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Teenagers Opt For Music Online ... This Is News?
August 17, 2012
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"Gone are the days of teenagers buying albums and listening to them all the way through, as are the days of following beloved radio DJs and tuning in at the appropriate times. The new generation is opting for their own music curating by means of YouTube, according to a new study released by consumer research firm Nielsen."
-- From the article 'YouTube is teens' No. 1 pick for music listening' by Dara Kerr, on CNET ( http://tinyurl.com/8awdgec )As I have mentioned in the newsletter countless times over the past few years, anyone with children old enough to have their own laptops or computers, already knows the minute they get home from school, eat their dinner and do their homework, they hurry off to their rooms to go online via their PCs, laptops, iPads, or smartphones.
I have also mentioned that in every college class I have been a guest speaker at over the last 10 years, I have always started by asking the class these questions: a) How many of you listen to radio to hear new music?; b) How many of you listen to music online and trade it with friends?; c) How many of you have iPods or a similar digital device you listen to music on?
I think you can probably guess what the responses were. Less than 10% of every class listened to the radio for new music; almost all listened to music online and/or traded mp3s with friends; and almost 100% had iPods. (And of course, all those iPods mean they don't care about owning music in the physical CD format, but we've known that awhile now)
The minute news appears online about any new song by any artist consumers like, they are online seeking to hear it as fast as possible. Waiting to turn on the radio to hear it there as soon as possible never enters their minds. Lady GaGa puts out a new song and within a day, millions have heard it on YouTube. The same for Taylor Swift, Justin Bieber, Adele, Mumford and Sons, Wilco, etc.
This news does not diminish the fact radio still sells lots of music. From the article above, "Although many people -- 48% -- still discover music through radio, the majority of teens -- 64% -- listen to tunes through YouTube." That 48% is a whole lot of music consumers and those teens are hearing the music the hits they most likely seek out on YouTube on the radio for some time after.
In fact, the Nielsen article is titled, "Music Discovery Still Dominated By Radio" (http://tinyurl.com/9kmhbtt ), which I find a little contradictory. I guess the fact most teens are turning to YouTube (64%) is secondary to Nielsen. (I wholeheartedly disagree)
Here's more news from the report: "Positive recommendations from a friend are most likely to influence purchase decision and 54% are more likely to make a purchase based off a positive recommendation from a friend, and 25% are more likely to make a purchase based off a music blog/chat rooms."
I'm sure a big part of the 54% number have received that "positive recommendation" via an mp3 e-mailed to them, or burned onto a CD by their friends. New music discovery has always been a big part of all young people's lives, and today that discovery moves music at lightning speed across cyberspace.
In addition to the CNET article referenced above, you can also read about the report on Billboard Biz here: http://tinyurl.com/8adt9y3 or on the Wall Street Journal article "Forget CDs. Teens Are Tuning Into YouTube" by Ethan Smith here: http://tinyurl.com/caly6sr
As always, I welcome your thoughts and comments on this topic.
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GOOGLE SEZ IT WILL TRY AND DO BETTER WITH COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL
Google disclosed this week that it will begin lowering the search ranking for sites it calculates are likely to offer content that is not legitimately licensed.
Read more on TechDirt here: http://tinyurl.com/cqepmjj or on publicknowledge.org here: http://tinyurl.com/d7stx7l
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THE 'A-SIDE' - TRACK 3
MOBILE GROWTH SLOWS SEZ GARTNER (IT'S THE ECONOMY)
Citing an unstable world economy, Gartner Research this week said it is likely to cut 2012 mobile growth projections.
"As a volatile economic climate firmly grips both manufacturers and consumers of technology ... the research firm believes that many will hold back from upgrading their mobile devices," ZD net reports. ( http://tinyurl.com/cwl732s )
The research firm said worldwide sales of mobile phones declined 2.3% in the second quarter -- reaching a total of 419 million units. Out of this value, smartphone sales accounted for 36.7% of total sales.
