Yahoo to do a Duet

Yahoo to do a Duet

Yahoo (YHOO) said Thursday it will present and market the digital
music subscription service created by the world’s two largest music
companies. Duet, from Universal Music Group and Sony Music (SNE), is set
to launch this summer. first with streaming music and later with
downloads. “We hope that other major music companies and
independent music companies will join,” said Vivendi Universal (V)
chairman Jean-Marie Messier.” The Internet offers unparalleled
opportunities for consumers and artists,” he said.

Yahoo’s Koogle shops at EBay, report says

Yahoo (YHOO) CEO Tim Koogle’s reported EBay (EBAY) purchases suggest
he’s planning to take life a bit easier after leaving his operational
duties. He used the auction service, which competes with Yahoo’s own, to
buy an Aston Martin DB-7 Vintage Couple, that cost $130,000, according
to the Washington Post’s “Reliable Source” column. Using the
screen name “virginiadude,” Koogle also successfully bid on a
Versace black leather wallet, and an Armani jacket. In an e-mail, he
complained about the paper’s request for comment saying, “I don’t
appreciate this invasion of privacy and would respectfully ask you to
refrain from publishing any supposed transactions. Tim.”

Pace of Web shutdowns slows

The number of Internet companies throwing in the mouse declined in
March from the pace of the first two months of this year. A report from
Webmergers.com said 41 online firms closed up last month, compared to 53
in February and 53 in January. At least 369 substantial dot-coms have
shut down since January 2000, said Webmergers.com founder Tim Miller. He
said the rate of closures for Internet access providers and Web
consulting firms has increased, while there has been a relative decline
for e-commerce shutdowns.

Napster a global hit

Almost a third of Internet users in Canada downloaded songs from
Napster in February, according to research by Jupiter Media Metrix (JMXI).
In fact, while 16.1 percent of U.S. Web users also visited Napster, the
percentage of Napster-using surfers in Argentina, Spain and Brazil
exceeded that. “Napster is an international phenomenon,” said
analyst Dannielle Romano. She suggested international use is greater
because the Internet is newer to global users and its the more
technologically adept who are active. The number of U.S.-based users was
13.5 million.

Airline industry travel site adds advisors

Orbitz, the much-delayed travel Web site co-owned by major U.S.
airlines, named four people to its consumer advisory board. “The
board is a pipeline to real people and represents Orbitz’ commitment to
consumers,” said Orbitz board chairman Con Hitchcock. They include
former U.S. Senator Richard Bryan, consumer travel writer Valarie D’Elia,
Internet pioneer Esther Dyson and “Internet for Dummies”
author John Levine. The company is asking for nominations of an
“everyday consumer and travel enthusiast” to fill the final
slot on the panel.

Hotel broadband installs slow

A drastic tightening of capital markets is forcing a slowdown in the
deployment of broadband connectivity in hotels for guests and a shakeup
in the market, according to Cahners In-Stat Group (https://www.instat.com/).
However, what the analysts said the multi-hospitality unit broadband
hardware and services market “will resume robust growth next year
and surge from $59 million in 2000 to $679 million in 2005.”

Deal of the day

Listen.com said it acquired TuneTo.com, an Internet radio service.
Terms of the deal weren’t disclosed. Listen.com syndicates music
editorial content and streaming audio services. “We will (explore)
opportunities to deploy this … technology into new applications like
music-on-demand subscription services and the next wave of wireless and
net-attached devices,” said Listen.com CEO Ron Reid.