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2020...'Dark Side Of The Moon' Becomes Reality
December 8, 2006
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"It can only be attributable to human error."
-- The HAL 9000 computer in "2001: A Space Odyssey," commenting on the supposed failure of the parabolic antenna on the ship, which HAL himself falsified.Well, Arthur C. Clarke and Stanley Kubrik were off by 19 years. It wasn't 2001. But this week NASA announced plans to set up a small and ultimately self-sustaining settlement of astronauts at the south pole of the moon sometime around 2020 -- the first step in an ambitious plan to resume manned exploration of the solar system.
I can see it now: You board the shuttle here on planet Earth. You dock at the International Space Station and pick up your connection to the moonbase hotel as Pink Floyd's "Dark Side Of The Moon" plays through your headset. It's all going to happen sometime after 2020 when the commercial enterprises fight to get a piece of the action. Make no mistake about it, McDonald's would kill to have their "golden arches" up there. And think of all the miles you'll earn on your credit card!
In the meantime, along with that news this week, there was also a report predicting that the digital music market will reach $14.9 billion by the year 2010. (Source: iSuppli via MocoNews.) In that report they forecast that digital sales will represent 40% of total revenues, up from 12% in 2006. Of course there's a chance the actual digital sales forecast could be higher if things keep moving as fast as they are today. All indicators point to more and more online users navigating to broadband services at an increasing rate, and expectations for digital music sales in the growing mobile market are also on the rise.
So despite the decline in physical CD sales, there are some real reasons to believe online sales of digital music will provide truly significant revenues in short time. I've always believed that, but others have thought the opposite. They feared ongoing file-sharing and illegal downloading would stunt the sales on online music. They feared it even as Apple's iTunes soared past 1 billion songs sold. They were wrong.
Those who still fear the Internet and think it is the primary reason for the all the current problems in the industry are those who refused to see its limitless possibilities as it emerged as the "new media" of choice. What they should keep in mind is this statistic: There are now over 85 million iPods sold. (And despite Microsoft's best efforts, its Zune player is making no waves at retail.) The public has spoken loud and clear about their digital music player of choice, and in doing so they've also changed forever the way they listen to and store their favorite songs.
None of this is news to any of us who read about all these developments daily or weekly, or see the "tech minute" video bytes on CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, CNBC, and elsewhere.
But if anybody in the music industry still does not see unforeseen opportunities ahead, they will be the part of the reason why there will be the new models for revenue generation not created fast enough. The new models are awaiting the designs of the industry's best creative minds. The technology is already there.
There's no reason for anyone to wait any longer to stake a collective claim in the online future. To do so would mean the industry's failure would "only be attributable to human error."
Aging Rockers Set To Lose Copyrights
LONDON, England (Reuters) -- When British finance minister Gordon Brown stands up to make his pre-budget speech next week, aging rockers Cliff Richard, The Beatles and The Rolling Stones might do well to tune in. Not normally the stuff of rock'n'roll, Wednesday's address looks set to reject music industry calls for an extension of copyright on sound recordings to 95 years from 50, meaning veteran acts' early hits could soon be free for all to use.
The government commissioned Andrew Gowers to review all areas of intellectual property law, including challenges thrown up by the consumption of music and film over the Internet, and he is seen as unlikely to recommend a copyright extension.
Read more about it by clicking here.
Auction Features Memorabilia Of Rock Stars
Paul McCartney's lyrics. Jimi Hendrix's guitar. Bob Dylan's personal poems and love letters. Memorabilia from some of the most influential musicians of the 20th century was hitting the auction block Monday.
McCartney's original handwritten working lyrics for the 1968 Beatles' 'Maxwell's Silver Hammer' had a presale estimate of $200,000 to $300,000 at Christie's sale of Rock and Pop Memorabilia. McCartney gave the lyrics to his biographer Barry Miles. The last four lines are omitted and include deletions and changes to the text.
A previously unheard and undocumented recording of an interview with John Lennon was expected to sell for $25,000 to $35,000. In the wide-ranging interview, used for a 1974 article in Crawdaddy magazine, Lennon talks about his songwriting process and questions of a possible Beatles reunion. Another Lennon artifact was a signed lithograph inscribed with the controversial song lyric, 'Woman is the Nigger of the World.' Its presale estimate was $8,000 to $12,000.
Read more about it by clicking here.
