Kerascene Digital Music News

Watch Concerts Free Online At BillboardLive.com

noreply@blogger.com (Kerascene Music) — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 11:25:00 +0000

A new Web site allows music lovers to watch concerts for free online, choosing from five different camera angles as they watch.

BillboardLive.com says its new concert-viewing Web site offers visitors different perspectives on performances by Alicia Keys, Usher, David Archuleta, Daughtry and other artists yet to be announced.

Music fans can select from five different views as they take in full concerts by these artists, focusing solely on the drummer or guitarist if they choose.

The site also allows visitors to use Twitter or Facebook during the Webcast without leaving the show. The application is also available on Apple's iPhone. New concerts will be added through February.

Founder Michael Williams says the site is "reconnecting artists with their fans, for free."

Article first published by Yahoo!. Subscribe to the Kerascene Digital Music News Blog to be kept informed of the latest news. Services offered by Kerascene Music include: Easy Digital Distribution, Music Business Email Lists, Music Contracts, Kerascene Recordings... and more: www.kerascene.com.

Survey: Spotify Reduces Illegal Downloading

noreply@blogger.com (Kerascene Music) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 08:12:00 +0000

The introduction of Spotify is curbing the habits of illegal downloaders in the UK according to a new survey.

* 30 per cent of under twenties admit to illegal downloading

* Spotify encourages 2 out of 3 Brits to curb their illegal downloading habits

Almost two thirds (62%) of those who admit to illegally downloading, say using Spotify has encouraged them to reduce the amount they download illegally or kick the habit altogether. The survey from price comparison website moneysupermarket.com on downloading and streaming also showed that one in eight in the UK (12%) admit to download illegally in the past six months. Illegal downloading is most prevelant among men (16% compared to 9% of women) and those under 20 30% of who admitted to the practice.
"Downloading music used to be mainly associated with illegal sites such as the old Napster, but now over a quarter (27 per cent) of people say they go to a digital source as first port of call; usually iTunes or Amazon, says James Parker, broadband manager at moneysupermarket.com. "With Spotify joining the ranks of legal music sites, illegal downloading seems set to become much less popular. With the new Spotify iPhone application and the new 'Monkey' tariff from Orange, which allows users to stream music from the orange site as part of the tariff, it will be interesting to see how these new mobile music services take-off. Streaming music for free or for a reasonable fee whilst on the move could spell the end for illegal downloading and could even send the CD the way of the mini-disc and cassette tape."

Article first published by Hypebot. Subscribe to the Kerascene Digital Music News Blog to be kept informed of the latest news. Services offered by Kerascene Music include: Easy Digital Distribution, Music Business Email Lists, Music Contracts, Kerascene Recordings... and more: www.kerascene.com.

Why MySpace And Wikipedia Pages Are More Important Than Ever

noreply@blogger.com (Kerascene Music) — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 14:14:00 +0000

MySpace is over. Traffic is falling. Google's new enhanced music search has pushed my Wikipedia entry further down the page. Why should I care what a bunch og geeks write about me anyway, right? Wrong. First, both MySpace and Wikepdia still get massive amounts of traffic; and to the degree that you can control anything on the net; both offer opportunities for you to shape your own message.

Now, add all the new traffic that Google music search is bringing to these sites. MySpace and it's new acquisition iLike are, along with Lala, the primary providers of music for Google's enhanced search engine. That means that a lot more people will be visiting your related MySpace pages. Lala (which in my tests this morning delivered the music for most of my Google searches) draws all of its bios directly from Wikpedia.

Are your searches not delivering enhanced results yet? Be patient, their working their way through a very long list of artists. But get your MySpace/iLike and Wikipedi/Lala presence updated now and wait for a jump in traffic.

PS: Don't forget that Rhapsody, Pandora and imeem are also linked directly from Google's new music search results.

Article first published by Hypebot. Subscribe to the Kerascene Digital Music News Blog to be kept informed of the latest news. Services offered by Kerascene Music include: Easy Digital Distribution, Music Business Email Lists, Music Contracts, Kerascene Recordings... and more: www.kerascene.com.

