Sunday, October 5, 2008
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
ORIGINAL ARTWORK FOR THE ROLLING STONES' ICONIC "LIPS" LOGO SOLD TO LONDON MUSEUM
London's Victoria and Albert Museum announced Tuesday that it has purchased the original artwork for The Rolling Stones' iconic "lips" logo at auction in the United States for $92,500.
Arguably the most famous rock music logo, the lips-and-tongue logo was designed in 1970 by London art student John Pasche and was first used on the cover of the band's "Sticky Fingers" album released in 1971.
Guardian Newspaper of the UK reports that Pasche was a 24-year-old design student at London's Royal College of Art when Mick Jagger came looking for new artwork talent because Jagger was unhappy with the Rolling Stones' record company artists. After meeting with Jagger, Pasche designed a tour poster and was commissioned to design a band logo.
Pasche said the lips-and-tongue design came about rather naturally. "Mick had a picture of Kali, the Hindu goddess, which he was very keen on. India was very much in fashion at the time, but I thought something like that might go out of date."
"I wanted something anti-authority, but I suppose the mouth idea came from when I met Jagger for the first time at the Stones' offices." Pasche continues, "I went into this sort of wood-paneled boardroom and there he was. Face to face with him, the first thing you were aware of was the size of his lips and his mouth."
The Guardian reports Pasche was originally paid L50 for the design. Then, when the Rolling Stones copyrighted the design, Pasche received a share of royalty rights, which he later sold for a lump sum.
The $92,500 purchase price paid by Victoria and Albert Museum for the "lips" original artwork seems to be a relative bargain, considering the notoriety and continued viability of the logo. The "lips" are rock music history.
Arguably the most famous rock music logo, the lips-and-tongue logo was designed in 1970 by London art student John Pasche and was first used on the cover of the band's "Sticky Fingers" album released in 1971.
Guardian Newspaper of the UK reports that Pasche was a 24-year-old design student at London's Royal College of Art when Mick Jagger came looking for new artwork talent because Jagger was unhappy with the Rolling Stones' record company artists. After meeting with Jagger, Pasche designed a tour poster and was commissioned to design a band logo.
Pasche said the lips-and-tongue design came about rather naturally. "Mick had a picture of Kali, the Hindu goddess, which he was very keen on. India was very much in fashion at the time, but I thought something like that might go out of date."
"I wanted something anti-authority, but I suppose the mouth idea came from when I met Jagger for the first time at the Stones' offices." Pasche continues, "I went into this sort of wood-paneled boardroom and there he was. Face to face with him, the first thing you were aware of was the size of his lips and his mouth."
The Guardian reports Pasche was originally paid L50 for the design. Then, when the Rolling Stones copyrighted the design, Pasche received a share of royalty rights, which he later sold for a lump sum.
The $92,500 purchase price paid by Victoria and Albert Museum for the "lips" original artwork seems to be a relative bargain, considering the notoriety and continued viability of the logo. The "lips" are rock music history.
Monday, August 25, 2008
Saturday, August 23, 2008
FCC APPROVES XM-SIRIUS SATELLITE RADIO MERGER UNITING 18.5 MILLION SUBSCRIBERS; FOLLOW-UP TO JUNE 30TH XM-SIRIUS ARTICLE
On July 25, 2008, the Federal Communications Commission, after a 16-month review, announced its approval of the XM-SIRIUS satellite radio merger. FCC approval provides the green-light for the merger as the FCC is the top communications regulator.
FCC commissioner Deborah Taylor Tate cast the deciding vote in a 3-2 decision, after the two companies agreed to a $19 million "consent decree" agreement in late June, which addressed prior dealings that created anti-trust issues.
From the outset, competitors and critics have challenged the merger as a violation of federal anti-trust laws.
One particular issue addressed in the FCC's consent decree is the use of "terrestrial repeaters," which both companies conceded were put in unauthorized locations. The violation is of note.
As John Eggerton reported for Broadcasting & Cable on July 24, 2008, the FCC launched a 2006 investigation in to the repeaters and radios [used by the two companies], which included FM transmitters that did not comply with FCC rules.
In addition, as former FCC chief of staff, Blair Levon, points out in a July 25, 2008, BusinessWeek article, "The biggest question mark is how this product thrives in an era of difficult financing and where people have alternative means of getting radio..."
No doubt, profitability is a critical issue for XM and SIRIUS, as the two companies have racked-up years of heavy losses on the way to the current merger. In short, it has been a long road for investors, and it seems patience may be running out.
The news of the XM-SIRIUS merger has done little to slow company losses. In fact, as BusinessWeek reports, since the deal was announced in February 2007, SIRIUS shares have plunged 43%, to 2.25 as of July 25, 2008, while XM stock has tumbled 40%, to 9.28.
Here is the BusinessWeek article referenced above (FCC Approves the XM-Sirius Merger) and the B & C article referenced above (FCC Approves XM-Sirius Merger), for more.
FCC commissioner Deborah Taylor Tate cast the deciding vote in a 3-2 decision, after the two companies agreed to a $19 million "consent decree" agreement in late June, which addressed prior dealings that created anti-trust issues.
From the outset, competitors and critics have challenged the merger as a violation of federal anti-trust laws.
One particular issue addressed in the FCC's consent decree is the use of "terrestrial repeaters," which both companies conceded were put in unauthorized locations. The violation is of note.
As John Eggerton reported for Broadcasting & Cable on July 24, 2008, the FCC launched a 2006 investigation in to the repeaters and radios [used by the two companies], which included FM transmitters that did not comply with FCC rules.
In addition, as former FCC chief of staff, Blair Levon, points out in a July 25, 2008, BusinessWeek article, "The biggest question mark is how this product thrives in an era of difficult financing and where people have alternative means of getting radio..."
No doubt, profitability is a critical issue for XM and SIRIUS, as the two companies have racked-up years of heavy losses on the way to the current merger. In short, it has been a long road for investors, and it seems patience may be running out.
The news of the XM-SIRIUS merger has done little to slow company losses. In fact, as BusinessWeek reports, since the deal was announced in February 2007, SIRIUS shares have plunged 43%, to 2.25 as of July 25, 2008, while XM stock has tumbled 40%, to 9.28.
Here is the BusinessWeek article referenced above (FCC Approves the XM-Sirius Merger) and the B & C article referenced above (FCC Approves XM-Sirius Merger), for more.
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