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Global Music Downloads Triple Sales From 2004, Gain on File- Swapping

Posted on: Friday, 20 January 2006, 21:00 CST

By Staff and Wire Reports

LONDON -- Worldwide sales of music via the Internet and mobile phones hit $1.1 billion last year, almost triple 2004 sales and accounting for 6 percent of global record companies revenues, an industry group said Thursday.

The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry, or IFPI, said the legitimate music business was gradually gaining ground on digital piracy. It said research showed that in Europes two biggest digital markets -- Britain and Germany -- more music fans are now legally downloading music than illegally file- swapping.

2005 was the year that the digital music market took shape, IFPI Chairman John Kennedy said.

Another big success story was sales of mobile-phone ring tones, which now account for about 40 percent of record companies digital revenues, Kennedy said.

UnitedHealthcare names new president, CEO for Carolinas

UnitedHealthcare has named Austin Pittman its new president and chief executive officer for North and South Carolina.

The health care company, which serves more than 1 million clients in the Carolinas and has regional headquarters in Greensboro, plans to integrate Pittman into the company starting later this month.

He expects to have a very strong presence here by February, said Roger Rollman, UnitedHealthcares regional spokesman.

Pittman comes to the company from Texas, where he has been the Southwest regional president and general manager for PacifiCare, covering Texas and Oklahoma.

UnitedHealthcare is a subsidiary of UnitedHealth Group, which reported more than $37 billion in sales in 2004. UnitedHealth Group is the second-largest health insurer in the country and is headquartered in Minnesota.

News & Record offers early retirement to eligible workers

The News & Record announced Thursday that it has offered 24 employees voluntary early retirement packages in an effort to reduce costs.

The newspaper industry is rapidly changing, requiring us to constantly review and adapt our business plans, President and Publisher Robin Saul wrote in a memorandum to the companys 500-plus employees.

Most of the eligible employees work in the newspapers production department; four are in the newsroom. Saul said that he would not know whether any of the positions would be filled until all the eligible employees respond to the offer.

The packages are being offered to help the company lower its payroll costs while enabling it to continue to grow, Saul said.

He emphasized that the program is voluntary, and there are no current plans for layoffs.

The News & Record continues to be a strong company, and we believe taking this step is the most manageable way for us to achieve our business goals with minimal disruption to our current and future operations, he said.

Stocks rebound on good news from oil, semiconductor maker

NEW YORK -- Stocks turned higher Thursday and regained most of the ground they lost in the previous session following a bright first-quarter outlook from semiconductor maker Advanced Micro Devices and upgrades of oil services stocks.

AMDs forecast heartened tech investors who were spooked Wednesday by disappointing earnings forecasts from Intel and Yahoo.

Since semiconductors form the guts of much high-tech equipment, AMD is seen as a bellwether and its outlook was enough to make investors overlook a dimmer forecast from Apple Computer.

People are happy that the Intel bad news didnt translate to other semiconductor stocks, said Robert Streed, portfolio manager of Northern Trust Select Equity Fund in Chicago.

-- Staff and Wire Reports

Source: Greensboro News Record

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