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Why in the World Aren't Celebrity Musicians Blogging?
2007-09-14 20:48:00
In this post I'll examine the phenomenon that finds celebrity musicians unwilling to blog professionally and actively participate in social networking. The cost-benefit analysis finds such participation a win-win situation for the artist. Not only do instant fan connection opportunities exist but also direct revenue streams. The question becomes, “Why in the world aren't celebrity musicians blogging?"1. ill advisedThe fact remains that many celebrity musicians place full stock in their managers or publicists advice. With regards to blogging and social networking a manger does not see a direct 10% revenue cut. For this reason, many celebrity musician advisers care little about the blogosphere or social networking platforms. In a sense, the role of blogger falls outside of the traditional pipeline and therefore away from the manager's concern. 2. lazy and ignorantBlogging and active participation in social networking takes some level of effort: signing up, creating profiles and w...
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Music Biz Design Strategy Part II: Think Piece
2007-09-14 05:44:00
Yesterday's post left me wondering at the possibility of building one's own digital music box. Could a design strategy become a realistic endeavor for the individual musician? In this post, I'll flush out a think piece with regards to building a digital music box.1.Choose an artifact, a design.Remember the design object cannot simply appeal to novelty, plenty of these objects already exist. A design strategy must encompass the engaging and compelling atmosphere of the user experience. For example (and as a disclaimer: I am not a designer by trade!), many music aficionados know a thing or two about audio gear and particularly compressors. Imagine a digital music box fashioned after a vintage compressor.2.Create a music player (most likely an Mp3 player) and embed your music.3.Create linkage between the artifact and Mp3 player.The next step involves creating unique controls and functionality for the music player, thereby incorporating the artifact's intrinsic value.Such linkage b...
More About: Music , Design , Strategy , Part , Piece

New Music Biz Might Find Opp in Design Strategy
2007-09-13 01:32:00
The on-line digital music space spins out a confusing wash of revenue models, user rights, artist compensation sentimentality and digital rights management software. In a sense, the entire space resembles a crowded market, tided by consumers and vendors, many able to take, many unable to sell. After years of litigation and technological breakthrough, one wonders if a stable method for compensation transaction exists, at least within the on-line, intangible space. Consumers offer reason after reason to explain why file sharing and free downloading of audio files represents a completely fair and legal practice. No amount of litigious action and moral recital seemingly jolts the majority consumer into following an easy pay-to-play model. When I first read about Sony Corp.'s introduction of the Rolly, an egg-like mp3 player that flaps and dances to the tunes it plays, I stumbled to understand what motivated Sony executives to release this device into the marketplace. An egg doesn't fi...
More About: Music , Design , Strategy , Find , Rate

Videos feat Animal Collective, Interpol and more
2007-09-11 21:58:00
youtube picks1. Animal Collective - "Fireworks"Animal Collective WikipediaAnimal Collective MyspaceAnimal Collective Official2. Interpol - "Mammoth"Interpol WikipediaInterpol MyspaceInterpol Official3. Feist - "1234"Feist WikipediaFeist MyspaceFeist Official4. The Go! Team - "Doing It Right"The Go! Team WikipediaThe Go! Team MyspaceThe Go! Team Official5. Blonde Redhead - "Top Ranking"Blonde Redhead WikipediaBlonde Redhead MyspaceBlonde Redhead Officialyesterday's youtube picks:videos feat kanye west, kate nash and more
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Music Industry trys out the Ringle
2007-09-11 20:40:00
music industry newsThe music industry is receiving a lot of criticism (no news here) from the blogosphere for its new product, the "ringle". The "ringle" attempts to link wireless media with CD store culture. It's a fairytale idea and simply doesn't resonate with consumers. Sony BMG introduced the idea saying they plan to charge 6 to 7 bucks for a CD single wrapped with a ringtone and a jpeg (desktop wallpaper) and call it a "ringle". What's particularly asinine about the "ringle" is that it comes in light of Apple's announcement to include a ringtone converter product on iTunes. Better yet, there are free ways to create your own ringtones.Also, remember Sony BMG were the ones who secretly included the copy-protection software XCP on select CD products. Consumer outrage ensued and the products were recalled. Now who is going to load-up one of their discs?Sorry guys - CDs are over!On the flip side, Wal-Mart, Target, Best Buy and Amazon have agreed to participate in selling the "...
More About: Music , Industry , Music I

