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The Music Industry, Past & Present ... And The Internet
March 26, 2010
Have an opinion? Add your comment below. 24 years working in executive promotion capacities at both Capitol Records and at Universal Studios' MCA Records. Recognized as one of the industry's top professionals.
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I answer questions on EconTalk
I recently did an interview about the industry and the Internet at EconTalk with host Russ Roberts. Russ is also a professor of economics at George Mason University, blogs at Cafe Hayek, and has written three novels that teach economics. He's also the co-creator of the Keynes-Hayek rap video. (And if your understanding of the economic meltdown needs some enlightened, this video will do it)
(You can find out more about Russ's books and essays at invisibleheart.com.)
In the interview we talk about the evolution of the music industry, the impact of the digital revolution, and I give my reasons for believing in the virtues and potential of the Internet in enhancing the music industry. I point out, as I have many times here in the newsletter, that the Internet allows numerous artists to make money from their music and it can enhance revenues from live performances by expanding an artist's base. We also discuss the challenges facing record companies and I suggest that the full potential of the Internet as a distribution channel has yet to be fully exploited. There's a lot of ground covered, but based on the comments already posted of those who have tuned in, they've enjoyed it.
You can listen to the interview (it runs a tad over an hour) or download it here: http://tinyurl.com/y9f3tld
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THE 'A-SIDE' - TRACK 2
WE'RE ONLINE MORE ... AND STILL WATCHING MORE TV
Sure, consumers are online more than ever. Perhaps more surprising is the fact that they're also watching more TV than ever. Where are they finding the time? Good 'ol multitasking, according to new data from Nielsen.
Indeed, 59% of consumers watched TV while simultaneously surfing the Web in December '09 -- up from 57.9% in December '08 -- according to Nielsen's latest Three Screen Report. What's more, the average American consumer spent three-and-a-half hours on the Internet while also watching TV in December 2009 -- way up from two hours and 36 minutes year-over-year.
In December, the average American watched an average of 35 hours of live TV per week, with an additional two hours of time-shifted TV, Nielsen reports. The amount of TV that consumers watch is up about 2% year-over-year, while DVR use is up nearly 28%.
You can read the rest here: http://tinyurl.com/y9hymj6
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THE 'A-SIDE' - TRACK 3
TWITTER UPDATE ... THE NUMBERS DON'T CARRY INFLUENCE
Sorry, Ashton, but new research indicates that there's little correlation between one's follower count on Twitter and cultural influence.
Researchers examined the Twitter accounts of over 54 million active users, out of some 80 million accounts crawled by their servers. They then measured various statistics about these accounts, including audience size, "retweet" influence and mention influence. And? Those with the largest number of followers may be "popular" Twitterers, but that's not necessarily related to their influence.
In other words, "High follower counts don't always mean someone is being re-tweeted or mentioned in any meaningful ways," writes ReadWriteWeb. The researchers also examined the ability of Twitter users to influence others, and determined that the most influential users hold significant influence over a variety of topics, as opposed to being experts in just one area.
Read the rest here: http://tinyurl.com/yle7knl
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THE 'A-SIDE' - TRACK 4
IF YOU USE GOOGLE G-MAIL, HERE'S SOME GOOD NEWS
Buzz isn't the only concern for Google Gmail. The Mountain View, CA search engine posted an alert Wednesday that it would begin warning people if they thought their Gmail account may have been hijacked.
You can read about it here: http://tinyurl.com/y9kaezj
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THE 'A-SIDE' - TRACK 5
THE MOBILE WEB IS BOOMING, UP 193% IN ONE YEAR
It looks like we're all "going mobile."
Led by the iPhone, smartphone usage is up 193% year-over-year (in absolute terms), according to a new report from Google-owned mobile ad network AdMob. As a result, AdMob reports that its traffic grew from 35% to 48% from February 2009 to February 2010. Meanwhile, use of "feature phones" -- like most Samsung, Nokia and LG phones -- was up 31% during the same time period, yet their share of AdMob's traffic fell from 58% to 35%, according to CNNMoney.com's Apple 2.0 blog.
Also of note -- particularly with iPad's release date nearing -- usage of mobile Web devices (chiefly the iPod touch, but also connected game systems like the Sony PSP and Nintendo DSi, was up a whopping 403% in absolute terms as their traffic share grew from about 7% to 17%. (Source: http://tinyurl.com/ylzrt9z )
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THE 'A-SIDE' - TRACK 6
CHECK OUT MUSICOLIO.COM
Many readers, several of them independent artists, have told me about musicolio.com and how it's helped them. Under the header on the website's home page it says "Collaborate, connect, find talent, find work" and that about sums it up.
It's in Beta right now, but check it out and sign up to join the network and be searchable by thousands of artists, producers, and industry professionals.
And Now For Some News ...
EMI Considering Licensing Its Music To Rival Companies
WallStreetJournal onlineDesperate times call for desperate measures.
