Out of about 580 candidates, we came up with six whose businesses look likely to hold up next year, even in a soft economy. The biggest is online music pioneer RealNetworks (RNWK); the smallest is broadband-service provider iPass (IPAS).

From a recent Mad Money show:

"No, I've been bearish on that one for seven years now. There's no upside there."

RealNetworks Inc. said recently announced that its board approved a plan to buy back up to $50 million in stock.

RealNetworks operates the Rhapsody online music service and provides the RealPlayer media player.

The company also recently predicted second-quarter revenue slightly above analysts views and raised its outlook for the full year.

ILTS

The End of Music Subscription?
After Yahoo's deal with RealNetworks' Rhaspody service, Priya Ganapati looks at where the music subscription services business is headed.

Click here to watch the video.

a moment of madness

From Barron's 8-25-07:

RealNetworks, Inc. is a creator of digital media services and software. Consumers use its services and software, such as Rhapsody, RealArcade, and RealPlayer to find, play, purchase and manage free and premium digital content, including music, games and video.

cash cow against it competitors, buying up a variety of other business units to diversify its core business. Relativly cheap at the moment

Upgraded by JMP Securities from Mkt Underperform to Mkt Perform