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From CNN: 'New Cassette Tape Could Hold 47 Million Songs'
May 9, 2014
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"A great song is a great song, whether it's on vinyl or CD or cassette or reel-to-reel or mp3. Then again, that might be an overly optimistic view, but I do think that great music will transcend the medium in which it is delivered."
-- MobyI know, you're first reaction to the headline is "Huh?"
This report from CNN, "Forget the cloud, and rework your mental image of those mysterious data centers. Sony has reinvented a tool for storing a mind-numbing amount of data: A cassette tape.
Sony's record-breaking magnetic tape technology allows it to store 180 terabytes of data on a single cartridge. That's the same amount of storage as 1,184 iPod Classics, Apple's roomiest music player, which can hold about 40,000 songs. Using that number, Sony's new cassette could technically store about 47.3 million songs of its own." Read the article
And once again, "everything old is new again."
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THAT VINYL THING KEEPS THIS PLANT BUSYFrom BillboardBiz, "United Record Pressing, the busiest vinyl pressing company on the globe (and the very same that recently helped Jack White break a world record) is expanding. The Nashville-based plant will nearly double the volume of records it's able to create, which it currently does 24 hours a day, six days a week to the tune of 30-40,000 pieces of vinyl per day. The company will bring 16 new presses online, some they had already and some purchased from shuttered competitors, by the end of the year." Read the rest
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FROM CNET 'THE FIX ROCKS OUT'The Fix is all about the music this week. This week's episode features tips on getting more from music services, syncing wireless speakers, and swapping old CDs for a digital library without losing your mind. It's time to get your groove back.
The Fix rocks out----------------------------
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ANOTHER EXCERPT FROM 'THE BEATLES: ALL THESE YEARS' ON DELANCEY STREETFrom 'Tune In: The Beatles: All These Years' by Mark Lewisohn: In 1957, at a social event at St. Peter's church in Woolton, John Lennon first met Paul McCartney. At 17 years old, John was already a dominant personality, the forceful leader of both a gang and a not-particularly-good new band called the Quarry Men, who had been invited to perform at the event. Paul had turned 15 only three weeks earlier:.
"John Lennon didn't pick partners easily, but at 15 years of age Paul McCartney already had enough about him to impress the big league. A boy who believed he was it, and had the ability to back it up, had met another boy who clearly was it."
http://www.delanceyplace.com/view_archives.php?2512&p=2512----------------------------
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JURY SEZ SAMSUNG OWES APPLE ALMOST $120 MILLIONLast Friday, an eight-person jury in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California returned a mixed verdict in the Apple v. Samsung patent infringement case over smartphones and tablets determining that Samsung has infringed three of Apple's five patents and ordering Samsung to pay damages of $119.6 million, less that the $2.2 billion sought by Apple.
CNET reports that Judge Lucy Koh ordered the jury to reconsider the damage figure today, which was disputed in part by Apple's attorneys, and, after deliberating for two hours, the jury decided on an overall damages that ended up the same as the jury had determined Friday. Read more.
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'IDOL' ... RATING OUCH & 'THE VOICE,' TOO'American Idol' ratings hits an all-time low last week against NBC's 'iHeartRadio Music Awards' ...Full story at TheWrap
And NBC's "The Voice" dropped 11% on Tuesday to a new series low, as Fox's "Mindy Project" and "New Girl" season finales got ratings bumps. That story also at TheWrap----------------------------
THE 'A-SIDE'
THE MORON APOLOGIZESIt didn't take long for Courtney Love to realize she once again said something idiotic. ( In a video Love posted in April that has since been taken down, she said, "My Springsteen problem is just that saxophones don't belong in rock & roll. They just don't belong." In the video, she also offered, "I don't think he sits around listening to Hole records, do you?")
Now, after making a fool of herself, she wants a little forgiveness for her recent rant against saxophones in rock music and, by proxy, Bruce Springsteen. "Unfortunately, there was my slip of the tongue, which was just a stupid thing blown way out of context," she recently told Pitchfork. "I had to write apology letters. I can't go pissing off big rock stars who I like, who are nice to me."
I really don't think you "pissed off" Bruce, Courtney. As you said, "I don't think he sits around listening to Hole records."
I doubt very much if he cares less what you said, or what you think.
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THE 'A-SIDE' - THE BONUS TRACKSListen to Led Zep's Rough Mix of 'Whole Lotta Love'
Carlos Santana Talks 'Corazon' & Reuniting With Original Band For 'Santana IV'
Bad Obsession: Best of Guns N' Roses
Fleetwood Mac Revives Chemistry In Studio: 'We Get Chills,' Says Christine McVie
Billy Joel Crowd-Surfs in the USSR
Bringing Michael Jackson Back: The Inside Story of 'Xscape'
Wild Things: 11 Pets With Pop Influence
7 Famous People Who Are Shockingly Out of Touch With Reality
The best iPad games you can get
The TVee One is a natural upgrade to your TV sound
Which phone should you buy?
Short News Items ...
