Publications
Publications
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- All HBS Web
(286)
- Faculty Publications (84)
- August 2006 (Revised March 2008)
- Case
iPod vs. Cell Phone: A Mobile Music Revolution?
By: David B. Yoffie, Travis D. Merrill and Michael Slind
In 2006, a nascent market for music-enabled mobile phones was emerging to challenge Apple Computer's dominant position in the digital music industry. Through its iPod line of portable digital music devices and its iTunes Music Store, Apple controlled more than half of... View Details
- April 2006 (Revised May 2007)
- Case
Apple Computer, 2006
By: David B. Yoffie and Michael Slind
Apple has reaped the benefits of its innovative music player, the iPod. However, its PC and server business continue to hold small market share relative to the worldwide computer over the past few years. Will the iPod lure new users to the Mac? Will Apple be able to... View Details
- August 2005 (Revised September 2006)
- Case
Polyphonic HMI: Mixing Music and Math
By: Anita Elberse, Jehoshua Eliashberg and Julian Villanueva
In 2003, Mike McCready, CEO of Barcelona-based Polyphonic HMI, was preparing to launch an artificial intelligence tool that could create significant value for music businesses. The technology, referred to as Hit Song Science (HSS), analyzed the mathematical... View Details
- April 2005
- Case
Handleman Company
By: Janice H. Hammond and Kevin Dolan
Describes the organization and operations of the Handleman Co., an intermediary in the music industry that buys recorded music and resells it to mass retailers such as Wal-Mart. The company provides distribution, inventory management, retail merchandising, and category... View Details
- January 2005 (Revised August 2005)
- Case
Apple Computer, 2005
By: David B. Yoffie and Barbara Mack
Apple has reaped the benefits of its innovative music player, the iPod. However, its PC and server business continue to hold small market share relative to the worldwide computer market over the past few years. Will the iPod lure new users to the Mac? Will Apple be... View Details
- May 2004 (Revised March 2005)
- Case
Music Downloads
By: David B. Yoffie and Deborah Freier
Examines the competition between competing music formats. In the '90s, the MP3 format challenged the traditional means of music distribution by allowing for storage of near CD-quality recordings at 1/10th of their previous size. The threat to traditional distribution... View Details
- March 2004 (Revised September 2005)
- Case
RealNetworks Rhapsody
By: Thomas R. Eisenmann and Steven Carpenter
Examines RealNetwork's (Real's) strategy for the rapidly emerging online music market. In contrast to rivals who sell individual copies of songs, Real offers online music on a subscription basis. For a $10 monthly fee, subscribers to Real's Rhapsody service have... View Details
- March 2003 (Revised November 2005)
- Case
Bertelsmann AG
By: Bharat N. Anand, Michael G. Rukstad and Christoph Kostring
On July 28, 2002, Bertelsmann announced the firing of its CEO, Thomas Middelhoff, in a move that surprised industry observers, analysts, and many employees. Bertelsmann, a privately held company headquartered in Germany, was one of the largest global media... View Details
- April 2002
- Teaching Note
Boston Lyric Opera TN
By: Robert S. Kaplan
Teaching Note for (9-101-111). View Details
- April 2001
- Case
Music Industry Update: April, 2001
By: Jan W. Rivkin
Updates BMG Entertainment. View Details
- December 2000 (Revised March 2001)
- Background Note
Strategic Use of Music in Marketing, The: A Selective Review
By: Gerald Zaltman and Nancy Puccinelli
Summarizes selected research on music and its impact on mood and shopping behavior, and its impact on the communication of ideas. View Details
- November 2000 (Revised March 2006)
- Teaching Note
BMG Entertainment (TN)
By: Jan W. Rivkin
Teaching Note for (9-701-003). View Details
- August 2000
- Case
Alison Brown of Compass Records
By: Teresa M. Amabile and Amy Blitz
Highly acclaimed recording artist, banjo player, and jazz/blue grass composer Alison Brown has used her artistic experience and MBA-based business savvy to found a successful independent record company with bassist/husband Garry West. Representing a stellar roster of... View Details
- July 2000 (Revised September 2005)
- Case
BMG Entertainment
By: Jan W. Rivkin and Gerrit Meier
As dramatic changes in technology and customer tastes roil the music industry, the top executives of BMG Entertainment, one of the world's largest record companies, must decide how to organize for digital distribution of music. This case includes a brief history of the... View Details
- February 2000 (Revised May 2001)
- Case
BET.com
By: Thomas R. Eisenmann and Pauline M Fischer
Black Entertainment Television, a leading cable programmer, is launching BET.com, an Internet portal targeted toward African-Americans. This case examines the challenges facing BET management as it defines its service offerings and target customer segments in a... View Details
- August 1999 (Revised October 1999)
- Case
RCA Records: The Digital Revolution
By: Jeffrey F. Rayport, Carin-Isabel Knoop and Cate Reavis
In 1995, Bertelsmann-owned RCA Records was considered a "tired and old" record label. By 1999, the company represented a number of the "hottest" acts in the music industry. Nevertheless, the company's position (as well as that of the entire music industry) was under... View Details
- August 1996 (Revised October 1996)
- Case
Suzanne de Passe at Motown Productions (A1)
By: Linda A. Hill and Jaan Elias
Illustrates: 1) the impact of a manager's leadership style on corporate culture, direction, and performance; 2) the concept of fit between leadership style and the requirements of situations in which managers find themselves; and 3) the need for managers to adapt their... View Details
- January 1994 (Revised March 1995)
- Case
De Passe Entertainment and Creative Partners
By: Linda A. Hill
After 24 years at Motown Industries, Hollywood executive Suzanne de Passe has decided to go out on her own to start two new businesses. The case describes de Passe's career from her beginning as Berry Gordy's assistant at Motown Records to her presidency of Gordy/de... View Details
- January 1994 (Revised April 1994)
- Supplement
Suzanne de Passe at Motown Productions (B)
By: Linda A. Hill
Provides an update of the (A) case. Describes de Passe's career from 1986 to 1993. View Details
- August 1988 (Revised November 1989)
- Case
Reebok International Ltd.
By: John A. Quelch
Reebok executives are reviewing the company's advertising and promotion programs for the second half of 1988. These include sponsorship of the 1988 Summer Olympics and a rock concert tour organized by Amnesty International. In addition, Reebok is launching a new... View Details