The Pirate Bay is planning to launch a paid Virtual Private Network (VPN) service, which carries information through open connections rather than a running across a single private network. The service would be used by file sharers to maintain anonymity on the internet, and is expected to go public next week for $5 per month. Read more...
28.3.09
The Pirate Bay to Launch Anonymous Downloading Service
Sirius XM Versus Last.fm
Satellite radio service Sirius XM is stepping up the pace to compete with the rising popularity of Internet radio services like Last.fm and Pandora. Last.fm, with its recent move to a subscription-based business model in all but three countries, is now competing on equal terms with Sirius’ Internet service already in place.
The satellite radio company also announced the launch of an iPhone application planned for June, and has developed its Internet service by improving sound quality and charging subscribers $3 a month for Web access. When compared to Last.fm’s $4 fee in all countries but the US, UK and Germany, satellite radio might be making a comeback. But will it be successful long-term? Read more...
Global Live Music Sales Rise 10 Percent in 2008
In 2008, profit from the live music business increased by 10 percent globally in 2008 to $25 billion, in contrast to plummeting recorded music sales. Ticket sales went up 8 percent to $10.3 billion, while sponsorship, resold tickets, and ticketing fees also rose. Continue reading...
EMI Music and Project Playlist Strike Deal
EMI Music and Project Playlist have reached an agreement to add the label’s catalog to the music-sharing service, ending EMI’s involvement in a multi-party lawsuit for copyright infringement filed against Project Playlist. Sony BMG signed a similar deal in December, and Owen Van Natta, the chief executive of Playlist said:
Continue reading...“This partnership will provide us with a wide-ranging selection of content to satisfy our users? appetites to share and purchase music.”
Recording Industry Works With Internet Service Providers Against Piracy
AT&T confirmed on Tuesday that the company is working with the Recorded Industry Artists Association (RIAA) to combat illegal file sharing. Jim Cicconi, a senior executive for AT&T, said at a digital music conference that they had begun to issue warnings to people accused of pirating music by the RIAA. Read more...
26.3.09
Musicians Support PRS Against Google in Royalties Deal
The music industry’s songwriters and artists have voiced their support of PRS for Music (previously The Performing Rights Society), accusing Google of underpaying royalty fees. The response is because Google, owner of YouTube, removed millions of premium music videos from the site after a failed deal over royalty rates with PRS for Music. The artist’s opinions are posted at fairplayforcreators.com, in which Andy Gill, from 70’s English post-punk band Gang Of Four, argues that: Continue reading...
Plaid, Squarepusher and Brian Eno at Ether Festival
This year’s Southbank Ether Festival in April will feature Squarepusher, Plaid, Mouse on Mars and Tim Exile performing alongside David Byrne, Peaches, John Hassell and Röyksopp. The UK festival will also have a series of “Ether Talks” from Brian Eno and Rob da Bank. Read more...
Ticketmaster Loses $1.07 Billion in Last Quarter of 2008
The meteoric dive of the music industry is showing no signs of slowing down. March 19, Ticketmaster posted a loss of $1.07 billion for the last three months of 2008. The monopolistic merger between Ticketmaster and Live Nation and the resulting controversy over outrageous ticket prices forced upon concertgoers, makes the company’s failure seem fitting. Read more...
25.3.09
Josh Freese Will Join Your Band for $20,000
Drummer Josh Freese has played with top artists like Nine Inch Nails, Devo and A Perfect Circle, and today, for the release of his solo album entitled Since 1972, he has presented us with a free track to download and a “price menu” that offers some outlandish, limited-edition packages alongside the album.
The menu lets you spend anywhere from $7, for the digital download, to $20,000 for Josh to join your band for a month and includes a game of miniature golf with Freese, singer Maynard James Keenan from Tool and Mark Mothersbaugh from Devo. For $1,000, you can get drunk with Josh and cut each other’s hair in the parking lot of the Long Beach courthouse (filmed and posted on YouTube of course). Check out the full menu’s deliciousness after the jump, and tell us what package you’d buy: Continue reading...
EMI’s Head of Digital Music Leaves After 11 Months
EMI Music’s head of digital music, Douglas Merrill, is leaving the company only 11 months after the decision to trade his previous position as Google’s chief information officer to join the music label in April 2008. Continue reading...
Online Protest Stops New Zealand Internet Copyright Law
The proposed changes to New Zealand’s Internet copyright laws in Section 92A which would consider file-sharers “guilty if accused”, were withdrawn for reconsideration by the country’s Government, as confirmed by an announcement made by Prime Minister John Key:
Read more...“Section 92a is not going to come into force as originally written. We have now asked the minister of commerce to start work on a replacement section.”
24.3.09
Homemade Music Videos Disappear From YouTube
Amateur videos on featuring copyrighted songs on YouTube are being muted or removed, due to a failed deal between the video site and Warner Music Group. The disagreement revolves around the fees paid to Warner for the use of its music videos. Since YouTube uses an automatic process to find unlicensed material on its site, videos of amateurs covering songs and using copyrighted background music are targeted. Continue reading...
Obama Administration Backs The RIAA in Copyright Lawsuit
The Obama administration has sided with the Recorded Industry Association of America (RIAA) in a lawsuit against an alleged file-sharer for copyright infringement, in the same way the Bush administration intervened in a similar lawsuit last year. Read more...
Rolling Stone Magazine Hits New Low With Gossip Girls
Almost 40 years ago, Rolling Stone magazine was considered the cream of music journalism, sparking the careers of renowned writers such as Hunter S. Thompson, Cameron Crowe and Joe Klein, celebrating artists like John Lennon, The Beatles and Jimi Hendrix. It was the anti-status quo, and recognized as a political force in the media.
Since the 90’s, the magazine has focused on younger readers by publishing more sex-oriented content, pop music and television actors, with the Backstreet Boys, Jessica Simpson, Britney Spears, Spice Girls, Christina Aguilera, and the Jonas Brothers gracing its cover pages. Continuing this downward spiral, the latest issue of Rolling Stone is hitting newsstands this week sporting a cover story on the TV show “Gossip Girl,” with female cast members seductively sharing ice-cream. The quality of service provided to readers must be scrutinized. Continue reading...
22.3.09
Indie Label Sales in “Free Fall” Discussed at SXSW Panel
Financial problems suffered by major labels, brought about by plummeting album sales and piracy, are much worse for independent labels. On the “Indie Labels Keep the Faith” panel Nan Warshaw, co-owner of Chicago’s Bloodshot Records, lamented:
Read more...“The decline in indie retail has continued in a free-fall. Everything you’ve heard [about the troubles of major labels], it’s probably worse.”
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