VINE VIDEO:
TechCrunch reports that mobile application, Vine, is edging closer to being a YouTube competitor, where "users can create short videos on mobile and yet still experience all the wonders of the laid-back YouTube-style consumption experience." Read More
JACKO BACK ON CHARTS:
Michael Jackson's "Love Never Felt So Good" with Justin Timberlake debuts at #20 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #6 on Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. The track is the first single from Jackson's posthumous album "Xscape," due next Tuesday (May 13th).
AND HEAR THE NEW MJ SINGLE:
Record exec L.A. Reid introduced a brand-new Michael Jackson song last week by saying when he first heard it, "I was instantly reminded that, yes, Michael Jackson is the greatest." Hear "Love Never Felt So Good" with guest Justin Timberlake. Read More
PLANT AT NONESUCH:
Robert Plant has signed a deal with Nonesuch Records ahead of the release of a new album. The label announced that the Led Zeppelin alum's upcoming release, his tenth solo effort, will feature his roots and psychedelic-inspired backing band, The Sensational Space Shifters.
ANOTHER STREAMER:
Hypebot reports that another recognized streaming music service is planning to launch in the U.S. before the end of this year. Started in 2007, Paris-based music streamer Qobuz stated that it will expand its service to North America before the end of 2014.
IS ADELE GETTING READY FOR A NEW ALBUM?
Is Adele preparing a new full-length, "25," to be released later this year? The British superstar posted what could very well be taken as a new album teaser on Twitter on Sunday (May 4).
J-LO HONORED:
Jennifer Lopez will be feted with the Icon Award at the 2014 Billboard Music Awards
ADOBE APP:
Adobe announced Adobe Voice, a new animated video app for iPad that gives users the ability to create and share engaging video stories. Adobe Voice empowers people to inform, persuade or inspire others to action by using a combination of their own recorded voice, imagery, music and cinema-quality motion graphics and effects. Read More
ZEP DELUXE COMING:
Standing right where he was at London's Olympic Studios 45 years ago, recording "Whole Lotta Love," Jimmy Page listens closely to an alternate take. "Tantalizing, isn't it?" he asks. He's overseeing deluxe reissues of Led Zeppelin's catalog packed with dozens of rarities. Read More
MUVE NEVER REALLY MOVED:
The New Times reports that Muve Music, which is connected to Cricket Wireless, a prepaid wireless phone carrier, will be discontinued by AT&T, which acquired Crickets parent company, Leap Wireless, last year, according to people knowledgeable of the company's plans. The report goes on to say that a bidding process has begun to sell Muve's business to another company, according to these people, who were not authorized to speak about it. Read More
'IDOL' ROBBED:
"American Idol" winner Scotty McCreery was the victim of a home invasion robbery early Monday morning. The 20-year-old country music singer allegedly was visiting with friends at an apartment unit near the North Carolina State University campus, where he is a student. Raleigh Police spokesman Jim Sughrue said officers were called shortly before 2a Monday to the apartment, about a mile from campus. Three suspects armed with guns are reported to have taken wallets, cash and electronic items. No one was injured.
RAP GENIUS SETTLES:
Music lyrics site RapGenius has settled its dispute with songwriters over its posting of hip-hop lyrics. Last November, RapGenius was among 50 lyrics sites the National Music Publishers' Association accused of illegally profiting from songwriters' work. The industry group threatened to sue the sites if they didn't take down their lyrics. Full story at TheWrap
TUNEIN UPDATES:
TuneIn, the radio service, today released its redesigned platform and user interface, turning live radio on TuneIn into a real-time, relevant, and social experience. The new TuneIn features will enable its now 50 million monthly active users to discover, follow, and share the audio content they love making TuneIn the largest audio network in the world. Read more.
Quotes of the week
"Every time I talk to the heads of large companies, they're always at the beach. Middle of the afternoon. What are you doing? 'Oh, I'm at the beach with my kids.' So we're working to send their kids to college. And to the beach. We're not supposed to accept that."
-- In a new cover story with Essence, Prince lambasts the top brass at record labels. (Ah, come on, Prince. Sometimes they're just sitting by the pool)"A tour would have been an absolute menagerie of vested interests and the very essence of everything that's shitty about big-time stadium rock. We were surrounded by a circus of people that would have had our souls on the fire. I'm not part of a jukebox!"
-- Robert Plant, talking in Rolling Stone about why there was no Led Zeppelin tour after their reunion concert at the O2 seven years ago
The B-Side - 'Blips'
THE ONION (www.theonion.com) STORY OF THE WEEK:
Carlos Santana Surprises Wife With Coupon For Free 45-Minute Guitar Solo
LAS VEGAS—In a spontaneous romantic gesture by the 10-time Grammy Award winner, guitarist Carlos Santana presented his wife, Cindy Blackman, with a handmade coupon redeemable for a complimentary 45-minute guitar solo Wednesday, sources confirmed.
"There's no expiration date -- this one's good anytime, babe," Santana said of the signed certificate bordered with hand-drawn hearts and musical notes. Read the rest 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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