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The RIAA Rides Again -- In Circles
March 2, 2007
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"The economics of the business are over for good and aren't ever going to be the way they were before."
-- Greg Scholl, CEO of independent music label The Orchard, at the Digital Music Forum East conference in New York..With that one sentence, Greg Scholl has summed up the state of the industry today.
I hope RIAA Chairman Mitch Bainwol read Mr. Scholl's comments. Perhaps he should have even considered attending the Digital Music Forum East. From the article referenced below about the conference ("Music Executives Judge Jobs, Lament Losses"): "CD sales fell 23 percent worldwide between 2000 and 2006. Legal sales of digital songs aren't making up the difference either. Last year saw a 131 percent jump in digital sales, but overall the industry still saw about a 4 percent decline in revenue."
But what was the RIAA doing this week instead of listening to people who are trying to create solutions for the future? The RIAA decided to saddle up their stable of white horses and ride on out to rope in some more illegal downloaders on college campuses.
"We'd rather not be doing these lawsuits ... but the fact remains that the college environment is one that has rampant piracy," said Chairman Bainwol. Gee, really, Mitch? What else has the RIAA been doing except filing lawsuits? (And by that, I mean what else has the organization been doing to REALLY help the industry it allegedly serves.)
Bainwol is probably right. The college campus environment is probably rampant with piracy. But the RIAA's efforts will do nothing to stop downloading or file-sharing on or off campus anywhere. (Note to Chairman Bainwol: Do a Google on the words "darknets" and "intranet" and then realize why your efforts are meaningless.)
More important, Josh Bernoff, with Forrester Research, said that threatening a lawsuit wouldn't solve the campus piracy problem: "As long as every CD that ships is filled with unprotected music, there's not much they can do about it," he said. (Source: http://tinyurl.com/ytaxze)
Chairman Bainwol's latest action will now result in more piracy than ever as more and more students create their own networks on and offline to trade files. No matter how much policing the RIAA attempts to do, the results will be as effective as the Nazis trying to stop the French Underground in WWII. Like that Underground, the students will simply "fly under the radar" and accomplish what they want.
It's incredibly hard to believe that with all the critical issues facing the industry as it moves to digital sales models (and those that aren't are going to be left in the dust of old hard drives), the RIAA is still trying to round-up bad guys and rope them in with fines. That's just not going to do anything to help solve the problems at hand.
Why the RIAA isn't seeking help from students on college campuses is beyond me. Many in various media and music programs could probably offer great ideas to the organization if given the chance.
But for now, the RIAA rides again. In circles I'm afraid.
Music Executives Lament State Of Industry
NEW YORK--The discussions at a music conference here Tuesday started with an all-around bashing of Apple CEO Steve Jobs before moving to the plethora of issues plaguing the music industry. Apple, digital rights management (DRM) and the public's willingness to pirate music were discussed, debated and lamented once more by attendees of the Digital Music Forum East conference.
"We're running out of time," Ted Cohen, managing director of music consulting firm TAG Strategic, told the roughly 200 attendees. "We need to get money flowing from consumers and get them used to paying for music again."
The call to arms by Cohen, who was moderating a panel discussion titled "The State of the Digital Union," comes as the music industry suffers through one of the worst slumps in its history. CD sales fell 23 percent worldwide between 2000 and 2006. Legal sales of digital songs aren't making up the difference either. Last year saw a 131 percent jump in digital sales, but overall the industry still saw about a 4 percent decline in revenue.
Read more about it by clicking here.
BitTorrent Opens Digital Media Store
If the notorious file-sharing software BitTorrent was once the class bully, a version set to debut Monday is more like the teacher's pet. The 45-employee company that calls itself BitTorrent is planning to use its software to launch a download site, called the BitTorrent Entertainment Network, that will distribute more than 5,000 titles from digital movies, TV shows, games and other media.
In the battle for the nascent online video market, BitTorrent could be a competitor that already has a reputation for speedy file distribution. It also has an established user base that the company says numbers 135 million.
Read more about it by clicking here.
The Movie Magic Is Gone
Hollywood, which once captured the nerve center of American life, doesn't matter much anymore.
By Neal Gabler
(Neal Gabler is the author of many books, including "Life the Movie: How Entertainment Conquered Reality." I highly recommend it!)
It is hardly news that for years now the American motion picture industry has been in a slow downward spiral. Though by some accounts attendance was slightly up in 2006 over the previous year, the box-office tracking firm Exhibitors Relations reported that attendance actually declined yet again, reaching its lowest point in 10 years. And though defenders of the industry protest that foreign markets account for 40% of a film's revenue and that those proceeds are compensating for falling domestic box office, foreign receipts have been down too, and even DVD sales are plateauing. In short, the overall trends remain discouraging.
