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DOES THE MUSIC INDUSTRY REALLY NOT CARE ABOUT SELLING MUSIC ANYMORE?
October 4, 2013
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There is a guest post on Digital Music New this week from Jeff Price, founder of both spinART and TuneCore. His latest company, Audiam, has a mission to get artists paid for the use of their music on YouTube.
Jeff has titled his post 'Why the Music Industry Doesn't Care About Selling Music Anymore'
While Jeff has brought up some interesting points, I disagree completely with his summation, "Where exactly does this leave the artist? As an interchangeable cog that has little-to-no long-term value."
Yes, most artists today are disposable and not likely to have long-term careers, but I don't know whether that is a result of all the things he talks about, or just the simple and sad fact that there are fewer artists who are able to produce one great ALBUM after another, (Those who are able to do so, a la Taylor Swift, Justin Timberlake, Katy Perry, Lady GaGa, et al, continue to sell multi-Platinum)
The article raises many strong points, and after you read it, you'll either agree with it, or have your own thoughts.
Let me know what you think. Read the article here
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THE 'A-SIDE' - TRACK 2
NILE RODGERS ON WORKING WITH MICHAEL JACKSON, BOB DYLAN, MADONNA, PAUL SIMONFrom Rolling Stone, interviewed by David Browne, Niles Rodgers talks about working with several of the music industry's most famous icons.
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THE 'A-SIDE' - TRACK 3
FROM CNET: ' WHY MUSIC SOUNDS BAD'CNET'S Audiophiliac, Steve Guttenberg, thinks the root cause is that bands mix their music to sound "good" over tiny wireless speakers, streaming music services, and cheap ear buds.
Do you agree? Read more
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THE 'A-SIDE' - TRACK 4
OWN A PIECE OF ROCK AT THE NEW YORK ROCK EXCHANGEThe New York Rock Exchange is quite a unique concept.
The New York Rock Exchange sells shares of songs that are built for fans (not financial analysts!). These limited edition SongShares don't generate financial returns, but do yield shareholder-only rewards like free downloads, exclusive merch, and early access to music and tickets. You even get a royalty check from the artist.
Only a certain number are authorized, and once they are sold out they are never issued again. Shareholders can resell their shares at any time, and like baseball cards, art and memorabilia, their value can increase over time. Even though the New York Rock Exchange is less than one year old, they are already starting to see a secondary market develop for some of the early releases.
It was one short year ago today that the New York Rock Exchange launched their very first SongShare. To celebrate, they are going to give away an extra special gift -- a complete set of every share issued in the first year of NYRE. The Founders Set.
It's free to enter, just go to http://smarturl.it/HappyBdayNYRE. (You can also earn two extra entries just by sharing on Facebook and Twitter)
Quite a cool concept. Check out The New York Rock Exchange----------------------------
THE 'A-SIDE' - TRACK 5
NETFLIX STOCK SOARS AGAINNewly-minted Emmy winner Netflix is enjoying even bigger rewards on the stock market this week.
Shares of the Los Gatos, CA home entertainment giant are hitting record levels after a Wall Street analyst predicted the company's international subscribers will be larger than expected when it reports its quarterly results this month. Read the story at TheWrap
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THE 'A-SIDE' - TRACK 6
GOOGLE FACES 10 THREATS IN FUTURE GROWTHJudging just from Google's financial performance, it looks like the company has an impregnable position and is well-positioned for rapid growth into the indefinite future.
But nothing lasts forever -- just ask Apple and Microsoft. So eWEEK looks at various threats that could hurt Google's future. READ MORE----------------------------
IN MEMORIAM: POLLY ANTHONY...AN INDUSTRY MOURNS
This past weekend the news of Polly Anthony's passing hit the industry very hard.
Polly, 59, lost her brave battle against pancreatic cancer, and now she can rest in peace.
For those who didn't know her, Polly was Epic Records president from 1997 to 2003, and later president of DreamWorks and co-president of Geffen Records. Her unlimited passion for all the artists and people she worked with, was evident to everyone. ( You can read more about her career highlights here )I used to see Polly at Billboard every week on "chart day" when she was stationed in Los Angeles. I remember her telling me a vocalist named Celine Dion was going to be the biggest female vocalist in the business before she had that first hit record. I remember her complimenting my records frequently and saying things like, "What a great song! Good for you!" Polly loved music, and she didn't care who was promoting it or what label it was on.
