“RealNetworks is now involved in a war of words with rival digital music outlet Apple Computer Inc. Apple CEO Steve Jobs was quoted yesterday as saying RealNetworks’ business model, providing subscription services, is ‘not succeeding,'” ComputerWire reports.
“RealNetworks CEO Rob Glaser said Jobs’ comments were ‘ridiculously humorous’ and pointed to RealNetworks’ 55% growth in music revenue as evidence that the model works, according to the Reuters news service,” ComputerWire reports.
“Glaser recently proposed a strategic alliance with Apple in an email to Jobs, threatening an alternate alliance with Microsoft, which caused embarrassment when Apple publicly declined the offer by leaking the email to the New York Times,” ComputerWire reports.
Meanwhile, “RealNetworks Inc yesterday announced the resignation of its president and COO… Lawrence Jacobson, who worked at RealNetworks for three years, resigned, effective immediately ‘to pursue other opportunities and spend more time with his family,’ the company said in a statement,” ComputerWire reports. Full article here.
“RealNetworks said its music revenue increased by 55% while the company posted overall revenue of $60.4m in announcing its first quarter results,” Gareth Vorster reports for NetImperative. “The digital media service company said that it added 100,000 new music subscribers in the first quarter, now topping 450,000. Music revenue grew to $12.3m, from $7.9m in the fourth quarter of 2003, with its RealPlayer Music Store now offering more than 500,000 tracks,” Gareth Vorster reports for NetImperative. Full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Real has a real winner here: 200,000 less tracks than Apple’s iTunes in a format that won’t play on the market-dominating players, Apple’s iPod and iPod mini. Now that’s really ridiculously humorous.
whao.. it’s not like Real is making a ton of money here.. let’s not forget…
10,000 -> 20,000 is 100% growth…
Glaser isn’t succeeding, and he’s probably jerking off to iTunes right now
Haha rats fleeing a sinking ship. I don’t think Real is going anywhere. but I don’t think they will have any significant growth unless they change their buisness model. As some have mentioned above, some people like subscription based alternatives… I personally perfer to have rights to own the music I purchase…
Real also wants WMA access now – I’m sure MS would trade that for the $1 Billion lawsuit … Real is dead. When Real folds up in 3 months, those that paid a hundred+ so far for music – all that just vaporizes.
Where did you learn English grammar? It should be “200,000 FEWER tracks”.
Will you print this comment?