Even more worrisome than what could be just a cyclical dip is how people are regarding motion pictures and the movie going experience. A recent Zogby survey found that 45% of American moviegoers had decreased their attendance over the last five years, with the highest percentage of that decrease in the coveted 18- to 24-year-old bracket; at the same time, 21% of respondents said they never went to the movies. The two most-cited reasons for seeing fewer movies were rising ticket prices and the quality of the films (a perpetual culprit).
Read more about it by clicking here.
Review Roundup: PC Speakers That Rock
With more people getting their entertainment kicks from a PC or laptop, having PC speakers that do your favorite TV shows or MP3s justice is important. For those who want a sexy stereo setup, the Logitech Z-10 Interactive 2.0 Speaker System delivers looks and bass. The JBL Spyro 2.1 speakers have great sound without taking up too much room. Read about these and more in the latest review roundup by PC Magazine.
Read more about it by clicking here.
Another Side Of Dylan On Display In Film Outtakes
Through catching him trying on loud, skinny ties, playing nice with journalists or waving at fans, a new version of D.A. Pennebaker's famed Bob Dylan documentary "Don't Look Back" paints the singer as a warmer, funnier icon in the making.
While packaged with new commentaries from Pennebaker and road manager Bob Neuwirth, as well as a special paperback book and a clever flip-book, the jewels in the new "Bob Dylan: Dont Look Back 1965 Tour Deluxe Edition" are found in the batch of unused footage, such as uncut performances of such classics as "Don't Think Twice" and "It's All Over Now, Baby Blue."
Read more about it by clicking here.
MTV Wants To Pimp Its Ride, Taps Reality Diva To Overhaul Content
MTV, grappling with what may be the greatest crucible in its history as its target audience increasingly turns to the Internet for its entertainment fix, has promoted nine-year veteran Lois Curren to head its programming operations. As president of entertainment and programming, Curren will oversee operations, ranging from development to production to scheduling.
Read more about it by clicking here.
College Students Take To Ruckus
Music service Ruckus Network has grown 33 percent since offering free songs to college students six weeks ago, the company said.
Mike Bebel, Ruckus' CEO, told a group of journalists Wednesday at the Digital Music Forum East conference here that the service is on its way to helping cut down illegal file sharing, which industry experts say is rampant at many of the nation's universities. Ruckus was among a handful of companies that released news at the event. "We're taking kids off peer-to-peer file sharing," Bebel said. "Students are taking the trade-off."
Part of the trade-off with Ruckus, which offers the free service to anyone with a .edu e-mail address, is that visitors must get used to a site that features plenty of advertising. Songs downloaded from Ruckus can only be played on a PC, though music purchased or obtained from the site's premium subscription service can be transferred to a portable device.
Read more about it by clicking here.
House Panel Grills Sirius Chief On XM Merger
Sirius Satellite Radio CEO Mel Karmazin on Wednesday defended the proposed union of his company with XM Satellite Radio before a panel of politicians with varying degrees of concern about the deal's potential impact on consumers.
Appearing at the first hearing convened by the House Judiciary Committee Antitrust Task Force, Karmazin said a combination of the sole two satellite radio players would lower, or at least cap, its prices and provide more programming choices.
Read more about it by clicking here.
THIS WEEK'S 'WHO CARES?' NEWS ITEMS
ITEM #1: Hollywood madam Jody "Babydol" Gibson is publishing an autobiography this week naming some two dozen celebrities she says patronized her escort service before she was arrested eight years ago, the Los Angeles Times reports. Wow. Another Hollywood madam revealing celebrities used call girls! What a surprise!
ITEM #2: James Blunt's rep told People magazine that a man whose foot was run over Saturday as the singer drove away from a pre-Oscar party with girlfriend Petra Nemcova was not a fan and that Blunt was steering through swarms of paparazzi at the time the accident occurred. However, the rep added that Blunt does not concede having hit the man, while police have said only that the "Beautiful" singer was involved in an accident. In other words, Much Ado About Nothing.
NOT READY TO "JUMP" AGAIN YET
Van Halen's much-anticipated summer reunion tour, featuring David Lee Roth on vocals, has been put on hold due to warring factions within the band, the Los Angeles Times reports.
IDOL GUESTS
Jennifer Lopez, Gwen Stefani, Diana Ross, Martina McBride and Jon Bon Jovi are among the stars scheduled to make guest appearances on this season of "American Idol."