Exploiting The Gaps Of On-Demand Services

noreply@blogger.com (Kerascene Music) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 16:32:00 +0000

Imeem, MySpace Music, YouTube, and Spotify have all gained meaningful audiences by supplying on-demand music catalogs, never an accomplishment to be pooh-poohed. But fans frequently want downloads of their favorite songs, usually for free, and these 'above-board' destinations route consumers towards paid platforms - whether iTunes, MediaNet, AmazonMP3, or another sanctioned provider.

Converting the traffic towards dollars remains a tough task, and a huge problem for labels. Instead of playing along, music fans are adept at mixing and matching - sampling on MySpace Music, downloading on BitTorrent, or any combination thereof. This is simple stuff for fans to figure out, though opportunities continue to exist (on the illegal side) for combined sampling and download destinations. One example comes from Skreemr (skreemr.com), a site that scans, lists, and streams (when possible) a vast list of net-hosted audio files.

But Skreemr has been around since late 2007, and according to Alexa numbers, its traffic has waned a bit since an early-2008 bounce. Part of the problem may be execution - instead of a neat listing of songs, searchers have to trudge through a somewhat chaotic list of results. Then again, that level of chaos could be cooling the legal threats, always an issue once serious traction sets in.

Article first published by Digital Music News. Subscribe to the Kerascene Digital Music News Blog to be kept informed of the latest news. Services offered by Kerascene Music include: Easy Digital Distribution, Music Business Email Lists, Music Contracts, Kerascene Recordings... and more: www.kerascene.com.

Three-Strikes Gets More Breathing Room In Europe

noreply@blogger.com (Kerascene Music) — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 13:46:00 +0000

After numerous rejections and false-starts, major media interests in France finally secured their three-strikes bill - albeit with the strings of judicial approvals and oversight. But will Europeans eventually live in a world of looming disconnections and aggressive copyright policing? The description sounds a bit extreme, though compromises involving future telecommunications regulation are now opening the door for more graduated responses to infringement.

In comments to the New York Times, European legislators offered heavy lip-service to internet freedoms, but the compromised language would give copyright owners the ability to apply disconnection approaches. In essence, an amendment protecting freedoms and effectively preventing three-strikes enforcement has been dropped, a loss for civil liberties groups. Those changes were pushed heavily by various French lawmakers, though the compromise still calls for judicial approvals.

The shift will undoubtedly have implications for member countries, including the United Kingdom. That is where the most intense three-strikes debates are happening, though if the recent European compromises offer any influence, British disconnection policies would also require court reviews.

Article first published by Digital Music News. Subscribe to the Kerascene Digital Music News Blog to be kept informed of the latest news. Services offered by Kerascene Music include: Easy Digital Distribution, Music Business Email Lists, Music Contracts, Kerascene Recordings... and more: www.kerascene.com.

The Mobile Hypothesis: Can The Handheld Monetize Spotify?

noreply@blogger.com (Kerascene Music) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 13:41:00 +0000

As a 'best of breed,' Spotify is proving the power of on-demand, cloud-based music access. The latest tallies are pushing past 6 million users, and American blogs are itching for a stateside arrival. But the success of Spotify may also be reaffirming serious monetization problems, and according to sources to Digital Music News, major label executives in America remain unenthusiastic about licensing the ad-supported free-for-all.

This looks like a classic Silicon Valley monetization riddle, not a problem out of Stockholm (or London). But can mobile platforms prod people to pay, if packaged into the right app and priced appropriately? That is a huge question heading into 2010, one that Spotify, Grooveshark, Rhapsody, and others are grappling with on both sides of the Atlantic.

Looking past v1.0 snags, the concept of accessing any song at any time from anywhere is alluring, and something these companies think consumers will pay for. Spotify is now available across the iPhone, iPod touch, and Android-powered devices, at least in Europe, and smart cache capabilities allow playback when a connection is not available. Great stuff, though outside of the theoretical possibilities, it remains unclear whether consumers will be ready-and-willing with their wallets.

