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TV Or Not TV, That Is The Question
September 26, 2008
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"As with any other recreational drug, television, when used judiciously, can be a pleasant experience."
-- Dennis MillerIt's not just the Grammy Awards show that sucks. Did any of you watch the Emmy Awards?
The public obviously doesn't care that much about awards shows anymore, and I've said that before many times in the newsletter. Ratings for the Oscars, Grammys and the Emmys are all down from their once lofty heights. When the Grammys got beat by "American Idol" a few years ago, they decided not to go up against it in the future and switched the night of the broadcast.
This year Emmy ratings were down 18% from last year for a total audience of only 12.2 million. The show was so bad it prompted the AP to ask in an article: "Are the TV writers still on strike?"
Perhaps one of the most biting critiques came from the Fresno Bee: "You could take all the elephants in the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus, feed them rancid chili and rotten boiled eggs for a month, and they could not create a bigger stinker." Ouch.
It was the 60th Anniversary Emmy Awards and one would think that producers would have put together great segments on TV history. Nope. That didn't happen. On this anniversary occasion, the TV Academy took the time to create a new category: Best Reality Show Host. Jeff Probst from "Survivor" won. His competition? (Did anybody care?) Ryan Seacrest, Heidi Klum, Howie Mandel and Tom Bergeron. After that award was given out, it made all the others seem a lot less meaningful. And they should be meaningful ... if the awards really mean something.
Sixty years of history and the audience got no real sense of how television changed the cultural landscape forever, and how much it influences and impacts all our lives. There were no special segments dedicated to any of that. There was a Macy's commercial that used archived film and TV footage, and it was actually better than anything the TV Academy prepared.
Many television executives are making some major mistakes as more entertainment options become available, and the audiences they seek to capture become more elusive. For one thing, the belief that summer programming is for reruns and programs that don't cost much is simply outdated. That might have worked when there were only three alphabet networks and local stations didn't offer much. But it doesn't work in a world where there are hundreds of channels available via cable and satellite, and where YouTube now competes for the same audience.
The networks needs more than a new slate of shows every fall to succeed with meaningful numbers in the future. How many more "CSI" and "Law and Order" clones can the public swallow? (More important, how many ways can the writers tell the same story over and over again before the audience guesses the ending before the last commercial?) How many more doctor shows do we need? How many more news magazines do we need?
It was rewarding and refreshing to see that AMC's "Mad Men" won for the Best Drama Series. It deserved it hands down. The audience that watches it weekly is tiny compared to any show in the Top 20-30 Nielsen ratings, but it's good to know quality wins out over quantity, and that excellent writing and intelligent drama are recognized in a time when (as I title my TV ratings section below) so much of TV is TV Wasteland.
When such a good show wins out over the mediocrity, it gives us hope that television can actually be more than an entity designed to deliver consumers to advertisers, it can also deliver quality programs that actually provide the audience with meaningful content.
Since the human race is faced with a cruel choice -- work or daytime television -- we only have to take the time to find the good in the evening and valued "prime time" hours. It's there, it's rare and as long as more programmers dare to care, we will be able to find it.
And Now This...
Late last year, the RIAA (that wonderful, illustrious and do-nothing-except file lawsuits association) made a lot of noise in the media when Jammie Thomas, a Minnesota woman was ordered to pay the recording industry $222,000 for copyright violations related to sharing songs.
The RIAA celebrated the fact that the case was the first time they had won a jury verdict against an accused file sharer, and they made damn sure everybody in the media knew about it. Jammie of course, decided to appeal the verdict.
This week, a federal judge threw out the verdict against Jammie.
This from attorney Ray Beckerman's website (See the link to Ray's website below at end of the newsletter for the complete story):
"In Capitol v. Thomas, District Judge Michael J. Davis has set aside the jury's $222,000 verdict and ordered a new trial, ruling that his jury instruction -- which accepted the RIAA's "making available" theory - was erroneous. He also rejected the "offer to distribute" theory. Although he did not formally reach the arguments going to the excessiveness of the damages, he had this to say on the subject:
"The Court would be remiss if it did not take this opportunity to implore Congress to amend the Copyright Act to address liability and damages in peer to peer network cases such as the one currently before this Court. The Court begins its analysis by recognizing the unique nature of this case. The defendant is an individual, a consumer. She is not a business. She sought no profit from her acts. The myriad of copyright cases cited by Plaintiffs and the Government, in which courts upheld large statutory damages awards far above the minimum, have limited relevance in this case. All of the cited cases involve corporate or business defendants and seek to deter future illegal commercial conduct. The parties point to no case in which large statutory damages were applied to a party who did not infringe in search of commercial gain."
