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Report: Paying Music Downloaders Increase 150% in First Half of 2004

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on November 8, 2004 - 7:38am.
New York -- The number of paying music downloaders increased 150% in the first half of 2004, to an estimated 20 million Americans, who are increasingly experimenting with fee-based online music services and buying portable music players in record numbers, according to a report from New York-based market research firm Ipsos-Insight. In July 2004, 35% of American downloaders over 12 said they had paid to download an MP3 file, compared with 22% in December 2003; among those aged 25-34 the percentage who had paid was 40%, and among those 35-54 the rate was 46%. "While these data are a clear indication that American downloaders are embracing the concept of fee-based digital music in growing numbers, existing music services have yet to truly penetrate the population of young file-sharing stalwarts," said Ipsos vice president Matt Kleinschmit. "Given their age and associated financial or credit restrictions, increasingly youth-oriented service features and purchase options may be beneficial in attracting this critical mass of future-generation digital music purchasers." The Ipsos report also found that 25% of American downloaders now own a portable digital audio player, up from 16% in December 2003; further, the report shows one in seven (14%) of all Americans over age 12 currently own such a device, up from 8% in Dec. 2003.
tags: Music | Reports | Download | Increases |

Comcast to Deploy TV Set-Tops With Microsoft Software

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on November 8, 2004 - 7:37am.
Redmond, Wash. -- Microsoft and Comcast, the nation's largest cable TV provider, announced on Monday that Comcast will be the first U.S. cable TV firm to deploy Microsoft's TV Foundation Edition software, which will power Comcast dual-tuner digital video recorders. The devices are scheduled to begin deployment to one million Comcast subscribers in Washington state next week; Microsoft's TV software is also slated to be automatically downloaded to all Comcast set-tops in Washington over the next several months. The deal is seen as a boon for Microsoft, which to this point has invested millions in TV-related software but has only won limited deployments in foreign markets like Mexico.
tags: TV | Comcast | Set-tops | Microsoft Software |

U2 Album Leaked Onto Internet Two Weeks Ahead of Release

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on November 8, 2004 - 7:36am.
London -- Irish rock band U2's upcoming album "How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb" has appeared on Internet peer-to-peer file-sharing networks two weeks before its scheduled retail release, Reuters reported. An unfinished copy of the U2's forthcoming album was stolen while the band was at a photo shoot in France over the summer, prompting the band to announce that it might move up the album's release date if the tracks surfaced online, as well as immediately release the album through Apple's iTunes Store. A London spokeswoman for the band told Reuters on Monday that U2 was aware of the situation but had not yet made decisions regarding a new release date for the record.
tags: Internet | Releases | U2 Album | Leakes |

Viacom Planning to Bid on MarketWatch

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on November 8, 2004 - 7:34am.
San Francisco -- Viacom, the parent of CBS and MTV, said it expects to make a bid to acquire the remaining shares of San Francisco-based MarketWatch, the provider of online business news, financial information and analytical tools, that it doesn't already own, the Associated Press reported. In a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commision, Viacom, which already owns a 22% stake in MarketWatch, said that its planned offer comes "at the invitation" of the company. The New York Times reported last week that MarketWatch could be sold for as much as $400 million, and has been actively seeking bids. Other possible suitors include The New York Times and Dow Jones & Co, publisher of The Wall Street Journal.
tags: Viacom | Bid | MarketWatch |

U.K. Supermarket Chain Tesco to Launch Digital Music Store

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on November 8, 2004 - 7:33am.
London -- Tesco, a supermarket chain based in the U.K., announced on Monday that it plans to take on Apple and launch yet another music download service in the U.K. The company said its new service, which will offer more than half a million songs from major labels and independents at $1.49 (79 pence) apiece, would be compatible with more than 70 different music players, including Microsoft's Windows Media. Tesco said it planned to use its retail history to get a leg up in the increasingly crowded U.K. music download market. "The iPod may have 50 percent of the music player market, but I don't think it will stay that way," said Jon Higgins, head of e-commerce development at Tesco. The service will be run by Cable & Wireless Plc, a U.K.-based telecommunications firm, and cover both the U.K. and Ireland, Tesco said.
tags: U.K | Digital Music | Supermarket | Tesco |

Mobile Entertainment, Marketing Firm Enpocket Raises $9.5 Million

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on November 8, 2004 - 7:31am.
Helsinki -- Enpocket, a provider of integrated mobile entertainment and marketing services, announced on Monday that it has raised $9.5 million in a third round of funding. Straumur Investment Bank led the round, with existing investors Nokia Venture Partners, GrandBanks Capital and Dolphin Equity Partners also participating. Enpocket said it plans to use the funds to develop new products and expand sales and marketing in the Americas, Europe and Asia. Separately, the company announced that Peter Larsen, Enpocket's former managing director for the EMEA region (Europe, the Middle East and Africa), has been promoted to chief executive officer. Enpocket, whose clients include Vodafone, Orange, Telefonica, Nokia, the BBC and Microsoft, is headquartered in New York and has offices in London, Helsinki and Reykjavik.
tags: VC | Mobile Entertainment | Enpocket |

Billboard Names Winners of First Digital Entertainment Awards

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on November 8, 2004 - 7:30am.
Los Angeles -- Billboard Magazine, along with co-producer Digital Media Wire, hosted their first annual Digital Entertainment Awards on Friday night, recognizing contributions in digital entertainment over the past year from individuals and companies in the music, video games, film, television and video industries. Following appearances by digital entertainment industry players including HDNet founder Mark Cuban and musician Todd Rundgren, Best of Show awards were presented to Apple CEO Steve Jobs for "Visionary of the Year" and to Apple for "Brand of the Year," while XM Satellite Radio CEO Hugh Panero was named "Innovator of the Year." Other awards went to Prince, whose online NPG Music Club was recognized as the "Best Use of Technology by an Artist;" and to Burger King and ad agency Crispin, Porter & Bogusky's "Subservient Chicken," named "Advergame of the Year." A full list of finalists and winners is available at the link below. The Billboard Digital Entertainment Awards and accompanying conference events were co-produced by Digital Media Wire.
tags: Awards | Billboard | Digital Entertainment | Winners |