Columbia Music Entertainment, Inc (TSE: CME 6791) is a leading music and entertainment company trading on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. Established in 1910, CME has a venerable history and catalog of over 140,000 titles. Columbia Music Entertainment is well known in the Japanese market, with a strong presence in the Enka music. The company has moved rapidly and successfully into both Japanese pop and rock.
CME owns Savoy Jazz, the U.S. based label, home to Charlie Parker, John Coltrane, and Miles Davis. CME employs over 700 individuals worldwide, and had revenues in the year ended March 31, 2002 of roughly $300 million. CME is one of the largest independent music labels in the worldwide music industry.
ZelnickMedia partnered with Ripplewood Holdings and RHJ International to provide management services from October 2001 to April 2010, when RHJ International sold its holdings in CME to Faith, Inc.
Formed by ZelnickMedia and Ripplewood Holdings in July, 2003, Direct Holdings Worldwide, L.L.C. was the parent company of both Lillian Vernon and the direct marketing business of Time Life. Lillian Vernon was sold to an affiliate of Sun Capital in September, 2006. Time Life was acquired by Reader’s Digest on March 2, 2007.
SkyMall, Inc. is a specialty publishing and marketing firm headquartered in Phoenix, AZ. SkyMall produces a quarterly in-flight publication, SkyMall, with a circulation of nearly 20 million copies annually distributed in the seatback of airplanes. SkyMall is a multi-channel direct marketer of high-quality, innovative merchandise from top direct marketers through its branded SkyMall catalog and SkyMall.com website. As a result, the SkyMall catalog is seen by approximately 88% of all domestic air passengers reaching annually more than 650 million air travelers. SkyMall also offers turn-key merchandise and fulfillment solutions for loyal marketing programs.
Lillian Vernon Corporation is a specialty catalog and online retailer that markets gift, household, kitchen, gardening, Christmas, and children's products. The company is one of the largest specialty catalog marketers in the United States. Lillian Vernon was purchased in April, 2003 by Ripplewood Holdings and ZelnickMedia. The company was sold to an affiliate of Sun Capital in May, 2006.
OTX is a leading provider of online-based research, specializing in cutting-edge products and analysis for the entertainment and consumer goods and services communities. Through proprietary tools and methodology, the company offers both syndicated products and custom research services to uncover deep and profound consumer insights for clients. The company has devised innovative methods for conducting studies that make surveys more engaging, increasing respondent satisfaction and improving cooperation rates. OTX is based in Los Angeles with regional offices in New York City, Cincinnati and London.
IPSOS, a global market research leader, announced the acquisition of OTX in January, 2010.
The Time Life brand is one of the most trusted and respected in the world of media and entertainment. Direct Holdings acquired the exclusive rights to market Time Life music, videos, DVDs, books and educational materials in December, 2003. The company marketed Time Life products on television, at retail, and by telephone and direct mail. Time Life is a registered trademark of Time Inc. and Time Warner Inc. used under license by Direct Holdings Worldwide, a non-affiliated company. Direct Holdings was acquired by Reader’s Digest on March 2, 2007.
UGO Networks, Inc. (pronounced "Yu-Ji-Oh") is a leading online media network for entertainment coverage. With contributors spanning the globe, UGO has assembled a cast of experts for every dimension of entertainment - games, movies, TV, DVDs, animation, music, tech, sports, comics, and girls.
Reaching 1 in 10 men on the Web with approximately 10 million monthly unique U.S. visitors, UGO is a dominant force in the 18-34 male-focused online entertainment category, consistently placing among the Nielsen//NetRatings' Top 10 Entertainment Properties.
UGO was sold to the Hearst Corporation in August, 2007.