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Can VEVO Kill The MTV Star?
October 1, 2010
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MTV was the lava lamp of the '80s.
-- Comedian Doug FerrariI don't know why it took so long, but the major labels Universal, Sony and EMI are finally getting ready to launch a real music network. The story in the New York Post ( http://tinyurl.com/398pd9r ) says the network "would compete with MTV's music-video network, MTV Hits." Yeah, but if they do it right, not for long.
I've written a bunch of articles about what MTV once was, and what it has become today. Earlier this year when MTV changed its logo, the network's head of marketing Tina Exarhos told the Los Angeles Times,"The people who watch it (MTV) today, they don't refer to MTV as music television. They don't have the same emotional connection that, say, the people who are writing about (the logo change) do."
Gee, thanks for that news, Tina. I think most of us figured that out some time ago. People with an "emotional connection" to Snookie or the other 'Jersey Shore' d-list celebrities, certainly aren't watching the channel for what little music is programmed. At least MTV doesn't try to pretend anymore. The network is now all about the reality shows, each more vacuous than the next. I never thought anything on TV could ever make the short-lived Paris Hilton-Nicole Richie "Simple Life" look good, but most of the MTV "reality" shows do. (And how the hell can there really be any "reality" TV when there is a full film crew following you around all day?)
Hooray to whoever came up with the idea to launch a good music channel. If it was Vevo Chief Executive Rio Caraeff, who told The Post that the TV channel would offer a mix of programming, live events and archived performances, he deserves kudos and the full treasure chest of financial resources available from every label involved. With participation from all the majors, it shouldn't be too hard to create the type of programming with help from all the artists signed to all those labels. Wouldn't current icons like Lady GaGa, Lady Antebellum, Eminem, Justin Bieber, Beyonce, Alicia Keys, and other heritage artists still recording like Elton John, Bob Dylan, Springsteen, the Eagles, and so many more, want to be a part of a channel that made the MUSIC its primary focus? Why would any artists not want to be part of it?
MTV, despite the bad reality shows, is increasing its ratings this year, and that's the job of any TV network. Bad ratings don't generate Madison Avenue ad dollars. Sometimes even decent ratings against the competition don't generate good ad dollars. When that happens, changes get made right fast. (e.g., NBC's quick bye-bye to Conan O'Brien in the "Tonight Show" slot)
At the same time, at what point did MTV decide that mindless reality shows were the way to go, and music could become an insignificant by-product? If the programmers believe shows like "Jersey Shore" are the wave of the future, and shows like it keep getting ratings, then I guess MTV will keep on feeding mindless pabulum to their audience. (That's not saying much about the audience, though, is it?)
At the same time, I have always believed that MUSIC plays a bigger part in all our lives than flavor-of-the-month celebrities or the "reality' shows they "star" on.
Everybody at every label has a reason to cheer about this ... and so do all the people who would love to see a great music channel on TV again.
The labels are the content providers, and once they put their best creative minds together, they are likely to come up with some very strong programming ideas. It's not necessary to just program music videos all day. Think about the wealth of documentaries already made, the great concerts already captured, the possibilities of artists participating in special events, the contests and more. And this new network could have all of those things and more.
I'm ready, waiting, and eager for it all to happen ... and I hope it happens sooner rather than later.
It could be the best thing that's happened in the music industry since ... well, since MTV first went on the air in 1981 and it electrified an audience just by engaging them with great music married in videos.
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THE 'A-SIDE' - TRACK 2
AND THE GRAMMY FOUNDATION DOES THIS BECAUSE...
"You know that old joke that that goes 'What do you call a hundred lawyers at the bottom of the ocean"...A good start.'...Well, no it isn't a good start. If you put a hundred lawyers on the bottom of the ocean pretty soon every single fish and crustacean will be talked into a class action suit naming Mrs. Paul, Arthur Treacher, the Gorton's fisherman, and every other seafood company as defendants." -- Dennis Miller
I assumed NARAS (the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences) was all about MUSIC. I was wrong.
