Technology News

Is Twitter Use in Decline?

Source: HypeBot
November 24, 2009

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MTV and RealNetworks in Talks to Give Rhapsody More Autonomy ...Or is This a Cut and Run?

Source: HypeBot
November 22, 2009

According to SEC filings by RealNetworks, they are in negotiations with MTV to change their partnership in the Rhapsody Music service and perhaps give it more operating autonomy.

Two years after founding the joint company, the partners may reduce Real's 51% share in Rhapsody so that both parties own 50% or less of the digital music service. According to the filing, the goal of the negotiations is to “enable Rhapsody to operate more independently of either party."

Even with MTV's ...

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Sony Wants to Take On iTunes

Source: HypeBot
November 22, 2009

Sony is taking a page from the Apple playbook and will open an online store for music, film, books and other digital content next year. Years after iTunes launched and went on to dominate more than 70% of the global digital music market, the electronics and entertainment conglomerate has decided to enter the game. Dubbed temporarily the Sony Online Service, the store is part of a wider plan to return the ailing giant to profitability. “Sony has been too focused ...

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Vevo to Launch December 8th

Source: HypeBot
November 20, 2009

Major online music contender VEVO is set to launch the evening of December 8th. “The VEVO service at VEVO.com and at YouTube.com will go live in coordination with our launch event in New York on December 8th," read an email sent late Wednesday from the Universal, Google and Sony backed startup. VEVO is being created to help the major labels better control and monetize their online video content. UMG's YouTube channel has more than 3.5 billion views, making it the ...

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Reports: Myspace Buys imeem at Fire Sale Price

Source: HypeBot
November 20, 2009

MySpace has completed the purchase of imeem, which has been rumored since Monday, at a price that could make venture capitalists wary of investing in any startup that requires music licensing.

TechCrunch puts the purchase price at just $1 million. Imeem's debt is also being assumed and some assets are not included in the deal, say TechCrunch's sources, including millions of dollars in accounts receivable. But VentureBeat's sources says the purchase price is $7 to 9 million - $1 million ...

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AOL to Lay off a Third of Its Workforce

Source: PC Magazine
November 20, 2009

NEW YORK, NY - Web company AOL plans to cut one-third of its workforce, or about 2,500 jobs, in an effort to trim some $300 million in annual costs as part of its planned spin-off from Time Warner Inc. The struggling Web pioneer, which is slated to become an independent company focused primarily on advertiser-supported content, said on Thursday it has asked for volunteers, but will perform involuntary layoffs if enough workers do not step up. AOL expects to take ...

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Hulu Nabs Norah Jones and EMI

Source: HypeBot
November 19, 2009

EMI Music becomes the first major label group to pact with Hulu, the popular U.S. online video service that offers TV shows and movie. EMI will offer concerts and videos from artists on its labels including Virgin, Capitol and Blue Note.

The relationship kicks off today with exclusive content from Norah Jones whose new album “The Fall" debuts this week. The Norah Jones page on Hulu will feature multiple concerts and her entire collection of music videos. An interview with ...

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Myspace Music Overhauls Charts

Source: HypeBot
November 19, 2009

MySpace has overhauled its music charts. Following a month after the addition of their Artist Dashboard, the new MySpace Music Charts are part of an effort to provide artists and users with more data and discovery options. “Over these past few months we've gone under the hood to take a closer look at the intelligence underlining the MySpace Music platform," says MySpace Music President Courtney Holt.

The new MySpace Music Charts include: