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Beam Me Up, Scotty ... Use Your iPhone
January 12, 2007
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"There was an article recently stating that iTunes sales have slowed dramatically; I don't know what data they're looking at..." (Jobs shows the audience a chart with insane upward slope.) "We are selling over 5 million songs a day now. That's 58 songs every second... the last time we talked we were the fifth largest music retailer in the U.S. We have now passed Amazon; we sell more music than Amazon and we are now #4."
-- Steve Jobs, in his keynote speech at MacWorld this past week. (You can read his whole keynote at: http://tinyurl.com/y6areq )Well, the much rumored iPhone was finally unveiled at MacWorld this week.
Even though Cisco Systems said Wednesday it is suing Apple Inc. in federal court over Apple's use of Cisco's registered iPhone trademark for the new handheld device (Cisco has owned the trademark on the name "iPhone" since 2000, when it acquired InfoGear Technology Corp., which originally registered the name), Apple is moving forward. (And something tells me the Apple attorneys had to have known about this)
If you haven't yet heard or read the news about the iPhone (and I don't know how that would be possible, unless you live in a vacuum, since news about it has been all over the Internet, network news, cable TV news, and almost every late-night talk show), it's Apple's latest new toy and it's a "game-changing" touch-screen-controlled cell-phone device that, among other things, plays music, surfs the web (with a great screen) and delivers voicemail and email.
About the ONLY thing the iPhone won't do is "beam you up" like those handheld communicators we saw on "Star Trek," but at this point I'd be inclined to believe that Steve Jobs and his Apple team are working on that technology as I write this.
Steve Jobs also announced the introduction of Apple TV at MacWorld (I encourage you to read his keynote as referenced above if you want to read about all the new things Apple is doing), and he said the iTunes Store has passed the 2 billion-download milestone and had sold 50 million TV episodes and more than 1.3 million movies. (Damn, I wish I'd bought Apple stock a long time ago when my friends in Silicon Valley told me to!)
The iPhone will no doubt further expand the mobile market as the demand for distribution and delivery of entertainment content increases in the consumer market, and it will also raise the bar for all handheld devices from this point on.
Of course the announcement of the iPhone wasn't the only big tech news this week. This week over 100,000 people swarmed into my city (Las Vegas) to attend the annual CES (Consumer Electronics Show). There's simply far too much to read about all the things announced at CES, but I've referenced about a half-dozen news articles you might want to read below in the "CES Roundup."
It's been an incredible week of announcement after announcement about new technology. Once again, those that see the opportunities for new revenue streams in all these new developments will be the survivors.
U.K. Pop Charts Set For Radical Overhaul
The British pop chart undergoes one of the biggest shake-ups since its inception 54 years ago this week when any song downloaded from the Internet will be able to compete for the number one single spot. Up to now, only songs which were physically available for purchase in shops counted toward the weekly chart.
Downloads could be included, but only a week before an actual CD single went on sale and for two weeks after it stopped appearing in stores.
However, with downloads now far outstripping over-the-counter sales, the Official UK Charts Company (OCC) has changed the rules meaning this Sunday's number one could be any track whether it has been sold in stores or online.
Read more about it by clicking here.
U.S. Consumer Electronics Sales To Hit Record In 2007
LAS VEGAS--U.S. consumer electronics sales are expected to hit a record $155 billion in 2007, fueled by consumers' fascination with video games, digital music, and flat-screen displays, an industry group said Saturday.
Wholesale sales of consumer electronics--including everything from iPods and audio cables to mobile phones and personal computers--will grow about 8 percent, up from $145 billion in 2006, when sales climbed 13 percent, the Consumer Electronics Association said in its annual report on the eve of the 2007 Consumer Electronics Show.
Read more about it by clicking here.
Ford, Microsoft Get In Sync On In-Car Tech
LAS VEGAS--Ford and Microsoft on Saturday announced plans for a new in-car entertainment system that will start showing up on new cars later this year. Dubbed Ford Sync, the system uses Microsoft's Auto software and allows drivers to dial their cell phone and have their text messages read to them through voice commands. Drivers will also be able to use voice commands or steering wheel buttons to play music stored on a portable device including Apple Computer's iPod and Microsoft's Zune as well as other MP3 players and even USB flash drives.
