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ivan@stellysee.de
| From | "bob" <segarini@sympatico.ca> |
| Subject | Re: The Death Toll Rises In The War Against Music... |
| Date | Thu, 6 Nov 2003 17:28:54 -0500 |
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This, then, would be the Sony guy that's about to lose his job...
bob
----- Original Message -----
From: "bryan" <munki100@pacbell.net>
To: <audities@smoe.org>
Sent: Thursday, November 06, 2003 11:26 AM
Subject: Re: The Death Toll Rises In The War Against Music...
> > FRANKFURT (AP) -- Bertelsmann AG and Sony Corp. plan to
> > merge their music businesses, Bertelsmann said Thursday.
>
> Then again, for another spin on the story, there's this news item:
>
> http://makeashorterlink.com/?T2D262676
>
>
> Sony rules out selling music business
> By Peter Thal Larsen in New York
> Published: November 5 2003 1:11 | Last Updated: November 5 2003 1:11
>
>
> Sony on Tuesday ruled out a sale of its music division as the Japanese
media
> and electronics giant sketched out plans to use its entertainment
businesses
> to help drive sales of new consumer electronics devices.
>
> Sir Howard Stringer, chairman and chief executive of Sony's US operations,
> acknowledged the company was involved in discussions about consolidation
in
> the music business, but intended to keep a controlling stake in its Sony
> Music subsidiary.
>
> "We're not planning on selling the music company," he said.
>
> He was speaking as Sony outlined plans to use its music, movie and
computer
> games divisions to help launch a new range of products for the digital
media
> age.
> If successful, the drive will help justify Sony's ownership of music and
> movies, which have long been seen as an imperfect fit with its electronics
> businesses.
> Early next year, Sony is expected to launch a digital music device, which
> aims to challenge the industry leadership established by Apple's iPod and
> its iTunes music downloading service.
>
> Sir Howard said Apple's approach had demonstrated the value of using music
> downloads to drive the sale of devices, which are much more profitable. He
> added the device would be available for as little as $60, compared with
the
> cheapest iPod, which costs just under $300.
>
> Sony is also preparing to launch a portable version of its PlayStation
games
> console, which will allow users to play games, watch movies and listen to
> music.
> Executives said the devices would aim to establish Sony as the leader in
> portable entertainment in the same way the company's Walkman became
> synonymous with portable music.
>
> Last week, Sony announced it would slash its workforce by 20,000 as part
of
> a strategic overhaul designed to improve its operating profit margins to
10
> per cent by 2006.
>
> Of these, 1,700 will fall in the music and movie divisions.
>
> Sony Music has been holding talks with Bertelsmann's BMG division about a
> possible merger of the two companies, following the breakdown of talks
> between BMG and Warner Music, the music division of Time Warner. Warner
> Music is now discussing a possible merger with EMI, the independent
UK-based
> group.
> The pressure for consolidation follows a sharp drop in music sales as a
> result of piracy and illegal digital downloading.
>
> However, talks have been complicated by the reluctance of music groups to
> sell out completely or put up cash to complete a deal.
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------
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