This means "growth from Apple and Samsung in the second quarter wasn't enough to offset the declines seen across most of the rest of the industry," (http://tinyurl.com/9vce2ar )
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COULD THESE RELEASES BE THE TURNING POINT FOR 3-D TV?
The mass release of "Avatar" and "Titanic" in 3D Blu-ray format in October could be a turning point for the so-far struggling business of 3D TVs, according to John Gaudiosi in Forbes.
"With so few quality 3D movies to choose from, most studios ignore 3D Blu-ray versions of 3D movies because of the lack of installed base, there's been a lack of incentive for even early adopters to make the leap to 3D TV," he writes.
"The fact that there are multiple competing formats and technologies out there doesn't help, although the industry is clearly moving toward passive 3D technology and away from active 3D."
Read the article on Forbes here: http://tinyurl.com/cx83g9p
(Editor's note: I'm betting the answer is no, and no film released will be enough to boost sagging 3-D TV sales)
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TUNECORE FOUNDERS OUSTED IN SURPRISE MOVE
From TechDirt comes news that TuneCore's founders, Jeff Price and Peter Wells, have both been pushed out of the company.
"We always talk about how various industries are changing such that gatekeepers are history and enablers are the future. One of the most impressive enablers around in the music industry has been TuneCore, a company built up over the last half-decade or so to provide artists with direct access to various digital distribution channels that were previously closed to them. TuneCore, co-founded and run by Jeff Price, had a singular vision of doing everything to make life better for musicians. They didn't take a cut of the royalties -- you just paid a flat-fee to use their service. They had very clear reporting and payments for artists -- basically the exact opposite of how major labels worked. Most recently, they set out to revolutionize the publishing business, and were well on their way towards that goal as well."
Read the whole story here: http://tinyurl.com/9mmqlqb
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THE 'A-SIDE' - TRACK 6
Read 2 Excerpts From The Book, "Still the Greatest: The Essential Songs of the Beatles' Solo Careers" by Andrew Grant Jackson
From Rolling Stone comes an excerpt from the above-mentioned book by Andrew Grant Jackson about John Lennon. Titled "John Lennon's (Last) Rebirth on the Stormy Seas in "'Borrowed Time, "I think it tells a story about John that very few people have ever heard. (Including Beatlephiles). Read it on Rolling Stone here: http://tinyurl.com/8joptq6
From the same book read "Paul McCartney Goes From 'Eleanor Rigby' to 'Silly Love Songs' and Back Again" here: http://tinyurl.com/d4an2lx
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THE 'A-SIDE' - TRACK 7
FROM BILLBOARD: 'INSIDE ELVIS PRESLEY'S WORLD -- SCENES FROM GRACELAND, SUN STUDIOS, AND MORE
Elvis Presley "left the building" exactly 35 years ago, on Aug. 16th, 1977. He would've been 77 if he was still with us.
From Billboard, "It's Elvis Week at Graceland, and photographer Joseph Llanes is traveling through Memphis with family members Lisa Marie Presley and Priscilla Presley. In this collection of images, he gets behind the velvet rope at one of the most famous abodes, shooting intimate and exclusive images of Elvis' former house, the famed Sun Studio and more locations frequented by the King himself."
Check out these great photos of Graceland and see the Jungle Room where there was "a pretty little thing was waiting for the King" (Apologies to Marc Cohn)
You can see them here: http://tinyurl.com/8s5vudm
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THE 'A-SIDE' - TRACK 8
FACEBOOK STOCK DOES THE LIMBO ... GOES BELOW $20 A SHARE
Shares of Facebook hit a new intra-day low of $19.76 on Thursday as preferred shareholders got their first chance to dump the stock. Yes, "Facebook's life as a public company has been a nightmare from day one, and the pain continued on Thursday," writes CNNMoney.com. Worse yet, an even bigger Facebook stock dump could come in November when the company is expected to convert the special form of restricted stock units, or RSUs, held by most of its staff into actual shares of stock.