This week the Grammy Foundation launched its 13th Annual Entertainment Law Initiative Essay Competition (there were actually 12 others?), co-sponsored by the American Bar Association. The contestants submit a 3,000-word essay on a compelling legal topic facing the music biz and a cash scholarship of $5,000 is awarded to the author of the winning paper, and $1,500 will be awarded to each of four runners-up. But there's more: Each winner also receives airfare, hotel accommodations, and a ticket to the Grammys, as well as invitations to other Grammy Week activities, including the annual ELI Luncheon on Feb. 11th.
Current NARAS President Neil Portnow said "Just as the Grammy Foundation's education programs for high school students nurture the music professionals of tomorrow, our Entertainment Law Initiative is fostering the next generation of entertainment law practitioners." Just what the music and entertainment industry needs, more lawyers.
Then again, Mr. Portnow is trying to renegotiate his contract and double his annual NARAS salary to $2 million, according to the N.Y. Post. So, maybe he's fond of all the lawyers who are negotiating on his behalf and he sees a need for more of them in the future. A $2 million salary? I thought NARAS was a non-profit organization, so will some industry insider or label exec please e-mail me and tell me how that salary is justifiable? I'm not against anybody making lots of money, but $2 million a year to have the privilege to head NARAS and work for the organization's members?
How about the Grammy Foundation sponsoring a real meaningful competition. Something like asking students all over the country to write essays about ways they believe the industry can create new revenues in the digital world? What if just one such essay actually resulted in an idea that could be put into action ... and the entire industry would benefit? I think that might be a tad more valuable than the 13th Annual Entertainment Law Initiative Essay Contest.
But that's just my opinion.
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THE 'A-SIDE' - TRACK 2-B
AND THE RIAA CONTINUES TO PROVE THAT IT DOES NOTHING OTHER THAN PAY LAWYERS
This week the RIAA shut down Mulve.com. (See the news story below 'The RIAA Has No Love For Mulve.') RIAA spokesman Jonathan Lamy said, "We are aware of the Mulve software and have taken steps to protect our members' rights."
Maybe Mr. Lamy should chip in on the award money and expenses for the Grammy Foundation's 13th Annual Entertainment Law Initiative Essay Competition.
The Essay Competition, and the costs involved in shutting down sites like Mulve, are sure to help the industry.
And if anybody believes that, there's that proverbial bridge in Brooklyn for sale.
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THE 'A-SIDE' - TRACK 4
THAT TWITTER THING AGAIN ... MADISON AVENUE WANTS MORE
Have fun with it all you want. Follow Ashton Kutchner if you need to, but I've said since day one that Twitter was over-hyped, and that it would take some time to really sort out its value.
Whether or not millions are using Twitter is not the issue. What are they using it for? How much time do they spend on Twitter? Are they tuning out marketing messages?
This week an article in The Wall Street Journal tells why Madison Avenue needs to see a whole lot more, and names a few companies that have tested marketing campaigns in Twitter, but have yet to return.
The jury is still out from the Ad Men. Read the rest here: http://tiny.cc/i4ont
And Now For Some News ...
Digital Music Sales Flat For First Half of 2010
REUTERSA new report from Nielsen says that digital sales were flat in the U.S. market after a 13% increase from 2008 to 2009 and 28% growth from 2007 to 2008.
Read more about it by clicking here.
The Vinyl Record Thing Again (And Again)
NEW YORK TIMESIn 2008, 1.88 million vinyl albums were purchased, more than in any year since Nielsen SoundScan began tracking sales nearly 20 years ago.
That figure may be a numerical flyspeck compared with the volume of digital downloads purchased during the same period. Yet the folks at SoundScan were not alone in noting that a generation raised on mp3 players has lately fallen in love with long-playing records.
Read more about it by clicking here.
Why Wilco, The White Stripes, The Black Crowes, Hate Camera Phones
WALL STREET JOURNALIs video killing the concert experience? It used to be lighters that fans held up at concerts. Now it's camera phones.
Read more about it by clicking here.
Just Because It's Digital Doesn't Mean It's Forever
CBSNEWS/APIf anybody believe historical recordings that were transferred to digital are safe from ever losing quality or the very data that makes up the audio, they are wrong.
A new study says historical recording music recordings, or historic ones from 9/11 or the 2008 election, are at risk because digital sound files can be corrupted, and widely used CD-R discs only last three to five years before files start to fade, said study co-author Sam Brylawski.
