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Is The Music Biz Sleepwalking Into Disaster?
August 10, 2015
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"While the popularity of streaming has been increasing, revenue from downloads has been declining, and as more companies like Apple and Spotify focus on a playlist model of distribution, traditional albums, and the music industry as a whole, could be in trouble."
-- From the above titled article by Darren Hemmings, Founder - Motive Unknown.VERY good article by Mr. Hemmings, and highly recommended to all readers.
Check it out: Is The Music Industry Sleepwalking Into Disaster?-----------------------------
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APPLE MUSIC REVIEWEDIt turns out that Apple Music is actually pretty good. In fact, it's really good. There are rough edges. Hopefully, they smooth out in time. An In-Depth Review Of Apple Music
AND ... Billboard reports "Apple Music is said to have a goal of reaching 100 million subscribers, despite being a late-comer to the streaming scene. If current numbers hold, and people opt to pay, the new service is already a tenth of the way there. USA Today is reporting that Apple Music has attracted 11 million trial users to date." Read more
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WHEN VINYL RULED THE WORLDTake a trip back in time with this video of what was once one of the greatest record stores in the world, Tower Records.
Glory days indeed in the music biz: Stacks and Stacks Of Vinyl: Tower Records In 1971
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'MUSIC ARTISTS TAKE ON THE BUSINESS, CALL FOR CHANGE'From the New York Times comes the above titled article by Ben Sisario: "Musicians are known for speaking out on issues like human rights, politics and the environment. They are less known for speaking out about how the music business itself should operate. That may be changing." Read the article
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FROM HYPEBOT: 'WHY IS THE MUSIC BIZ LIVING IN THE LAST CENTURY?'While concerts remain popular and one of the primary ways in which artists make money, there is a lost opportunity at live shows with regard to data collection. If utilized, this data could allow bands to connect with their fans on a whole new level.
Why Is the Live Music Business Living in the Last Century?----------------------------
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FROM THE N.Y. TIMES: 'WHEN BOB DYLAN WENT ELECTRIC'It was at the Newport Folk Festival in 1965. Bob picked up an electric guitar and soon shook the windows and rattled the halls.
Fifty years ago, Bob Dylan picked up a Stratocaster and changed the world of rock 'n' roll forever.
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CELEBRATING 2 DECADES OF TECHFrom the birth of the Web to the latest smartphones, CNET has seen it all. To celebrate, we asked some of the visionaries at the center of it all to tell their stories. READ MORE
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SOMEONE IS DARING TO CHALLENGE BILLBOARD'S CHARTS?BuzzAngle Music is aiming straight for Nielsen/Billboard with music charts that use a proprietary architecture that stores data at a more granular level, as well as on a more timely basis, providing daily, rather than weekly, updates.
They are live now and will be available to you daily on Hypebot. Startup BuzzAngle Music Takes On Billboard With 3 Dynamic Daily Music Charts
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MORONIC QUOTE OF THE YEAR FROM A ROCK STARWell first of all, we should consider the source … Keith Richards. Keith's done his share of drinking and drugging, and it's obvious it's finally taken its toll.
Keith actually said this, and legendary rock star or not, perhaps he really doesn't fully comprehend that which he criticizes: "The Beatles sounded great when they were the Beatles. But there's not a lot of roots in that music. I think they got carried away. Why not? If you're the Beatles in the Sixties, you just get carried away -- you forget what it is you wanted to do. You're starting to do 'Sgt. Pepper.' Some people think it's a genius album, but I think it's a mishmash of rubbish, kind of like 'Satanic Majesties' -- 'Oh, if you can make a load of shit, so can we.'"
Might there be a hint of jealousy in that statement?Sorry Keith, The Beatles didn't get "carried away" or "forget what they wanted to do." They just wanted to create something extraordinary in the rock music genre, and perhaps change the way artists made albums and the way their audience might listen to them.
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WHAT ARE MUSIC TASTES SAY ABOUT OUR PERSONALITIES
For anyone who has ever caught some treacly adult contemporary on the radio and wondered, "Who on earth likes this stuff?" while twisting the dial, a new study might have an answer. A bunch of softies, that's who.----------------------------
COMMENTS…
Neil Young is pulling all his music from streaming services. (See link below) This move will probably be as successful as his PoNo player. Sorry Neil, like it or not, streaming is the new iPod for the music audience.Rolling Stone reported this week that Jon Stewart secretly visited Obama at the White House. Gee, what a shock. Obama was on 'The Daily Show' so many times why did they need to meet in secret? Oh yeah … show prep.
Billboard reports "Madonna Will Have Pole Dancing Nuns On Her 'Rebel Heart' Tour. Not enough, Madonna … Miley Cyrus has lowered the bar ... They would have to be naked.
Between The Grooves ...
