The Takeover

Comcast Takes Over NBC Universal

I never would have thought, coming from a small town in Ohio (Copley) that one day I would be able to say that I've worked for both Fox and NBC. Well, technically I work for Comcast, but you know what I mean. Anyways, congrats to Comcast!

Comcast, the nation’s largest cable TV company, took control of NBC Universal late on Friday, making it the first cable company to own a major broadcast network. Ha! 30 Rock is now owned by Center City!

The takeover gave the cable distributor a 51 percent control of NBC Universal, which owns the nation’s fourth-ranked broadcaster, NBC; the Universal Pictures movie studio and related theme parks; and a bevy of cable channels including Bravo, E and USA.

The deal had raised fears that Comcast might abuse its control of NBC Universal to favor the 23 million who rely on it for cable TV service and the 17 million who pay for Internet connections.

But the Justice Department and the Federal Communications Commission forced Comcast to make the full suite of NBC Universal content available as a single package to online competitors on terms comparable to those reached with more established rivals, like Dish Network and DirecTV.

NBC Universal is also expected to match new deals for smaller chunks of programming between other media firms and online video providers if it has comparable programming on hand. As an example, NBC Universal might have to make “The Real Housewives of New York City” from Bravo available to Netflix if Viacom makes a similar deal for “Jersey Shore,” the MTV show.

The company also had to give up the decision-making power associated with its 32 percent share of Hulu, the online video service it co-owns with the Walt Disney Company, the News Corporation and Providence Equity Partners. Hulu is one of the services that makes viewing shows like “30 Rock” possible online.

The rules highlight the new battleground for entertainment in the home between traditional power players like Comcast, which has lost subscribers in the economic downturn, and companies like Netflix, which added them with its cheap service and compatibility with a range of devices.

In the deal, Comcast paid General Electric just under $6.2 billion in cash and contributed its pay TV channels like E Entertainment Television and the Golf Channel, worth $7.25 billion, to NBC Universal.

G.E.’s stake in NBC Universal fell to 49 percent from 80 percent, but G.E. plans to diminish that to zero by being paid out from the venture over about seven years. This week, G.E. bought out the 20 percent stake held by Vivendi of France for $5.8 billion in order to complete the deal.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/30/business/media/30comcast.html

The 15th Annual Millennium Music Conference & Showcase

Well, it's almost that time... Very much looking forward to this year's Millennium. I'll definitely be there networking and representing Monster Entertainment. Be sure to stop by Monster's artist's showcases. Showcase schedules have been released and are on their official website. Link below.

Case Closed will be playing the Ye Olde Ale House Fri 02/18/11 at 11pm.

and

Phantasm will be playing Gullifty's Underground Thu 02/17/11 at 10pm.

Should be a great time of networking and shows.

The 15th Annual Millennium Music Conference & Showcase will be held February 17-20, 2011 at the Radisson Penn Harris Hotel & Convention Center and 25 showcase venues in and around the City of Harrisburg, PA. The conference features two afternoons of music business keynotes, panels, clinics, workshops, day stage, one-on-one mentoring, demo listening sessions, and an industry trade show.

The event celebrates new music with four nights of showcases featuring over 300 original acts at over 30 live music venues. Since 1997, the conference & showcase has become one of the premier music events on the East Coast. Over the years MMC has educated and showcased thousands of independent acts and artists. Music industry professionals will attend as panelists, speakers, mentors, exhibitors and talent scouts to network, do business, and share their experience with musicians, registrants and attendees. The community is invited to join in the celebration of emerging talent, independent artists and new music as all showcase performances are open to the public.

For more information visit: www.musicconference.net

Movin' on Up

All I can hear in my head is the Jefferson's theme song when thinking about Black Ink MMG Group Soundchild Crew. Not because it's time to call the moving van... well at least not yet, but because these cats keep movin' on up the charts!

I woke up this morning, after a damn good sleep I must add, to find this in my email box... in all caps of course.