Those old analog formats that remain are more physically stable and can survive much longer than contemporary digital recordings, the study warns. Still, the rapid change in technology to play back the recordings can make them obsolete. (Vinyl anyone?)
Read more about it by clicking here.
The RIAA Has No Love For Mulve
TORRENTFEAKWell it was only last week that an impressive new music downloading application hit the mainstream. Mulve became hugely popular and demand was so great that the site's servers couldn't handle the pressure and fell over. Today the site is down again, not through excessive demand, but thanks to the lawyers at the RIAA.
And what does 'Mulve' mean?
Read more about it by clicking here.
BitTorrent Launches New Program For Musicians
BUSINESS WIREBitTorrent, the company behind the original file-sharing software, on Monday launched a new Featured Artists pilot program that encourages musicians and filmmakers to upload works to the service, with the best to be spotlighted to users via direct bundles or promotions with partner torrent sites.
The Featured Artists pilot is the next step in BitTorrent's bid to help bridge the relationship between creators and consumers, and help artists embrace the digital age through exploring and experimenting with new distribution models.
Read more about it by clicking here.
Court Says Music Licensing Fees For Yahoo, Real Networks, Not "Public Performance"
BLOOMBERG BUSINESS WIREThe court upheld a finding that the downloading of a musical work doesn't constitute a "public performance," meaning companies have to pay only for creating copies of the music. The decision dealt with lower-court rulings on music downloading issued from 2007 to 2009. The lower court set a royalty rate of 2.5 percent of the companies' music-use revenue, adjusted for the time users spend listening to music on their sites.
Read more about it by clicking here.
The Fight Against The Anti-piracy Bill Has Begun
CNET.COM"Lady Gaga isn't going to go broke tomorrow. We should be trying to solve the copyright issue in as an unobtrusive and thoughtful way as possible," said Ed Black, CEO of the Computer and Communications Industry Association (CCIA).
Technology groups are concerned about legislation that would enable the government to shut down websites accused of piracy, and are making their voices heard.
Read more about it by clicking here.
Next iPad Scheduled By June 2011
BLOOMBERGApple sold over 3 million iPads in the first three months of its release.
It looks like the next generation iPad will be available in the second quarter of 2011. Among other things, look for it to be thinner, lighter, have a camera, and a mini USB port.
Rea the rest here: http://tiny.cc/yo1r1
AND IN THE MEANTIME...
Blackberry Maker RIM Releases Tablet To Compete With iPad
BLOOMBERG BUSINESS NEWS
Here comes another tablet to compete with the iPad.
Research In Motion Ltd., whose BlackBerry smartphone rose to prominence on Wall Street, is now targeting business customers with a tablet computer they hope will also add a fresh source of revenue.
Read the rest here: http://tiny.cc/kcgdr and here http://tiny.cc/xwa69
20% Of People Age 12-24 Listened To Pandora Last Month
EDISON RESEARCHThese are some staggering figures -- not only have 20% of 12-24-year-olds listened to Pandora in the past month, but 13% have done so in the past week ... and this is nationally representative, projectable research data.
Read more about it by clicking here.
The Force Will Be With Us..In 3-D
THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTERGeorge Lucas liked what he saw when he saw 'Avatar' in 3-D. He liked it so much he now is going to take the time and effort to convert the 'Star Wars' saga to 3-D.
Episode I, "The Phantom Menace," would be first out of star-dock during early 2012. After that, each film would be released in order at the same time in consecutive years, depending on how well the first re-release does.
Read more about it by clicking here.
THE MIGHTY MAX SEZ BUH-BYE TO CONAN:
Max Weinberg won't be going with Conan O'Brien to Conan's new show on TBS. Guitarist Jimmy Vivino will be leading the house musicians, as he often did when Weinberg took breaks from the show to tour with Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band.
ARTIE LANGE RETURNS TO STAND-UP:
The NY Post reports that Howard Stern's troubled sidekick Artie Lange returned to stand-up with a triumphant, surprise appearance at the Comedy Cellar over the weekend -- his first since his grisly suicide attempt in January. "He had a great line when he opened the show," comic Craig Gass told The Post's Mandy Stadtmiller. "He said, 'Well, folks, I gotta say I am so glad that Fashion Week is over because I am [bleep]ing exhausted.' "
MSPOT UP TO HALF A MILLION:
Mobile entertainment distributor mSpot said this week that its mobile music application for the Android platform has now been downloaded more than 500,000 times.
