Tuesday’s Music 2.0 Briefing: Wal-Mart Roars, QTrax Lives, Universal Slips & More
TODAY’S HYPEBOT FEATURES: NIN Launch Stumbles, 7Digital Grabs WMG MP3’s For EU, TuneCore Delivers NIN & Other A-List Artists, A DanceTracks Alum Joins Amazin MP3. EMI Adds Catalog & Licensing VP’s plus A Commentary
> Wal-Mart is demanding multi-tier pricing from record labels. According to Billboard the proposal would "allow for a promotional program that could comprise the top 15 to 20 hottest titles, each at $10. The rest of the pricing structure…would have hits and current titles retailing for $12, top catalog at $9, midline catalog at $7 and budget product at $5. The move would also shift the store’s pricing from its $9.88 and $13.88 model to rounder sales prices." Hasn’t Amazon been pushing this concept for some time now? If their #1 and #2 retailer partners demand it; can labels resist?
> In two press releases Qtrax announced a new deal with Sony/ATV Publishing and renewed a deal with EMI Publishing. A few days ago a deal with bankrupt TVT was also announced. All are important milestones for a struggling QTrax but still far from the promised all major labels launch.
> No surprises: Universal’s 2007 earnings slipped due to lower CD sales and a weaker currency. (Vivendi Universal Financial Report)
> Nokia has opened an online music store in Germany. (Reuters)
> A
pdf of a talk that marketing guru Seth Godin gave on the music industry. Not the definitive work, but worthy of your time.
It would have been great if the original video he posted were still available… have my fingers crossed. Some of the message has (slightly) less impact when the accompanying visuals aren’t visible.
Doesn’t change the fact that he’s got loads of great ideas, both for the industry at large and for indie artists who want to make their own way.
err, the comment above refers to Seth Godin’s PDF on the music industry.
Doh.