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Apple's iCloud Is In The Air: Cloud Computing Rolls Out
June 10, 2011
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"Keeping these devices in sync is driving us crazy. We have a great solution for this problem. We are going to demote the PC to just be a device. We are going to move the digital hub, the center of your digital life, into the cloud."
-- Apple chief executive Steve Jobs' announcement this week at the Worldwide Developers ConferenceThere was so much news this week about the launch of Apple's much awaited iCloud service I'm sure many people thought it was a bit too much. But there was good reason for all the news reporting.
Back in July of 2010 I included some early news stories about cloud computing and wrote this: "From The Center For Media Research come this news: 'According to the fourth "Future of the Internet" survey conducted by the Pew Research Center's Internet & American Life Project and Elon University's Imagining the Internet Center, a solid majority of technology experts and the general public participating in the survey expect cloud computing will mostly replace desktop computing by 2020. That is, most people will access software applications online and share and access information through the use of remote server networks, rather than depending primarily on tools and information housed on their individual, personal computers. They say that cloud computing will become more dominant than the desktop in the next decade. ("Cloud computing" is the usage of remote server-based, rather than desktop-based, tools and information. Software and data is virtually stored on the internet, meaning computer users do not need to download any software or maintain a physical database to store information).' Read more here: http://tinyurl.com/2fvrgep"
Two of the best articles about the launch of Apple's iCloud were in Rolling Stone this week. One is titled 'How Apple's iCloud Could Help Save The Music Industry' and you can read that here: http://tiny.cc/kveow
The other, 'Music Industry Responds to iCloud Announcement With Cautious Optimism,' can be read here: http://tiny.cc/ld4qh
There's also a bunch of articles on CNet.com. Just hit their website and type in 'iCloud' on the search bar.
Whether or not iCloud (and any similar cloud service launched by Amazon, Google, et al) can actually "help save the music industry" is a question that can, and probably will, be debated for some time. While iCloud opens the door for the creation of new revenue streams, piracy online and off is not going to stop. The billions in revenues that were generated from CD sales for labels aren't going to be replaced. Those golden heydays and paydays are long gone. But new revenue streams will be created, but just how many streams can be created in the clouds that will provide significant revenues remains to be seen.
As it says above in my original post about cloud computing "the general public participating in the survey expect cloud computing will mostly replace desktop computing by 2020."
It might happen faster than that.
The tablet is fast replacing the PC. Smartphones are getting smarter. We have the Internet with us everywhere.
Get ready to see a paradigm shift in the way we use technology from this point forward.
The music industry missed embracing the Internet as the greatest distribution ever invented to sell music to consumers.
Those in the industry need to get in the clouds as fast as possible. Today. Right now.
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THE 'A-SIDE' - TRACK 2
CISCO SEZ GLOBAL FILE SHARING TRAFFIC WILL DOUBLE BY 2015, THEN DECREASE
Forecasts from Cisco's Visual Networking Index reveal that global file-sharing traffic is predicted to grow to nearly 14 exabytes per month by 2015. According to the predictions most growth will occur in Latin America, and both Central and Eastern Europe. Least growth is expected in Western Europe.
Read more here at TorrentFreak: http://tiny.cc/nmm9r
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THE 'A-SIDE' - TRACK 3
TURNTABLE.FM: ADDICTIVE AND SPINNING STRONG
What are the cool kids -- at least in tech-world terms -- buzzing about right now? Writing in TechCrunch, former TechCrunch writer Steve Poland says it's a social music service named Turntable.fm. "The early adopting tech elites are eating this site up, just as they did Twitter, Foursquare, Instagram and others," Poland insists. "Barring some awful interference, this app is going to break big and change things."
Essentially, Turntable.fm lets users listen to tracks in online groups, and share their thoughts in real-time via an accompanying chat board. "The only issue I thought Turntable had was needing to deal with the record labels, but it appears they are licensing the streaming catalog thru MediaNet," Poland notes. "Turntable does possibly open up some exposure by allowing users to upload their own tracks, but it seems those (maybe) are only accessible to be played by the uploading user."
