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Buzznet Gets Investment From Interscope-Universal Music; Buys Stereogum; Acquisitions Coming?

Pop culture-focused social media site Buzznet, based in Los Angeles, has raised a big-ish third round of funding, as much as $25 million, we have learned, and that Universal Music-owned Interscope has invested a few million in it. We haven’t been able to confirm the other investors, but last year the company raised about $6 million led by Redpoint Ventures and Anthem Venture Partners. The previous investors might have put some of the new money as well.

The site’s primary focus is on music and offers related blogs, videos, photo-sharing and band-related features. In particular, Buzznet has struck alliances with indie bands by promoting specific online community channels for them. The company has also been working with established popstars, like Avril Lavigne.

Also, recently, investors Bob Pittman, of the Pilot Group and Sling Media’s Jason Hirschhorn traded their equity stakes in the influential indie music blog Stereogum for an ownership percentage of BuzzNet. We have confirmed through sources that Buzznet now fully owns Stereogum. Not sure how this plays into the new funding, but the financing may be used in making some other music and entertainment related content acquisitions and possibly rollups, our sources say.

The company has not responded to our repeated e-mails.

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Mar 29, 2008 3:34 PM ET
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Posted In: Entertainment, Music, Money, M&A & Venture Capital, Venture Capital, Social Media, Exclusive, buzznet, universal

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Comments (4)

Mar 30, 2008 8:09 PM

Buzznet is a very nice community, but i’n my opinion it can not compete with myspace

Manuel

Mar 31, 2008 3:19 AM

Not big as myspace, but money well spent in my opinion

ccreview

Apr 1, 2008 9:07 AM

I don’t know too much about Buzznet, but from this article I might research further on my music blog (i posted it if you want to check it out!) that I’m writing as an ongoing assignment at school. I disagree that Buzznet can’t compete with myspace. Myspace hasn’t even been around for that long, if something better like Buzznet came around I’m sure many people would have no problem leaving Myspace behind.

Marina

Apr 6, 2008 9:49 PM

Never mind competing with myspace, buzznet needs to get some traction to take it past imeem which is twice the size of buzznet and has all 4 of the major labels on board. If they can beat imeem then they can look to myspace, but not before then.

Annie Me

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