Universal, MySpace Set For Landmark Battle
The legal battle brewing between Universal Music and MySpace could shape the broader commercial relationship between traditional media companies and a new generation of internet start-ups that rely on them for content.
Last month Universal accused MySpace of infringing its copyrights by allowing its customers to post music videos from artists such as Jay-Z on the site without permission. The lawsuit followed similar claims by Universal a few weeks earlier against two other sites that feature user-generated content, Bolt.com and Grouper.com.
Read more about it by clicking here.
Businesses To Adopt YouTube Model
HONG KONG--Video-sharing site YouTube may have a more profound effect on commerce than just boosting sales of Diet Coke and Mentos. Businesses will soon come to see user-generated content as an unavoidable part of everyday business, according to Cisco Systems Chief Executive John Chambers.
Already, 25 million videos are being downloaded from YouTube every day. But that could turn out to be peanuts, compared with what user-generated content can really do, Chambers said.
"That's our children--wait till we get hold of it," Chambers told delegates at the ITU Telecom World conference here Monday. "We will change business models on this. In the future, it will be about producing it yourself" as enterprises start to adopt technologies such as collaboration tools.
Read more about it by clicking here.
Sony Music Studios Introduces 'SIM'
Sony Music Studios, a division of Sony BMG Music Entertainment U.S., is proud to announce a ground breaking new service primed to revolutionize the independent music community: Sony Music Studios Internet Mastering, or "SIM."
Now artists all over the world can have their music "mastered" by accomplished engineers at arguably the top studio facility in the world, at a fraction of the normal cost. "Mastering," for the uninitiated, the process of finalizing a record for record label approval, radio airplay, and mass duplication.
While the concept of "internet mastering" certainly isn't a new one, SIM is the first service to offer a comprehensive, one-size-fits-all solution for any artist - major, independent, or novice - with a trusted name like Sony Music Studios behind it.
Read more about it by clicking here.
THIS WEEK'S 'WHO CARES?' NEWS ITEMS
ITEM #1: "Borat" is not getting much love from the Middle East. Every Arab nation except Lebanon is banning the film due to its gross-out humor, Daily Variety reports. Oh yeah, and maybe the fact that Sacha Baron Cohen (Borat) is Jewish has something to do with it. With a worldwide gross over $200 million, I don't think the film company or "Borat" cares much.
ITEM #2: Paris Hilton bailed as co-host of Monday's Billboard Music Awards because, her rep said, she doesn't want to crack jokes at the expense of her friends. The news followed an earlier report that co-host and new best bud Britney Spears was skipping the Vegas ceremony. Does anyone really believe that Paris Hilton as a co-host of any show would help ratings?
ITEM #3: Tori Spelling signing with Simon & Schuster to write her memoirs, due in spring 2008, USA Today reports. Any bets on how few copies this "tell all" will sell? Does anybody really care about the Spelling family's inner secrets?
ITEM #4: Jennifer Aniston and Vince Vaughn officially ended their on-again/off-again romance after more than a year of much-talked-about dating. "Jennifer and Vince mutually agreed to end their relationship, but continue to be good friends today," their reps said in a joint statement to People. Good friends? Yeah, sure. In Hollywood that means, "Let's not say anything bad about each other -- and I hope we don't run into each other at parties."
CONGRATS
CONGRATS #1 TO: To Mary J. Blige, who nabbed nine Billboard Music Awards Monday night, including R&B/Hip-Hop Artist of the Year. Carrie Underwood and rapper T.I. bagged five apiece, while 17-year-old Chris Brown won three, including the evening's top honor, Artist of the Year.
CONGRATS #2 TO: To Beyonce, who is set to headline the Essence Music Festival in New Orleans July 5-7 next year. The festival is returning to the Big Easy after being relocated to Houston in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.
CONGRATS #3 TO: To David Letterman, who is extending his "Late Show" contract through fall 2010. The talk-show host celebrated his 13th anniversary on the show in August.
CONGRATS #4 TO: To Steven Spielberg, Dolly Parton, Smokey Robinson, Andrew Lloyd Webber and conductor Zubin Mehta, who were all feted at the annual Kennedy Center Honors Sunday in Washington, DC.