BOBBY BACK TO THE SLAMMER BUT BAILED OUT BY RADIO
Bobby Brown was ordered Monday to remain in jail in Massachusetts until he paid $19,000 in late child-support payments and court fees. The R&B singer was arrested Sunday while watching his daughter's cheerleading competition at an area high school. He was released from jail Wednesday night after a Washington, DC radio station shelled out $19,150 in late child-support and court fees to Kim Ward, the mother of two of his teenaged children. Hot 99.5 FM host Kane says Brown has agreed to work at the station for a week in return.
WIND-UP YOUTUBE PACT
YouTube has signed a deal that will enable it to include music videos from independent label Wind-up Records for streaming on its site, the record company announced Tuesday. Wind-up Records has produced albums from artists like Evanescence, Strata and Seether, as well as the "Walk the Line" soundtrack.
DIVORCE COURT
Country singer Sara Evans filed a motion in a Tennessee court Friday accusing her estranged husband, Craig Schelske, of holding up their divorce by refusing to set a date to mediate their differences unless she fires her attorney and makes a television appearance to deny claims she made about his pornography addiction and alleged infidelity.
PHISH TALE
Trey Anastasio pleaded not guilty Tuesday to drug charges stemming from a December 15 traffic stop in upstate New York. The former Phish frontman is facing felony counts of illegally possessing prescription painkillers and driving while impaired and misdemeanor counts of possessing heroin and anti-anxiety meds prescribed to someone else. If convicted on all counts, he could face up to 14 years behind bars.
ZUNES SKIPS TUNES
Microsoft is planning to issue a firmware update next month designed to fix a glitch that is causing some owners of the Zune music player to experience skipping when playing songs purchased from Microsoft's online store.
2006 Industry Conferences
Date Name Location SWSX 2007 March 9-18 Austin, TX DIGITAL MEDIA SUMMIT March 13 & 14 Hollywood, CA 2007 ASCAP "I Create Music" Expo April 18-21 Los Angeles MUSEXPO 2007 April 27 - May 2 Los Angeles, CA
Quotes of the week
"We've got a very sick little girl, and we're just trying to take care of her."
-- Britney Spears' father, Jamie, to the Fox News Channel."Britney Spears' husband Kevin Federline's first rap song, 'Y'all Ain't Ready,' was leaked onto the Internet. You're right, we ain't ready. Forget about Scooter Libby -- whoever leaked this should go to prison."
-- D.L. Hughley"So I drive around this superficial town/With a smile on my face/No one really knows how I feel inside/And I'm keeping it that way."
-- Lindsay Lohan, in her new song "Fast Lane." You're right Lins, we don't know how you feel inside. But what makes you think we want to know?"I have a go at her and say, 'Can't you wear something else? You have a closet full of clothes and you wear the same pants every day. And please wear a belt because I don't want to see your butt crack when you bend over.'"
-- Madonna to British Elle magazine, on policing 10-year-old daughter Lourdes' fashion choices. (This from a woman whose wardrobe has included cone bras, lingerie, and thorny crowns at one time or another.)"After four miserable, grueling days, 'American Idol' is finally back on television, and not a moment too soon. One of the contestants is already standing out on the show, but not for singing. Twenty-year-old Antonella Barba is getting a lot of attention for alleged nude photographs floating around on the Internet. You know, you expect this sort of thing from Miss USA, but not from 'American Idol.'"
-- Jimmy Kimmel"Al Gore is taking a little global heat today after it was revealed that his home in Tennessee uses 20 times the energy as the average household. That is an inconvenient truth. He lives in a mansion in Tennessee that has eight bathrooms. And three of them are indoors. Actually, you know why he is using so much energy? Have you seen Al lately? I think he's been keeping that refrigerator door open a little too long. That's what happens. Every time you open the door, that light comes on."
-- Jay Leno
The B-Side - 'Blips'
HIS EXCUSE WAS HE JUST WANTED TO GET CLOSER TO UNDERSTANDING HIS STUDENTS, BUT YET ANOTHER REASON WHY MORE PEOPLE ARE HOME SCHOOLING: TAMPA, FL -- Authorities in Tampa said they have charged a school principal with possession of cocaine and soliciting to purchase cocaine on school property after he made a deal to buy drugs in his office. Tampa police said Anthony Giancola was arrested in the lobby of Van Buren Middle School last week after buying drugs from an undercover officer. Authorities said Giancola told the officer that he wanted to purchase $200 worth of crack cocaine, but later decided he only wanted $20 worth of the substance. Students were still on campus when he tried to purchase the drugs.
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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