Starbucks, Apple Align - Free WiFi iTunes Access
2007-09-05 22:01:00
music industry newsStarbucks and Apple announced a partnership on Wednesday that will enable Starbucks customers to instantly access the iTunes music store and "Now Playing" service via their iPods, iPhones or any laptop running the iTunes software. The two companies hope to enhance the Starbucks experience by creating a free and instant music discovery platform from within the coffeeshop. Read more on the Starbucks and Apple partnership in Forbes.
More About: Itunes , Free , Wifi

attending a few parties
2007-09-05 21:04:00
songs from the interwebThere were a few decadent parties to attend, they all wallowed in leaves and misery and sunshine rain. People wore masks over their faces, they had diamond faces to hide; a mystery fever. I went to the party on “Tell Street”, just above “Keglar's Square”. The party was broken-hearted, crimson and full of orchestral music. I saw a few people that I knew, but otherwise was unacquainted with most of the crowd. The food was prepared by a gourmet and we all drank champagne. About an hour into the party, the host, “Dr. Philip Brownshoe”, held a toast. He toasted to life and many other things which I didn't hear. I didn't hear because I was too busy watching a criminal roam through the crowd, pacing and taking notes. Featured Artists:1. The Rosebuds (The Rosebuds Myspace)2. Nicole Atkins & the Sea (Nicole Atkins & the Sea Myspace)3. Rhys Chatham (Rhys Chatham Myspace )4. Neko Case (Neko Case Myspace)5. Elvis Presley (Elvis Presley Wikipedia) Songs Post...
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Spiral Frog and IODA Enter Licensing Agreement
2007-09-05 20:12:00
music industry newsIODA's music catalog will be available to legally download for free on Spiral Frog , an ad-supported, online music site. Read more on the Spiral Frog and IODA agreement in a press release.
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BMI Climbs Upward
2007-09-05 20:04:00
music industry newsBMI announced that it will distribute more than $732 million in royalties to songwriters and publishers in the 2006-2007 fiscal year, up 8% from last year. BMI reports an increase in royalty profits from an ever-widening catalog of songs, a diverse range of media and an expanding global market opportunity. Read more on BMI's royalty revenue increase in FMQB.
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Bertlesman Reports Net Loss of $69.4 mil
2007-09-05 19:54:00
music industry newsBertlesman reported a first-half net loss of 51 million euros ($69.4 million) compared to a profit of 258 million euros ($351.2 million) a year earlier. Its Napster payouts to 4 music publishers, totaling around $400 million, are to blame for the loss. Bertlesman also saw a 2% decrease in sales. Read more on Bertlesman loss in Paidcontent.org.
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Apple conference now - possible ringtones announcement
2007-09-05 19:43:00
music industry newsLive blog of the Apple conference going on here: Gizmodo and here: MacdailynewsKey announcements expected include a ringtone store for the iPhone and a new round of iPods.
More About: Announcement , Ringtones , Conference , Ossi

Master P Developing Music Industry Video Game
2007-09-05 19:16:00
music industry newsMaster P is diving into the gaming industry with his development of "Play the Industry ", a "Sims"-like music industry, play-different-roles, video game. Seth Green and Matthew Senreich of Stoopid Monkey Productions are also involved with the project. Read more on Master P and "Play the Industry" in Hip Hop Element.
More About: Video , Music , Game , Video Game

