Viacom's results for the first quarter put the company on a fast track for another record year in 2004.
Sentiment: POSITIVE
I understand quarterly billing, how the record companies run.
There could be no better time to fully integrate Infinity with Viacom's tremendous portfolio of assets. Infinity is performing at record levels and continues to generate a tremendous amount of free cash flow that will now fully benefit Viacom.
'Rapper's Delight' was done in 17 minutes. Just one take, no mistakes, and it went to press from there. The record went platinum in 8 days.
Our managers hadn't had that kind of success - the record company hadn't, we hadn't - and the feeling was that the next record had to be even bigger, and if it wasn't it would be some kind of failure.
Be true to yourself, and, um, don't worry about some large companies' quarterly profit index.
Our investments in data, Internet and international have been particularly timely and have positioned the company to post industry-leading incremental revenue gains.
The records fell easily at first. Dozens of seconds peeled away with every running of a course, and I could hardly wait for the next chance to improve.
You're starting to see new record companies and business models taking shape, but it takes time.
I think Fast Company has a tremendously smart focus and execution.
I wasn't aware that Track Records were interested in the Bonzos.