Expect to hear more about both issues if and when Turntable takes off to the degree Poland expects. Read more here: http://tiny.cc/i3xgp
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THE 'A-SIDE' - TRACK 4
THE CONSUMER ELECTRONICS ASSOCIATION REPORT 'CORD CUTTING & TV SERVICE'
The poor economy of the last few years has understandably led many American consumers to cut back on their spending on all purchases both big and small. Indeed, an increasing number of consumers are looking to reduce the number of bills in their lives, especially reoccurring monthly bills.
As such, one might assume cable TV (or other sources for television content) would be on the chopping block as there are more options available to receive content. Are more consumers cutting their television service and returning to antennas? CEA research finds they are not, but rather more consumers are shifting among pay TV providers and adding online content to the mix. What's really going on?
Read the report here: http://tiny.cc/0kn85
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THE 'A-SIDE' - TRACK 5
'THE VOICE' KEEPS GETTING BIGGER
Last week NBC's "The Voice" ranked as the #5 TV show for the week. Only one network television series is rated more highly than "The Voice" among members of that demographic: "American Idol," the indefatigable singing competition on Fox.
"People may joke about this, working at NBC, but it isn't every day that you make a show where people tap you on the shoulder and say, 'I love watching your show.' " -- Paul Telegdy, who heads up reality programming for NBC.
Read the New York Times article 'New TV Hit Hums Along Online, Too,' to find out how social online media is helping NBC grow the show here: http://tiny.cc/1rbvr
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THE 'A-SIDE' - TRACK 6
SMARTPHONES ARE WHERE IT'S AT
That's what half the people said in a recent smartphone survey conducted by Prosper Mobile Insights, among smartphone users who completed the survey on their smartphone.
56% of the sample was male while 44% was female, and the average age of the sample was 36. As mobile technology continues to evolve, says the report, a majority of smartphone users are fully integrating their devices into every aspect of their daily lives. According to the survey, 52.9% say they utilize all of the functions of their smartphones; 30.4% say they use the basic functions of their smartphones; and 16.7% only use their smartphones for calling, texting and e-mailing.
Read the report here: http://tiny.cc/p45du
And this, too: Driven by increased smartphone penetration and the proliferation of apps, mobile application downloads are expected to reach nearly 48 billion in 2015, according to a report from market research firm In-Stat. Smartphone penetration is expected to increase from 23% of total phone shipments.
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THE 'A-SIDE' - TRACK 7
GIGA OM'S INGRAM SEZ PAYWALLS FOR NEWS CONTENT STILL NOT A GOOD IDEA
Gigaom's Mathew Ingram argues that the paywalls newspapers implement for online content still don't work. "The biggest flaw from a business perspective, particularly for smaller newspapers, is that walling up your content is an invitation to free competitors ... to come and take away your readers," he writes.
For larger papers like the New York Times, the revenue generated will probably be equal to the ad dollars lost from a reduction of page views, Ingram notes. So with zero-sum accounting, "in most cases, these walls are likely to be driven by the same rationale that Rupert Murdoch used in launching paywalls at two of his British newspapers: namely, to keep print readers from deserting the paper product in favor of reading online, something that would remove a paper's main source of ad revenue," he concludes.
Read Ingram's article here: http://tiny.cc/1h8p4
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THE 'A-SIDE' - TRACK 8
U.S. SENATE CONFIRMS A FORMER RIAA ATTORNEY FOR SOLICITOR GENERAL
Gee, what a surprise. NOT.
The U.S. Senate on Monday voted to approve the appointment of former Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) attorney Donald Verrilli Jr. to serve as solicitor general, Wired reports. Verrilli led the major record label trade group's landmark lawsuit against file-sharing service Grokster. Until recently, Verrilli also was leading Viacom's ongoing and flailing $1 billion copyright-infringement fight against YouTube.