SURVEY SAYS:
Young people won't pay for music, and trying to force them only leads to piracy. That has been the common wisdom that serves as justification for music on YouTube, Spotify's free tier and more. A new survey of 5,000 Americans partially debunks that myth. College Students ARE Willing To Pay For Streaming Music
SONY SUED:
Sony Music is being sued by American Idol winners including Carrie Underwood, Kelly Clarkson and their label 19 Recordings who say that the company's equity stake in Spotify sells them short. The music giant offered an interesting and, to artists, a rather damning defense. Sony Music Tells Court It's Not Their Job To Make Artists Money
THE FIRST PERISCOPE STAR SHOWS THE LIVE STREAMING PLATFORM DOESN'T NEED TWITTER:
Digiday reports, "Amanda Oleander is Periscope's first, true native star. The L.A-based freelance artist, known for her vlog and city-guide videos, has more than 250,000 followers and 30 million hearts (Periscopes version of a like or favorite), which dwarfs what more recognizable names like BuzzFeed and Channing Tatum have earned on the live-streaming video platform." Read more
CHART BUZZ:
BuzzAngle Music is aiming straight for Nielsen/Billboard with music charts that use a proprietary architecture that stores data at a more granular level, as well as on a more timely basis, providing daily, rather than weekly, updates. They are live now and will be available to you daily on Hypebot. Startup BuzzAngle Music Takes On Billboard With 3 Dynamic Daily Music Charts
NETFLIX IMPRESSED WALL STREET AND NOW ITS SHARES ARE SOARING:
Bloomberg reports: "Netflix has been a Wall Street favorite throughout the year, with the company's shares more than doubling since the start of 2015 to hold the title of top performing stock in the S&P 500." Read more.
YOUR FUTURE MUSIC PLAYLIST COULD KNOW HOW YOU FEEL:
TechCrunch reports "Researchers at the University of Cambridge have linked musical taste to thinking style, with possible implications for how future algorithms might better tailor music recommendations. Not to mention the flip side: How music streaming services could psychologically classify their users, based on what they like to listen to." Read more
APPLE MAY LAUNCH ADDITIONAL BEATS RADIO STATIONS:
Variety reports "Apple may eventually launch additional radio stations like Beats1 alongside its Apple Music service: The company secured rights to launch up to five additional radio stations as part of its deals with record labels, according to a report from the Verge." Read more
THE 'A-SIDE' - THE BONUS TRACKS & NEWS
Are Music Services Wasting Time Recommending New Music?
The Music Industry's Sleeping Giant
Grooveshark Co-Founder Josh Greenberg Found Dead
Don Henley Unveils 'Cass County' Fall Tour
New Jimi Hendrix Doc Focuses on Historic Atlanta Show
Blues Legend Buddy Guy Remembers Jamming With Hendrix For the First Time
Madonna Compares Herself to Picasso, Says Creativity Doesn't Have an 'Expiration Date'
Bob Dylan, Jack White Celebrate Chicago Blues in New Doc
Rare John Lennon, Jim Morrison Letters Up for Auction
Neil Young Pulling Catalog From Streaming Services
Photos From Nirvana's First Show Uncovered by Seattle Teenager
Lady Gaga Joins U2 on Stage at Madison Square Garden
Frank Zappa Documentary by Alex Winter Starts Production
Neil Young Fined $10K For Playing Past Curfew
Live Aid Turns 30: U2, Madonna, Led Zeppelin Reunion & More Highlights
Martin Scorsese Brings Brooklyn Record Store Back to the '70s for New HBO Show
Eagles, George Lucas to Receive Kennedy Center Honors
Grateful Dead Guitar Brings Over $500,000 at Auction
Newport Folk Festival Marks 50 Years Since Bob Dylan Went Electric
BerkleeICE Releases MUST READ Music Industry Report: "Creators Underpaid By 20-50%" and more...Jimmy Page can tell you exactly when he'll become a solo artist again: On August 2nd, right after the Led Zeppelin guitarist completes his year-long deluxe reissues of the band's entire catalog of studio albums. "I've got new material," he promises. Read More
The B-Side - 'Blips'
THE ONION (www.theonion.com) STORY OF THE WEEK:
Humanity Still Producing New Art As Though Megadeth's 'Rust In Peace' Doesn't Already Exist
WASHINGTON—Saying that any further endeavors of technical skill and imagination were pointless, experts at the Smithsonian Institution reportedly questioned Monday why new art was still being produced after the pinnacle of aesthetic and creative potential was reached in 1990 with Megadeth's fourth studio album, 'Rust In Peace.' 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
"When a population becomes distracted by trivia, when cultural life is redefined as a perpetual round of entertainments, when serious public conversation becomes a form of baby-talk, when, in short, a people becomes an audience and their public business a vaudeville act, then a nation finds itself at risk: culture-death is a clear possibility." -- Neil Postman
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