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23 October 2008
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New Figures Reveal Yet More Seismic Changes to the Music Industry Financial Times, 22 October 2008 The music industry is an interesting bellwether for a good number of B2C and B2B industries. Consumer tastes and preferences are changing: they want more customizable products and often want to buy and consume them (if possible) online. Songwriters are projected to earn less from the sales of CDs next year than from any other form of copyright revenue, including broadcasting and live performance. Industry experts would never have predicted such a thing five years ago. iTunes, online music piracy, and the ease with which amateur talent can find an audience have revolutionized the sector. Music companies, meanwhile, search energetically for new revenue models. |
Our view: Ongoing Corporate Executive Board research shows one of the greatest risks to company growth is a failure to closely monitor shifts in customer demand and sentiment. |
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Banks Are Lending to Each Other but Not to Main Street The New York Times, 20 October 2008 Despite injections of cash from the U.S. government, banks are unlikely to resume strong lending to businesses and consumers any time soon. While LIBOR and the related TEB spread are broadly considered the most important indicators of how tight the credit market is, LIBOR and the TED spread do not provide a complete picture of how easily capital can be obtained. |
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The United States Seeks to Attract Foreign Direct Investment from India The Economic Times, 22 October 2008 States compete aggressively to win the investment of Indian companies with the hope that job opportunities will help reinvigorate American interest in technical fields. Tata Consultancy Services has already outsourced part of its operations to Cincinnati, Ohio, to expand its global footprint. |
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Straight Talking to Improve Corporate Strategy Financial Times, 20 October 2008 New findings from the United States and Europe show that employees spend more than two hours a week dealing with avoidable conflicts. Organizations that create an environment where open communication is encouraged are likely to secure greater buy-in and performance from employees. |
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Flexible Airline Schedules Yield Fewer Cheap Fares The Wall Street Journal, 21 October 2008 Savvy airlines are relying more and more on schedule-optimization systems that allow them to nimbly adjust flight patterns based on demand rather than a set schedule. This saves on staff and fuel costs but leaves fewer bargains for cash-strapped travelers. Related News: Frequent Flier Miles Losing Value (BusinessWeek, October 20 2008) |
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Daily Capital Markets Review: Capital Markets Summary – Credit Thaw Can't Halt Stock Slide as S&P Drops to ’03 Level Corporate Executive Board, 22 October 2008 This summary includes news items regarding global liquidity, the TED spread, commercial paper and T-bill rates, currencies and commodities, and corporate debt spreads. If you would like to receive the Review after markets close (instead of the next morning), please click here. |
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