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As I Was Saying Last Week...
May 4, 2007
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"Organized crime in America takes in over forty billion dollars a year and spends very little on office supplies."
-- Woody Allen..I have no idea how much the RIAA spends on office supplies, but after my rant about them last week, I thought I got it all out. At least most of it. But then I read something on a few different websites that I thought might actually be from THE ONION website. But, as funny as it was, it was for real.
So, what is this news item then? Well, (and again, this is for REAL folks) the RIAA has apparently sent out invitations to several labels to attend a meeting on May 11th to discuss (here it comes) whether the possibility exists for a new physical format to be developed to replace the CD, which is dwindling in sales. WHAT??? HUH???
Here's a news flash for the RIAA folks (who evidently are going for the casting call on 'Are You Smarter Than A Fifth Grader?'): There are over 100 million iPods in peoples hands, about another (estimated) 10 to 15 million digital players in people hands, and god knows how many PCs in homes, and laptops as well. Don't you guys at the RIAA already know this? And if so, then why the hell would you even have such a meeting? Just to have a meeting? Or maybe it's really like that old adage says, "Any simple problem can be made insoluble if enough meetings are held to discuss it."
You see, guys, ALL the music stored on all these devices is already in a different format. They are all digital files. I mean, you RIAA people do exist in this universe and not a parallel one, right? And it's grossly apparent by the number of people purchasing songs at places like iTunes (over 2.5 billion songs sold) and elsewhere, and still downloading illegally (billions and billions) the public has long ago made up its mind about the format they prefer. You're not going to be able to ever sell them another format, because it's completely unnecessary. Get it? iPods yay. CDs nay. The public has spoken loud and clear where it counts the most. At the cash register.
Yes, there are those rumblings that music (and films) will eventually be sold on chips, or like some flash memory cards or plug-ins, etc. If that brings the cost down in manufacturing, make no doubt about it, the industry will go that route. But, if the RIAA and any labels believe that they can once again reap the rewards and obscene profits of selling entire catalogs of music to the public in a new format, like they did when the CD took over, they are sadly mistaken.
The simple (and sad) fact is that music has been devalued now for too long in too many consumers' minds. As I'm writing this, there are millions of teenagers all over the country (and around the globe) downloading illegally, or swapping their favorite new songs with friends. There are countless others on "darknets" and Intranets doing the same. Does the RIAA really think they can convert these people to consumers by launching a new physical format for music? By the time any new format is developed, there will probably be 150 million plus iPods out there. Does anyone actually believe people will scrap them and rush out and buy music in a new format? If so, see your doctor and get treated for delusional behavior. Maybe you should just go see the doctor anyway and get some reality pills. (If you still are lucky enough to be working for a major label, your insurance should cover this.)
By the number of e-mails I received last week from my rant, it's apparent that many of you (and some of you are in those big jobs at labels and elsewhere) agree with me about the RIAA being as useful as a jar of Viagra in a room full of eunuchs. So, if you do, speak up in your offices and ask your co-workers, "Is anybody going to this dumb RIAA meeting?"
While the RIAA was planning their meeting, at the NARM meeting in Chicago this past week, labels expressed concern about Wal-Mart's decision to reduce retail music space. In last Friday's The Wall Street Journal, the following: "Wal-Mart has quietly circulated word to major-label distribution executives that it will reduce the space devoted to music, perhaps by as much 20%, in hundreds of its stores...Some record label executives say they have heard similar warnings in the past that have not materialized."
Well, duh! There it is again: iPods yay, CDs nay. New format already chosen and that means less space at retail.
That should sum it up for all those planning on attending this meeting. (And in times like these, do you really need to incur the costs of going to the meeting on your expense account? It might mean one less lunch or dinner.)
Okay. I know, you probably have heard enough. I should get off the RIAA rant and move on.
I promise you I will when the RIAA moves on and does something constructive for the survival of the industry they serve so poorly.
AND NOW THIS
IN DEFENSE OF INDEPENDENTS
After all the media hoopla created by Eliot Spitzer and his crusade to "clean up" the airwaves, after all the lawsuits and the millions that were paid because of Spitzer's investigation, and after all the independent promotion people were treated like lepers, Clear Channel announced this week that it will no longer exclude independent promotion companies from access to its music programmers or other employees.
But in keeping with best practices in the workplace to ensure nothing can ever be questioned in the future about how music is added to stations, Clear Channel will only permit access to those independent promotion companies or individuals who are in no way compensated based upon playlist additions or increased spins. There will also be no agreements made with independents so their impact on stations can never be questioned. So, if an independent "claims" a specific station, bad. If they work regions or nationally, good.
