Emi Group Case Analysis free essay sample

Company merges with Columbia Gramophone to form Electric and Musical Industries (MME 2007). MME started with operations in nineteen countries and has eventually grown to operations in over fifty countries. MME has the rights to over one musical composition. Of the five major music companies, MME has the least market share in the Unites States.This market share may now be in Jeopardy as Universal Records has decided to decrease the price of Its CDC In an effort to generate sales. MME must determine what they old gain or lose by dropping or not dropping their retail price for Cads and the price charged to retailers. Case Facts The recording industry is highly competitive with its profits based in its ability to attract and retain artist who sell hit records. Advertising, promotion and publicity for its artist are central elements in a music companys marketing program and they represent a sizeable amount of the companys costs. Universal has more market share because it has more hit artist and a larger music catalog than any other music recording company. Because of these facts, Universal is susceptible to the most losses. Universal made the decision to slash its CD prices in the US by up to 31. 5 percent In the US, not to Increase market share but to persuade consumers to start buying Cads again (universal, 2003). Since the advent of new technology allowing consumers to obtain music in non-traditional means, actual CD sales in the US had been on a decline since 2000 (Kerri, 2007).In fact, four of the major five record companies reported losses in the first half of 2003. Universal Is considered a heavy hitter US with a market share of 29. 4% while MME ranks In the bottom of the five major record labels with a mere 9. 8% of US market share. MME was the only company that did not report losses the beginning of 2003 due to major reorganization efforts. Existing Marketing Problems MIS major problem is lack of market share in the US. Upon first glance one would think that the major problem that MME is faced with in its US market is the possibility of a decrease in its CD sales caused by the decrease in CD price by Universal Music Group. It Is acknowledged that the decrease In price by Universal will affect MME but universals price cuts are not the only or main problem MME is faced with. MME faces several problems within the US and universal Music Groups price decrease is only en of them. The problem that MME is faced with is not that universal CD price slashing will decrease Its market share.The mall problem Is that MME does not have enough US market share to begin with. Even If MME decreases the sales price for their Cads to compete with universal Records, this wont necessarily increase their market 1 OFF Additional Information It should be mentioned that CD sales are not expected to increase any time soon. As someone who grew up during the development of file sharing, the majority of the suggestions given in th is analysis are based off observations and reactions, or lack hereof of the Universal announcement. Universals 2003 announcement was met with criticism and indifference from the group of consumers who were once the largest buyers of music, young people and they made there indifference know throughout the internet community. As Ashley Vance put it Two decades and four presidents is a long time to wait for a single price cut on what became a mass market DOD (Vance, 2003). Universal is decreasing the price on its CD for all artists but superstar artists Cads are being reduced by a smaller amount. Universal also incorporated a new retail sales plan called Jump Start.Retailers pay wholesale prices for Cads (this is the price that will be decreased) but receive additional compensation for advertising support and CD placement. Under the new plan retailers guaranteed 33 percent of display space in exchange for a deeper discount on CD prices. Whether or not retailers participated in Jumpstarted, Universal would end all additional compensation. Universal worked under the assumption that these strategies would not only increase the number of retail buyers but also move retailers to increase display space for Universal increasing Universals ability to market their artist.Smith, 2003). Possible Solutions MME must implement new measures to increase its market share. It can also decrease its CD prices to compete with Universal Records. MME has less market share because it has less hit recording artists and a smaller music catalog. MME has several options to increase its prominence in the record industry. One of these solutions is for MME to change its marketing mix. MME can consider changing its product mix by offering more music geared toward group of people who have steadily increased the percentage of music they buy for the past ten years; consumers over the age of 40 Kerri,2007).MME can also cut cost involved with artists by dropping artists that do not produce, supply the market with high quality artists and increasing productivity. This in turn will also increase its market share. And of course, MME can decrease the price of its Cads. New product development is another alternative. MME can also use the advances in technology to change the way it promotes its artists as well as its product placement within retail outlets as well as placement of those artists on the internet.Using these advances can also include developing products/music that are readily available for internet download to amps or possibly a form of music entertainment that is combined with DVDs to capitalize off the recent DVD sales surge. Inventing new technology that prevents internet downloading and/or copying music to blank Cads is also an option that MME can pursue. For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction and such is the case for each of the solutions for MME. Changing MIS marketing mix may give MME the increase in market share that it needs, but the process of change is time consuming and can be costly.Money and Time are not two things readily at the disposal of MME and probably wont be for some time. By offering more music geared towards the consumer who actually purchases music, MME will place itself in a position to sell Cads to consumers who purchase Cads. However this also takes market research, time and heavy promotion of new artist. By dropping artist that do not produce and supplying the music industry with high quality artist, MME will be able to increase their market share. But as mentioned in the case, the music industry is extremely competitive and close-knit. Any meetings with possible new artist may cause other record labels to attempt to recruit that artist as well. Decreasing its CD prices is and option for MME ND may increase sales of their products. However as stated earlier sales of Cads is not the main problem MME has, lack of market share is. Using emerging forms of technology to increase awareness of themselves and their artist will also allow MME to increase its market share in channels that were unheard of.Also, since more and more consumers are buying music electronically, MME can also make more of its catalog available for internet purchase thru different download mediums such as tunes, Walter. Com, Rhapsody or several other websites. Utilizing these serviced offers download lovers the chance to purchase music legally and in he manner they prefer. Combining CD/DVD is another great alternative. DVDs sales are rising as the latest form of entertainment so MME would do best by piggybacking on these sales by offering CD as a part of the package with a DVD or offering a DVD with the sale of Cads.This would be a wonderful tool to sale soundtracks to hit movies. Best Solution(s) MME needs to use the latest digital technology to its benefit. First, MME needs to partner with websites specifically designed to download music and enter into partnerships that allow the on-line stores to offer their products. MME can also take advantage of these websites to increase its marketing efforts of those artists most attractive to the group of consumers who download the most music, 12-17 year olds and 18-24 year olds. Some artists for example, allow one to two songs off an upcoming album to be downloaded for free.These teaser songs give the public a free taste of what will be available and in some cases dissuade music lovers from pirating albums. If possible MME should offer more of its artist to movie production companies. This would give the artist more exposure and allow for the promotion and sale of combination DVD/CD package. General Ideas and Comments Regarding MME Case The music industry is and always will be competitive by nature and by having the smallest North American Market share any solutions MME develops can be duplicated with a lot more speed and money by recording giant Universal.Therefore, MME needs made any significant change to individuals wanting to obtain music illegally. Music Piracy has not decreased nor has the industries need to control what music is available to consumers and how its being made available. Yet the music labels should concentrate there efforts on producing quality artist, marketing them effectively and changes their business models to meet the new demands of consumers. Since then MME has launched several initiatives proving that it hears consumers and is responding.