Meanwhile, the Spotify mobile footprint is steadily expanding. In mid-October, Spotify broadened its mobile availability to the HTC Hero on British mobile operator 3. The Hero is an Android-based device lingering in the deep shadow of the iPhone, though 3 is motivated to boost an Apple rival and capture premiums in the process. Other devices are expected, and everyone will be looking for signs of monetization life over the next few months.

Article first published by Digital Music News. Subscribe to the Kerascene Digital Music News Blog to be kept informed of the latest news. Services offered by Kerascene Music include: Easy Digital Distribution, Music Business Email Lists, Music Contracts, Kerascene Recordings... and more: www.kerascene.com.

BlueBeat Ignores EMI, Still Sells Beatles Catalog Online

noreply@blogger.com (Kerascene Music) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 09:10:00 +0000

Seemingly unfazed by legal action from The Beatles' music label, an obscure online retailer in California continues to offer downloads of the Fab Four's entire music catalog. As of Wednesday afternoon, the music site BlueBeat.com was still selling MP3 versions of full Beatles albums, as well as individual tracks.

EMI Group on Tuesday filed a copyright violation suit against BlueBeat in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles. The London-based music company charged the music website with selling Beatles' albums and songs without permission. BlueBeat also lets users listen to tracks, including Beatles tunes, without buying them.

Apple Corps Ltd., the Beatles' holding company, has yet to allow any online music service, including industry behemoth iTunes, to carry the Fab Four's music.

BlueBeat's bargain-basement prices, such as $3.25 for "A Hard Day's Night" album, and 25 cents per Beatles track, will certainly draw attention to the site -- and maybe a few buyers -- before a court forces it to cease its shenanigans, which undoubtedly will happen soon.

Is this a publicity stunt? Sure seems like it. BlueBeat's caretakers -- the site is a subsidiary of Media Rights Technologies in Santa Cruz, Calif. -- are no doubt aware of copyright law, and if they aren't, they will be shortly. (BlueBeat hasn't responded to PC World's request for comment.)

It's highly unlikely that BlueBeat has any legal ground to stand on here. And it's likely the site is milking this Beatles stunt for a few days of media coverage. Hey, it's cheaper than buying ads.

On a related note, will the BlueBeat stunt light a fire under Apple Corps and EMI, spurring them to license the Beatles catalog to reputable online music sites? Next month's release of a collection of remastered Beatles albums on a USB drive is a good start, but it still ties the Fab Four's songs to a physical format.

The longer The Beatles' catalog remains verboten online, the greater the opportunity for tricksters and pirates to offer it illegally.

Article first published by Yahoo!. Subscribe to the Kerascene Digital Music News Blog to be kept informed of the latest news. Services offered by Kerascene Music include: Easy Digital Distribution, Music Business Email Lists, Music Contracts, Kerascene Recordings... and more: www.kerascene.com.

IODA Adds Labels To Distribution Roster

noreply@blogger.com (Kerascene Music) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 11:19:00 +0000

Digital distributor IODA has inked a number of new content deals. Labels include V2 Benelux, Union Square Music, Agriculture, Asian Man, Barge, Catsup Plate, Captured Tracks, Jade Tree and NooN Music IODA also has signed the recently reunited band That Petrol Emotion, who will be digitally re-issuing their albums Fireproof and Final Flame as well distributing their debut album Manic Pop Thrill via Demon Music Group.
“As an independent company, we were drawn to IODA’s similar roots,” said Tom Willinck, of V2 Benelux. “IODA not only has a deep understanding of the needs of independent labels and artists but also has developed sophisticated solutions for that community."