Now the question that needs to be asked is: After all the investigations, and all the problems, why wouldn't Clear Channel just want to deal with all labels (majors and independents) direct? And if music and program directors have limited time and decision making at the local stations, why would Clear Channel now open their doors again to independents?
I don't know the answer to that. But some of the industry's best professional promotion people were independents, and many had decades of experience and great relationships with radio and retail in their markets. When Mr. Spitzer started his investigation, many of these good, hard working people were cast aside by most labels, and they had to close their doors.
The labels thought they would save money by eliminating independent promotion and nothing could be further from the truth. Now it's harder than ever to break a new artist at radio, and it takes longer to do so as well.
Labels spent millions in independent promotion. I was there and I spent as much as the next guy. But year after year, despite the constant complaints about independent promotion costs, I remember every label breaking new artists, selling tons of records, and declaring huge profits.
I wonder how many label executives who complained back then, would give anything to have those days back now.
Heavy Metal Makeover In The Digital World
(FSB Magazine) -- Never before in the history of the planet has there been so much music floating around, of all kinds and easily accessible. Thanks to iTunes and its cousins, from YouTube (great for live concert clips) and MySpace (unsigned bands) to satellite radio, Internet radio and the vast underworld of illegal file sharing - well, as Aretha almost said, What you want, baby, you got.
As a music lover, Andreas Katsambas, 35, can appreciate all that. He remembers what a struggle it was to get his fill of his favorites - Pink Floyd, AC/DC and Slayer, in that order - when he was growing up on the Mediterranean island of Cyprus. Which is why a part of him is just as thrilled with the modern digital cornucopia as the rest of us are. But as CEO of The End Records (theendrecords.com), a nine-year-old heavy-metal label in New York City, Katsambas fears for the life of his company.
On the face of it, you might think the guy's in pretty good shape. After launching in his bedroom in San Diego in 1999 and shifting operations to Salt Lake City in 2002, Katsambas moved this past summer to new headquarters in the trendy East Williamsburg neighborhood in Brooklyn. (Incredibly, 13 of The End's 14 loyal employees followed.)
Read more about it by clicking here.
Can Sony Click With Download Store?
Planes, trains and automobiles are where digital video wants to do some boredom busting. Scores of companies are betting there's gold in helping go-go commuters and road warriors catch the latest episodes of "24"and "Grey's Antatomy." Apple downloads movies to iPods. Cell phone carriers stream TV shows to handsets. Sling Media's Slingbox connects users to their home TVs from any Web-enabled handheld.
But a company uniquely positioned just a few years ago to be among the front-runners in the nascent mobile-video category is conspicuously missing, said James McQuivey, a Forrester Research analyst. Sounding a little like Marlon Brando, McQuivey argues that Sony, with the PlayStation Portable (PSP), should have been a contender. He notes that Apple's iTunes has sold 50 million TV shows, seized a huge market lead and proven people will watch video on small screens.
Read more about it by clicking here.
Time For Microsoft To Start Worrying?
With Microsoft focusing much of its worries on Google's acquisition of DoubleClick, the real threat to its supremacy is being overlooked. With Google's ever-increasing number of Web applications, Microsoft Office may need to make a run for its money. From the first version of Picasa photo-management software, Google has had its eyes on the prize and made an impressive run that has no end in sight. In his column, PC magazine's Tim Bajarin tells you why he thinks Microsoft should be wary.
Read more about it by clicking here.
Digital Camera Does Video Sharing For Dummies
Uploading video to the Web isn't second nature to everyone, and the makers of the new Flip Video understand that.
Much like the way easy photo-sharing applications like iPhoto, Flickr and Picasa offer simple editing controls and take some of the pain out of uploading and sharing digital photos, the video camera set to hit stores Tuesday is packaged with editing software that will upload video clips to video-sharing sites YouTube and Grouper.
Read more about it by clicking here.
Cutting Edge Web Sites For Celebrities
LOS ANGELES--Hollywood funnyman Will Ferrell needed only 45 minutes, some help from a writing buddy and a breakout performance from a potty-mouth 2-year-old to create one of the Web's hottest videos. The comedy skit, called 'The Landlady' and watched nearly 21 million times since posted to the Web last month, has piqued the interest of technologists. Among some of the questions being asked are why Ferrell, star of such feature films as 'Blades of Glory' and 'Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby,' needs a TV network or movie studio to distribute his work? Doesn't the Web enable Ferrell and other performers present their work direct to the public?
Rex Wong, CEO of DaveTV thinks it does. Wong said Tuesday that his company is building Web sites for nearly a dozen A-list stars that enable them to "own, publish, distribute and monetize their own content."
Read more about it by clicking here.
