-
Apple Earnings Soar, And So Much More
April 23, 2010
Have an opinion? Add your comment below. -
"With radio audiences in decline, I don't think there's much choice but to turn to the Internet. So, that's the clear option. As you decide to turn to the Internet as a medium to popularize new releases, then you have to choose which companies can do that effectively. If you leave Apple out of the picture, then really you're just shooting yourself in the foot. "
-- Phil Leigh, senior analyst at Inside Digital MediaEven with the media world ablaze with rumors about Larry King's divorce and whether he knew his wife was having an affair or not, it was hard not to hear about Apple this week. News about the company's earnings were in and every media available reported it.
This week Apple Inc. posted a 90% jump in profit that blew past Wall Street's already lofty expectations and drove its stock to an all-time high.
Apple said it doubled sales of its popular iPhone over the same quarter a year ago, selling 8.75 million of the handsets since Dec. 27th. That was slightly better than its record sales of 8.7 million during the peak holiday buying season last year. Read the rest here: http://tinyurl.com/236a5br
ITEM: The huge number of iPads sold in the first week of availability -- about 500,000 units -- foreshadows a similar feeding frenzy for iPad apps over the coming weeks and months. iPad apps are on track to earn $136 million in the first year out. Read the rest here: http://tinyurl.com/2a9qd4x
ITEM: Business Insider reports that Apple's iPhone business now represents a whopping 40% of the company's revenue, according to Business Insider's "chart of the day." Remarkably, that's a share of the business that didn't exist three years ago. Now, for three quarters and counting, the iPhone is Apple's biggest revenue generator. During the March quarter, iPhone revenue grew 124% year-over-year to $5.4 billion -- or 40% of Apple's $13.5 billion in total revenue.
"Because of high profit margins on the iPhone, it's likely Apple's biggest profit contributor, too," suggests Business Insider. "But that's another chart. Apple's second-biggest business is its Mac computer division, which grew 27% year-over-year in the March quarter to $3.8 billion -- or 28% of Apple's overall sales. How the iPad will impact Apple's revenue picture remains to be seen, though early reports suggest that the tablet device could eventually give the iPhone a run for its money. Read the rest here: http://tinyurl.com/2c3nokc
ITEM: On the day Apple announced record first-quarter revenue, Phil Leigh, senior analyst at Inside Digital Media, talked with Billboard about how Apple is going to change how music is discovered, shared and experienced -- and how record labels have no choice but to join along. Read the rest here: http://tinyurl.com/2cbw5x2
ITEM: This week a brand new Apple iPhone was allegedly "found" in a Silicon Valley watering hole and delivered to Gizmodo. After a few days of speculation as to whether the lost iPhone was some new marketing coup for Apple as Gizmodo immediately took it apart and put photos of the new 4G device online, the news about the new iPhone spread like a virus all over the web. (And no, it wasn't a brilliant marketing ploy)
The lost phone was and is indeed the new 4G iPhone scheduled to be released later this summer, and it's smoking hot. The iPhone is the #1 smartphone and the new generation will only solidify Apple's lead over the competition.
You can read about the new iPhone here: http://tinyurl.com/y7utwry or here: http://tinyurl.com/yyjkhar
ITEM: Apple's new 15-inch MacBook Pro is "really, really fast." Read the rest here: http://tinyurl.com/yyarajb
What Apple has accomplished is extraordinary. The company has introduced new products in the worst economy in decades, and it seems it has managed to engage consumers at every turn.
Engaging consumers. What a novel idea.
-----------------------------
The Music Industry Past, Present & Future, And The Internet
I answer questions on EconTalk
I recently did an interview about the industry and the Internet at EconTalk with host Russ Roberts. Russ is also a professor of economics at George Mason University, blogs at Cafe Hayek, and has written three novels that teach economics. He's also the co-creator of the Keynes-Hayek rap video. (And if your understanding of the economic meltdown needs some enlightened, this video will do it)
In the interview we talk about the evolution of the music industry, the impact of the digital revolution, and I give my reasons for believing in the virtues and potential of the Internet in enhancing the music industry. I point out, as I have many times here in the newsletter, that the internet allows numerous artists to make money from their music and it can enhance revenues from live performances by expanding an artist's base. We also discuss the challenges facing record companies and I suggest that the full potential of the Internet as a distribution channel has yet to be fully exploited. There's a lot of ground covered, but based on the comments already posted of those who have tuned in, they've enjoyed it.
