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Vevo Is For Sale?
May 2, 2014
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VentureBeat reports that the owners of popular music video service Vevo are planning to put the company up for sale.
Vevo, whose co-owners comprise Sony Music, Universal Music Group, and Abu Dhabi Media, is seen as a massively significant service for Google's YouTube, and it is certainly a part of the reason Google contemplates consumers would be fascinated in a YouTube-branded music service. Read More
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THE 'A-SIDE' - TRACK 2
PANDORA & THE RIAA LEGAL BATTLE COULD HAVE BIG EFFECT ON ARTISTSPandora's legal battle with the world's biggest record labels over songs released before February 15th, 1972 could fundamentally change how songwriters make a living.
"It's obvious they want to show disrespect for past artists," says guitar great Steve Cropper. Read More
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THE 'A-SIDE' - TRACK 3
THIS YEAR'S RECORD STORE DAY SAW BIGGEST VINYL SALES EVER WITH NIRVANA #1This year's Record Store Day was the most successful ever for vinyl sales, with vinyl accounting for more than half of all album sales at indie record stores.
Nirvana set the pace, with a new seven-inch of "Pennyroyal Tea" topping all singles sales. Read More
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THE 'A-SIDE' - TRACK 4
THE ROCK & ROLL HALL OF FAME: $6 MILLION IN INCOME, $0 TO MUSICIANS OR ANYONE ELSEShowbiz 411's Roger Friedman put together a column in early April detailing the numbers from the 2013 tax filing Form 990 for the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame.
It's not a pretty picture ... check it out: Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 2013: $6 Mil in Income, $0 to Musicians or Anyone Else----------------------------
THE 'A-SIDE' - TRACK 5
RDIO PARTNERS WITH THE GRATEFUL DEAD'S BOB WEIR TO IMPROVE STREAMING AUDIOFrom the Rdio blog: "Music is our passion at Rdio. We believe music is more than just a background beat ... As a reflection of that passion, Rdio has aligned with The Grateful Dead's Bob Weir on an initiative called 'Artists For Quality.'
Our joint mission is to ignite and lead discussions on inequity in streaming audio quality, and to commit to both artists and music fans to establish the highest standard of streaming quality in the digital music space." Read more
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THE 'A-SIDE' - TRACK 6
NETFLIX & AMAZON ORIGINAL PROGRAMS COULD HURT TV BIZTop executives across the entertainment industry weigh in on the medium's future.
Full story at TheWrap----------------------------
THE 'A-SIDE'
ON A PERSONAL NOTE ... BIG CONGRATS TO JON SCOTTJon Scott's 2nd Annual Music Industry Reunion at the Sagebrush Cantina in Calabasas, California was a huge success.
It took a lot of work on Jon's part for the past two years to make this reunion such a success. He is due a world of thanks from everyone who attended!
If you couldn't make it this year, maybe you'll be there next year.
This note from Jon," It was a tremendous feeling to see music industry friends who haven't seen each other in years. I can't say thanks enough to all of the 150 great people who came out and helped make our 2nd Music Industry Reunion the success that it was. There was a lot of hugging, connecting with friends, storytelling, and just a positive feeling about being together with friends who helped shape the music industry as we know it. We'll definitely do it again!"
Here's a list of some of the industry folks who were there: Craig Lambert; Tommy Nast; Luanne Nast; Russ Regan; Marko Babineau; Rick Frio; Pat Pipolo; Pete Gidion; Ronnie Raphael; Bubba Wayne McManners; Bubba Bob Osborn; Mike Gormley; Jerry Sharrell; Barry Freeman; Wynn Jackson; Ray Gmeiner; Kenny Ryback; Bobby Zurich; Roger Lifeset; Bruce Caplin; Bert Bogash; JB Brenner; Nicole Slater; Sheila Dubin; Sharon Womack; Jeff Naumann; Bob Catania; Jack Ashton; Joel Denver; Rob Sides; Greg Feldman; Pat Martine; Don Whittemore; Richard Kimball; Tom Callahan; Ken Benson; Vanessa Roccki; Scott Martin; Shelby Blackburn; Barry Korkin; Bruce Ravid.