RIAA spokesman Jonathan Lamy said Davis' decision was not surprising, but the RIAA still had confidence in its case. "As with all our illegal downloading cases, we have evidence of actual distribution--an assertion this court and others nationwide have made clear constitutes infringement," he said. "We have confidence in the facts assembled against the defendant."
At this point, who cares? Even if the RIAA would win in a retrial, they've already lost. Once again, the labels need to ask themselves whether all that money they give the RIAA is really being spent wisely on these lawsuits. No decrease in downloading after all these years, and the lawsuits still go on. Why?
Time to bring back an old slogan for a new reason. "Stop The Madness."
AND THIS...
With WMG stock still below $10 a share and falling below $7 during last week's Wall Street roller-coaster ride, it's surprising that somebody somewhere hasn't made a grab for the company.
With so much catalog, a creative and innovative company leader could certainly do better with WMG than current management is doing. Wall Street analysts still say that stocks like WMG's aren't good investments. Then again, Wall Street analysts aren't doing too well these past few weeks.
Imagine the myriad of possibilities that could come from new ownership. Ownership from a creative and innovative company and a great leader.
SanDisk And Record Labels Announce A New Music Format
The ever-shrinking record album -- its latest iteration being the compact disc -- just got a lot more compact, or shall we say, micro. Backed by four major music labels, SanDisk on Monday announced a new physical music format dubbed "SlotMusic" that's essentially an entire album on a MicroSD compact memory card. Wal-Mart and Best Buy are among the retailers that have already signed on to start selling the cards for the upcoming holiday season. ( http://www.slotmusic.org./what_is.php )
With CD sales continuing to flounder, this latest effort to boost physical media sales is aimed at users of the millions of cell phones and mp3 players with MicroSD slots. They can insert the card right into the slot and immediately hear the music. The card will also come with a USB sleeve so it can be plugged in directly to any USB-enabled computer.
SlotMusic cards will be sold without digital rights management restrictions and in the form of mp3 files from EMI Music, Sony BMG, Universal Music Group and Warner Music Group.
Read more about it by clicking here.
How the Music Business Spent the Summer Killing Itself
Labels Pull Albums off iTunes, RIAA Goes After Internet Radio -- When Will They Ever Learn?The deeply troubled music industry, rather astonishingly, has been spending its summer making it harder for music fans to encounter new music online. Likewise, the hugely popular Internet radio station Pandora is "approaching a pull-the-plug kind of decision," as founder Tim Westergren told The Washington Post, because the federal government, prompted by the music industry, doubled the "performance-royalty" rate that Internet radio stations must pay (to record companies) to stream music -- twice as much as satellite radio.
All in all, it's been a depressing summer for the delusional record industry. We're seeing a total disconnect between labels' unrealistic, old-school revenue expectations and what the market can bear. The deeply troubled music industry, rather astonishingly, has been spending its summer making it harder for music fans to encounter new music online.
Read more about it by clicking here.
MySpace Music Debuts With Blue-Chip Sponsors
MySpace late Thursday night debuted its ad-supported free on-demand streaming music and video service, MySpace Music. With Amazon integrated as its download store, and sharing and discovery tools like shareable playlists, the long awaited service eventually plans to offer consumers a one-stop shop for artist ringtones, songs, merchandise and concert tickets. MySpace Music's four premiere launch sponsors include McDonald's, Toyota, State Farm and Sony Pictures.
Read more about it by clicking here.
The Fall Music Preview From Rolling Stone
Here come new albums from The Killers, AC/DC, Britney Spears, 50 Cent, Bob Dylan, Taylor Swift, Jennifer Hudson, Oasis, The Pretenders, Keane, Lucinda Williams, Ray LaMontagne, Queen with Paul Rogers, The Cure, Pink, Snow Patrol, John Legend, Boz Scaggs, Fall Out Boy, Beyonce, David Cook, Nickelback, Neil Young, 50 Cent and a whole lot more.
Rolling Stone previews 50 of the season's biggest records.
Read more about it by clicking here.