Rick Rubin Thinks iPod is Over
2007-09-05 18:52:00
music industry newsRick Rubin , the music visionary who commercialized hip-hop and resurrected Johnny Cash's career, has told the New York Times he believes the iPod will become obsolete. Instead he is looking ahead to a subscription based model that would pump any and all music into a Walkman-like device. Read more on Rick Rubin in The New York Times.
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The Grateful Dead get into Gaming with "Rock Band"
2007-09-05 18:39:00
music industry newsThe Grateful Dead will have 18 of their original master recordings featured in the musical video game "Rock Band ", an advanced-phase "Guitar Hero". Read more on The Grateful Dead and "Rock Band" in USA today.
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videos feat kanye west, kate nash and more
2007-09-05 18:20:00
youtube picks1. Kanye West - "The Glory"Kanye West WikipediaKanye West MyspaceKanye West Official2. Kate Nash - "Birds"Kate Nash WikipediaKate Nash MyspaceKate Nash Official3. Bat For Lashes - "Prescilla"Bat For Lashes WikipediaBat For Lashes MyspaceBat For Lashes Official4. The Fixx - "One Thing Leads To Another"The Fixx WikipediaThe Fixx MyspaceThe Fixx Official5. Arctic Monkeys - "Certain Romance"Arctic Monkeys WikipediaArctic Monkeys MyspaceArctic Monkeys Official
More About: Videos

Many Dots in the World
2007-09-04 00:55:00
There are many dots in the world: pink, blue, purple and polka. I'm not sure if I have a favorite, if I did, I'd make sure to wrap it up for safe keeping. No, I wouldn't fry-it-up in deluxe olive oil or pin it to a donkey. I'd wrap it in foil and shove it beneath my floor boards.Featured Artists:1. Damien Jurado (Damien Jurado Myspace)2. Trespassers William (Trespassers William Myspace)3. Ken Nordine (Ken Nordine Wikipedia)Songs Posted At:1. Cable & Tweed2. Lost In Your Inbox3. Office Naps
More About: World , The World , Dots

Hans Solo was on my Plane
2007-09-03 23:25:00
Last night Hans Solo boarded my plane. He had frayed hair and a nasty attitude. I didn't care much that he was on the plane nor that he hadn't sat near me. I was too busy drinking scotch. I was comfortable in my sweatsuit. Hans Solo is a real slap-back of an individual. I didn't care much for him. I never did. And I never will. Featured Artists:1. Tegan and Sara (Tegan and Sara Myspace)2. Thurl Ravenscroft (Thurl Ravenscroft Myspace)
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The Professor's Secrets
2007-09-03 20:23:00
Positioned in the calm of yesteryears' evening, a pipe smoke rang from the professor's mouth. He told me of history in the deep Eastern European descent. He had a ringing about him, a mustache of yesterday, a helmet to rely on. He told me of secret plans, of spy games and countless attempts at assassination. This professor had knowledge – he had a scary knowledge of yesterday's attempts and conspiracies. This professor rang something no one else knew. But he had to pass it on. He had to pass it on to someone else. He rang truths from his mouth, embedded deep within his study – the oriental rug, the pipe smoke of yesterday – the clarinet record player and window that peered to the jazz club alley below. He was a secretive, well-suited man who carried grave secrets of Eastern European history. He had a hallow way about him, like he didn't know me or care to know me. He wanted relief – he wanted to share the secrets – to rid himself from knowing. I left him that night, pa...
More About: Secrets , Fess

Hayride in October
2007-09-03 19:56:00
Remember those times you went on hayrides? You bristled coldly under the October moonlight and cozied up next to your girl, wearing your new wool sweater from the Gap. Remember the hay and the cheer among your friends? Remember the dust that kicked up from the celebratory fire – the fire that gathered everybody – the fire that spat flames? Remember that cold evening, the moon special – the beginning of school? Remember leaving Math for the weekend? Featured Artists:1. BSK (BSK Official, BSK Myspace)2. The Oranges Band (The Oranges Band Official, The Oranges Band Myspace, The Oranges Band Wikipedia)3. Panda Bear (Panda Bear Official, Panda Bear Myspace, Panda Bear Wikipedia)4. The White Stripes (The White Stripes Official, The White Stripes Myspace, The White Stripes Wikipedia)