More on the new labels:

* V2 Benelux – Originally founded by Richard Branson in 1997, V2 Benelux provides physical distribution, marketing, promotion, accounting and sales for a wide variety of artists in the Belgium and Netherlands regions, including Dan Wilson, Patrick Watson, Frank Boeijen, The Scene, Ane Brun, Luka Bloom, Lady Linn & her Magnificent Seven and Skunk Anansie.
* The Agriculture Records – Founded by DJ Olive and James Healy from the ashes of the 1990s Williamsburg warehouse scene, ten-year-old the Agriculture Records represents artists from the street to the museums, from the clubs to the backyard barbeques. Upcoming album releases include DJ Olive, DJ /rupture and Matt Shadetek, Escape Arts, Badawi, and Deadbeat.
* Asian Man Records – Run out of his parent’s garage since 1996, Mike Park has planted Asian Man Records as one of the truly DIY punk labels around today. The label has introduced the world to such artists as the Alkaline Trio, The Lawrence Arms, The Queers, Andrew Jackson Jihad, Skankin’ Pickle, and Lemuria. The label continues its’ presence in the DIY punk community and also their involvement in non-profit activism with their sister company the Plea for Peace Foundation
* Barge Recordings – Founded in 2005, Barge Recordings is a Boston/NYC-based label offering a wide range of sounds, from electronic to the unknown. Garnering attention for a unique curation of music, Barge continued on to release albums by The Fun Years, Geoff Mullen, MGR & Xela, Bird Show, and Animal Hospital. Barge has recently added the English duo Pausal to their roster of artists.
* Captured Tracks – A Brooklyn-based label founded in 2008, Captured Tracks got its start with the post-punk sound of Blank Dogs. Captured Tracks has since expanded its roster to include artists such as The Beets, Beach Fossils, Wild Nothing and Mayfair Set.
* Catsup Plate – Founded by Rob Carmichael over 15 years ago, Catsup Plate Records inhabits the zone between pop structure and experimental abstraction. Catsup Plate has provided a forum for a diverse group of artists: Animal Collective, Destroyer, Black Dice, The Double, Simon Joyner and Mountains, among many others.
* Jade Tree – Approaching 20 years since its DIY inception, Jade Tree has earned its place as a household name in the world of independent music. The label has had the honor of introducing such luminaries as Pedro The Lion, Jets to Brazil, The Promise Ring and Lifetime to generations of indie-rock and punk music fans around the world. Recently, the label has worked with hardcore giants Paint It Black, post punk rockers These Arms Are Snakes, indie dance darlings Snowden, and Richmond punks Cloak/Dagger.
* That Petrol Emotion – After a 15 year hiatus, That Petrol Emotion reunited in 2008 with their unique blend of hook-laden guitar pop. In addition to future releases, IODA has digitally re-released That Petrol Emotion’s last studio album Fireproof, as well as the band’s final live album, Final Flame, which has been restored to the full original running order, including several previously unreleased tracks.
* Union Square Music – One of the five largest independent record companies in the United Kingdom, Union Square Music expects to release over fifty albums in North America before the end of 2010. The label works with artists across genres from rock to classical, jazz to punk. IODA will digitally release their albums in the United States, including Procol Harum (One Eye To The Future), Barbara Dickson (album of Dylan covers Don’t Think Twice It’s Alright) and The Undertones, whose back catalog Union Square will release in 2010.
* NooN Music – Roy Orbison Jr., son of legendary singer Roy Orbison, has joined IODA for digital distribution of his father's masters owned by his company NooN Music LLC. The first release is Orbison’s “Last Concert,” recorded live just two days before the singer’s untimely passing. It includes some of Orbison’s biggest hits such as Oh, Pretty Woman; Only The Lonely; In Dreams; Crying; and Ooby Dooby.

Article first published by Hypebot. Subscribe to the Kerascene Digital Music News Blog to be kept informed of the latest news. Services offered by Kerascene Music include: Easy Digital Distribution, Music Business Email Lists, Music Contracts, Kerascene Recordings... and more: www.kerascene.com.

Use Lala & MySpaceTo Improve Google Results

noreply@blogger.com (Kerascene Music) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 15:19:00 +0000

Along with Lala's new deal to provide enhanced music search results for Google alongside MySpace and others comes word that indie artists and label will be able to control and improve the content of their search results according to Matt Rosoff on CNet's Digital Noise.

