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Monster & CEO Noel Lee Get Beat Again; Award to Beats is ‘Final and Binding’

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A Monster slide extolling the creation of Beats
At CE Week in 2014, Monster takes credit for Beats by Dr. Dre

After Many Years & Many Appeals, This Might Be It

It was eight years ago – all the way back to January 2015 – when I first reported on what looked to be a pretty ugly legal action beginning between Monster, LLC and Beats Electronics, LLC. While the lawsuit filed by Monster took place in January 2015, the actions that led them to that point actually began much earlier than that, all the way back to 2011. And the relationship between the two significant CE brands actually began even further back to 2009, when the two came together to create Beats by Dr. Dre headphones, the wildly popular consumer headphone brand.

But when the relationship ended…it ended badly…

Learn more about this latest loss by Monster, to the benefit of Beats (Apple)

[Read more…] about Monster & CEO Noel Lee Get Beat Again; Award to Beats is ‘Final and Binding’

Appeals Court Rules Against Monster & Noel Lee; They Must Pay Beats $14+Mil

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This long and complex series of intertwined legal actions between Monster LLC (and all other Monster related parties) and Beats Electronics LLC (and all other Beats related entities) seemed to be winding down. Back in 2016, I reported on the lower court ruling in favor of Beats who had filed several motions for summary judgment. It seemed as though this was the end, but in 2018, more actions ensued.

Now, 5 years in, have we reached the end?…

[Read more…] about Appeals Court Rules Against Monster & Noel Lee; They Must Pay Beats $14+Mil

Monster & Noel Lee Must Pay Beats Nearly $8M in Legal Fees

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On a Roll, Beats Files New Lawsuit Against Monster Seeking $100 Million

Photo of Dr. Dre and Jimmy Iovine
Dr. Dre & Jimmy Iovine of Beats

While you were drinking your eggnog or otherwise enjoying your holidays, the Grinch stole all the good cheer from Monster LLC and owner Noel Lee when a jury in the case of Monster LLC v. Beats, et al agreed with Beats and ordered Monster and  Lee to pay them $7,916,201.64 as reimbursement for their legal expenses.

And Beats has more bad news for the Monster camp… [Read more…] about Monster & Noel Lee Must Pay Beats Nearly $8M in Legal Fees

More Than 7 Out of 10 Music Industry Execs Say Tidal Won’t Last a Year

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Tidal logoIf I were Jay Z’s publicist, I’d be nervous right now. The popular rapper’s reputation as a savvy businessman is in serious jeopardy. Billboard, one of the oldest and most prominent music industry publications, has recently launched a new annual survey of the top “A-list music business professionals.” In order to capture their honest opinions, the survey is conducted on an anonymous basis. While not exceptionally detailed or deep, the survey is meant to cover a “broad range of temperature-taking topics.”

The results of this inaugural effort offered some surprises – including the fact that more than 7 out of 10 of these top music industry executives predict that the Tidal music streaming service won’t survive its first year – a remarkable no-confidence vote in Jay Z, Tidal’s owner.

See more on the surprising results from this first every survey… [Read more…] about More Than 7 Out of 10 Music Industry Execs Say Tidal Won’t Last a Year

Bad Omen? Beats Wins Round 1 of Monster vs. Beats

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Judge Agrees with Beats, Transfers Case to Home Turf in LA

Beats by Dr. Dre LogoWe first told you about Monster, LLC and CEO “Head Monster” Noel Lee filing a lawsuit against Beats, LLC alleging fraudulent practices back in January, in a post that was titled in part “Risky Business.” Perhaps now Monster is getting a taste of the riskiness of taking matters to court as they have lost their first battle, on the first issue – where the case would be heard.

Learn more about why the judge found against Monster, and for Beats, on this first issue… [Read more…] about Bad Omen? Beats Wins Round 1 of Monster vs. Beats

Legal Guns Blazing, Beats Fires Back at Monster

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‘Lee Apparently Regrets His Business Decisions…’

Photo of Dr. Dre and Jimmy IovineWe reported to you in January that Monster, LLC and Noel Lee had filed what appears to be a major lawsuit against Beats Electronics, LLC, Andre Young (Beats founder, aka Dr. Dre), Paul D. Wachter (a Beats director), Jimmy Iovine (Beats founder) and HTC (a Taiwanese cell phone manufacturer). The wide ranging suit alleged all sorts of nefarious business practices by the Beats parties – but especially alleged that Beats and HTC engaged in a “sham transaction” solely for the purpose of triggering a “change of control” provision to defraud Monster and Lee out of their rightful interests.

Funny, but Beats see this matter quite differently… [Read more…] about Legal Guns Blazing, Beats Fires Back at Monster

Monster’s ‘Head Monster’ Talks Beats & Women at CE Week 2014

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Creating a Monster slideWhen the history of Monster Products is written some day in the future, there will be many legitimate highlights for their historian to ponder. First and foremost among these will be the fact that CEO Noel Lee (known as the Head Monster) virtually single-handedly created an industry when in the late 70s he popularized step-up, higher quality speaker cables that independent specialty retailers pushed like crazy over zip cord because it was much more profitable for them (and for Lee). And even though Monster Cable was more expensive for consumers, a clever Monster-created retail display demonstrated to them that they could indeed hear the difference with their own ears.

But we’re pretty certain one scene will not make Monster’s corporate history highlight reel – the company’s failure to continue to capitalize on its partnership with Beats by Dr. Dre. That partnership dissolved some two-plus years ago…with Beats going on to be purchased by Apple recently for $3.2 billion. Monster’s share of that eye-popping windfall: $0.

So why, in the wake of that loss, is Noel Lee talking about Beats to anyone who will listen??… [Read more…] about Monster’s ‘Head Monster’ Talks Beats & Women at CE Week 2014

Monster Creates $30K ‘Crown Jewel’ Headphone for Harrods of London

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Photo of Monster Diamond Tears Sally Sohn HeadphonesMonster Products announced late today that it has created a one-of-a-kind “crown jewel” headphone based on its Diamond Tears model as redesigned by Korean artist and jewelry designer Sally Sohn for the exclusive Harrods of London department store. The new headphones feature 5.56 carats of black diamonds and plenty of 18k gold…oh, and it comes with a hefty price tag of £20,000. That’s $30,000 in good old U.S. greenbacks.

See this remarkable headphone below. Will this be Monster’s tour de force? Or a tour de farce?… [Read more…] about Monster Creates $30K ‘Crown Jewel’ Headphone for Harrods of London

Beats Gets $60 Million Investment in Daisy; And a Visit From Apple CEO

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Beats by Dr. Dre LogoHow big has Beats Electronics, LLC become? Big enough to warrant a visit by Apple, Inc. CEO Tim Cook to discuss a potential partnership in Beat’s new streaming music service tentatively code-named Daisy. And big enough to relatively easily obtain $60 million in financing from investors looking to help it get Daisy off the ground.

What’s that sound? An approaching Tyrannosaurus Rex? No, it’s Beats… [Read more…] about Beats Gets $60 Million Investment in Daisy; And a Visit From Apple CEO