-
There's No Success Like Failure, And Failure Is No Success At All
November 18, 2005
Have an opinion? Add your comment below. -
"At what point do you think it is a good thing to surreptitiously put Trojans on people's machines?" - David Maynor, a researcher with the X-force division of Internet Security Systems, which analyzes potential network vulnerabilities, in the New York Times article this week, 'CD's Recalled for Posing Risk to PC's '
Ah, the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune seem to never end in this wonderful technological world we live in.
Just ask SONYBMG. If you haven't already heard about their problem putting out some five million CDs with copy-restricting software that poses a threat to consumers' computers, it was the big story in the industry this past week. And for good reason. (See the article below " SONY Recalls Risky 'rootkit' CDs')
I've written about the problems of putting such software on CDs many times in past issues of this newsletter and the threats they might pose to computers. But more important, so have many others in the tech world in magazines, newspapers, and elsewhere. Most of the articles I've read over the past few years said the same things: a) the software technology labels would use to prevent copying would likely present problems with different operating systems; and b) even if the software did its job, the program codes would be broken by tech-savvy people in little time and ways to get around WHATEVER encryption was on the CDs would be found.
We know now that the problems created by the SONY BMG are of a serious nature. From the same New York Times article quoted above:
" Since then, computer researchers have identified other problems with the software, as well as with the software patch and uninstaller programs that the company issued to address the vulnerabilities...Researchers at Princeton University disclosed yesterday that early versions of the "uninstall" process published by Sony BMG on its Web site, which was designed to help users remove the copy protection software from their machines, created a vulnerability that could expose users of the Internet Explorer Web browser to malicious code embedded on Web sites."
I have no problem with labels wanting to protect their artists' content and their product from being maliciously pirated. But the SONY BMG attempt to address the issue by putting this flawed software on CDs would have done nothing to address that issue. All the efforts to put any type of similar software on CDs in the future by any labels will prove as meaningless in the end as all the efforts to eliminate P2P file-sharing. As I've said before, the technology already in existence will trump any such efforts. From DISC & DAT's first issue back in November 2003: "Any software programmer will tell you the hard core (ugly) truth is this: anything that can be encoded digitally can be decoded."
What's more surprising in light of the SONY BMG announcement this week is the fact that EMI said it would still move forward with its plans to stick copy protection on its 2006 releases. EMI claims its DRM (Digital Rights Management) software will be "consumer-friendly," allow consumers to make three copies of each CD, and that it "doesn't have the problems of the copy protection technology which has been used by some of our competitors."
Make no mistake about it. All "consumer friendly" DRM software will still have its problems once released. Maybe not on such a large scale, but problems will arise.
But in the end, it won't make any difference. Consumers will either be downloading the music they want like crazy, or finding new ways to get around whatever software is on the CDs.
So what should the industry do? Nothing? On the contrary. The labels should do EVERYTHING to create new revenue streams and exploit all the opportunities available that online technology offers.
Sony Recalls Risky 'rootkit' CDs
Record label Sony BMG Music Entertainment said Tuesday that it will recall millions of CDs that, if played in a consumer's PC disc drive, will expose the computer to serious security risks.
Anyone who has purchased one of the CDs, which include southern rockers Van Zant, Neil Diamond's latest album, and more than 18 others, can exchange the purchase, Sony said. The company added that it would release details of its CD exchange program "shortly."
Sony reported that over the past eight months it shipped more than 4.7 million CDs with the so-called XCP copy protection. More than 2.1 million of those discs have been sold.
Read more about it by clicking here.
Cingular Sings Along To Mobile Radio
Cingular Wireless has begun offering a streaming music service as it continues to expand beyond basic voice calling.
The cell phone carrier, which is owned by SBC Communications and BellSouth, is working with MobiTV to offer the service. Cingular already offers MobiTV's streaming video service over its network. The music service costs $6.99 per month, plus airtime, and offers about 40 channels of commercial-free music, Cingular said Monday.
Read more about it by clicking here.
Virgin Flashes Red Pass for Digital Music Subscription Plan
The Virgin Group on Monday is set to launch Virgin Digital Red Pass, the latest choice in the increasingly competitive field of comprehensive subscription music services.
In addition to its library and package of editorial and other features, Red Pass undercuts other services by offering unlimited access for $7.99 a month without a contract.
Read more about it by clicking here.
A Movie Projector In A Cell Phone?
A few years from now, you might be able to carry a home theater system in your pocket. Finland's Upstream Engineering is working on an LED (light-emitting diode) projection system that potentially could, because of its small size and relatively low cost, allow manufacturers to put projectors inside MP3 players, cell phones or other portable electronics for a few dollars.
Read more about it by clicking here.
Tragically, It's Not Hip
They know what songs you like, even before you like them. Record labels spend millions of dollars each year trying to predict what singles will top the charts and which ingredients make a hit single. Now, two Massachusetts Institute of Technology PhD grads believe they have cracked the code. After years of crunching data, Brian Whitman and Tristan Jehan have devised a computer program that listens to a song, then predicts how humans will react to it.
The response is so specific at times that it can forecast how a single will perform on the charts and spit out a review, guessing what words will be used to describe it, from "sexy to romantic to loud and upbeat," Mr. Whitman said.
Read more about it by clicking here.