Sync will show up on a dozen Ford, Lincoln and Mercury models this fall and is planned to be an option throughout the company's line in the 2009 model year. It is expected to cost several hundred dollars.
Read more about it by clicking here.
'Idol' Juggernaut Passes $2.5 Billion in Value; Keeps Expanding
Get Ready for 'Idol' Candy, Ice Cream, Theme-Park Attraction and Parallel Online Show BroadcastsNEW YORK (AdAge.com) -- Are you ready for "Idol" chocolate bars, "Idol" ice cream and "Idol" Monopoly games? What about an "Idol" theme-park attraction and a "Sims"-style virtual "Idol" world that will give contestants makeovers before letting them stroll down a red carpet in front of the paparazzi and sing?
All of the above are either done deals or in stages of negotiation and are part of a push by "American Idol" owner Fremantle Media to wring even more revenue out of what already may be the most lucrative multimedia property of all time
Read more about it by clicking here.
Digital Reflects Radio
Take a look at the 20 top-selling digital tracks of 2006 with their corresponding rank on the year-end national airplay and mastertone charts
and also the year's Top 20 albums in sales rankings.
Read more about it by clicking here.
The Recording Academy(r) Announces 2007 Grammy Hall Of Fame(r) Inductees
Selections Represent Some of Music's Most Important and Lasting Recordings.
SANTA MONICA, Calif. (Jan. 10, 2007) - The Recording Academy(r) announced the newest additions to its GRAMMY Hall Of Fame(r), adding 44 recordings to a timeless list that now includes 728 titles. The Hall Of Fame serves as a celebration and reminder of the triumphs and achievements of the recording arts. Selections are drawn from all major categories of music, acknowledging the diversity of musical expression for which The Recording Academy has become renowned.
The selections range from 1924's "It Had To Be You" by Isham Jones & His Orchestra to 1980's "He Stopped Loving Her Today" by George Jones. Other recordings also chosen this year include Van Morrison's "Brown Eyed Girl," Elvis Presley's "Are You Lonesome Tonight?," Star Wars - Motion Picture Soundtrack by John Williams, Dolly Parton's "I Will Always Love You," Bob Marley & The Wailers' "One Love," The Miracles' "The Tracks Of My Tears," and Duke Ellington & His Orchestra's "Cocktails For Two." Other artists with selections include the Clash, Elvis Costello, Spike Jones & His City Slickers, Patsy Montana & The Prairie
Ramblers, Bob Newhart, the Ramones, Bill Withers, and Led Zeppelin.
Read more about it by clicking here.
Universal Pursues Digital Demand Via Classics Site
Universal Music, the world's biggest music company, launched what it billed as the largest online site for classical and jazz music on Wednesday as part of a drive to exploit rising demand for digital downloads.
"We expect sales to begin with to be relatively modest, but by the third or fourth quarter of the year to be making a positive contribution to the business," said Mark Wilkinson, a marketing director for Universal's classics and jazz division.
"I think (the market for digital downloads) can only grow, and as the Apple iPod generation grows, they start to discover the classics," he added.
Read more about it by clicking here.
CES News Roundup
Apple, Microsoft to unveil digital media systems.... The front in the digital revolution is moving to your living room. Companies will be brandishing their newest, shiniest weapons next week.
Click here to read about it: http://tinyurl.com/yhm6gmA wireless boost for video at home.... Your PC may soon be beaming video around the house. A hot topic at CES is likely to be which tech works best.
Click here to read about it: http://tinyurl.com/y4ofcsSony to enable TVs to play Internet video.... Aim is to marry video with traditional devices was part of a bid to showcase video gaming, digital imaging, high-definition and mobile products.
Click here to read about it: http://tinyurl.com/vuwg7Samsung aims to put digital TV in cars.... Analog TV is coming to an end, so Samsung is trying to make sure digital TV will work with portable devices.