Read the rest on CNN Money here: http://tinyurl.com/96nz2ey
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THE 'A-SIDE' - BONUS TRACKS
* Good TVs for a friendly price. If you're looking to replace your TV or furnish a new room, these five TVs offer decent picture and affordable prices: http://tinyurl.com/9pbxpob
* Here's 13 movies scheduled for this Fall that people are talking about: http://tinyurl.com/bmt4cn4
* The Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 is a fast-performing Android tablet with tons of great features. Is this the stylus-friendly tablet you've been waiting for? http://tinyurl.com/8ttxkzy
Short News Items ...
FOR ALL WHO MIGHT HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS NEWS:
Cher has been working on her first album in 11 years. Guest artists include Pink, maybe Christina Aguilera, and seemingly, Lady Gaga. The album is scheduled for Christmas.
'NOT FADE AWAY' SCHEDULED FOR FALL RELEASE:
From Roger Friedman's Showbiz 411 comes the news that: 'Not Fade Away,' David Chase's (of 'Sopranos' fame) musical film from Paramount will be a released in late October or early November The film stars James Gandolfini, (also from Chase's 'Sopranos') as well as Brad Garrett and Jack Huston. "Steve Van Zandt, also of 'Sopranos' fame and the E Street Band, produced the soundtrack, which features songs by the Rolling Stones, the Kinks and other '60s classics. In the movie, set in the '60s, Huston and his pals have a rock band that covers British Invasion music."
G&R TO THE JOINT:
Guns N' Roses (really Axl Rose and sidemen) have announced their impending takeover of the Joint at Las Vegas' Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in October for a 12-date Appetite for Democracy residency. Set lists will span the band's catalog, from their 1987 debut Appetite for Destruction to 2008's Chinese Democracy.
SEE YOU IN COURT, BROWN & DRAKE SUED:
Chris Brown and Drake have been hit with a $16 million dollar lawsuit over their June brawl at the joint NYC nightclubs Greenhouse and WiP, reports the New York Post. Entertainment Enterprises Ltd., who own the trademark to the Greenhouse's name, claim they had a $4 million licensing deal ruined because of bad press following the incident. The company believes Drake and Brown should be held responsible for their lost profits.
SEE YOU IN COURT, TOO:
Producer Roy Thomas Baker has filed a federal lawsuit against Sony Music Entertainment over unpaid royalties - specifically, more than $1 million he says he's owed for his work on 21 songs by Journey, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
RED SWIFT:
Taylor Swift surprised fans on Monday evening on a YouTube session with the announcement that she'll release a new album, "Red," on October 22nd, her first LP since 2010's "Speak Now." During the YouTube session, which at one point had an audience of over 70,000 viewers, Swift played "Red's" first single, "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together." You can watch the entire session and hear the new single (which will be a smash and should do in the neighborhood of 600,000 its first week.) here: http://tinyurl.com/8v46kkg
EJ SEZ NO WAY DID HE DO IT:
Elton John has urged an Illinois judge to dismiss a copyright infringement lawsuit filed against him over his hit song "Nikita." Elton and his songwriting partner Bernie Taupin were slapped with legal papers in April by photojournalist/songwriter Guy Hobbs, who claimed Elton's 1985 chart smash bears striking similarities to his own tune "Natasha," which he wrote three years prior. "
GAGA FAME:
To promote her 'Fame' fragrance, Lady Gaga tapped 'Alien' and 'Prometheus' director Ridley Scott for a shadowy, futuristic clip. Dressed in a black jumpsuit, Gaga twists and contorts before tiny little men swarm her naked body. It may be short, but it packs plenty of Scott's signature dark theatricality. You can see it here: http://tinyurl.com/8ajg5hu
CLASSIC RAP DOESN'T CUT IT:
After exchanging his rhymes for crimes, a radio disc jockey who replaced music on a local classical station with offensive rap music decided to "face the music." The Miami Herald reports Romayne Davis, 32, of Lauderdale Lakes, FL, turned himself in for infiltrating WKCP Classical South Florida's (89.7 FM) airwaves. Davis is charged with one count of unauthorized transmission/interference with a public radio station.