GOOD VIBES
The biggest story line from last Saturday's Vibe Awards: No one was stabbed this year. The second biggest story line: Mariah Carey capping her big comeback by winning Artist of the Year.
THIS RECIPE DID NOT WORK
Per the Hollywood Reporter, NBC opting not to order a second season of The Apprentice: Martha Stewart due to weak ratings. The finale airs next month.
ORGANIC STING?
Sting is set to introduce a line of premium-priced organic food products produced on his estate farm in Tuscany, Italy.
GANSTA BOOKS?
50 Cent launching a hip-hop book line called G-Unit Books, featuring street fiction about members of his G-Unit crew, including Lloyd Banks, Tony Yayo, Young Buck and Olivia.
NEXT NEVERLAND?
Michael Jackson shelling out $1.5 million for a quarter-acre property on one of Bahrain's man-made Amwaj Islands, where he reportedly plans to build a permanent home, per the New York Post.
DIE HARD 4?
Bruce Willis apparently doesn't think the U.S. government's reward is enough to inspire someone to turn in Osama bin Laden. Willis told Rita Cosby on MSNBC that he would throw in $1 million of his own money to any civilian who turns in bin Laden.
MATERIAL GIRL GOES CLUBBING
Madonna performing an intimate concert for 1,500 fans at London's Koko Club to celebrate the release of her new album, Confessions on a Dance Floor.
RINGING IN THE NEW YEAR
Regis Philbin going up against Dick Clark and hosting New Year's Eve Live on Fox.
SECRET STROKES
The Strokes planning a secret club tour of 14 cities in advance of the band's third album, First Impressions of Earth, Billboard reports.
'LOST' GOING MOBILE
According to the Hollywood Reporter, the producers of ABC's 'Lost' plan to shoot 20 mini-episodes of original content each lasting several minutes long that will play exclusively on mobile phones. No word which carrier will air the hit series, but the 'mobisodes' are due next year.
COMING SOON!
- John Mayer Trio, John Mayer Trio Live (11/22)
- Scott Stapp, The Great Divide (11/22)
- Enya, Amarantine (11/22)
- System of a Down, Hypnotize (11/22)
- Various Artists, Big Boi Presents Got Purp? Vol. II (11/22)
- Reba McEntire, Reba #1's (11/22)
2005 Industry Conferences
Date Name Location 2005 Digital Entertainment & Media Expo (DEMXPO) November 30th, December 1st Los Angeles, CA International CES January 5-8, 2006 Las Vegas. NV
Quotes of the week
" He's no 50 Cent. More like Five Pesos ... Britney's worked with the best [and] she let him go out like that. She must not love him anymore … This makes Vanilla Ice look like Bob Dylan … Just make Britney happy, man. Kev, seriously, put the rap stuff down."
--Just some of the comments of music pros weighing in on Kevin Federline's leaked cut "Y'all Ain't Ready," as quoted in Us." I'd rather be number one on the worst-dressed list than number two on the best."
-- 'Desperate Housewives' star Nicollette Sheridan in In Touch, proving she's a woman who understands a thing or 2,000 about publicity." The crew on the space station were able to watch the big Paul McCartney concert. They are 250 miles up. And you thought your seats sucked! "
-- Jay Leno" Martin Scorsese says that he no longer wants to make any Hollywood blockbusters. Don't confuse that with Madonna who's all movies go straight to Blockbuster. "
-- Jay Leno
NARIP Information
NARIP (The National Association of Record Industry Professionals) promotes career advancement, education and good will among record executives. To find out more about this great organization, how you can join or attend their events, just go to: www.narip.com.
Upcoming Events
NARIP Holiday Cocktail Mixer in NEW YORK
December 06, 2005, http://www.narip.com/index.php?page=events&id=19.
The B-Side - 'Blips'
OH, MAN...I GUESS I GUESS I SHOULD'NA TOKED UP BEFORE I CALLED THE POLICE: PALM SPRINGS, Calif. -- Ronald Meyers called police when he heard suspicious noises outside his home. He ended up in jail after officers saw something suspicious inside the home: an eight-foot tall pot plant and nearly $100,000 of marijuana. Meyers summoned officers to his home in an upscale neighborhood Thursday morning, claiming that someone was trying to open his windows and that he could hear voices outside. Officers found no burglar but asked if they could check inside, said police spokesman Sgt. John Booth. When Meyers, 59, let them in, officers found more than $100,000 worth of marijuana, he said. The stash included an eight-foot pot plant, more plants growing in the garage and harvested marijuana -- some packed into large plastic bags -- stuffed in large storage bins in a bedroom, Booth said. Officers also found syringes, at least one methamphetamine pipe and other drug paraphernalia, he said. Meyers was jailed on a charge of possession of marijuana for sale with bail set at $25,000.
BEER AS HEALTH FOOD?: CORVALLIS, Ore. -- Now you may have an excuse for reaching for a beer -- as a health food. Scientists at Oregon State University recently reported that the hops used to brew beer contain a compound that neutralizes free radicals -- the harmful molecules in the blood that can contribute to cancer and other diseases. The compound is exclusive only to hops and is not found anywhere else, the researchers said, adding that the compound is more effective at neutralizing free radicals than similar compounds found in red wine and green tea. According to the researchers, craft beers such as stouts, porters and other "hoppy" beers have much higher levels of the exclusive free radical-fighting compound than domestic lager and pilsner beers.
-
-