Tracing Our Steps
2007-09-03 19:41:00
week in reviewMiranda broke her leg while skiing. Last night I saw James Bond.Time for a golf outing.You might walk along a narrow hedge to her house.I wonder what it's like to float above the earth.Please leave a message.
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Halloween Party
2007-09-03 18:21:00
I decided to leave the afternoon gala and head-over to “Yesterday's Leaf Party ”. The candy disco rang, the candy-corn teeth spun out, and an orange casting raised a few brows. The sad picture of Halloween 's early evening drank heavy. I ran into a few people, they had a few drinks in them. They wore black robes and rang orange brights from their eyes. I went out back to the porch, where a few people sat, deep in conversation. They drank an amber cider that ran visions of “Ivy Bar”, our local town square bar. The couples, the fashion, the capes, the candy-corn eyes and teeth, the red underbelly of velvet, the sheet-rock porch floor – it all rang visions of early fall hang-out-time.Featured Artists:1. The Beastie Boys Official, The Beastie Boys on Myspace, Wikipedia on The Beastie Boys2. Vijay Benedict Official3. Dream Syndicate Official, Wikipedia on Dream Syndicate4. Ex Reverie Official, Ex Reverie on Myspace5. James Yorkston Official, James Yorkston on Myspace, Wikipedia...
More About: Ween , Allo

One Night in Paris
2007-09-03 05:31:00
The bells were tolling, the Christmas chatter was alive in Paris . A streak of blue light tipped from the cobblestone streets. I saw her from afar. A blink and she was gone. Then I stumbled over to the “Wharf Cafe” - alive in the granite quarter and alive with peace and red checkered tablecloths. I wasn't sure if I'd be able to stay – they seemed to be closing. But when I arrived at the front porch, a waiter came out to seat me. I was happy to sit, it'd been a long day – a long day of traveling - silking through the countryside and past carts of goats and other farm beasts. I ordered a cappuccino rescue and sat outside in the cold wind looking at the yellow crested town square clock. A bird floated past, a chicken in the night. I was in France, under the cold bristling moonlight. A clarinet whistled in the distance, a spy game for the ears. I was sure I'd heard it somewhere before. The night was long, the golden glances of sun throughout the day seemed to tire me. But al...
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100 songs from the Interweb - Listen and Download
2007-09-01 05:54:00
1. Small Ages - Bill Callahan, "Footprints"this songs shakes a boardwalk-claimWikipedia on Bill Callahan (Buy) Download from Superclea2. .phonq - Disciples of Ageema, "Mary's Poem (bootleg)"this song dreams denistry Download from Skylined3. 1.618 - Midnight Juggernauts, "Nine Lives"this songs makes an earth-shattering claimWikipedia on Midnight Juggernauts (Buy) Download from Sixoneeight4. 17 seconds - Philip Glass, 'Koyaanisqatsi.'this song starts with beatles, climbing and growingWikipedia on Philip Glass (Buy) Download from Fileden5. 3hive - Plane, "Blood on the waves"this song wings a christmas partyPlane on Myspace (Buy) Download from Dangervillage6. 8/1 - The National, "Start A War"this song gazes at rocks and leaves in yesterday's riversThe National on Myspace (Buy) Download from Trendwhore7. bounce/oz - Eric B and Rakim, "Paid In Full (7 Minutes of Madness - Coldcut Remix)"this song is in a british airportWikipedia on Eric B and Rakim (Buy) Download from Morebounce-Oz8. ...
More About: Songs , Listen

Messages
2007-09-01 01:19:00
found sound tune of the day1. microwave beep2. microwave door3. fan4. telephone beep and answering machine yesterday's found sound tune of the day:Narrow Hedge
More About: Messages , Mess , Ages

Classic rockers
2007-08-31 23:28:00
youtube picks1. Ten Years AfterWikipedia on Ten Years AfterTen Years After OfficialTen Years After on Myspace2. Cream - "Crossroads"Wikipedia on Cream3. Creedence Clearwater Revival - "Down on the corner"Wikipedia on Creedence Clearwater RevivalCreedence Clearwater Revival OfficialCreedence Clearwater Revival on Myspace4. Paul McCartney & Wings - "Mull of Kintyre"Wikipedia on Paul McCartney & Wings Paul McCartney OfficialPaul McCartney & Wings on Myspace5. Kansas - "Carry On Wayward Son"Wikipedia on KansasKansas Official yesterday's youtube picks:Bands whose names begin with S
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Floating above Earth
2007-08-31 21:59:00
noise 1Sample 1>Synth 1>Synth 2>Vocal 1>Vocal 2>Sample 2 yesterday's noise:Golf Outing
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