...Research Memo Date: October 16, 2013 To: Prof. Hastings From: Riki Kotaka Subject: How do music companies address the issue the music sales has been declining? Introduction Music is essential for our lives, however it is difficult for those who get involved with music industry to make a profit. Music industry has been shrinking since 1999 when Napster, pioneering music file share service, was founded [1 McCormick]. In 1990’s when the music sales were at the peak, the total global music revenue was around $30 billion, but the one in 2012 was only $16.5 billion [2 Pfanner]. I did summer internship at Sony Music Entertainment in Tokyo for a month. I’ve participated in some meetings to consider marketing plans for musicians. One main reason of the sales declination is an illegal downloading. Although laws prohibit illegal downloading, there are still massive illegal downloading websites on the Internet. However, global music sales in 2012 increased for the first time since 1999, and the number of songs downloaded illegally was declined to 210 million in comparison to 1.2 billion in 2008. [3 Sherwin] It seems that music companies finally found some efficient ideas to overcome illegal downloaders. Do music companies actually increase their profits? And how did music companies start adjusting the situation? The purpose of the research paper is to figure out the main reasons why music sales finally increased, any differences to market music products and if the situation...
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...Rapport Management in Thai and Japanese Social Talk during Group discussions Ataya Aoki Abstract According to Hofstede’s (2003) often quoted survey, Japanese and Thai cultures rank high on the collectivist scale and both cultures attach the greatest importance to group harmony. Accordingly, we should see similar characteristics in Japanese and Thai speakers during discussions within their respective social groups. However, this is not the case. This paper examines social talk during the task-oriented interaction of Japanese and Thai speakers. The analysis focuses on how the speakers of Japanese and Thai present themselves and construct rapport in casual group talk. Using the concept of consciousness deployed in ‘idea units’ (Chafe, 1980, 1994) and some semantic considerations, I identify three major differences in rapport construction between Japanese and Thai speakers. First, Japanese participants prefer to build common ground through discussion of communal topics and through dealing with the comprehensiveness and the orderliness of the situation, whereas Thai participants incline toward individual-oriented topics and independent styles of talk. Second, the Japanese show a preference for using softening devices and conventionalized expressions in group discussion while the Thais tend to use intensifiers and spontaneous expressions to indicate involvement and create a friendly and fun atmosphere. Third, the Japanese like to demonstrate the minimization of self and the...
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...Step 1: Forward. (前進。) ~ He poked his head around the corner, holding the children behind him back. When it looked clear, he ducked back down to crouch at their eye level. It was hard to miss the look of excitement in most of his students' eyes, but he could hardly fault them that. It had been his idea, after all. "Okay, there's no one this way. Let's be very, very quiet. We're going to head for the east exit, but if that one is blocked off, there is a window loose in the art classroom. Aki-kun, Emi-chan, lead the way. And remember everyone, stay with your buddy." With barely suppressed giggles, the first pair of students stealthily crossed the empty hallway, tightly holding hands, their shoes held in their free hands. They waved back when they had made it to the other side, cueing the next pair to join them in a similar manner. The teacher dragged a hand through his messy hair, watching the children and taking cautious glances down the hallways parallel their current location. Behind him, another teacher nervously chewed her lower lip, smiling half-heartedly at the toddler she had been paired with when the girl happily swung their clasped hands back and forth. Noticing her anxiety, the teacher took a moment from his position on guard to give her a nod that was meant to be reassuring. Despite the lack of worry visible on his face, his hands tightened on his own shoes. He hoped the other students were safe. ~ "Aominecchi~! It was so intense this morning, but I finally have...
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...CONNECT FEATURES Interactive Applications Interactive Applications offer a variety of automatically graded exercises that require students to apply key concepts. Whether the assignment includes a click and drag, video case, or decision generator, these applications provide instant feedback and progress tracking for students and detailed results for the instructor. Case Exercises The Connect platform also includes author-developed case exercises for all 12 cases in this edition that require students to work through answers to assignment questions for each case. These exercises have multiple components and can include: calculating assorted financial ratios to assess a company’s financial performance and balance sheet strength, identifying a company’s strategy, doing five-forces and driving-forces analysis, doing a SWOT analysis, and recommending actions to improve company performance. The content of these case exercises is tailored to match the circumstances presented in each case, calling upon students to do whatever strategic thinking and strategic analysis is called for to arrive at a pragmatic, analysis-based action recommendation for improving company performance. eBook Connect Plus includes a media-rich eBook that allows you to share your notes with your students. Your students can insert and review their own notes, highlight the text, search for specific information, and interact with media resources. Using an eBook with Connect Plus gives your...
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