MAYBE IF SHE COULD'VE LIP-SYNCHED IT, IT WOULD'VE BEEN BETTER
Jessica Simpson had an onstage uncomfortable moment singing "Nine to Five" as part of the 29th annual class of Kennedy Center honorees tribute to Dolly Parton. Simpson finished the song abruptly with the words "so nervous" and quickly exited, to no applause. She was in tears when she and the other singers in the tribute came back out.
SURPRISE, SURPRISE
Lindsay Lohan's mother, Dina, told E!'s Ryan Seacrest that her hard-partying daughter has been attending Alcoholics Anonymous meetings.
SUE ME, SUE YOU BLUES
Olivia Newton-John is suing the Universal Music Group for breach of contract and invasion of privacy, alleging that she's owed more than $1 million in royalties from sales of the "Grease" soundtrack, which features her picture on the cover.
PASSING
Ronnie Lippin, a seasoned music publicist and manager who worked with such icons as Eric Clapton, Brian Wilson and Prince, died Monday of a rare form of breast cancer. She was 59.
TV Wasteland, It's Only TV Wasteland
Taylor Hicks told E! News' Ryan Seacrest that remarks he made about "American Idol" "fizzling out" were taken out of context. "I'm giving up my crown soon. That's what I meant," Hicks clarified. And his clarification is timely. His debut album hits the stores on December 12.
Kevin Federline is working with "House of Carters" producer Kenneth Crear to develop his own reality series, Us Weekly reports. The question is: Is there a Nielsen rating that could monitor just how few people would watch this?
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
"Be careful she doesn't win an Oscar and leave you."
-- Hilary Swank's ex-hubby, Chad Lowe, in the National Enquirer, reportedly talking to Tom Hanks at a screening for wife Rita Wilson's flick "Beautiful Ohio.""I've realized if I don't [love] myself, nobody will. Nobody is going to love me more than I do."
-- Mary J. Blige, talking not so humbly to reporters after the Billboard Awards ceremony this Monday at Las Vegas' MGM Grand Garden Arena."I may not have the type of voice you like, but I can sing. You can't take that away from me, 'cause singing is a gift from God, and when people say I can't sing, it's kind of like insulting God."
-- Black Eyed Peas singer Fergie in Us Weekly. Gee, Fergie, keep talking like that, and people will never believe you're off drugs."I'd go to radio stations and all the guys were like, 'What's wrong with you? Where's Beyoncé?' Even I would look in the mirror and I didn't feel like a woman."
-- Beyonce, on losing 20 lbs. for her role in "Dreamgirls," to Seventeen."Poor F-er."
-- Mel Gibson, on Michael Richards' troubles since his recent racial outburst, to Entertainment Weekly"You guys are making Tara Reid look like Audrey Hepburn. What's next? Shots of stars pooping out of a window?"
-- "Saturday Night Live"'s Amy Poehler, addressing the recent trend of celebs such as Britney Spears and Lindsay Lohan "flashing [their] business while coming in and/or out of a limousine""Keep up the great work, ladies."
-- "SNL"'s Seth Meyers, upon being asked by Poehler if he had anything to add to the discussion
The B-Side - 'Blips'
IT WASN'T TURBULENCE THAT FORCED THIS PLANE DOWN: Flatulence, not turbulence forces plane landing in Nashville. Flatulence brought 99 passengers on an American Airlines flight to an unscheduled visit to Nashville early Monday morning.
American Flight 1053, from Washington Reagan National Airport and bound for Dallas/Fort Worth, made an emergency landing here after passengers reported smelling struck matches, said Lynne Lowrance, a spokeswoman for the Nashville International Airport Authority.
The plane landed safely. The FBI, Transportation Safety Administration and airport authority responded to the emergency, Lowrance said.
The passengers and five crew members were brought off the plane, together with all the luggage, to go through security checks again. Bomb-sniffing dogs found spent matches.
The FBI questioned a passenger who admitted she struck the matches in an attempt to conceal body odor, Lowrance said. The woman lives near Dallas and has a medical condition.
The flight took off again, but the woman was not allowed back on the plane.
"American has banned her for a long time," Lowrance said.
She was not charged but could have been. While it is legal to bring as many as four books of paper safety matches onto an aircraft, it is illegal to strike a match in an airplane, Lowrance said.
(Source: www.WBIR.com)
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.
The Charts
Check out the weekly top album and singles charts from around the world at: http://top40-charts.com.
Box Office
Check The Daily & Weekly Box Office (and more film info) at: www.boxofficemojo.com.
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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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