Description: Brick and mortar retail stores will have trouble keeping up with the likes of Apple, Amazon and Netflix. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: 07/21/2011 Link:  http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2011/07/21/n_bz_borders_retail.cnnmoney/  Questions for discussion:  Summarize the reasons for the demise of Borders. Do you agree that other businesses with similar business models facing changing customer behaviors are equally… Read more »
Monthly Archives: July 2011
Pandora CEO Sees `Significant’ Growth in Ad Sales
Description: Joe Kennedy, chief executive officer of Pandora Media Inc., talks about outlook for the company’s growth and advertising sales. Kennedy also discusses Pandora’s social-media strategy, initial public offering and competition in the digital music industry. He speaks with Emily Chang on Bloomberg Television’s “Bloomberg West.” (Source: Bloomberg)  Source: Businessweek.com – video report Date: 07/21/2011… Read more »
Spotify CEO: Music access, not ownership, is the future
Description: Daniel Ek, the CEO of the online music service Spotify, has ambitious plans for penetrating the U.S. market. Profitability, for now, isn’t a concern. Source: Fortune.com  Date: 07/21/2011 Link: http://tech.fortune.cnn.com/2011/07/21/spotify-daniel-ek-brainstorm/ Questions for discussion: Describe the key differences between the Spotify and Pandora business model. Which company do you think the market will subscribe… Read more »
America’s Most Promising Social Entrepreneurs: 2011 Winners
Description: Businessweek.com readers voted a San Francisco print shop that hires recovering addicts and ex-offenders their top choice for America’s most promising social enterprise. Source: Businessweek.com  Date: 07/19/2011 Link: http://www.businessweek.com/smallbiz/running_small_business/archives/2011/07/americas_most_promising_social_entrepreneurs_2011_winners.html Questions for discussion: Review the companies that were listed in this article by visiting their respective websites. What do they have in common? Can… Read more »
Nokia to Cut Costs More After Loss
Description: The two largest European makers of telecommunications equipment, Nokia and Ericsson, announced plans Thursday to continue or accelerate cost-cutting efforts in the face of rising competition, internal reorganizations and weak demand in North America. Source: NYTimes.com Date: 07/21/2011 Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/22/technology/nokia-and-ericsson-announce-cost-cutting.html?ref=business Questions for discussion: How can management mitigate the stress on cash flow during this… Read more »
VEVO wants to reinvent the music video
Description: The social network giant has built video chat capabilities via Skype into its instant messaging platform. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: 07/15/2011 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/technology/2011/07/15/t_vevo_music_videos.cnnmoney/ Questions for discussion:  Describe the evolution of the music video business. Where do you think it will go over the next few years, in terms of production, audiences, revenue… Read more »
Hello America, Spotify Is Here
Description: Bloomberg’s Sheila Dharmarajan talks about Spotify, the European online music service that’s making its U.S. deb Source: Businessweek.com – video report Date: 07/15/2011 Link: http://www.businessweek.com/video/#video=5tOGluMjqsysbBlqRcbDNE333bgX4I4a Questions for discussion: How is Spotify different from Pandora? Do they appeal to the same target audience? Do you think the business model can be successful and allow for… Read more »
The Real Winnie the Pooh Returns to the Hundred Acre Wood
Description:  Hollywood’s formula for freshening up old cartoon characters like Alvin and the Chipmunks and the Smurfs goes something like this: Reformulate them in 3-D, give them a skateboard and sunglasses, add some dance moves and inundate children and their nostalgic parents with advertising. Source: NYTimes.com Date: 07/14/2011 Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/15/business/media/disney-returns-to-the-original-winnie-the-pooh.html?ref=business Questions for discussion: Describe the… Read more »
Murdoch’s Mess
Description: News Corp.’s British newspapers have put the future of Rupert Murdoch’s empire in question Source: Businessweek.com  Date: 07/14/2011 Link: http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/murdochs-mess-07142011.html?chan=magazine+channel_top+stories Questions for discussion: Summarize the key points made in the report. What are the ethical issues here? How should government respond to this situation?
Is Tiger Woods running out of money?
Description: With only a few endorsement deals left, a recent divorce settlement, a hefty house mortgage, and even a pay cut from Nike, Tiger Woods’ lifestyle is looking a lot less glamorous. Source: Fortune.com  Date: 07/015/2011 Link: http://features.blogs.fortune.cnn.com/2011/07/15/is-tiger-woods-running-out-of-money/ Questions for discussion: How does Tiger Woods generate revenue? Is the title of this article misleading,… Read more »
