emi

At EMI, could digital music kill the 'record' promo?

Sweet faced and playful, French electro-pop star Yelle seems an unlikely figure to stick a dagger into the heart of a much-loved but quickly disappearing staple of the music industry.

She is unwittingly helping The EMI Group, one of the four largest music companies, to push CDs further into the shadows. Already a star in her own country and a growing nightclub favorite in the U.S., Yelle was being promoted until recently in this country exclusively through digital means.

For decades, music labels trying to break in an act pressed thousands of vinyl records or CDs to distribute to … Read more

The geeks were right; music labels bow to technology

Some of you out there can pat yourselves on the back. You've been shouting for years on Web sites, message boards, and blogs that the music industry would one day bow to technology.

That day has most certainly arrived.

Take a second to gaze out over the music landscape. Technology reigns supreme. Not only have the four largest record companies begun killing off digital rights management and adopting unprotected MP3s, but this week they sidled up to file sharing like never before. There isn't any question that the labels have raised a white flag after being overwhelmed by … Read more

MySpace Music: Here comes the latest iTunes killer

Imagine digital music without Apple as the marquee act.

That's what the music labels want. For years, they have wished for a legitimate challenger to wrest away some of the bargaining power Apple has wielded as the No. 1 online music seller. So, here we go again: it's another iTunes killer.

On Thursday, MySpace executives unwrapped MySpace Music. Backed by the four largest record companies and MySpace parent company News Corp., the music service will offer much of what iTunes does and more, according to MySpace's managers. But haven't we heard this before?

Urge, Sony's … Read more

MySpace unveils new music service

Executives from MySpace officially announced the creation of MySpace Music, a service that will be jointly operated by News Corp.'s MySpace and, at least initially, three out of the four top record labels.

The Thursday morning teleconference MySpace held with the press was anticlimactic since details about the service have been leaking for weeks.

The service will roll out gradually over the next three to four months and offer free streaming music, unprotected MP3 downloads, ringtones, and e-commerce offerings such as merchandise and ticket sales, said MySpace CEO Chris DeWolfe. Among the top four music companies, EMI was the … Read more

Execs move from Web to music companies

Maybe it's just coincidence, but this week two executives have left major Web companies for roles in the music industry.

Earlier this week, Google VP of Engineering Douglas Merrill left to lead EMI's digital music initiative. According to his Google bio, his core background is in finance--not music and not really technology, although apparently he has done a lot of work in information security. Apparently, singing the Sex Pistols' anti-label song "EMI" to EMI head Guy Hands helped him get the job. Too bad MCA's gone--maybe I could have gotten a job by singing … Read more

Will former Google exec help save the music industry?

Douglas Merrill is everything one would expect from a former Google exec.

The new chief of EMI's digital unit is a Googler down to his soul, which means he's extremely bright, a techie, and dead set against suing fans for file sharing.

"I'm passionate about data," Merrill said during a phone interview Wednesday with CNET News.com. "For example, there's a set of data that shows that file sharing is actually good for artists. Not bad for artists. So maybe we shouldn't be stopping it all the time. I don't know...… Read more

Buzz Out Loud 694: Know your zombies

It's zombie-preparedness day, and may we suggest you also prepare yourself for a barrage of rumors of the eBay and Blu-ray variety. Also, today, Amazon reaches right inside Molly's brain and launches shopping via text-message (hello, impulse purchase heaven!), and one listener defends the sacred honor of the Chevy Nova. Listen now: Download today's podcast EPISODE 694

Voicemail - Dark Zombie Preparedness Day!

Judge to RIAA: You can’t sue over songs ‘made available’ via P2P http://www.news.com/8301-13578_3-9908353-38.html

eBay’s power sell: Skype to Google? http://www.news.com/8301-13577_3-9908959-36.html

Amazon launches … Read more

Google's CIO leaves search giant for job at EMI

Updated 5 p.m. PDT with more information and context.

Google Chief Information Officer Douglas Merrill is leaving Google to become president of EMI's digital unit, according to sources.

A Google spokesman confirmed that Merrill is leaving but said he could not confirm the other information. A spokeperson for EMI Music Group declined to comment.

A separate source familiar with the matter said Merrill will be starting at EMI later this month and that the position was created specially for him. He is staying in California, the source says. EMI, the fourth-largest record label, is based in London.

The … Read more

Google's lottery winners go for dream jobs

What would you do if you won the lottery? Would you continue to slog away at your job assembling cars, bagging groceries, or writing code? If you joined Google before it went public or even in the aftermath, it was like winning the lottery. Douglas Merrill is leaving to join EMI Digital as president after more than four years at Google, prior to the August 19, 2004, public offering.

As vice president of all internal engineering and worldwide support, Merrill will walk away with a fortune. What do you do after more than four years of incredibly intense and rewarding … Read more

SpiralFrog's deal with Warner Music is half-baked

Updated 6:20 AM PDT to reflect the official announcement from SpiralFrog.

On its face, the signing of a deal with Warner/Chappell Music, the publishing arm of music label Warner Music Group, would appear to be a breakthrough for SpiralFrog.

Warner Music is one of the top four record companies. And SpiralFrog, which last week claimed the position of third-largest music download site on the Web, has toiled for five years to convince the major labels about the soundness of its ad-supported business model. But so far, SpiralFrog has signed a deal for full rights to offer music with … Read more