Cisco: Social Networks Will Define Media Consumption
Facebook is the future. At least according to Dan Scheinman, senior vice president of Cisco Systems' Media Solutions Group, it is. The architect of Cisco's acquisitions of Linksys and Scientific Atlanta says social networks are the best way for companies to understand the future of how content will be distributed and consumed.
During his keynote address Wednesday at the Digital Living Connections Conference here, Scheinman talked about how digital media is disrupting the tech and entertainment industries.
Read more about it by clicking here.
Site of the Week: All Things Digital
The Wall Street Journal's Walt Mossberg's elegantly designed new site AllThingsDigital.com delivers a combination of commentary, news analysis, product reviews, and video. The site plays up its editors' reputation and personality, bringing in brand-name columnists and bloggers to add a bit of variety and flair to the content. See what's available in PC Mag editor Jim Louderback's full report.
Read more about it by clicking here.
THIS WEEK'S 'WHO CARES?' NEWS ITEMS
ITEM #1: Supermodel Gisele Bundchen announced she is finished with strutting her stuff for Victoria's Secret. The company announced its "long and fruitful relationship" with the supermodel has come to an end, but declining to provide additional details. According to the New York Post, however, Bundchen called it quits after the company refused to increase her $5 million-a-year salary. Whatsamatta' Gisele? Five million not enough? Try and replace that income.
CONGRATS
CONGRATS #1 TO: To rock legend Al Kooper, who will be inducted into the Hollywood Rock Walk Of Fame on May 11th as part of the 40th anniversary of The Monterey Pop Festival. Also being inducted is Otis Redding, Michelle Phillips (sole survivor of The Mamas & The Pappas) The induction and ceremony takes place at 12 noon right outside The Guitar Center on Sunset Blvd. in Hollywood. Later that night Al also starts a two-night stand at McCabes in Santa Monica playing solo. Don't miss this show, Al puts on a great show.
CONGRATS #2 TO: To Billy Crystal, who will receive the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor from the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC. PBS will televise the Oct. 11 ceremony. Past recipients of the funny-yet-serious honor include Steve Martin.
WE ALL KNOW THAT CRAP IS KING, GIVE US DIRTY LAUNDRY (AGAIN)
Britney Spears is allegedly preparing to dish some serious dirt in a new tell-all expected to fetch as much as $10 million, according to rumored reports. The book is reportedly focused on Britney's account of life with Kevin Federline
AND SPEAKING OF MS. SPEARS
Britney performed a brief set Tuesday night at the San Diego House of Blues before a packed house of screaming fans. The singer took the stage and kicked off a 14-minute set with a lip-synced version of "...Baby One More Time." The so-called secret show was billed as a performance by the M+Ms and marked Brit's first live performance in more than three years.
DIVORCE COSTS
Paul McCartney fell down the London's Sunday Times' annual Rich List to the third spot, with a not too shabby estimated fortune of $1.4 billion. The paper blamed the ex-Beatle's impending divorce from Heather Mills McCartney for his net worth taking a $200 million nosedive last year.
WHEN ALL ELSE FAILS, THERE'S ALWAYS A GIG IN VEGAS
Pamela Anderson announced that she'll replace Carmen Electra as a special guest star in the Las Vegas show 'The Beauty of Magic' for its three-month run at Planet Hollywood.
AS IF THE SHOW REALLY NEEDED TO COME TO VEGAS
The MTV Video Music Awards will come to Vegas this year. The show will air live from the Palms Casino Resort on Sept. 9, the network said Wednesday.
AND THIS SHOW WILL DO GREAT IN VEGAS
The Broadway smash hit 'Jersey Boys' will open at the Las Vegas Sands Corp.'s new Palazzo casino-hotel (attached to The Venetian) in early 2008.
AND THE DIVINE MISS M WILL DO WELL TOO!
Celine Dion's five-year Las Vegas run at Caesars Palace ends on December 15th, but Caesar's has already booked Bette Midler as her replacement. Bette will start her run at the 4,100 seat Colosseum next February 20th, and has a two-year contract in place for her appearing five nights a week. Elton John will also continue appearing at the Colosseum, with 50 shows scheduled for next year.
NOBODY REMEMBERS HER ANYWAY
Season four American Idol finalist Jessica Sierra was arrested Sunday and charged with felony battery for allegedly hitting a man in the head with a glass at a café. Sierra was then also charged with possession of cocaine and introduction of contraband into a correctional facility after police discovered a small amount of the drug while searching her. Obviously, Jessica is a loser in more ways than one.
