Articles By Lee Simmons

Lee Simmons

Lee Simmons is a business writer in Austin. He covers the technology and media industries for Hoover's and offers random musings on the state of entertainment (among other pressing issues) for Bizmology.

Oscar bump or bust?

by Lee Simmons, March 10, 2010, 2:38 pm

Last Sunday’s Oscar wins for best soundtrack (Michael Giaccino for Up) and best song (T-Bone Burnett and Ryan Bingham for “The Weary Kind”) got me wondering if either of these albums experienced a post-Oscar …

Money, it’s a track

by Lee Simmons, March 9, 2010, 2:12 pm

UPDATE: Pink Floyd 1, EMI 0.

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, …

Spotify Targets US

by Lee Simmons, March 8, 2010, 11:10 am

iTunes’ 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 pm

Free 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 am

If 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 pm

Less 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 pm

In 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 pm

How 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 pm

As 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 pm

The 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 …