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Internet research company Forrester Research is firing 22 percent of its workforce, which amounts to 126 people. The company blames the layoffs on the recession and dot.com downturn. The job cuts are expected to save the company up to $20 million a year, although there will be a restructuring cost of $4 million to $6 million. Forrester has not specified which departments or offices will be affected by the job cuts. The cuts aren’t that surprising, given that internet analysis firms have been affected by the recession just like other technology-related businesses. For example, Jupiter Media Metrix was acquired by Nielsen//NetRatings late last year.
Dot.com reinvents itself as stripper emporium
Who says there’s no such thing as reincarnation? After all, one defunct internet company plans to re-create itself as a chain of topless clubs. Internet Advisory Corp., in its former life, was a provider of internet services such as web hosting to small and medium businesses. But the company filed for bankruptcy last fall. In its reorganization plan, it claimed it would continue to operate in the technology space. But now the company says it is abandoning the internet entirely. Instead, Internet Advisory plans to buy New York City’s ritzy strip club Scores. The long-term goal is to open up a nationwide chain of strip clubs under the Scores brand, turning the company into a publicly traded adult-entertainment company. The acquisition still has to be approved by the New York State Liquor Authority.
Napster launches beta version of indie artists
Having run the gamut from pop-culture phenomenon to defeated corpse encircled by gloating record companies, music-swapping site Napster aims to take a slightly less rocky road this time. It launched a beta version of its newly revamped service yesterday. Open only to some 20,000 randomly selected users out of two million who once put their names into a hat to participate in the test, the latest installment will offer over 100,000 files, mainly from small, independent labels, for free download. Napster will only relaunch if a major label agrees to join. When that happens, Napster will begin to charge between $5 and $10 for 50 downloads a month, with no limit on the number of downloads that users are able to keep indefinitely. In addition to MP3 files, .nap files will be offered, which will keep users from copying the song onto CDs or onto friends' computers. Other features include a music player, chat rooms, instant messaging, and a "buy" button linked to CDNow.com. Plans to offer contextual information, like artist biographies, album art, and staff music picks, are in the works.
Pop singer Aguilera to online pornsters: I'll sue
What a girl wants is not to be impersonated by porn actors. Along those lines, pop star Christina Aguilera has warned several purveyors of internet porn to quit marketing videos that promise racy images of her. On her official web site, Christina-A.com, the 21-year-old singer has posted a statement accusing “certain pornographic web sites” of “posting sexually explicit photographs and video footage” that deceptively claim to portray her. The message goes on to add that if the porn impresarios persist, they will face criminal proceedings. One video that the Grammy-winning singer finds especially irksome is being passed around via email. The clip “stars” Aguilera, or more likely, another young woman who looks a lot like her.
Look out, Dell: MTV launches line of PCs
MTV Networks has taken yet another step away from its roots as a cable music-video broadcaster. The Viacom-owned network will offer a line of personal computers and WebTV-type sets aimed at teens and young twentysomethings. The machines will have DVD drives and stereo speakers, television, and radio receivers. Additionally they will let users access both the internet and cable TV programming. Computer manufacturer Lan Plus will build the machines, which will bear the MTV brand. The computers are expected to retail for around $1,800 and will be launched on the internet.
January 11, 2002 © 2002 Media Life
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