EMI is looking at possible deals that could possibly bring in $150 million annually for the company, which is fighting to avoid default, by licensing its catalog of music to rival companies. Sounds crazy, right? File this one under "I Read The News Today, Oh Boy!" or "Reasons Never To Let Your Record Company Be Bought By A Private Equity Company That Has No Experience In The Music Business."
Read the news about it here: http://tinyurl.com/ydjzeus
Then read Jerry Del Colliano's commentary on it all 'EMI Deal With The Devil' here: http://tinyurl.com/y8lrowa
Muziic Brings Free On-Demand Music To The iPhone
Cnet.comMuziic is the first free app that lets users search for and play songs on demand on their iPhones. Like the desktop app, Muziic for iPhone gets around content owners' licensing restrictions by taking content from YouTube, which already has a deal with Apple to power online video on the iPhone.
There are some minor gaps in the search for music, but as the article says "it's free music on demand. You have nothing to lose by downloading this app. "
Read more about it by clicking here.
Lady GaGa Is The First Artist To Generate One Billion Video Views
Cnn.comJust how big is the Lady GaGa phenomenon?
Video analytics company Visible Measures -- the one we work with to put out our monthly top 10 webisodes chart -- curates a list of video called the "100 Million Club." It includes all the web videos that have exceeded 100 million views. Lady Gaga has long been a staple of the chart, but now she's essentially in a club all her own: She's the first franchise to reach one billion views.
Read more about it by clicking here.
James Cameron Says Innovation Can Fight Film Piracy
Cnet"Avatar" director James Cameron voiced his thoughts this week on digital piracy and how new technologies, such as high-definition 3D video, can create new experiences for viewers and drive demand.
He said the music industry made a critical mistake by trying to stop piracy instead of innovating to give consumers new experiences that the industry could use to generate more money.
"In film we have definitely felt threatened by piracy," he said. "We saw the music industry crash and burn in its efforts to stop it. But with G4 (I think he meant 4G wireless) and Moore's Law, you can't fight it. The music industry saw it coming, they tried to stop it, and they got rolled over ... Then they started suing everybody. And now it is what it is."
Read more about it by clicking here.
AT&T Launches New Music Service
CnetAT&T launched a new service on Wednesday that enhances the music experience on its cell phones and brings the ability to stream radio and download music, among other things.
Read more about it by clicking here.
Web TV To Become Interactive
AdAgeNBC is unveiling an online-video viewer placed in the midst of other interactive content related to the program a fan chooses. NBC Universal, NBC.com's online video content will be embedded in the "30 Rock" or "Office" page, rather than send viewers elsewhere. Anheuser-Busch InBev's Bud Light Golden Wheat is being incorporated into the experience as a sponsor, and will "bring" viewers a choice of watching their video in standard or HD.
The new design makes it easier for fans to take quizzes, choose deleted scenes or read blogs tied to their favorite program.
Read more about it by clicking here.
The iPad Is Uniting Every Price Model Out There
The Wall Street Journal et alThey must be expecting big things from Apple's latest device. As the iPad's April 3rd launch looms, top publishers and advertisers are unveiling what can only be described as highly experimental revenue models.
Citing "people familiar with the matter," The Wall Street Journal is reportedly planning to charge $17.99 a month for iPad subscriptions. By contrast, the print version of the WSJ costs $349 for 52 weeks -- or about $29 per month. Meanwhile, six advertisers -- including Coca-Cola and FedEx -- have agreed to advertise with the Journal, and a four-month ad package costs $400,000, say "these people."
In fact, "FedEx has bought advertising space on the iPad applications from Reuters, The Wall Street Journal and Newsweek," according to the New York Times. "Chase Sapphire, a credit card for the high-end market, has bought out The New York Times' iPad advertising units for 60 days after the introduction." What's more, "Advertisers including Unilever, Toyota Motor, Korean Air and Fidelity have booked space on Time's iPad application," according to The Times.
Read more about it by clicking here.
Mick & Keith Talk About Their 1972 Classic Album 'Exile On Main Street'
Rolling StoneIn the new issue of Rolling Stone, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards talk about plundering their vaults for the upcoming rerelease of their 1972 masterpiece "Exile on Main Street."
Here's more from the conversations with the two Rolling Stones and producer Don Was.
Read more about it by clicking here.
NO BIG BUCKS AGAIN FOR PAULA:
A deal that would have brought Paula Abdul to ABC's revamped version of Star Search has collapsed, according to the Hollywood Reporter, because the former American Idol judge's salary demand was too high.
NEW CHRISTINA ON THE WAY:
Christina Aguilera has announced the release of her fourth studio album, "Bionic." The album's first single "Not Myself Tonight" will premiere on ChristinaAguilera.com on March 30th.
KE$HA DOES SNL:
Ke$ha will bring her glitter and fierce attitude to Saturday Night Live on April 17th, when she'll serve as the musical guest for the episode hosted by Ryan Phillippe.
