Sony BMG merger job losses...

[john]

Hey

I found this in the Songstuff news streams:

http://www.asianage.com/main.asp?layout=2&...&RF=DefaultMain

Cheers

John

[Didier]

Hi John,

Now that's big 4, isn't it?

Sony Music and BMG, currently awaiting the green light from Brussels to merge, were planning to axe a quarter of their joint workforce, or 2,000 jobs

Well, that was to be expected. Have you ever seen a merger where, immediately after, they announce they will hire people?

Didier

[john]

No, but it's still a fairly large loss.

[Didier]

No, but it's still a fairly large loss.

Hi John,

Agreed.

It occurs to me that people (me included) are always complaining about the music industry. And are surprised when they act as an industry.

What they are doing now (consolidation phase) was completed 5 to 10 years ago in most other branches, where it's usual to have only two major companies: a leader, and a strong contender.

Didier

[john]

Hey Didier

True, but the Music industry is unlike most others. For a start, as well as the global trend where the average music spend is down, the industry is undergoing a technology revolution at the same time. The revolution is from  distribution, to marketing to media.

The availability of many of these features to smaller labels, publishing houses and bands and musicians is completely changing the business models throughout.

Like the computer revolution, some lumbering giants adjust, some do not, and new front runners emerge.

It's an interesting time to be a Musician!

Cheers

John