It was because of Polly I was fortunate enough to meet Michael Jackson and talk to him very briefly when she brought him to Billboard during his 'Bad' album success. She had brought Michael up to the magazine to meet the Billboard staff, but encouraged me to go say hello to him and talk to him. I told her I wouldn't bother him, but she insisted I do so and actually introduced to Michael. I always thanked her for that opportunity.
When Polly moved to New York City I saw her less often, but we always had the occasion to see each other at every industry convention or function. We always talked briefly, and I was always taken by her grace, professionalism, and again, her unlimited passion for the MUSIC.
I could go on for quite awhile with stories about Polly ... about her incredible laugh, smile, and how she could wrap up any adversary in dialogue. Everyone who knew her, has as many stories.
I asked Polly's good friend, songwriter Diane Warren, to comment about Polly's passing and she was kind enough to send me this: "Polly was not only a trailblazer and brilliant executive who made countless careers possible because of her tenacity and belief and passion, she was the best friend U could possibly have if U were lucky enough to have her as your friend. To me she was more than that. She was a fierce and protective big sister, and I hate using the word "was." Polly is an amazing woman who was as kind and respectful to an assistant as she was to the head of a company. I miss her so bad but am comforted by the memories and that she is now beyond the pain."
Thank you Diane for those words.----------------------------
THE 'A-SIDE' - THE BONUS TRACKS
* 'Breaking Bad': What It All Means. Read the story at TheWrap
* Paul McCartney Answers Questions on Twitter
* A Moment by Moment Breakdown of the Worst Music Video Ever
* Eric Clapton Readies 'Crossroads Guitar Festival 2013' for Release
* Eric Clapton Unplugs in 1992 Rehearsal Clip
* The Doors Digging Up Rare Footage
* Arcade Fire Showcase New LP on 'SNL'
* Green Day Revamp '21 Guns' in 'Broadway Idiot'
* Queen's History Told in New Webisode 'We Are the Champions': Premiere
* Justin Timberlake Should Have Scrapped Pt. 2 of His '20/20 Experience'
* The Top 10 Dance-Pop Collaborations of All Time
* Comcast Terminates Accounts of Persistent Pirates
* Britney Spears' '...Baby One More Time' Anniversary: 15 Little-Known Facts
* Michael Jackson Concert Promoter Cleared in Wrongful Death Suit
* Beats by Dre grows up
* 4 Important Questions About the Dumbest Song of the '80s
* Walt Goes Rambo? Vince Gilligan Shares 5 Discarded 'Breaking Bad' Endings
* 'Gravity' Is a Movie to Get Lost In
* 5 Mind-Blowing Movie Easter Eggs That Give Away the Ending
* http://www.cnn.com/2013/09/27/tech/innovation/death-stereo-system/index.html?hpt=hp_t3
* Apple bumps Coca-Cola to become world's top brand
* See the faces of all 1.2 billion Facebook users, including yours
* Every 4K TV on the market and its price
* Don't bother with these phones
Short News Items ...
BEST NEWS OF THE WEEK:
"Now people expect me to come out and twerk with my tongue out all the time. I'll probably never do that s– again." - Miley Cyrus, on retiring her infamous dance move, to Rolling Stone
NOW IT'S YOU TUBE AWARDS:
YouTube will host the first awards show in its history, celebrating the songs, artists and videos that were most popular on its own site in the last year, the online video giant announced Monday. The YouTube Music Awards, are slated for Nov. 3rd in New York City. Lady Gaga, Eminem and Arcade Fire will all perform at the live event. Read story at TheWrap
'BREAKING BAD' BROKE BIG:
The finale of 'Breaking Bad' shattered records for the show by scoring 10.3 million viewers, including 6.7 million in the key demo. The finale was up 300% over last year's finale in the key demo.