You can see photos of people at the reunion and catch up with the posts about it on Facebook----------------------------
THE 'A-SIDE' - THE BONUS TRACKSPharrell Williams' 'Happy' & More: The 20 Biggest Crossover Hits
Springsteen Debuts 40-Year-Old Song
Top 40 Girl Group Songs Of All Time
Do you discover great new music on Spotify?
9 Things Billy Joel Taught Us at Howard Stern's Town Hall
Premiere: R.E.M.'s 'Unplugged' Version of 'The One I Love'
Note From Kurt Cobain's Wallet Scorning Courtney Love Released by Seattle Police
Untapped Potential: Alternative Income Streams For Musicians
Prince: A Guide to His Complex Web of Label, Internet and Distribution Deals
Ginger Baker: First New Music in 16 Years
7 Google Apps that All Musicians Need To Know About
Sprint partners with Spotify for music streaming
Luke, Leia, and Han Solo top 'Star Wars Episode VII' cast
Clean up and organize your iTunes music library
The 40 Most Insane Easter Eggs Ever Found (Not what you think, check it out!)
Cable Network Chiefs Slam Netflix, Amazon: 'We Have A Better Product'
Apple boosts MacBook Air processor, slashes prices
New technology, coming to you soon
A sleek sound bar for under your TV
Microsoft's Elop: Nokia brand soon to vanish from smartphones
Short News Items ...
BUH-BYE CRAIG:
Craig Ferguson will step down as host of CBS' "The Late Late Show" in December when his contract with the network expires after nearly a decade as David Letterman's companion in the 12:35 a. slot. Ferguson's decision comes less than a month after Letterman announced his intention to retire next year, and about two weeks after CBS tapped Stephen Colbert as his successor. Ferguson's move was not a surprise given CBS' decision to turn elsewhere for Letterman's replacement.
DYLAN "LIKE A ROLLING STONE" LYRICS TO AUCTION:
Bob Dylan's original lyrics for his landmark 1965 song "Like a Rolling Stone" is heading to auction this summer. Sotheby's announced Thursday that it will make available "the only known surviving draft of the final lyrics for this transformative rock anthem" on June 24th as part of the auction house's rock and pop music sale. The lyrics, written in pencil on four sheets of hotel stationery, are expected to fetch between $1 million and $2 million.
GREGG SEZ HALT THE FILM:
Gregg Allman is pleading with director Randall Miller to cease production of 'Midnight Rider,' a biopic about the Allman Brothers Band leader's life, following the death of camera assistant Sarah Jones, who was struck by a train while filming a scene in February.
NOW 'THE VOICE' DECLINES:
"The Voice" hit a new regular-episode series low for NBC. "The Voice" at 8 had a 2.7/8 and 10.8 million viewers. Full story on The Wrap
NETFLIX & VERIZON:
USA Today reports that streaming video service Netflix has reached a deal with Verizon to improve the speed and quality of its streaming content to subscribers, the second such deal that Netflix has made with an ISP in the past two months. The first, with Comcast, was announced two months ago. Read more
MACCA TO PLAY LAST CONCERT AT CANDLESTICK, JUST LIKE THE BEATLES:
Paul McCartney is taking his 'Out There' tour back to some poignant sites in Beatles history. He has just added two new West Coast dates onto his expanding U.S. tour, including a farewell show for the venue where the Beatles played their final full concert as a group on August 29th, 1966. On August 14th, McCartney will play a concert at San Francisco's Candlestick Park called "Farewell to Candlestick: The Final Concert." It will be the last show to be played at the former home stadium of the Giants and the 49ers before the historic venue is demolished.