"Eventually, artists will be able to use Lala's platform to ensure that specific content, such as a new song, shows up in the music search results at Google... (they) will also be able to work with Lala to sell products other than MP3 downloads through Google's search results. For example, Lala is working on a deal with Rhino Records where users will be able to buy vinyl Joy Division records directly from Lala."

Until more details become available, updating content on both Lala and MySpace, since it is now linked to more prominently from Google, has become a priority. Lala has deals with all four major labels and most larger indie distributors, but d.i.y. artists must choose a partner to get their music on the service.

According to lala, "If you are not signed to a label, you can add your music to Lala by signing up with a digital distributor. Lala works with both TuneCore and CD Baby...Whatever distributor you choose, just make sure to specifically opt-in to have your content sold on Lala".

Keeping your biography and other content up to date can be a bit more difficult. "The information that displays with each of your albums (artist/album name, track listings, etc.) is in most cases coming directly from the data feed we receive from your label or digital distributor." according to lala. "If you note any errors you can contact us directly, but we also recommend that you follow up with your label/distributor to ensure it is corrected across all of your sales channels."
Keep your Wikipedia Up To Date Too

With Google's new OneBox music search, Wikipedia results have been pushed a little further down the page. But that doesn't mean they are not important. Lala uses Wikipedia for bios. "Biographical information for artists is pulled from Wikipedia," says lala. "If we are displaying an incorrect entry from Wikipedia on your artist page, or if we do not have an entry on your artist page, please email us (artists@lala.com) with a link to the correct bio on Wikipedia, and the artist page it should be added to.
Photos

Says lala: "Artist photos come from labels and other sources. If you own or control the rights to a photo that you would like to submit for our use, please email it to us (artists@lala.com) and we’ll follow up with you."

Article first published by Hypebot. Subscribe to the Kerascene Digital Music News Blog to be kept informed of the latest news. Services offered by Kerascene Music include: Easy Digital Distribution, Music Business Email Lists, Music Contracts, Kerascene Recordings... and more: www.kerascene.com.

ModBase Begins Powering iPhone Artist Apps

noreply@blogger.com (Kerascene Music) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 18:06:00 +0000

Artist-focused iPhone apps are becoming increasingly commonplace, especially for those with the resources, labels, or partnerships to get it done. Now, the early market is starting to mature, and entrants are jumping in to directly serve the market for artists, labels, festivals, and other music-related categories. That includes BlueHaze (bluehaze.com), as well as ModBase, a company officially launching this week.

ModBase is planning to deliver a service that gives artists the ability to build apps that involve quick-released music, recording outtakes, photos, videos, touring information, tweets, merchandise and other selling opportunities. In other words, 'the works' that artists are typically stuffing into their apps.

In most cases, the audience for an artist app is a tightly-focused fanbase, a niche that means higher conversion rates and connectivity. ModBase is promising to offer its apps for modest price points to attract smaller groups, though plenty of established artists - including Everclear and Pepper - are already on board. The company is promising a good level of customization, and a major digital distribution partner is also in the wings.

Stay tuned.

Article first published by Digital Music News. Subscribe to the Kerascene Digital Music News Blog to be kept informed of the latest news. Services offered by Kerascene Music include: Easy Digital Distribution, Music Business Email Lists, Music Contracts, Kerascene Recordings... and more: www.kerascene.com.

Google Supersizes Music Search

noreply@blogger.com (Kerascene Music) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 13:41:00 +0000

Last night Google announced partnerships that will simplify and improve how people find music. As only the tech giant could do, MySpace, lala, imeem, Rhapsody, Pandora, Gracenote and all four major label groups have come together to provide Google content for a new music search engine.

Users who type on an artist's name, album title or a snippet of a lyric will see results that include a single song play button from either lala or MySpace's iLike. A buy option and links to more content are also included, as are links to artist content on imeem, Rhapsody and Pandora. Gracenote is powering the lyric search function.