MySpace Music Faces Early Antitrust Issues
With EMI on board, MySpace Music "will overnight become a major new force for music distribution on the Web," he says, adding that it's like a subscription model, except the subscription (a MySpace membership), is free.
Sounds wonderful, right? Well, it may be too good to be true, says Schonfeld. For starters, independent labels, which have been boxed out of the service, are already starting to cry foul. But there are bigger antitrust issues facing the joint venture, Schonfeld says, which each of the companies involved -- News Corp., Universal, Sony BMG and Warner Bros. -- have an equity stake in. Add EMI to the mix and they will probably want a piece, too.
Read more about it by clicking here.
Details Of The Royalty Deal With Online Radio
Several months ago, the Recording Industry Association of America and other groups representing musicians and studios reached a settlement with online music services concerning royalties for streaming audio and temporary downloads, averting a lawsuit that threatened to disrupt the growth of online radio. This week, the parties disclosed the exact terms of the agreement.
Read more about it by clicking here.
Thanks to reader John Navin for recommending the article below from the NY
TIMES Blog "Measure For Measure."About the blog: "With music now available with a single, offhand click, it's easy to forget that songs are not born whole, polished and ready to play. They're created by artists who draw on a combination of craft, skill and inspiration. The contributors to this blog pull back the curtain on the creative process as they write about their work on songs in the making."
This week, it's "Tom's Essay - The curious legend of "Tom's Diner" by Suzanne Vega - how an a capella ditty became a hit single and, eventually, a key component in the development of the MP3.
Read more about it by clicking here.
JANET LABEL-LESS
After only one album, Janet Jackson has parted ways with Island Def Jam, released from her contract per her request. Jackson frequently lamented that the label wasn't doing its part to properly promote her most recent album, "Discipline."
GEE, WHAT A SURPRISE, AND IN OTHER NEWS THE SKY IS BLUE
Clay Aiken is finally confirming what most people already knew: He's gay. The cover of the latest People magazine shows Aiken holding his infant son, Parker Foster Aiken, with the headline: "Yes, I'm Gay." The cover also has the quote: "I cannot raise a child to lie or hide things."
WILCO UPDATE
Jeff Tweedy and group will reportedly enter the studio in October to begin recording the follow-up to 2007's "Sky Blue Sky." Wilco's new album is expected out in Spring 2009.
GUITAR HERO GETS BIGGER
Further proof of Guitar Hero's influence: Guitar Hero: Aerosmith topped the first week sales of any Aerosmith album, selling 567,000 copies and generating $25 million in revenue.
A REAL GUITAR HERO
Les Paul will release 'Les Paul & Friends: A Tribute to a Legend' on September 30th. Among the friends that will join the 93-year-old guitarist are Slash, Joe Perry and Peter Frampton.
BRIDGE CONCERT
Wilco, Cat Power, Death Cab for Cutie, Jack Johnson and school co-founder Neil Young will top the bill at this year's Bridge School Benefit on October 25-26th at Mountain View, California's Shoreline Amphitheatre.
GEORGE BUSTED AGAIN
George Michael was arrested this weekend after he was caught in a London restroom using a "small amount" of crack cocaine and marijuana. Michael received a cautionary warning and was released after he admitted his guilt. No further legal action is expected.
ROCK, L-A-H-O-M-A
Rocklahoma organizers have announced the dates for their 2009 festival: July 9-12. Artists will be announced in the coming months.
JAY-Z LABEL
Jay-Z has quietly launched his next venture, a new record label called StarRoc. For the label, Jay will team up with Norwegian production duo Stargate, the masterminds behind Rihanna's "Take A Bow" and Ne-Yo's "So Sick." The record label is only one facet of the huge 360 deal Jay signed with concert giant Live Nation.
WILLIE DONATES
Willie Nelson and Farm Aid announced that they will donate funds to farmers who were affected by Hurricanes Gustav and Ike. The organization would provide $7,500 to four charities to disperse among the hardest-hit farming families.
AMERICANA NODS
Alison Krauss and Robert Plant's album, "Raising Sand," was a big winner at the Americana Honors & Awards. Raising Sand won album of the year, and Krauss and Plant were named duo of the year. Levon Helm, best known for his work with The Band, took home artist of the year honors, Joan Baez won the spirit of Americana award for free speech in music, and John Hiatt won the lifetime achievement award for songwriting.