INSTANT KARMA CHAMELEON
Boy George was arrested in London this week and accused of false imprisonment and assault after a male escort filed a complaint claiming that that George invited him over to pose for pictures, then shackled him to a wall and held him captive until he finally managed to escape in his underwear. All this of course means that Boy George is more embarrassing and weirder in real life than he ever was when he was in the Culture Club.
THE NEXT MAC ATTACK
Paul McCartney's upcoming album, "Memory Almost Full," is now set for release on June 5th through Starbucks' new Hear Music label. The ex-Beatle calling the record "very personal," explaining that he drew inspiration from his memories of writing songs with John Lennon. "In places it's a very personal record and a lot of it is retrospective, drawing from memory, like memories from being a kid, from Liverpool and from summers gone," McCartney says.
CMA FESTIVAL STARTS TO LINE UP TALENT
Sugarland, Carrie Underwood and Rodney Atkins are among the artists taking the stage at the Grand Ole Opry June 5 to kick off the weeklong 2007 CMA Music Festival.
DOWNLOAD LIVE LINEUP STARTS
Modest Mouse, Incubus, The Shins and Wolf Parade are among the artists on the lineup for the 2007 Download Festival, with dates scheduled in Boston, Chicago, San Francisco and Washington State.
BE FOREWARNED
Filming on "High School Musical 2," the sequel to last year's surprise sensation, is winding down in Utah after two months on location. The teen-friendly flick slated to debut on the Disney Channel on Aug. 17, right before its core audience heads back to school.
NEW JERSEY JON
Jon Bon Jovi will be the first act to play New Jersey's newest arena, The Rock, once construction in downtown Newark is complete. Starting Oct. 26, the band will play several shows at the venue, which is formally known as the Prudential Center.
LET'S HOPE THEY SUCCEED, IT WOULD MEAN WE DON'T HAVE TO HEAR ABOUT HER FOR THE DURATION
Paris Hilton might be headed for some time behind bars. In court documents filed Apr. 30, city prosecutors recommended putting the heiress behind bars for 45 days for violating the terms of her probation on an alcohol-related reckless driving charge.
2006 Industry Conferences
Date Name Location AlwaysOn OnHollywood 2007 May 1 - May 3 Hollywood, CA Future of Music Coalition presents Technology and IP Policy Day May 2 Washington, DC
Quotes of the week
"Being an actress is lonely, and I never want to be alone. I hate sleeping alone."
-- Lindsay Lohan to Nylon magazine, explaining her tendency to hit the clubs on a nightly basis. Well, now that you put it out there Lins, I don't think they'll be any shortage of guys for you to choose from."My daughter doesn't need to inherit a giant hefty bag full of flannel f--king shirts."
-- Courtney Love telling Spinner.com that she plans on auctioning off most of Kurt Cobain's belongings in an effort to move on with her life. Yeah, considering that Kurt passed away 13 years ago, it's definitely time to move on."She was pulled over for speeding. She was warned about her speed and let go. She was not cited."
-- Beverly Hills police Sgt. Mike Foxen, talking to PEOPLE magazine about Britney Spears latest media event. So, the lesson here is that if you're a rich-celebrity, recently out of rehab, often crazy, you can zoom through the streets of Beverly Hills and just get a warning. The rest of us will no doubt be cited."I was kind of mildly disappointed that nobody went last week. I look forward to that point. Does that sound bad?"
-- Simon Cowell, expressing his dismay that no contestant got booted off during the Idol Gives Back charity special, on The Ellen DeGeneres Show"Yes, it sounds bad."
-- Ellen, to Simon on the same show."I think I would do a real good job and stir up some real good controversy."
-- Roseanne Barr telling a Las Vegas TV station that she would "love" to take over Rosie O'Donnell's spot on The View if given the opportunity. After Rosie's stint at doing just that, I don't know if that's what they are looking for Roseanne. But who knows?
The B-Side - 'Blips'
THE ONION (www.theonion.com) STORY OF THE WEEK:
Even CEO Can't Figure Out How RadioShack Still In Business
FORT WORTH, TX-Despite having been on the job for nine months, RadioShack CEO Julian Day said Monday that he still has "no idea" how the home electronics store manages to stay open.
"There must be some sort of business model that enables this company to make money, but I'll be damned if I know what it is," Day said. "You wouldn't think that people still buy enough strobe lights and extension cords to support an entire nationwide chain, but I guess they must, or I wouldn't have this desk to sit behind all day."
The retail outlet boasts more than 6,000 locations in the United States, and is known best for its wall-sized displays of obscure-looking analog electronics components and its notoriously desperate, high-pressure sales staff.
Read the rest and laugh here: http://tinyurl.com/29e856.
The Blogs
Check out a great (that I contribute commentary to) 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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