Click here to read about it: http://tinyurl.com/ylmjbaMotorola's mission? Make everything mobile.... In CES keynote speech, Chief Executive Ed Zander says mobile communication "is coming down to cool experiences and simple things."
Click here to read about it: http://tinyurl.com/y3fh88Apple TV, formerly known as iTV, doubles as both a storage device and a networking connection between a computer and TV.
Click here to read about it: http://tinyurl.com/y2c79l
THIS WEEK'S 'WHO CARES?' NEWS ITEMS
ITEM #1: Despite the media catfight between Donald Trump and Rosie O'Donnell that many expected to boost the new "Apprentice" ratings, the show came in third in its time slot on Sunday night. According to Media Life: "The show cratered to its worst-ever premiere among households."
ITEM #2: Paris Hilton was arraigned Tuesday on drunken driving charges stemming from her arrest in September. If they could only keep her off the streets, think how much better all our lives could be.
ITEM #3: In London, George Michael pleaded not guilty Wednesday to charges of being unfit to drive and possessing marijuana. How his lawyer will explain why George was literally asleep at the wheel and stopped on the road is another issue.
ITEM #4: Justin Timberlake and Cameron Diaz confirmed in a joint statement through their reps that they have ended their relationship "mutually and as friends, with continued love and respect for one another." Which of course means they'll make sure we don't wind up at the same parties and have to see each other again. In any case, we don't have to hear about the couple anymore, and that's good news.
CONGRATS
CONGRATS #1 TO: To Jennifer Lopez, honored by People en Español as one of the 100 Most Influential Hispanics and gracing the cover of the magazine. And also, congrats to Irving Azoff's management company, which has landed Jennifer Lopez for music representation. J-Lo is slated to release a Spanish-language album in March, and her next English-language effort later in the fall for Sony.
CONGRATS #2 TO: To A&M Records founders Herb Alpert and Jerry Moss, who will be honored with the Recording Academy's President's Merit Award for their contributions to popular music at a ceremony following the Grammy Awards on Feb. 11.
CONGRATS #3 TO: To Van Halen, Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, R.E.M., the Ronettes and Patti Smith, who are tapped for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on March 12.
CONGRATS #4 TO: To Martin Scorsese, named Best Director for "The Departed" by The Online Film Critics Society.
CONGRATS #5 TO: To Johnny Depp, who picked up three People's Choice Awards Tuesday, including Favorite Male Movie Star, on a night that also saw "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest" win Favorite Movie and Movie Drama.
IT'S GOOD TO BE THE KING OF ALL MEDIA DEPT.
Sirius Satellite Radio rewarded Howard Stern with $82.9 million in stock, based on the increase in subscriptions driven by the shock jock in his first year with the company.
WELL, AT LEAST BRITNEY'S #1 ON SOME LIST
Mr. Blackwell, the once famed fashion designer but now just an acerbic critic of the worst-dressed celebrities, came out with his "Worst Dressed" list for 2006 this week. Tied at #1 were Britney Spears and Paris Hilton. (Some others on the list include Lindsay Lohan, Mariah Carey, Tori Spelling, Sharon Stone, and Meryl Streep.)
CHINA GROVE
Eric Clapton is playing a show in Shanghai on Jan. 20, making him the latest rock legend to expand his touring schedule to include China.
TOUGH COMPETITION
Beyonce and Mary J. Blige will go head to head in nominations for the 38th Annual NAACP Image Awards, competing for Outstanding Female Artist, Outstanding Music Video, Outstanding Album and Outstanding Song.
BEATLE STUFF
Ringo Starr's childhood home in Liverpool may be saved from the wrecking ball under a plan to dismantle the condemned structure and rebuild it as part of a major new museum. John Lennon and Paul McCartney's childhood homes have already been preserved by the National Trust heritage group and are open to the public. In other Beatle news, the original handwritten lyrics to the Beatles classic "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" is going on the block Monday and expected to fetch up to $780,000.
