Subscription music service Rhapsody is aiming to turn a profit in the last two quarters of this year, with mobile driving new subscriptions according to chief product officer Brendan Benzing. He tells PaidContent that Rhapsody has added 100,000 gross customers since spinning out from RealNetworks and Viacom….
Tag: Real Networks
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RealNetworks wants to ‘organise and repair’ people’s iTunes libraries
RealNetworks’ past battles with Apple are the focus of an ongoing court case, but in 2011 the company is trying to build a new service around Apple’s music application. Real has just launched Rinse, which costs $39 and promises to “seamlessly organise and repair your iTunes music library”.
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RealNetworks launches Music Plus service for US operator Sprint
US mobile operator Sprint has launched Spring Music Plus, a cross-platform music service offering a mixture of full tracks, albums, ringtones and ringback tones. RealNetworks is running the service, which includes playlist creation, music recommendations and bundles of products.
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Rob Glaser takes up venture capitalist role
Former RealNetworks boss Rob Glaser has been appointed as a partner at big VC firm Accel Partners, focusing on digital media technology, social media and mobile services…
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Rhapsody to be spun off as separate company
RealNetworks and Viacom have announced plans to spin their joint venture Rhapsody music service off as an independent company.
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RealNetworks boss Glaser steps down
It’s turning into an interesting week at RealNetworks HQ. Earlier this week, COO John Giamatteo announced that he was leaving the company, and now CEO Rob Glaser is following him out of the door. His departure is pretty sudden – he’s been replaced on an interim basis by the company’s general counsel and EVP of corporate development Bob Kimball.
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RealNetworks COO to leave company
RealNetworks’ chief operating officer John Giamatteo will be resigning from the company on 2 April, it has been announced. No reason has been given for his departure, with CEO Rob Glaser saying the company is working to make the transition to his successor as smooth as possible.
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RealNetworks buys cloud-syncing startup Varia Mobile
RealNetworks has bought cloud-syncing firm Varia Mobile for an undisclosed amount. According to MocoNews, the company’s technology “provides immediate publishing, integration and deployment of Web 2.0 desktop services directly to mobile devices”
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RealNetworks exec reveals ultra-low digital payout for former band
Tim Quirk works at RealNetworks nowadays, but he used to be in a band signed to WMG called Too Much Joy. He’s written a blog post about his quest to find out how much the band earned in digital royalties from its three albums in the last five years. And? $62.47.
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MTV, RealNetworks looking at giving up Rhapsody…?
An SEC filing made by RealNetworks states that MTV and RealNetworks are in talks about restructuring their joint venture participation in the music service Rhapsody, “to enable Rhapsody to operate more independently of either party.”
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Ringback tones more lucrative than ringtones in Germany, says RealNetworks
Figures released by RealNetworks claim that last year, German operators Vodafone and T-Mobile made £34 million from selling ringback tones, but only 26 million from selling ringtones.