snapshot 11/27/07

NBC Universal to offer interactive ads via TiVo

General Electric Co.'s NBC Universal agreed to start offering interactive advertising services and subscribe to a ratings service from TiVo Inc, the companies said on Tuesday. The agreement covers GE's 14 networks -- including NBC, Telemundo and Bravo -- as well as its 10 NBC-owned TV stations.

Advertisers who buy television commercials on those networks and television stations will have the option of adding an interactive component to those spots. They can insert TiVo "tags" into television commercials that let viewers click on an icon when watching an ad to obtain more information about a product, the companies said. NBC Universal also purchased a ratings service from TiVo that provides second-by-second viewership ratings on television commercials.

Web sales strong on Cyber Monday

Estimate say shoppers spend $700 million, exceeding 2006's figure by $100 million. Andrew Lipsman, senior analyst at ComScore, said one reason for the high sales volumes on Cyber Monday was that most workers were back at their desks after the four-day weekend. About half of all online purchases during the holiday shopping season last year were made from work, he said, even though some companies frown on the practice and most consumers have computers and Internet access at home.

34 Free Songs at iTunes

TuneCore is offering 34 free song downloads at the US iTunes store. No, it's not any 34 songs, it's 34 songs by artists who are TuneCore customers. TuneCore, as we've posted before, is an iTunes listing service that helps artists get their music on the iTunes Store.

To get your free tracks, visit their free album page and generate a unique iTunes code. Artists on the free album include the Dandy Warhols (famous for the Veronica Mars intro) and Maureen McCormick, of the Brady Bunch. How is the actual music? The quality, er, varies. Let us know what you liked or disliked in the comments.

Universal's CEO Once Called iPod Users Thieves. Now He's Giving Songs Away

Last summer, though, Morris seemed to change direction. After years of tightening controls on his company's content, he agreed to let Amazon.com and other online retailers sell unprotected MP3s of Universal songs. These contain none of the digital rights management software that media companies usually embed in digital files to prevent piracy. Universal wasn't the first big label to offer unprotected tracks; the EMI Group had begun selling DRM-free songs in May. But with its small market share, EMI's decision seemed unlikely to have much effect on the market. Universal, on the other hand, was setting out to change things. In particular, it hoped to end Apple's near monopoly on legal digital downloads.

Paxton's hesitation is justified. Over the years, the label has for the most part used its market power to squeeze money out of others' ideas. And its current moves — DRM-free songs and the Total Music subscription service — aren't about serving consumers, at least not principally. They're aimed at taking on Steve Jobs and, specifically, limiting the power of iTunes.

Widgets make a big splash on the Net; Web shout-outs draw attention of marketers, venture capitalists

For nearly a decade, GarageBand.com was the quintessential struggling Web company, barely hanging on as it burned through $17 million. Until widgets. Since it developed a widget, one of the mini-Web applications now flourishing on Facebook and other social-networking sites, the company -- renamed iLike -- has become an overnight sensation. In May, iLike had 3 million registered users of its music website. After its widget became available on Facebook, it ballooned to more than 10 million users on Facebook, 15 million overall. And iLike is now growing to the tune of 3 million users per month.

Brooklyn-based Web business helps sell music in the digital world

Jeff Price, founder of Brooklyn-based TuneCore, wants to help every garage band, basement composer and pop princess wannabe make it - if not to the top of the charts, then at least out into the digital world. Nearly two years ago, Price launched TuneCore, a service that lets musicians put their work in online stores like iTunes, Rhapsody and Napster for a flat fee that he bills as "the price of a six-pack and a pizza."

Sales of multimedia phones to pass TVs next year, report predicts

Worldwide shipments of multimedia-enabled mobile phones will exceed 300 million units next year, surpassing shipments of television sets, according to a research report being released this week by MultiMedia Intelligence. Sales of such phones will generate over $76 billion in revenue. By 2011, about 9 of 10 mobile phones will include basic multimedia capabilities, which consist of an image sensor, MP3 audio support, and video playback. Currently, these capabilities are available in 60% of mobile phones, according to the report.

Blockbuster in talks with handset makers

Movie rental chain Blockbuster is in talks with all the major mobile phone makers about partnerships aimed at making it easier for consumers to watch movies on the go, Chief Executive James Keyes said on Tuesday.

Wyclef Jean Pushes Digital Jukebox Exclusive

Artists frequently offer exclusives to online, mobile, and retail outlets to spark pre-release excitement. Now, digital jukebox specialist TouchTunes is jumping into the action with Columbia Records artist Wyclef Jean. Starting today, fans can tap the album, The Carnival II (Memoirs of an Immigrant), at 15,000 TouchTunes endpoints across the United States. The album is scheduled for broader release on December 4th.

The exclusive involves a number of promotional aspects. The campaign includes on-site listening parties, on-screen promotions, and an interactive survey. "Their reach into our target demographic at places where people are already listening to music is unmatched, and their ability to deliver marketing and promotional messages directly to music fans makes TouchTunes a valuable partner," explained Anthony Ellis, vice president of Urban Music Marketing and Sony BMG. TouchTunes currently carries a catalog of more than two million tracks.