You can listen to the interview (it runs a tad over an hour) or download it here: http://tinyurl.com/y9f3tld
And Now For Some News ...
Paul McCartney Says Bye Bye To EMI
Wall Street JournalThings just don't seem to be getting better for EMI. Radiohead, then the Rolling Stones, and now Paul McCartney joins the list of artists leaving EMI. Paul will take his post-Beatles catalog to Concord Music.
Read more about it by clicking here.
Monster Energy Partners With Gibson To Promote Slash
MediaPostYet another example of how strategic alliances can work.
Monster Energy is partnering with Gibson Guitars to promote the solo album of Slash, formerly the guitarist of Guns N' Roses.
The Los Angeles-based drink company is presenting "the ultimate Slash experience" to give fans exclusive content and prizes. Fans can log onto Monster Energy's website now through June 30th to enter. Also included on the site is exclusive behind-the-scenes video content featuring Slash. There are links to Slash's website and MySpace page on the Monster Energy microsite.
Read more about it by clicking here.
Pop Music Awards Honors The Hitmakers Behind The Music
ET onlineThe 27th Annual Pop Music Awards where songwriters and publishers behind the music of many of today's top artists are honored was held this past week.
Read more about it by clicking here.
Skinput Makes Your Arms And Hands Keyboards
CnetChris Harrison, a graduate student at Carnegie Mellon University and a former intern at Microsoft Research, has developed a working prototype of a system called Skinput that does just that, essentially by turning a person's hand and forearm into a keyboard and screen.
"People don't love the iPhone keyboard. They use them. But they don't love them," Harrison said in a interview at the recent Computer-Human Interaction conference. "If you could make the iPhone keyboard as big as an arm -- that would be huge."
Read more about it by clicking here.
VH-1 Will Produce 44 New Shows
B&CVH1 is producing a record 44 original series in 2010 with a focus on music, celebrity and real-life stories. The push is to ensure a connection with young adults 25-34, the demo the network wants to sustain. Said VH1 President Tom Calderone:"They still enjoy VH1's signature sense of fun and irreverence, but they also want more storylines that reflect the issues and challenges they are experiencing in their own lives."
Music will remain one of the channel's core offerings, comprising 40% of the entire day schedule starting this September. VH1 will be refreshing brands such as "VH1 Divas" (slated to return in December with a concert special for American troops with USO) and new installments of "VH1 Storytellers." Among the new shows fast approaching is "You're Cut Off," about nine spoiled young women who are cut off from their various shopping outlets, debuting June 14th, and new "Behind the Music" episodes, which feature Courtney Love, Jennifer Hudson, Eve, Jennifer Lopez and DMX, starting in June.
Read more about it by clicking here.
Smartphones And Ford And Pandora
Fast CompanyFast Company continues its coverage of Ford and the carmaker's efforts to incorporate smartphone technology into the driving experience. Discussing Ford's in-car Sync system, it explains: "The idea is that when you connect up a Sync-compatible smartphone, running the right kinds of apps, to your Sync-enabled car, you'll be able to merely utter a few words of command to get the app to bend to your will."
The new Sync AppLink service only works with BlackBerry and Android phones at the moment, but iPhone -- and even iPad -- compatibility could come later this year. One lucky app that will be made available to Ford owners is Web radio service Pandora. Fast Company, meanwhile, suggests that Ford and other carmakers will have to walk a fine line between what apps represent reasonable and unreasonable distraction for drivers.
Read more about it by clicking here.
ACM HONORS:
Carrie Underwood made history at the Academy of Country Music Awards last Sunday night, becoming the first woman to win entertainer of the year twice. She won the show's top honor last year, and this year she beat out Taylor Swift, Kenny Chesney, the Zac Brown Band, Toby Keith, Brad Paisley, George Strait and Keith Urban. Lady Antebellum took home the most awards grabbing five trophies, including song and single record of the year for crossover hit "Need You Now," and ending Rascal Flatts' seven-year run as best vocal group.