AND MORE MACCA DATES:
August 5th: Missoula, MT - Washington-Grizzly Stadium; August 10th: Los Angeles, CA - Dodger Stadium; August 12th: Phoenix, AZ - US Airways Center; August 14th: San Francisco, CA - Candlestick Park
BEATLES 'HARD DAYS NIGHT' BACK TO THEATERS:
The Beatles' silver-screen debut, 'A Hard Day's Night,' will return to theaters this summer to mark the 50th anniversary of its premiere at London's Pavilion Theatre. Janus Films has digitally restored the movie's picture and hired Giles Martin – son of Beatles producer George – to remix and remaster its soundtrack for 5.1 sound systems at Abbey Road, Los Angeles Times reports.
J.J. CALE TRIBUTE ALBUM:
"The Breeze, An Appreciation of JJ Cale" will come out July 29th on Eric Clapton's Bushbranch Records/Surfdog Records. The LP, credited to "Eric Clapton & Friends," will feature like-minded collaborators John Mayer, Willie Nelson, Tom Petty, Derek Trucks, Mark Knopfler and Don White. Together, they'll honor Cale's legacy as a songwriter, guitarist and pioneer of the Tulsa Sound.
CAROLE KING'S BROADWAY SHOW NOMINATED:
'Beautiful,' the Carole King musical, has received seven Tony Awards nominations, including Best Musical and Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical for Jessie Mueller. It was also recognized for its book and actors in featured roles.
WILLIE HONORED:
Willie Nelson was inducted into the Austin City Limits Hall of Fame by fellow Texan Matthew McConaughey on Saturday night for the institution's inaugural class. "There would be no Austin City Limits without Willie Nelson," McConaughey told the audience as he presented the honor, according to the Associated Press.
LOCKN' FESTIVAL:
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Phil Lesh and Friends, Willie Nelson and Wilco will headline this year's Lockn' Festival, which takes place September 4th through the 7th at Oak Ridge Farm, located in the Blue Ridge mountains in Central Virginia.
JURASSIC VINYL:
On June 11th – the 21st anniversary of the film 'Jurassic Park,' Mondo will release John Williams' iconic 'Jurassic Park' soundtrack as a double-LP vinyl set. And, in a nod to the dinosaurs roaming Isla Nublar, there are a couple of genetic variations.
PAUL & EDIE SPAT:
Singers Paul Simon and his wife Edie Brickell were arrested over the weekend in Connecticut after police investigated a "family dispute," the New Canaan Police Department said. Police said they responded at 8:20p. on Saturday, gathered information and found probable cause to arrest Simon, 72, and Brickell, 47. Both were both charged with disorderly conduct, according to a news release from New Canaan Police. The couple was released from custody Sunday morning. They held hands when appearing before a judge in the Norwalk Superior Court Monday. "Edie and I are fine," Simon said. "We're going to see our son's baseball game this afternoon."
Leaving Us
Actor Bob Hoskins, who appeared in 'Who Framed Roger Rabbit?,' 'Hook' and 'Brazil,' among other films, died at age 71. He had been hospitalized with a bout of pneumonia, according to the Associated Press.
Quotes of the week
"[Cee Lo Green] wanted to do it ... nd he did do it. He sounded amazing on it. He burns my version! But ... how do I say this diplomatically? The power- that-be, at the time, did not see it fit for him. Some folks on his team just felt that the priority should be on [Cee Lo's] album at the time [2012's 'Cee Lo's Magic Moment'], so they elected not to do that song."
-- Pharrell Williams talking to Howard Stern in a recent radio interview, The Guardian reports.
The B-Side - 'Blips'
THE ONION (www.theonion.com) STORY OF THE WEEK:
Music Playing In Bar Could Stand To Be Louder, Worse
WORTHINGTON, MA—While struggling to be heard over the deafening roar of nu-metal and late-'90s rap-rock, patrons announced Wednesday night that the music at Liston's Bar and Grill could probably stand to be just a bit louder and a touch worse.
"Don't get me wrong, the music here is being blasted at a very high volume and is also really, really awful, but as bad as it is, it's still possible they could dig a little deeper into the catalog of Papa Roach or Staind and find something more terrible," 34-year-old bargoer Kyle McCutcheon shouted. 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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