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Who Needs MTV When You've Got 'High School Musical?'
August 24, 2007
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"I never called my work an 'art' It's part of show business, the business of building entertainment ...We are not trying to entertain the critics. I'll take my chances with the public." -- Walt Disney.
Walt would have been proud.
While all the labels are watching CD sales fall precipitously off the charts on those Excel spreadsheets and in Power Point presentations, this week Disney's "High School Musical 2" soundtrack (HSM2) and cable TV show exploded.
The "High School Musical 2" soundtrack sold over 615,000 units and debuted at #1 on the Billboard Top 200 Album Chart. If you add up the sales from "Hannah Montana 2 - Meet Miley' album" (which is #2 on the Billboard chart) and the sales of the first "High School Musical" soundtrack (which has sold over 4 million), Disney racked up BIG sales this week. Throw in sales on The Jonas Brothers; debut CD (also in the top 10) on Hollywood Records, and it's easy to see that this week "The Mouse" roared quite loudly in the retail jungle this week.
And there's more. Ten tracks from HMS2 entered the digital songs chart, selling 326,000 copies. Altogether, retail single sales, digital song sales and ringtone sales from HSM2 added up to almost 986,000. Nothing Mickey Mouse about that at all.
The Disney Channel's debut of "High School Musical 2" also broke records to become the most-watched basic cable television event of all time, according to TV Week. The broadcast drew 17.2 million viewers and was also the most-watched TV telecast ever for kids 6-11 -- and TV's most-watched Friday telecast in more than five years. It's no surprise then that a third TV movie in the teen franchise is already in the works and a fourth is reportedly in the planning stages.
I've said it before, but it bears repeating again: Any such event that brings people into retail stores (online or off) to BUY music is a good thing. When such occurrences take place, usually other titles see spikes in sales as well. At a time when the industry is going through a downward spiral in CD sales, this past week showed that even in the darkest hours, there's light to be found.
Disney is to be congratulated on their success in planning the HSM2 project. But, the key to all the success in both HSM projects, the Hannah Montana projects and The Jonas Brothers, is the MUSIC. It was the MUSIC that was the key component in all the Disney Channel HSM and Hannah Montana shows, and it was the focus on the MUSIC in the HSM project(s) that caused the first album to sell in excess of four million units.
There are plenty of teen shows on TV, but Disney has done a great job of marrying good music on their projects to maximize the sales of the music at retail. That's why these projects have succeeded where others have failed.
The only other TV show to impact retail so dramatically is, of course, "American Idol."
Once upon a time there was a channel called MTV (it's hard to believe now that those call letters actually stand for MUSIC television), and once upon a time MTV was able to affect music retail the same way. When was the last time they caused any such reaction at retail?
But MTV jumped the shark some time ago. The teens don't talk about it anymore they way they used to do so. By the time MTV adds the videos of new artists, the kids have already seen them online at YouTube, Myspace or a dozen other places, or they have traded mp3s with each other. They aren't waiting for MTV to tell them what's "hot" anymore. They are all far ahead of the MTV curve and spend a whole lot more on their computers than they do watching MTV.
Reality shows and games shows don't sell music and don't hold audience. The MTV folks might argue otherwise and they might even have piles of research to prove otherwise. But out here in the real world, the MTV audience is insignificant in regards to purchasing music anymore. How could they pretend to influence the purchasing power of their audience when hit videos/songs are programmed almost as a sideshow?
Just imagine what MTV (and VH1) could do now if they put as much effort into programming MUSIC videos and shows on the air as Disney and "American Idol" have done. They might actually mean something again, and people would actually talk about them again.
AS I WAS SAYING...
Back in the July 20th issue I wrote about an RIAA defendant, Deborah Foster, who won her case against the association for wrongful cause, and was awarded attorney fees from the organization. I said in that issue, " With this precedent in place, the RIAA now has to decide if the risks of filing future lawsuits against alleged illegal downloaders is really worth it."
Well, lo and behold, another RIAA ex-defendant is now launching a class action lawsuit against the organization. Tanya Andersen was targeted by the RIAA in 2005 as part of an ongoing legal sweep against file-sharers. Though the original case was dropped in June of this year following a countersuit and move for summary judgment, a counterclaim remains alive, and is now being put into a new class action case.
From the filing: "This lawsuit seeks to recover on behalf of Plaintiff, and all others similarly situated as class members, compensation for the significant damages caused by Defendants." (Source: http://industryconnected.com/content/view/655/)
Once again, the RIAA finds itself on the defense and wastes more time and industry money.
The True Cost of Sound Recording Piracy to the U.S. Economy
"Piracy" of recorded music costs the U.S. sound recording industries billions of dollars in lost revenue and profits. These losses, however, represent only a fraction of the impact of recorded music piracy on the U.S. economy as a whole. Combining the latest data on worldwide piracy of recorded music with multipliers from a well-established U.S. government model, this study concludes that recorded music piracy costs American workers significant losses in jobs and earnings, and governments substantial lost tax revenue.
Read more about it by clicking here.