BADFINGER ON 'BREAKING BAD':
It took 'Breaking Bad's' music supervisor some time to warm up to Vince Gilligan's suggestion for the show's final song: Badfinger's "Baby Blue." "I thought it was an odd little love song," Thomas Golubic tells Rolling Stone. Then he saw the footage for the closing scene. Read More
AND BADFINGER BREAKING BIG:
Nielsen SoundScan data reveals that digital song sales for "Baby Blue" -- which played as White's last moments on earth occurred at the end of the finale -- jumped 2,981% over the previous week. The song, included on Badfinger's 1971 album 'Straight Up' and released as a single the following year -- logged 5,300 sales in the last few hours of Sunday night, versus 200 sales the prior week. The 'Breaking Bad' bump also had a ripple effect on the group's catalog; the song "Day After Day" was up 134%, while "No Matter What" jumped 78%, "Come and Get It" surged 81% and "Without You" climbed 260%. "Baby Blue" also received a huge bump on U.S. terrestrial radio stations, with a 1,175% jump on Monday over the previous Monday. Read the story at TheWrap
BETTER LATE THAN NEVER DEPT:
Two women in England were pleasantly surprised to receive a reply from Paul McCartney 50 years after sending him a fan message. Barbara Bezant and Lyn Phillips recorded a message on a reel-to-reel tape in 1963 and sent it to the Finsbury Park Astoria in London, where the Beatles were then playing, the BBC reports.
GLOBAL CITIZENS FEST:
Stevie Wonder was the perfect messenger for the second annual Global Citizen Festival in Central Park, attended by 60,000 and watched by an estimated 15 million more online. Alicia Keys, John Mayer, Kings of Leon and special guests helped spread the word. Read More
'GRAVITY' GETS SET TO EXPLODE:
Demand for 3D tickets to the opening weekend showings of "Gravity" shot into the stratosphere Thursday. Online ticket broker Fandango reported that 91% of its advance sales for "Gravity were for showings on 3D screens, and Movietickets.com said 3D made up 80% of its presales for the space epic. At Fandango, sales for "Gravity," which stars George Clooney and Sandra Bullock, represented 60% of the tickets sold for this weekend's movies.
SINEAD TO MILEY ... DO YOU READ ME?
After Miley Cyrus told Rolling Stone her new "Wrecking Ball" video was inspired by Sinead O'Connor's "Nothing Compares 2 U," O'Connor felt compelled to write an open letter to the pop star: "The message you're sending is that it's somehow cool to be prostituted." Read More
WIMP HI-FI:
Hypebot reports that WiMP has launched WiMP HiFi, a new music streaming service with lossless music in CD quality. This Europe-based music streaming service is available on Sonos, Bluesound, iOS and Android. However, the new service will be available at double the price of original WiMP service. WiMP Hifi is now available in conjunction with WiMP DIY and WiMP Professional. Read More
JETT NEWS:
One song on Joan Jett and the Blackhearts' new album, 'Unvarnished,' is called "T.M.I." It's about the age of social media and how it has robbed show business of some of its "mystique," says Jett, who wrote another new song with Dave Grohl. Read More
Leaving Us
Tom Clancy, author of novels 'The Hunt for Red October,' 'The Sum of All Fears,' 'Patriot Games' and more, died in his hometown of Baltimore after what the Baltimore Sun reports was "a brief illness." He was 66.
Quotes of the week
"[It] makes me happy because I live to make him feel bad about himself."
-- Blake Shelton, on his good-natured rivalry with fellow Voice judge Adam Levine, on the Today show"That's a tough one. I'm gonna piss some people off with that one. Obviously you can't discard the amazing songwriting of the Beatles. If those are my choices for greatest ROCK band, I'd have to go to Stones. But if it was a question of the songwriting catalog, it's probably hands-down the Beatles."
-- Chris Daughtry, in response to the debate of The Beatles vs. The Rolling Stones
The B-Side - 'Blips'
THE ONION (www.theonion.com) STORY OF THE WEEK:
'Breaking Bad' Ends With Reveal That Whole Series Was Plot Of Book Marie Shoplifted
LOS ANGELES—Capping off five seasons of critically acclaimed television, the AMC series Breaking Bad concluded its run Sunday night with the shocking revelation that the entirety of the show's story -- from Walter White's diagnosis with cancer to his transformation into a ruthless methamphetamine kingpin -- was in fact merely the plotline of a crime novel that character Marie Schrader had shoplifted from a local bookstore.
"What I wanted to create for the finale was an uncompromising conclusion focused on the show's true emotional core: Marie's kleptomania," show creator Vince Gilligan said of the episode's revelatory last scene. Read the rest here and laugh
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.
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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