadcast, Australian radio network Triple J shared a Reznor interview with Digital Music News. The artist noted that he was unable to share sales d... Read More...