Barry Willis

The Red and the Black
News
Barry Willis  |  Dec 01, 2003
With few exceptions, 2003 has been a slow year for specialty A/V retailers. In late November, both Ultimate Electronics and Tweeter Group reported disappointing figures for their third and fourth fiscal quarters, respectively. New York's Harvey Electronics, however, posted respectable gains given the stagnant economy.
Continue Reading >
CompUSA Moves Into Consumer Electronics
News
Barry Willis  |  Nov 24, 2003  |  First Published: Nov 25, 2003
Consumer electronics stores have long carried computer gear, everything from laptops and desktop systems to software and accessories. Computer stores, led by Gateway Country stores, have slowly been moving in the other direction. Now it looks as if convergence in the retail realm is about to take another great leap forward.
Continue Reading >
Record Label Roundup
News
Barry Willis  |  Nov 24, 2003  |  First Published: Nov 25, 2003
The music goes round and round: An investment group led by former Universal Music chief Edgar Bronfman, Jr. is in the lead to acquire Warner Music Group (WMG) and Warner/Chappell Music Publishing from corporate parent Time Warner, according to reports issued the third week of November. Bronfman's group—a consortium of banks and venture capital firms—has offered $2.8 billion for Time Warner's musical properties, possibly forcing prior suitor EMI Group PLC to drop out of the bidding. On Thursday, November 20, EMI chairman Eric Nicoll told reporters that Time Warner had informed his company of "a possible proposal from another party as an alternative to our own firm offer."
Continue Reading >
Sony Music and BMG
News
Barry Willis  |  Nov 10, 2003
Sony Music Entertainment and Bertelsmann Music Group could soon be one.
Continue Reading >
NPR's Huge Gift
News
Barry Willis  |  Nov 10, 2003
National Public Radio is in no danger of going off the air any time in the next century, thanks to a massive gift from the estate of philanthropist Joan B. Kroc, widow of McDonald's founder Ray Kroc.
Continue Reading >
More Cutbacks at Sony
News
Barry Willis  |  Nov 03, 2003
Each month Sony Corporation announces what seems to be an even more drastic cure for its lingering financial malaise. On Tuesday, October 28, the Japanese industrial giant announced that it would reduce its workforce by approximately 13% over the next three years, cutting some 20,000 workers from its payroll, 7000 of them in Japan.
Continue Reading >
Music Notes
News
Barry Willis  |  Oct 27, 2003
New York's ailing Bottom Line music club has attracted some heavyweight help. Rock icon Bruce Springsteen and Viacom president Mel Karmazin have joined a campaign begun by New York–based satellite radio service Sirius Radio to save the legendary venue.
Continue Reading >
CEA: Flat Year Ahead
News
Barry Willis  |  Oct 20, 2003
Manufacturers and retailers don't expect an upswing in electronics sales next year. That's the consensus of members polled by the Consumer Electronics Association, published in mid-October.
Continue Reading >
Shrinking Music Industry
News
Barry Willis  |  Oct 20, 2003
A drop-off in business these days seems to produce one inevitable consequence: a cutback in jobs.
Continue Reading >
Big Changes for Sony
News
Barry Willis  |  Oct 12, 2003
Sony Electronics will soon institute some big changes in an effort to become more efficient.
Continue Reading >

Pages

X