MICHAEL JACKSON CIRQUE:
Cirque du Soleil announced Tuesday that it will put on a live touring show featuring the songs of the King of Pop starting late next year. That will be followed by a permanent production in Las Vegas in 2012 at a property owned by MGM Mirage Inc. The casino company did not say which venue will host the show. A nightclub in Las Vegas will also open with the show.
GREEN DAY DOESN'T GET CRITICS EXCITED ON THE GREAT WHITE WAY:
The Broadway "American Idiot," based on Green Day's album of the same name, is getting very mixed reviews. Say tuned to see if it's a short or long run.
YIKES SKYPE!
At the end of the fourth quarter of 2009, Skype had 560 million registered users, according to the company's chief technology strategist, Jonathan Rosenberg. Skype added 39 million registered users in the fourth quarter, while the number of Skype-to-Skype call minutes totaled 36.1 billion in the final three months of the year. What's more, Skype users made more the 250 billion minutes worth of Skype-to-Skype calls from the time the service was launched through the end of 2009. Furthermore, 36% of Skype-to-Skype calls as of the end of the fourth quarter included video, according to Rosenberg.
NEW BRUCE DVD JUICE:
Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band's performance at London's Hard Rock Calling festival on June 28th, 2009 will come to DVD and Blu-ray as London Calling: Live In Hyde Park on June 22nd.
Quotes of the week
"Every time she lifts her leg, I think another kid is going to fly out."
-- Joan Rivers, pointing out another reason to fear Kate Gosselin's "Dancing with the Stars" performances, on "The View.""Sometimes, music is like poop. It just has to come out."
-- Glee's Mark Salling, on making music, to PEOPLE"The press kind of twisted it around to sell papers, but you know the bottom line is I just knew things were just going to work themselves out. And he is back and he is stronger than ever."
-- Aerosmith's guitar man Joe Perry, talking about Steven Tyler's rejoining the band that he allegedly never left."It just comes with the territory. That, in particular, is not even worth wasting the breath to comment on. I've been around for over a decade and I think my work speaks for myself."
-- Christina Aguilera, this week, on comparisons to Lady GaGa.
The B-Side - 'Blips'
THE ONION (www.theonion.com) STORY OF THE WEEK:
NBC Admits To Never Actually Making An Episode of 'Chuck'
LOS ANGELES-The NBC action-comedy Chuck, familiar to millions of viewers from its long-running promo bumpers, does not actually exist, network executives admitted Friday. "We had a very successful, very expensive promotional campaign, but to be honest, we never actually bothered making a pilot," NBC spokesperson Grant Twombly said. "I guess everybody just assumes everybody else is watching it, because advertisers have jumped on board, and DVD sales are somehow doing great." A ratings analyst reached for comment confirmed that "people can't get enough of that Chuck."
Read the rest here and laugh: http://tinyurl.com/y2g3rn7.
THE RADIO INTERVIEW on 'THE AMERICAN PERSPECTIVE' - From newsblaze.com
"Steve Meyer is on the front line of global music sales and distribution which he expects will soar to pocket-bursting levels. What's more, he shares his insight and ingenuity with us. Steve gives us both historical perspective and futuristic vision as he chats with Judy about the love of his work, trends of the business and his personal points of view about success, happiness and blending life with the lust for life. Steve joins Judy and helps us discover the thrill of having it all with a sense of balance and purpose. "
You can listen to an interview I did with Judy Piazza of 'The American Perspective' by clicking here: (It runs about 15 minutes)
http://www.thesop.org/index.php?id=10306.
The Blogs
Check out Jerry Del Colliano's (the founder of INSIDE RADIO) daily blog, by clicking here: http://www.insidemusicmedia.blogspot.comWebsite
Check out attorney Ray Beckerman's website at: http://recordingindustryvspeople.blogspot.com where he prints news about the RIAA's ongoing activities
TinyURL
Check out www.tinyurl.com where you can make a smaller URL that will work for any webpage you wish to link to or reference. (As you can see, I'm using it in my news stories above!)
-
-