Lyrics Sites Out Of Tune With Copyrights
How does that song go? We've all used the Internet to search for the lyrics to songs whose tune we know but whose words we just can't muster.
Often the websites we end up on have misspellings or incomplete and inaccurate lyrics, not to mention annoying pop-up and flashing ads. But there's another problem with the sites: Many of them are violating copyright by republishing the lyrics without permission. And they are making money from the Google text ads that appear on the site.
Read more about it by clicking here.
For Some Bands, The Best-of Times Can Be The Worst
A side-effect to today's fractured, tumultuous music industry is the fluctuating meaning of the greatest-hits album.
On one hand, it remains a giant moneymaker for labels, which are urging their artists to make best-of compilations increasingly earlier in their careers. On the other, iTunes has made greatest-hits albums redundant. If you want an act's highlights, you can assemble them yourself.
This dichotomy has, for some bands, made the decision to make a best-of album an increasingly difficult, sometimes contentious one. Some view greatest-hits albums as a blatant money grab that disrespects the integrity of the album. Pressure from labels can also come sooner than expected.
Read more about it by clicking here.
Hey, Eminem: Blame The System, Not Apple
Eminem would be better off tangling with street toughs back on the 8 Mile than mixing it up in court against Apple. That's the opinion of a half-dozen copyright lawyers, including some who represent music artists, when asked about the copyright infringement lawsuit filed last month by Eight Mile Style and Martin Affiliated, the hip-hop star's publishing units.
But Eminem isn't the only star going after Apple. A records check showed that Apple is accused of copyright infringement in two other similar suits: one filed in May by a small label called Dawg Music and another from 2005 by Bridgeport Music, a publishing company with a history of filing such suits. None of the companies involved in the litigation, including Apple, agreed to comment for this story.
Read more about it by clicking here.
Wal-Mart Selling DRM-Free Digital Music
Wal-Mart Stores said on Tuesday that it was now selling digital music downloads on its website without the customary copy-protection technology that limits where consumers can play the songs.
Wal-Mart, the world's largest retailer, said its new mp3 music catalog included thousands of albums and songs from major record labels like Vivendi's Universal Music Group and EMI Group without copy-protection software, known as digital rights management.
Read more about it by clicking here.
PC Magazine Review Roundup: Favorite Music Sites
You have the tunes you love. But what about the tunes you will love one day? How do you find those? The Net is flooded with music services for just that purpose. A little while back, PC Magazine rounded up some of the best sites to help you get started. Since then, though, more have hit the scene -- and they're better than ever. These five new sites will surely be good resources for discovering some new tracks.
Read more about it by clicking here.
Report: MTV, RealNetworks Join Forces Against Apple
Viacom's MTV has plans to align its digital music strategy with RealNetworks, a move that likely marks the end of a similar partnership between MTV and Microsoft, according to a story in the Wall Street Journal.
A year ago, analysts loved the idea that Microsoft appeared to be challenging Apple's powerhouse music store, iTunes, by joining forces with a music-industry icon in MTV. But MTV's Urge music service fell flat.
One reason may have been that shortly after Urge launched, Microsoft directed much of its attention toward the Zune music player and a digital download store that would not only compete with iTunes but also Urge.
Read more about it by clicking here.
Universal Music Enterprises Tests The Mix Tape Waters
In a move designed to fill the void created by the Recording Industry Association of America's crackdown on the formidable business of mix CDs, Universal Music Enterprises is trying its hand at legal mixes. The company has created a series titled "Lethal Squad Mixtapes," expected to sell at retail for $5 to $6. But it's unclear whether a corporate take on the grassroots idea of mixes -- compilations, usually of copyrighted songs from other sources -- will wash.
"I'm excited to see them do something different," said Thuy Ngo, vice president at Irvine, Calif., music wholesaler Super D. "But it's like they're a day late and a dollar short: after the RIAA cracked down, all of us stopped carrying mix tapes."
Read more about it by clicking here.
Column: The Future of Social Networking, Part II
Last week, PC Magazine's Tim Bajarin looked to the future of online social networking and saw its impending transformation into a world of specialization. But what comes after that? As he sees it, a tiny, digital you, an avatar, will be able to circulate the Web with ease. Your avatar, a realistic 3D version of you, will be able to go from one virtual-world site to another, interact with other avatars, and even carry on in-person transactions as we do in the real world.
Read more about it by clicking here.
A Dock That Links an iPod to the Devices That Entertain You at Home
The Denon ASD-3W lets users attach an iPod to a sound system, operate the iPod with a remote and see its menus on a TV screen.
Read more about it by clicking here.
IF YOU'RE AN EAGLES FAN
You can hear The Eagles new single, "How Long", from their upcoming album 'The Long Road Out Of Eden', by going to: www.myspace.com/eaglesmusic .
ON THE ROAD
Morrissey has announced 30 additional dates on his tour in support of his latest album, "Ringleaders of the Tormentors," including extended runs in Los Angeles and New York this fall.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT MIGHT ACTUALLY HELP LINDSAY EXPEDITE HER RE-HAB
Lindsay Lohan's parents are no longer married to each other. A Long Island judge signed off on the couple's divorce settlement last Friday.
