Content-Based MVNO Amp's Gets $67 Million Funding, Including Universal Music

Amp'd Mobile, the much-hyped though yet-to-be-launched MVNO (virtual mobile operator), has received $67 million in venture funding, including funding Universal Music Group, Highland Capital Partners, Columbia Capital, Redpoint Ventures, and some undisclosed investors.
Amp'd, which will rent network space from rival Verizon Wireless, will now have music on its service from Univeral. The company, announced earlier this year, has been founded by ex-Boost Mobile team, and has focused heavily on content, especially related to extreme sports and music.
CEO Peter Adderton, which describes Amp'd as a mobile media service rather than a phone service, said he is discussing music content deals with multiple record labels.
Other rivals include the Virgin Mobile USA, and Sprint, which will also own Boost Mobile when it buys Nextel.

Music Startups without the Music

Genuine VC: A nice post on the opportunities in digital music, the Grokster vs MGM case result notwithstanding. Tons of opportunities in: Recommendation & Discovery, Piracy Interdiction & Enforcement, Band Promotion, Local Show Calendars, Band Community. Plus, of course, there also DRM offerings and other software infrastructure pieces as well.
So what're you waiting for...go out and innovate.

INgrooves Raises VC Funding

Digital Media Wire reported yesterday that INgrooves (a digital music record label) announced that it had recently closed a new round of venture capital financing, led by Acuity Ventures and WR Hambrecht & Co. More details to come as the facts surface...

Predixis Gets $3 Million Funding

Release: Predixis, a Monrovia, CA-based music jukebox software maker (among others), has received $3 million in first round of funding from J. L. Albright Venture Partners.
The company's core product is MusicMagic, "personal DJ" software that provides continuously varied playlists. The software analyzes your music and then creates playlists which, in theory, should help you get your groove on, as this profile says.

MusicGremlin Gets Second Round Funding; Totals $5 Million

MusicGremlin, a company developing a wireless music device which will download music through Wi-Fi connections, has recived its second round of funding, led by Allen & Company. (Release here)

With this latest round, MusicGremlin has raised more than $5 million to date. The company is in the process of licensing its technology to consumer electronics companies, and hopes to launch this year. MusicGremlin-enabled devices will allow consumers to purchase both "a la carte" and subscription content, both delivered directly to the device, without needing to connect wires or install software.

More info on the company here