MACCA TWEETS SUPPORT:
Paul McCartney tweeted a message of support today for jailed Russian punk trio Pussy Riot, who await the verdict in their trial for performing an anti-Putin "punk prayer" in Moscow's Christ the Savior Cathedral. Addressing group members, McCartney wrote, "I would like you to know that I very much hope the Russian authorities would support the principle of free speech for all their citizens and not feel that they have to punish you for your protest."
THE BOSS DOES FENWAY:
This week in Boston, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band kicked off the latest leg of their Wrecking Ball tour at historic Fenway Park, covering of the Standells' "Dirty Water" in tribute.
ALL YOU NEED IS GOLD:
The Olympic Stadium erupted into a fury after Jessica Ennis, Greg Rutherford and Mo Farah from Great Britain each won gold medals in a 45-minute span. Banding together, the fans began to sing "All You Need Is Love," the entire crowd in the 80,000-seat stadium joining in the rendition of the Beatles classic. Paul McCartney was even on hand to celebrate, the Associated Press reports, waving a Union Jack flag.
GEE, WHAT A SURPRISE ... NOT!
Kim Kardashian has landed a quick cameo in her rapper boyfriend Kanye West's new video with DJ Khaled and Rick Ross.
GEE WHAT A SURPRISE ... NOT, TOO!
Bobby Brown is reportedly back in rehab, less than eight weeks after his second marriage.
OKAY, WE DON'T CARE THAT WE MISSED THE SPICE GIRLS, BUT THE WHO?
American viewers didn't have a chance to see all of the closing ceremony for the London 2012 Olympics after NBC cut away to air a new sitcom, but England called on the Who for a headline performance, with support from the Spice Girls, Muse, Fatboy Slim and more. NBC nixed performances by the Who, Ray Davies and Muse for a commercial-free airing of the new show, Animal Practice, a decision that sparked no small amount of vitriol online.
ROLLING STONE APP:
Rolling Stone magazine debuts its third iOs app, one of two available for the iPhone, called Rolling Stone: Music News. The app, whose content can be personalized to the user, will include music news, artist photos and exclusive videos.
AFTER ALL THESE GUYS:
After Tate Donovan, Charlie Schlatter, Brad Pitt, Vince Vaughn, Paul Sculfor, John Mayer, Gerard Butler. Brad Cooper, Jennifer Aniston announced she is engaged to Justin Theroux.
DISH BROADBAND COMING:
Helping rural regions of the country join the broadband revolution, Dish Network is reportedly preparing to introduce a nationwide broadband service using a satellite from sister company EchoStar.
PASSING:
Helen Gurley Brown, a pioneering journalist who helped reshape the image of American women during her 32 years as editor-in-chief of Cosmopolitan magazine, died Monday. She was 90.
PASSING:
Robert Wayne Birch, a bassist who recorded and toured extensively with Elton John over the past two decades, was found dead near Los Angeles this week of an apparently self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. The L.A. County Assistant Coroner Chief tells Reuters that the death is "being investigated as a possible suicide;" TMZ reports that there was no suicide note or any signs of drugs use.
PASSING:
Brent Grulke, 52, longtime Creative Director for South By Southwest, after a heart attack while having oral surgery at the dentist. He was the music editor at the Austin Chronicle from 1990-'91
PASSING:
Charles Ball, 61, one of the pioneers behind the postpunk No Wave movement, died in St. Petersburg, FL, of a heart attack. Ball, co-founder of N.Y.-based punk indie Ork Records, the first recorded home for Television, and founder of Lust/Unlust Records
PASSING:
Ron Palillo, best known for his role as Arnold Horshack on the 1970s TV sitcom "Welcome Back, Kotter," has died, the Palm Beach Post reports. He was 63.