Read more here: http://tiny.cc/wpb7y
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THE 'A-SIDE' - TRACK 9
IN JUST 2 YEARS, TV WILL BE EVERYWHERE
Two years from now, 75% of TV content will be available on every possible screen from PCs to mobile devices, agreed executives from Disney, Turner and Comcast in a panel yesterday. Also part of the forecast: By 2013 "the networks will be almost completely agnostic about where and when their video content is being viewed," Adweek reports.
Read more here: http://tiny.cc/zdl07
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THE 'A-SIDE' - TRACK 10
MICROSOFT TABLET?
Microsoft founder Bill Gates was one of the earliest and most ardent proponents of tablet PCs. Back in 2000, the Microsoft co-founder showed off the company's first tablet prototype at the now-defunct Comdex conference in Las Vegas.
Of course, it wouldn't be until a decade later that the tablet actually became a reality for mass-market consumers with the arrival of the iPad. But now comes word via Taiwanese tech site DigiTimes this week that Microsoft is readying an iPad competitor that would run Windows 8 and hit the market by the end of 2012.
Read more about it on MediaPost here: http://tiny.cc/3vhkk
And Now For Some News ...
Bono Facing Glastonbury Protest For Avoiding Taxes
DAILY MAILThe protest has been provoked by U2's decision to move their multi-million-pound music and publishing business away from Ireland -- thus allegedly avoiding taxes on record sales.
Read more about it by clicking here.
Recording Industry Steps Back From Piracy Disconnection
TORRENT FREAKAn Australian music industry anti-piracy group backed by all four major labels has stated that it does not intend to pursue termination of Internet accounts as a penalty for illegal file-sharing, TorrentFreak reports.
In the wake of the UN report which described disconnecting citizens from the Internet as a breach of human rights, an anti-piracy group has made a somewhat surprising statement. Music Industry Piracy Investigations, which acts for dozens of labels including the Big Four, today said that while they support measures for dealing with infringement, that does not include "termination of Internet accounts."
Read more about it by clicking here.
INgrooves Launches New Digital Supply Chain Platform for Universal Music Group
PR NEWSWIREINgrooves, a leading provider of digital distribution, marketing and promotion services to the global music & video community via its ONE Digital platform, has announced that its ONE Digital division has replaced Universal Music Group's existing digital supply chain in North America and has assumed responsibility for all online and mobile deliveries to retailers such as iTunes, Amazon, AT&T, Verizon and hundreds of other destinations.
Read more about it by clicking here.
Music's Next Great Biopics
BILLBOARD.COMBiopics like 'Ray' and 'Walk the Line' captivated audiences -- just as the producers of films following the lives of Freddie Mercury, Tupac and many more hope to. Take a look at what's in the works.
Read more about it by clicking here.
Hackers Attack Sony Again
CNETA hacker group has launched another series of attacks against Sony, this time claiming to have stolen source code and data from the Sony Computer Entertainment Developer Network and SonyBMG, while other hackers have targeted Sony Pictures Russia, CNET reports.
Read more about it by clicking here.
AND IT STILL GOES ON:
Lloyd's of London, the insurer of Michael Jackson's planned series of comeback concerts at London's O2 Arena, are suing AEG Live with the claim that the promoter has failed to provide necessary information about the singer's medical history and details about Dr. Conrad Murray, the physician charged with involuntary manslaughter in the pop star's death.
ADELE TO GET WELL:
Adele has been forced to postpone the remainder of her North American tour since coming down with laryngitis. The singer has been advised to take time off, but plans to reschedule the dates later this year.
MORE FAB FOUR:
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum has expanded its exhibit of the Beatles.
SOLO STEFANI OVER:
Bad news for all of you diehard Harajuku girls and guys: Gwen Stefani is getting out of the solo act business and just focusing on making more sweet music with No Doubt.
WONDER HONORED:
Stevie Wonder will be inducted into the Apollo Legends Hall of Fame at the Apollo Theater's 2011 Annual Spring Gala benefit on June 13th.
FRESH CHILI:
The Red Hot Chili Peppers have announced that their 10th album, I'm With You, will come out on August 30th.
