Software maker Sybase Inc. of Dublin said higher license and service revenue helped trigger a strong fourth-quarter in which it saw earnings rise 178 percent to $73.5 million, or 81 cents per share, up from $26.4 million, or 28 cents per share, in the same period a year earlier. Revenues rose 15 percent from $256.5 million to $295.2 million. On average, analysts expected a profit of 56 cents per share on sales of $286.6 million.

The strong quarter helped the company's share price rise 5 percent, or $1.32, to $26.34 in mid-morning trading.

Technology

Yahoo Inc. of Sunnyvale is in early discussions with major record labels over offering unprotected MP3s either for sale or for free as part of an ad-supported service, two record company executives familiar with the talks said this week, according to an Associated Press report.

Technology company Adchemy, Inc. of Redwood City announced it has secured $19 million in funding led by Mayfield Fund with additional investments from Hellman & Friedman, LLC., and existing investor August Capital. Adchemy develops software that combines advanced scientific problems with Web data.

Quick hits

Berkeley-based Clif Bar and plant food maker TerraCycle are partnering on a Wrapper Brigade program that will donate 2 cents to charity for every used wrapper collected by individuals and organizations. Sign up at http://www.terracycle.net/brigades. . . . Data

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provider Integrated Media Measurement Inc. of San Mateo announced Thursday it has closed a $25 million Series C financing. The financing is being led by Kantar Media Research. . . . Nonprofit research and development organization SRI International of Menlo Park has been awarded an $8 million contract from the Texas Education Agency to evaluate a state high school education project.

Compiled from wire and staff reports. Got Bay Area business news? Reach Drew Voros at 925-943-8099 or at dvoros@bayareanewsgroup.com.