NEW McLACHLAN DUE IN JUNE:
Sarah McLachlan's first new studio album in seven years, "The Laws of Illusion," will hit stores on June 15th, just weeks before the Canadian singer's Lilith Fair reboot launches its first date.
SWIFT KEEPS PILING UP AWARDS:
Taylor Swift's six-times-platinum Fearless has become the most awarded Country album in history. The 20-year-old star was honored by her label earlier this week, as she scored her 10th consecutive Top 10 Hot Country Song.
ELTON AND GAGA GET STUNG:
Sting, Elton John and Lady Gaga will perform together at the Rainforest Fund's 21st annual Carnegie Hall benefit on May 13th, Reuters reports.
FREE PHOENIX DOWNLOAD:
Phoenix are offering up a free download of their "Live in Sydney" disc on their official website. The eight-song set was recorded at a show earlier this month and features the band's recent hits "1901? and "Lisztomania."
TRENT TWITS AGAIN:
Trent Reznor returned to his once-abandoned Twitter to post a photo from the studio with the caption "Last day of the session!" No word on when the new music will be released, and the 33 1/3 book about the making of "Pretty Hate Machine" has been delayed until likely early fall, Clevescene reports.
'SCUSE ME WHILE I PLAY THIS GAME:
Jimi Hendrix is coming exclusively to Rock Band with a wave of downloadable content thanks to Harmonix, MTV Games and Experience Hendrix. The guitarist's entire second LP, "Axis: Bold as Love," will be unleashed as DLC starting March 30th, along with the unearthed Jimi single "Valleys of Neptune" from the new disc of the same name.
BRILL BUILDING NOW LANDMARK:
The famed Brill Building, at 1619 Broadway, home to Tin Pan Alley and early pop-rock songwriters like Carole King, Neil Sedaka and Neil Diamond, who wrote for Phil Spector and Don Kirschner, has been designated a landmark by the city.
GOLDEN GODS:
Slash, Dave Grohl and Lemmy Kilmister are teaming up to perform Motörhead's "Ace of Spades" at Revolver's Golden Gods Awards. The show goes down April 8th at Los Angeles' Club Nokia.
PASSING:
Famous rock photographer Jim Marshall. Marshall photographed everyone from The Beatles, to Bob Dylan, Miles Davis, Johhny Cash and more. He was 74.
PASSING:
Alex Chilton, onetime lead singer of the Box Tops, auteur of the ultimate cult band Big Star and quintessential iconoclast, died a week ago of an apparent heart attack at a hospital in New Orleans. He was 59 .
PASSING:
Bud Cockrill, 59, lead vocalist for Pablo Cruise, who sang on such hits as "Whatcha Gonna Do?" and "Place in the Sun," died in his sleep due to complications from kidney failure.
Quotes of the week
"She was 15, and I wasn't allowed to grope her."
-- Kristen Stewart, on her intimate scenes with "Runaways" costar Dakota Fanning, to Access Hollywood"They are like Tweedledee and Tweedledum. You can't separate them really."
-- Britain's Got Talent judge Amanda Holden describing a smitten Simon Cowell and fiancée Mezghan Hussainy, to PEOPLE"I looked a little pasty. But hey, at least I didn't wet myself!"
-- Kara DioGuardi, on her "Bikini Girl" performance on last season's American Idol finale
The B-Side - 'Blips'
THE ONION (www.theonion.com) STORY OF THE WEEK:
Report: $14 Trillion Spent Annually On Trying To Look Cool
WASHINGTON-A report released Monday by the U.S. Department of Commerce revealed that Americans spend an astonishing $14 trillion a year on countless, usually failed attempts to look cool.
Looking cool, which the report defines as "the outward projection of an appealing and often enviable image of oneself that others perceive as requiring little to no effort," appears to be a nationwide obsession. The report found that, in all 50 states, efforts to appear cool accounted for a greater portion of household expenditures than career training, doctor visits, and childcare combined.
Read the rest here and laugh: http://tinyurl.com/ykyvrgr.
THE RADIO INTERVIEW on 'THE AMERICAN PERSPECTIVE' - From newsblaze.com
"Steve Meyer is on the front line of global music sales and distribution which he expects will soar to pocket-bursting levels. What's more, he shares his insight and ingenuity with us. Steve gives us both historical perspective and futuristic vision as he chats with Judy about the love of his work, trends of the business and his personal points of view about success, happiness and blending life with the lust for life. Steve joins Judy and helps us discover the thrill of having it all with a sense of balance and purpose. "
You can listen to an interview I did with Judy Piazza of 'The American Perspective' by clicking here: (It runs about 15 minutes)
http://www.thesop.org/index.php?id=10306.
The Blogs
Check out Jerry Del Colliano's (the founder of INSIDE RADIO) daily blog, by clicking here: http://www.insidemusicmedia.blogspot.comWebsite
Check out attorney Ray Beckerman's website at: http://recordingindustryvspeople.blogspot.com where he prints news about the RIAA's ongoing activities
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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