ANOTHER RAPPER GOES TO JAIL. WHAT A SURPRISE ... NOT!:
Ja Rule was sentenced to prison in a New York City gun case. The Platinum-selling rapper and actor was sentenced Wednesday and could spend up to two years in prison.
MACCA TO PLAY YANKEE STADIUM:
Paul McCartney will perform at New York's Yankee Stadium on July 15th. This will be his first show at the historic venue, and his return to performing in New York City after a string of concerts at Shea Stadium in July of 2009.
12" RADIOHEAD:
Radiohead will kick off a series of 12-inch remixes featuring new versions of songs from their most recent album The King of Limbs.
LYNYRD SKYNYRD EATS:
Lynyrd Skynyrd BBQ & Beer, a theme restaurant based on the music and image of the legendary Southern rockers, is set to open at the Excalibur Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas later this year. The establishment will display an array of Lynyrd Skynyrd memorabilia and host performances by both the original band and tribute acts.
GET OUT THE CHECKBOOKS:
The iconic red jacket worn by Michael Jackson in the music video for "Thriller" will be sold at an auction at Julien's Auctions in Beverly Hills on June 25th and 26th. The jacket, which was autographed by the late singer, is expected to sell for $200,000-$400,000. The auction will also include items related to the Beatles, Nirvana, Madonna, Jimi Hendrix, Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan and other major stars.
PASSING:
Andrew Gold, 59, the singer/songwriter who was enlisted by Linda Ronstadt to play in her band when he had barely finished high school, died last Friday at his home in Encino, CA, from an apparent heart attack, though he was also battling cancer.
PASSING:
Music industry veteran Steve Popovich died this week from what is believed to be a heart attack. He would have been 70 in July. Steve worked for many years at Columbia, then Epic Records; in 1977 he founded Cleveland International Records and helped to launch and guide the career of Meatloaf, among others. He was a great record man, and his passion for music was infinite.
PASSING:
Martin Rushent, producer of albums by Human League, the Buzzcocks, the Go-Go's and the Stranglers, died on Saturday at the age of 63. Rushent began his career as an engineer in the '70s, with early credits on albums by T-Rex and Fleetwood Mac.
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
"It's interesting to think of what the definition of a TV is. My kids think an iPad is a TV. People don't think of TV anymore, they just think of video. For us, in the broader context of what we're doing, we're beginning to migrate everything to Internet video."
-- Matt Strauss from Comcast Interactive Media"I get it, girls, that it's cool to be a bad girl. But it is possible to make it in Hollywood without doing a reality show. When I came up in this business, if you made a sex tape, you were embarrassed and you hid it under your bed. And if you took naked pictures of yourself on your cell phone, you hide your face, people! Hide your face!"
-- Reese Witherspoon at MTV Movie Awards, talking to the female celebs who have made a name for themselves via X-rated videos online."I only did it because I'm young now, and everything's where it's supposed to be."
-- Justin Timberlake, on getting naked in the upcoming Friends with Benefits, to Vanity Fair
The B-Side - 'Blips'
THE ONION (www.theonion.com) STORY OF THE WEEK:
Pakistani Intelligence Announces Its Full Cooperation With U.S. Forces During Upcoming Top Secret June 12 Drone Strike On Al-Qaeda At 5:23 A.M. Near Small Town Of Razmani In North Waziristan
ISLAMABAD-Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence agency restated Thursday its commitment to the fight against terrorism, pledging full cooperation with U.S. forces during the upcoming strike on an al-Qaeda safe house on June 12 at 5:23 a.m. near the small town of Razmani in the remote tribal region of North Waziristan.
Read the rest here and laugh: Click Here.
The Blogs
Check out Jerry Del Colliano's (the founder of INSIDE RADIO) daily blog, by clicking here: http://www.insidemusicmedia.blogspot.comWebsite
Check out attorney Ray Beckerman's website at: http://recordingindustryvspeople.blogspot.com where he prints news about the RIAA's ongoing activities
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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