ROCK'N'ROLL HALL OF FAME NOMINEES:
This year's nominees include Bon Jovi, Alice Cooper, Tom Waits, Donovan and Neil Diamond, plus previously nominated acts LL Cool J, J. Geils Band, Beastie Boys, Donna Summer, Chic, Dr. John, Laura Nyro, Joe Tex, Darlene Love and Chuck Willis. Artists must have released their first single in 1985 or earlier to be eligible in 2011. The top vote-getters will be announced in December, and formally inducted on March 14th, 2011 at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City.
BIEBER DOLLS:
Lots of little girls can expect to find Justin Bieber wrapped up and under their trees this Christmas. The singer will be releasing a line of Ken-like Dolls that will play 30-second snippets of his songs and wear his outfits from the "Baby" and "One Less Lonely Girl" videos.
TOHME SEZ PAY ME:
Tohme Tohme, Michael Jackson's former business manager, has asked a judge to unseal financial records from Jackson's estate in an attempt to reclaim the $2.3 million Tohme says he is owed for negotiating the concert contract and theatrical rights to "This Is It."
MORE GAGA:
Lady Gaga has added another seven U.S. shows to her 2011 leg of the Monster Ball Tour. She'll now be visiting Oakland, Cleveland, Montreal and Long Island.
iPHONE HOT IN CHINA, TOO
Apple's iPhone 4 has sold out in China, four days after going on sale in the country, All Things D reported, citing the local People's Daily.
DIVORCE COURT:
Cameron Crowe and his wife, Nancy Wilson (of the group Heart), are getting divorced after 22 years of marriage.
The Music Industry Past, Present & Future, And The Internet I answer questions on EconTalk
I 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 that occurred needs to be enlightened, this video will do it)
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.
Read more about it by clicking here.
Quotes of the week
"I'm so proud to be on the 2,999th show. I almost made it to the 3,000 show, which has Justin Bieber, the Pope and a special appearance by Paris Hilton, who's going to demonstrate the differences between chewing gum and cocaine."
-- Nathan Lane, on The View"I was in dirty diapers when she did 'Dirty Dancing'."
-- Jennifer Grey's 'Dancing with the Stars' partner Derek Hough, to PEOPLE"We heard that she only likes yellow M&Ms."
-- "American Idol" executive producer Nigel Lythgoe, joking about the diva rumors that surround new judge Jennifer Lopez, at a press conference. Yeah, you can joke now, Nigel, but what about the REAL diva stuff?AND THIS...NOT A CURRENT QUOTE, BUT A FUNNY ONE FROM COMEDIAN DOUG FERRARI TALKING ABOUT HIS PAST LIFE WITH DRUGS SEVERAL YEARS AGO: "I don't want to say I did a lot of cocaine, but there are statues of me all over Colombia."
The B-Side - 'Blips'
THE ONION (www.theonion.com) STORY OF THE WEEK:
'Rocky Horror Picture Show' Cult Following Just Doesn't Have The Energy Anymore
LOS ANGELES-Longtime fans of the 1975 cult classic The Rocky Horror Picture Show reported this week that after 30 years of religiously attending midnight showings of the film, they no longer have the energy to put on red wigs, bras and lipstick and yell things at a movie screen until two in the morning.
Describing the never-ending ritual of gathering together with fellow fans and re-watching the camp musical comedy as "tiring" and "frankly, a little pathetic," thousands of once-obsessed Rocky Horror fans across the country made it known that their enthusiasm for the whole cult following in general was beginning to wane.
Read the rest here and laugh: Click Here.
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
Smart Marketing Consulting Services
Smart Marketing Consulting Services has been in business sixteen years, and consults clients in the music, entertainment, attraction, media, and technology industry on branding, marketing, online exploitation, maximizing new media, and more.
"And the beat goes on, the beat goes on ... drums keep poundin' rhythm to the brain."
"Work is life, you know, and without it, there's nothing but fear and insecurity." -- John Lennon
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