Abstract
This document discusses the Baderman Island Resort and its property management firm, the Boardman Management Group (BMG). BMG is intending on expanding Baderman Island's resort facilities and capacity as well as the full spectrum of its services. According to the paper, this expansion involves the simultaneous implementation of numerous projects and oversight thereof. BMG feels that total quality management (TQM) is a an effective strategic management model that can properly monitor and manage these numerous projects as well as provide a high quality and consistency of service metrics upon which Baderman Island relies.

From the Paper
"The Boardman Management Group (BMG) which manages the Baderman Island Resort began as a small property management company that only worked with smaller properties and local community hotels (Baderman, 2006). Beginning in 2004 BMG began managing the Baderman Island Resort in collaboration with the local Chamber of Commerce and the Baderman family who own the property and for whom it is named after. In an effort to improve quality of service metrics and operating efficiencies, BMG has implemented a total quality management (TQM) program to oversee these processes. TQM has been designated as the type of comprehensive strategic management structure that can effectively guide the organization forward in its expansion strategy. Vision."

Tags:tqm, strategic, analysis

Abstract
The recorded music industry is in a state of flux. Thanks to technology, new opportunities have been made available, however, new challenges have emerged as well. The most significant concern is piracy, especially with peer-to-peer file sharing over the Internet. Sony Corporation's business unit, Sony BMG, is a new merger of Sony Music Entertainment and Bertelsmann AG. This paper discusses how the merger occurred as an effort to take advantage of economies of scale and ward off against declining sales and profitability the industry is faced with. The mega music organization is positioned at #2 in the industry. The writer examines how, by applying a strategy of utilizing the Internet as a channel of distribution and as a marketing tool, Sony BMG can ward against the piracy that is plaguing the industry. It points out that by offering inexpensive music downloads, it provides a win-win solution for both Sony BMG and their customers. Customers will get quality music, increased flexibility, and increased convenience from the service, while Sony BMG will see increased revenues and increased profitability due to reduced costs of distribution.
Executive Summary
Overview of Sony
Sony's Current Strategy
Financial Overview
Mission Statement
External Analysis
Industry Overview
Porter's Five Forces
Threats
Opportunities
Internal Analysis
Strengths
Weaknesses
Value Chain Analysis
Sony BMG Management
Strategies for Sony BMG
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
References

From the Paper
"In 1955, the company manufactured their first transistor radios, and shortly thereafter they developed their first trademarked product, a pocket-sized radio. In 1958, the company changed its name to Sony, derived from the Latin word 'sonus' for 'sound' and 'sonny' for 'little man'. The company continued to flourish, bringing transistor TVs first to market in 1959, and solid state videotape recorders in 1961. For twenty years, Sony's history was punctuated by both successes and failures, such as the Beta video recorder and their Sony Walkman ("History")."

Tags:music, piracy, industry

Abstract
This paper explains that Bertelsmann, a non-public stock corporation with earnings of $1.28 billion on revenues of $21.17 billion with a strong cash position, is well known for its music labels, such as Arista and Columbia, the publishing houses,such as Random House, Dell, Doubleday and Ballatine and, less well known to Americans, the television and radio networks, an extensive list of newspapers and magazines in Europe and many other types of holdings. The author points out that the most significant recent development within Bertelsmann has been the 2004 merger of BMG with Sony Music Entertainment, which includes some of the most important labels in the music business and has a stable of many of today's most prominent artists. The paper relates that Sony BMG is being sued alleging that they tricked gospel music artists into firing their agents in order to reduce costs and maintain control over these artists; if the court decision is unfavorable, the suit could cost them millions of dollars and cause adverse publicity especially since gospel music is one of the fastest-growing segments of the music industry.

Table of Contents
History
Financial Condition of Company
Financial Ratios
Other Factors in Assessment of Company's Health
Problem Area
Key Management Initiative

From the Paper
"Bertelsmann appears to be healthy in terms of short term liquidity. The Acid Test Ratio is normal for companies of this size and the Current Ratio is higher than normal and indicates that the company should have no trouble meeting short term financial commitments. The capital structure ratios also appear to indicate that the company is able to finance operations, but does not have too large exposure in terms of debt. The Return on Assets and Return on Investment are also strong, although there was a downturn in 2003. This was most likely due to higher interest expenses and a charge for amortization of goodwill."

Tags:ratios, suit, innovation, sony, cash-position

Abstract
This paper discusses the similarities between the music industry and other more conservative industries. It focuses on the company "J Records" and explains that the process to get the major artists to choose the company's label always a battle. This is compared to marketing and business strategies of other companies. A record label is the biggest achievement for the music company and the manner in which this is achieved, is analyzed in this paper.

From the Paper
"J Records is a joint venture between Clive Davis and BMG entertainment. It is the largest new label ever launched in music industry history. The chairman and CEO of J Records is Clive Davis, founded Arista records in 1975 and nurtured people like Whitney Houston, Aretha Franklin and Santana. Currently the roster of talent includes Busta Rhymes, Rod Stewart, and Luthor Vandross. J Records is also a partner with Wyclef Jean's new label."

Tags:music, record, label, davis, bmg, wyclef, rap, industry, talent, audience, hit