HALL OF FAME NOMS
The nominees for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame this year include Jeff Beck, Chic, Wanda Jackson, Little Anthony and the Imperials, Metallica, Run-D.M.C., the Stooges, War and Bobby Womack.
MOTLEY VINYL
Mötley Crüe will reissue most of their back catalog on vinyl on November 25th. Everything from 1981's "Too Fast For Love" to 2000's "New Tattoo" will get the wax treatment.
PASSING
Session drummer Earl Palmer, a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee who featured on hits like Ike and Tina Turner's "River Deep, Mountain High" and the Righteous Brothers' "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'," passed away Friday at his Los Angeles home after a lengthy illness. He was 84. In 2000, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Quotes of the week
"I don't want to do dirty stuff, I don't think. Just, like, go to a park ... have her read to me, cut up some fruits, talk about the economy."
-- Shia LaBeouf, admitting he has a crush on ABC news anchor Diane Sawyer, on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Maybe Shia should read "Oedipus Rex" and try to figure this one out."It's very, very sad. There are days I just break down and cry. This is a job I'm doing for my family. That's all the consolation I'm getting. It's all buses, stage, microphone. I never really get to go around and walk. They wake me up for soundcheck, then I wait until the show at nine. It's a fantastic job, but at the same time it's a curse."
-- Journey's current lead singer, Arnel Pineda, who was discovered on YouTube. Welcome to the realities of like on the road Arnel."The public adores me ... I haven't got a bad word to say about Paul ... men are falling over themselves to ask me out ... my only interest in life is helping others."
-- Heather Mills in a new unintentionally hilarious interview London's Daily Mail newspaper. Heather is obviously delusional."Wow, that's a shock. It's like being told Santa Clause isn't real -- unbelievable. Good for him. If he said it, it's the right thing for him. Good for him."
-- Simon Cowell, commenting on Clay Aiken's coming out."I have my own style that happens to be different from everyone else in Hollywood. My inspiration is me."
-- The egocentric April Lavigne. It's good that you inspire yourself, Avril, because based on sales of your last album, you aren't inspiring anybody else."You can get into an elevator and actually pass gas, and people still won't smell it."
-- Jessica Simpson, on the wonders of her new perfume Fancy, on Rachael Ray. Wow, what a selling point. If there are any ladies rushing out to buy it, they certainly aren't the ones guys want to go out with."When you have your BlackBerry taken away, it's like the most painful thing ever."
-- Paris Hilton, describing the most difficult part of her time spent in jail, on her new MTV waste-of-time reality series "Paris Hilton's New BFF." No, Paris, losing one's home, life savings, and not having enough food to eat, are infinitely more painful. Shut the f--k up."You got the kids and, uh, a great ass."
-- David Letterman, sneaking in a compliment to "Weeds" star Mary-Louise Parker, on The Late Show.
The B-Side - 'Blips'
THE ONION (www.theonion.com) STORY OF THE WEEK:
Janis Joplin's Spirit Found Dead Of Another Drug Overdose
Listen to it here and laugh: http://www.theonion.com/content/radio_news/janis_joplins_spirit_found.
THE RADIO INTERVIEW on 'THE AMERICAN PERSPECTIVE' - From newsblaze.com
"Steve Meyer is on the front line of global music sales and distribution which he expects will soar to pocket-bursting levels. What's more, he shares his insight and ingenuity with us. Steve gives us both historical perspective and futuristic vision as he chats with Judy about the love of his work, trends of the business and his personal points of view about success, happiness and blending life with the lust for life. Steve joins Judy and helps us discover the thrill of having it all with a sense of balance and purpose. "
You can listen to an interview I did with Judy Piazza of 'The American Perspective' by clicking here: (It runs about 15 minutes)
http://www.thesop.org/index.php?id=10306.
The Blogs
Check out a great blog by Jerry Del Colliano, the Director Executive Programs, Clinical Professor Music Industry & Recording Arts, at the Thornton School of Music,University of Southern California, by clicking here: http://www.insidemusicmedia.blogspot.com.
Box Office
Check The Daily & Weekly Box Office (and more film info) at: www.boxofficemojo.com.
TinyURL
Check out www.tinyurl.com where you can make a smaller URL that will work for any webpage you wish to link to or reference. (As you can see, I'm using it in my news stories above!)
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