If ever there was a band that would eschew single-track digital music sales, it would be Pink Floyd. The legendary British band hates single-track sales so much, in fact, that it has sued EMI …
Articles By Lee Simmons
Spotify Targets US
by Lee Simmons, March 8, 2010, 11:10 amiTunes’ biggest competitive threat, besides piracy, may be stepping on domestic shores within the month. Spotify, the UK-based music streaming service that has been a hit in Europe, is readying its US debut and …
Warner breaks ranks
by Lee Simmons, February 26, 2010, 1:28 pmFree online streaming music — a bandwagon that once carried a happy collection of artists, labels, and consumers — has lost a big passenger. Warner Music Group will no longer license artists to online streaming services such as …
Nickelback vs. a pickle
by Lee Simmons, February 25, 2010, 11:11 amIf anyone out there still doubts the power of social networking, look no further than a pickle. Last week, a pickle earned more fans (nearly 1.5 million at last count) on its Facebook page …
Abbey Road (not) for sale
by Lee Simmons, February 22, 2010, 1:36 pmLess than a week after reports that it selling a musical landmark, EMI has finally cleared the air: Abbey Road is not on the auction block. Well, not yet, anyway.
Initial news that …
RealNetworks dumps Rhapsody (they’re still friends)
by Lee Simmons, February 10, 2010, 3:08 pmIn the new era of digital music consolidation, RealNetworks’ decision to spin off Rhapsody is a RealPuzzler.
RealNetworks announced this week it would transform its Rhapsody subscription music service into a standalone firm …
Will he stay (or will he go)?
by Lee Simmons, February 8, 2010, 2:03 pmHow did it come to be that an entire industry must depend on Howard Stern? When that industry essentially consists of one company — Sirius XM. Now, the same company that placed a $500 million bet that the …
Live Nation, Ticketmaster seal the deal
by Lee Simmons, January 27, 2010, 2:39 pmAs expected, the controversial tie-up between Live Nation, the world’s largest concert promoter, and Ticketmaster, the largest ticket agency, won regulatory approval from the Justice Department earlier this week. And no sooner had Justice …
Department of Downer News: 2009 music industry recap
by Lee Simmons, January 25, 2010, 3:18 pmThe New York Times’ recent rundown of the 2009 music industry features a slew of details regarding international music sales. (Hat tip to my colleague Jeff Dorsch for the tip!)
In summary, worldwide music sales …
eMusic lures Warner
by Lee Simmons, January 14, 2010, 4:54 pmIn yet another sign that major labels are recognizing the sign of the times, Warner Music Group has inked a deal to sell its catalog through online subscription service eMusic.
For a monthly fee, eMusic …