AMERICAN IDOL GETS WAXED
Madame Tussaud's Las Vegas is unveiling a new interactive American Idol wax attraction on Tuesday that will allow the public to perform onstage in front of wax figures of Simon Cowell and Ryan Seacrest, using the video game "Karaoke Revolution Presents: American Idol."
CELEBRITY BLING BASKET NO MORE AT GLOBES
The Hollywood Foreign Press Association announced its decision to do away with Golden Globe gift baskets at Monday's awards ceremony under an agreement with the IRS to satisfy past tax obligations on the plush gift packages handed out to presenters.
GENIE IN A BOTTLE FOR SALE?
Christina Aguilera inks a deal with Procter & Gamble Prestige Products to create her own fragrance line.
GRAMMY APPEARANCES
Beyonce, the Dixie Chicks, the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Gnarls Barkley are slated to perform at the 49th Annual Grammy Awards on Feb. 11. Presenters include Terrence Howard, Samuel L. Jackson, Pink and Rihanna.
2006 Industry Conferences
Date Name Location NAMM January 18-21 Anaheim, CA Midem January 20-25 Cannes, France Media Summit New York February 7-8 New York
Quotes of the week
"Who cares what Simon Cowell has to say?"
-- Former "American Idol" contestant Jennifer Hudson, as she accepted the New York Critics Circle Award for best supporting actress in "Dreamgirls.""If I were you I'd be unhappy too if I had to read what I've been reading every day. But trust me, I get it."
-- Britney Spears, reaching out to fans on her website. She "gets it"? Too bad she "got it" after the fact."Boy, it's cold today in New York City. Did you notice how cold it was? It was so cold in New York City today that Britney Spears is wearing underpants."
-- Jay Leno"Personally, I prefer to stay on the right side of the law. I would never take a child away from a place where adoption is illegal."
-- Angelina Jolie, commenting in a French magazine on Madonna's adoption of a baby from Malawi, a country Jolie says has "no real legal framework for adoption.""The article included many falsehoods. I said many positive things that were omitted. I feel we must focus on the present and I encourage everyone to be supportive so that every child can adjust nicely to their new home."
-- Despite her comments in a French magazine, Angelina Jolie says in a statement she wasn't trying to criticize Madonna for adopting a child from Malawi."It's the way I look. He can't resist. I love when people say you're fat like you don't know."
-- Rosie O'Donnell on Monday's "The View," expressing her belief that Donald Trump is "obsessed" with her."It is so warm today, right now I'm sweating like a guy who crossed Rosie O'Donnell."
-- David Letterman"Two peas in an over-exposed pod! Style-free and fashion deprived...ladies and gentlemen, the 'Screamgirls' have arrived!"
-- Mr. Blackwell, announcing that Britney Spears and Paris Hilton tied for #1 on his annual "Worst Dressed" list."You probably saw this on the news, huge fires in Malibu. Five homes burned to the ground. Today Mel Gibson blamed it on Chanukah candles."
-- Jay Leno
The B-Side - 'Blips'
A NOTE TO ANY ANTI-BRA FEMINISTS: ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- One woman discovered on New Year's Eve that her bra could do more than lift and support when a falling bullet was halted by the bra strap on her left shoulder. Debbie Bingham, 46, an Atlanta resident visiting family in St. Petersburg, said her gold-colored bra slowed the falling bullet during the holiday celebrations.
Her injuries may have been much more severe had it not been for her bra strap, said George Kajtsa, spokesman for the St. Petersburg Police Department.
Bingham says she was outside with her daughter and son, ringing in the New Year and viewing the local fireworks display when she felt a sharp pain in her left shoulder at 11:40 p.m. It was Bingham's daughter, Solanda Bingham, 30, who first noticed the blood seeping through her mother's white shirt. The daughter said she looked over and saw the blood and shouted "My mother's been shot. My mother's been shot."
The bullet was halfway inside of Bingham's bra, and the other half barely breaking the skin.
Someone had fired a gun into the air and as the .45-caliber bullet fell back to earth, Bingham was struck. Kajtsa described the wound as a "big scratch with bruising."
The bullet was lodged in the bra strap and was cut out by doctors. As for Bingham, she said she is just thankful for her bra.
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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