The Music Industry Past, Present & Future, And The Internet I answer questions on EconTalk
I did an interview about the industry and the Internet at EconTalk with host Russ Roberts. Russ is also a professor of economics at George Mason University, blogs at Cafe Hayek, and has written three novels that teach economics. He's also the co-creator of the Keynes-Hayek rap video. (And if your understanding of the economic meltdown that occurred needs to be enlightened, this video will do it)
In the interview we talk about the evolution of the music industry, the impact of the digital revolution, and I give my reasons for believing in the virtues and potential of the Internet in enhancing the music industry. I point out, as I have many times here in the newsletter, that the internet allows numerous artists to make money from their music and it can enhance revenues from live performances by expanding an artist's base. We also discuss the challenges facing record companies and I suggest that the full potential of the Internet as a distribution channel has yet to be fully exploited. There's a lot of ground covered, but based on the comments already posted of those who have tuned in, they've enjoyed it.
Read more about it by clicking here.
Quotes of the week
"I'm talking about the new "It" couple. I'm talking about Kev-Ye-Kim."
-- MTV Video Music Awards host Kevin Hart, in an effort to bond with Kanye West and Kim Kardashian, in a VMA 2012 promo spot. (The "It" couple? An Internet porn queen and a rapper. If this is indeed the new "It" couple, we are definitely in cultural decline)"There are those bands that are essentially coming back only to make money - playing their old albums, and maybe somewhere in the back of their minds they're thinking there might be a future. I am not in that business, obviously. I condemn anybody who's in that business but doesn't admit [he's] in that business. When Soundgarden came back and they just played their old songs, great. I was a fan of Soundgarden, but call it for what it is. They're just out there to have one more round at the till; same with Pavement and these other bands."
-- Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan, calling out '90s contemporaries including Soundgarden for cashing in with their reunion tours, in Rolling Stone"There is no secret: You just have to eat healthy, work out, and torture yourself!"
-- Gwen Stefani, on how she maintains her six-pack abs, to Harper's Bazaar. (Hooray for Gwen in telling it like it is)"He's very good at making sure you don't know him."
-- Jack White, talking about Bob Dylan, in Rolling Stone"When I went to Kabul in 2008, I was at the peak of my heroin addiction. When I stepped off the plane, three warlords waved to me, saying, "Hey Artie, thanks for the second house."
-- The always funny Artie Lange, on his radio show
The B-Side - 'Blips'
THE ONION (www.theonion.com) STORY OF THE WEEK:
Jennifer Aniston Engaged To Guy Who Frankly Will Never Replace Brad
LOS ANGELES-After enduring years of failed relationships and heartbreak, actress Jennifer Aniston is now engaged to boyfriend Justin Theroux, a man who is not and will never be a true replacement for Brad, representatives for Aniston and Theroux confirmed Monday.
Read the rest here and laugh: Click Here.
A Memory Of John Lennon
I told the story about the night of John's passing, and what my son said that said night, on literally dozens of radio stations the next day that were calling our offices for interviews and commentary about John. I think everyone at the time knew the "Blue Meanies" were the evildoers who stopped the music in Pepperland in the Beatles groundbreaking animated film, Yellow Submarine. If you've never seen the film, you know that now as well.
My many thanks to the examiner.com's resident Beatle expert, Steve Marinucci, for his interview with me this week talking about my memory of John Lennon, about his passing, and my time at Capitol Records.
In any case, for those of you who are Beatles fans, here's the link to the article: http://tinyurl.com/79r4lvu
Smart Marketing Consulting Services
Smart Marketing Consulting Services has been in business sixteen years, and consults clients in the music, entertainment, attraction, media, and technology industry on branding, marketing, online exploitation, maximizing new media, and more.
"And the beat goes on, the beat goes on ... drums keep poundin' rhythm to the brain."
"Work is life, you know, and without it, there's nothing but fear and insecurity." -- John Lennon
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