CONGRATS TO
Van Halen, who have added additional dates for the band's new tour featuring David Lee Roth on vocals (for the first time in more than 22 years) after tickets immediately sold out in multiple markets around the country. New shows have been scheduled in Philadelphia on Oct. 3, Detroit on Oct. 20 and Washington, D.C. on Nov. 1.
TWO GREAT SHOWS RETURN
"Flight of the Concords" is flying high on HBO, after getting picked up for a second season. In other renewal news, HBO also announced that it had re-upped hit Hollywood series 'Entourage' for a fifth season.
IDOL PRESENT
Last Season's "American Idol" winner, Jordin Sparks, officially signed her American Idol-guaranteed record contract Friday, inking a deal with 19Recordings/Jive Records. The debut album from the talent competition champ is due to hit stores in November.
IDOL PAST
"American Idol's" season #2 winner, Ruben Studdard, is getting into the nightclub business and planning to open a club in his hometown of Birmingham, Alabama, tentatively dubbed Ruben's Club 205.
OLD YOUNG FINALLY COMING OUT
Neil Young will release his latest album, "Chrome Dreams II," featuring seven new songs and three oldies, on Oct. 16. The disc's title comes from the intended name of a 30-year-old shelved album, which was scrapped in 1977 for unknown reasons.
GARTH BROOKS STILL DOING IT
Though Garth Brooks may have quit touring, he hasn't stopped making music. Brooks announced Saturday that he will release a greatest hits collection titled 'The Ultimate Hits', featuring four new songs and a DVD of videos, on Nov. 6.
SHOULD BE A PACKED COURTROOM
A Cook County judge has upheld a ruling allowing the media and public to view a videotape allegedly showing singer R. Kelly having sex with an underage girl.
NO DIDDY FIREWORKS IN THE HAMPTONS
Officials in East Hampton have squashed P. Diddy's plans for a $100,000 fireworks show over Northwest Harbor as part of his annual Labor Day bash, fearing that the spectacle could draw boaters into a risky, rocky area.
WELL, HE WAS ON THE ROAD AN AWFUL LOT
A woman has proven through DNA testing that James Brown was her father, making her the singer's third newly found child since his death, the singer's longtime advisor Buddy Dallas told the Augusta Chronicle.
TEEN KING PIN
Justin Timberlake is slated to receive the Ultimate Choice award Sunday at the 2007 Teen Choice Awards, while High School Musical 2 will receive a special honor for its record-breaking debut last week.
Quotes of the week
"We push each other. I look at me and Justin (Timberlake) like Prince and Michael Jackson in their day."
-- Ego-tripper Kanye West in the October issue of XXL magazine. Well, Kanye, that might be how YOU look at it, but let's see if your music and Justin's will still be on the radio in 20 or 30 years. Let's see you and Justin fill stadiums around the world the way Michael did at his height. Let's see either of you reach the sales levels of either 'Purple Rain' or 'Thriller.'"I'm really enjoying it. It's hot and sweaty, though, but it's like Method acting."
-- Ex-"American Idol" Runner-Up and hottie Katherine McPhee, on wearing a prosthetic baby bump while making her debut film "House Bunny," to Entertainment Tonight"I can't wait to get pregnant again. It's so fun and consuming and romantic."
-- Gwen Stefani, on wanting more kids, to In Style magazine. And let's not forget, Gwen, that it's all those things when you make millions and have help ... otherwise, it's not so much "fun" and "romantic" all the time."It's kind of creepy that that many people have seen me naked. I feel like I'm the world's biggest porn star."
-- 17-year-old Spencer Elden, who appeared as a naked baby on an iconic Nirvana album cover, to MTV.com"At the end of the video, we're kissing and it's raining blood - and for me, that was one of the most romantic moments of my entire life."
-- Evan Rachel Wood, on shooting the controversial video "Heart-Shaped Glasses" with boyfriend Marilyn Manson, to GQ. Romantic, huh, girl? Yup, you and Marilyn should get along real well.
The B-Side - 'Blips'
THE ONION (www.theonion.com) STORY OF THE WEEK:
Self-Help Lecture Attendees Surprised To Hear Speaker Was Once Just Like Them
IRVINE, TX-Audience members at Saturday's self-help lecture series "Success 1-2-3" were shocked to discover that professional motivational speaker Martin Vaughan was not always the well-dressed, successful man standing onstage, but was once, in fact, "just like [them]."
"I couldn't believe it-here's this guy wearing a three-piece suit and speaking to literally hundreds of people, and I find out he was sitting in my position only six years ago," said attendee Patrick Dwyer, who admitted he was skeptical of Vaughan's claims until hearing that Vaughan was, at one time, also skeptical. "I figured I'd never have anything in common with such a confident go-getter, but then he said he used to be unhappy and unmotivated, and I thought, 'That sounds exactly like me! The only logical conclusion is that if I do everything this man tells me, I will find the same success he found'," said Dwyer. "I'm going to start today!"
Read the rest and laugh here: http://tinyurl.com/28twa5.
The Blogs
Check out a great blog (that I contribute commentary to) 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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