RONNIE WAYNE HATCHETT
DJNEWYORKCITYKEN

SOUNDCHILD CREW "STILL LOOK FRESH" (CHARTED TOP 20 WORLD WIDE BREAKOUT CHARTS, 1/7/2011)

This comes directly from the radio campaign being ran through Black Ink MMG via Direct Airplay. Stats taken from BDS, Mediabase, Mediaguide and Radiowave.

Congratulations to Soundchild Crew! Funny thing is, these guys are really just getting started. Expect to hear more as 2011 progresses. Also, if you haven't heard the track "Different" go buy it off iTunes right now, and thank me later. I'm in a good ass mood! Happy Cold Ass Saturday!

Links below.

iTunes
www.blackinkmmg.com
www.facebook.com/soundchildcrew
www.1lifeproductions.com

Uncharted

Billboard to start ranking breakout artists?

Associated Press:

Recording artists who don't get love from radio can now get a Billboard ranking.

The music industry trade magazine and website announced Thursday that it is launching a new chart called "Uncharted."

Rankings will be based on a variety of factors, including YouTube clicks, MySpace Music page views and Twitter traffic. The artists don't have to be unsigned, but they must not have appeared on any of Billboard's other charts.

The first act to get the No. 1 ranking will be a California-based rapper named Traphik (traffic).

Read more: http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/01/21/2026956/billboard-to-start-ranking-breakout.html#ixzz1BniwvMK1

The Homey Awards 2/13/11

Well it's almost that time again! This is a great time of year for local music in the Delaware Valley as WSTW's Hometown Heroes gears up for another award show. In a way, it's the quad-state area's own version of the Grammys as local artists get recognized for their work over the past year.


The Homey Awards are awarded to achievements in local music in 2010. Eligible, albums, EPs and songs/singles were submitted to WSTW Hometown Heroes in 2010 (and played on the show)--from December 2009 through November 2010.

Nominations are being made as we speak, with winners announced the same night as the Grammys February 13th, 2011. I've been there to help announce the winners the past few years, and I had a blast doing it.

Some of the Homey Award categories include:

Artist of the year
Album of the year
EP of the year
Song of the year
Best band
Male/Female solo artist
Lead singer
Best new artist
Best Video

There will of course be other created categories made through the nominations. I think past categories of this sort have included; Best Tattoo, Best Hair, or Best Voice. it's just an overall fun time that shouldn't be missed. Especially by YOU local artists! Be sure to tune into WSTW for Hometown Heroes Homey Awards 2/13/11.

Hometown Heroes plays the best local music in the Delaware Valley--every Sunday night from 8 to 10pm at WSTW 93.7FM, or at wstw.com.

A Week Away!

Happy New Year!

“Let the refining and improving of your own life keep you so busy that you have little time to criticize others.” H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

So, it's been a while... in a way, that's a good thing! Maybe not so much for a blog, but for the overall picture, yes, very much so. The overflow of behind the scenes work creates a mirage of nothingness on the front end. It painstakingly pays off however... new connections made, networking is abundant, and best of all good things to report. But, first! Happy New Year to all. I hope everyone had a happy and safe New Year and I hope that your other holidays were fulfilling and relaxing. Best wishes for 2011! I truly believe this year will be a great one. And! What a way to start it off than to have one of our artists for Black Ink chart for radio adds already. The news came down New Year's Eve as Black Ink MMG group Sound Child Crew gains steam in the south. The Little Rock Rap collective has been making a lot of noise over the past two months. Since the release of their highly anticipated eight song EP "Live 4 Once," hit single "Hypnotik" has been tearing up the radio waves from Texas to Black Ink MMG's home base of Virginia. If you haven't checked them out you should def do so HERE.

Also, only a week away! Cheers Elephant highly anticipated second album! Release show at Wold Cafe Live 1/8/2011! Tickets on sale HERE. Should be a fantastic show.

Other shows of importance coming up include Michael McCarry at The Boathouse... street sign below.



And... Case Closed will be playing an acoustic set at Dobbs on South street 1/28/2011. For a full list of events visit WeAreMonsterEnt.com

HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM MONSTER ENTERTAINMENT!