The core of Google's listen and buy option is powered by MySpace and lala. And the later said in an interview after the announcement that artists will have some control over which songs are played and what content is shown when lala is chosen by the searcher.

Each of the other partners are trying to find their own niche, as well. If, users click on Rhapsody from the search results, for example, they can listen to tracks from an artist’s entire catalog for free up to the site 25 track monthly limit. Later this year, Rhapsody says it will also enable Google users to stream 30-second samples directly from within the search results.

The expansion of Rhapsody's role later this year also points other partners being added to what Google's RJ Pittman says in an "open platform" with the goal of including "all the world's music..indies and all the way down the long tail". Pittman admitted that including more and specialized services and music could be logistically difficult, but insisted that was Google's goal.

Article first published by Hypebot. Subscribe to the Kerascene Digital Music News Blog to be kept informed of the latest news. Services offered by Kerascene Music include: Easy Digital Distribution, Music Business Email Lists, Music Contracts, Kerascene Recordings... and more: www.kerascene.com.

Free All Music: Will This Ad-Supported Model Float?

noreply@blogger.com (Kerascene Music) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 13:35:00 +0000

Remember when ad-supported music was going to save the industry? Spiralfrog was lavished with praise and endless press coverage, and major labels extracted millions in licensing fees before the ship sank. Nowadays, the darling is Spotify, though according to inside sources, US-based major label executives remain leery of the revenue-challenged company. Others, including MySpace Music, Imeem, Grooveshark, and even YouTube face difficult monetization challenges.

Why so rough? The problem comes from bottom-scraping CPMs, affinity concerns among big-name brands, and a reluctance by consumers to upgrade into premium packages. Indeed, many have written this space off as a hopeless pursuit, though Atlanta-based startup 'Free All Music' (freeallmusic.com) begs to differ. The group is focusing its model on free MP3 downloads, and more direct, action-based advertising deals.

So, instead of DRM-protected experiences with impression-based advertising (a-la-Spiralfrog), Free All Music plans to tie major consumer brands into direct downloading, sharing, and other engaged behaviors. "We're confident that we'll be in major [advertiser] budgets in 2010," cofounder and CEO Richard Nailling relayed during a discussion Tuesday evening.

The company first announced themselves to Digital Music News earlier this month, though the more recent meeting included details on upcoming launch dates, as well as status updates on licensing and advertising negotiations. Specifically, Free All Music enters private beta next month, a public beta in December, and a formal launch during the first quarter of 2010, according to the roadmap.

So how does the experience work? Consumers will be able to browse a catalog of songs, but free downloads require the viewing of a brief, 15-second advertising video. The song is obviously chosen by the fan, but so is the advertiser - before downloading, a choice of different brands will be presented. That aims to sidestep sensitive issues that accompany the tying of brands with specifics artists. "Because the users are putting it together and it's a private matter, there's no implied relationship," Nailling described.

After the spot is completed, a DRM-free MP3 is handed to the consumer. But the advertising campaign continues in a novel fashion. First, the username of the downloader is placed alongside the brand and blended into an ad unit. That unit is subsequently distributed across a network constructed by Free All Music.

Sound complicated? Nailling and company believe this experience is better and easier than illegal file-sharing options, and far superior to $1.29 downloads on iTunes. But users are limited to fifteen songs per month, and five per session, a major restriction and a potential deal-breaker for many fans.

Then, the issue of major label licensing emerges. Nailling pointed to "deep conversations with all the majors," though some upfront licensing costs will be involved. "We are not being subject to the advances that have happened to other companies, the labels are really trying to work with us on that front," Nailling disclosed. "But in terms of a pure revenue-share deal, that is not in the cards at this point."

And this is anything but a risk-free bet. The company just raised a $990,000 round, though total investments are already approaching $3 million before the grand opening. At present, the team still needs to assemble the constellation of advertisers and labels to test the hypothesis. Then, the serious work of attracting, retaining, and growing a critical mass of users begins, itself a monstrous hurdle. Indeed, this is not a challenge for weak-stomached entrepreneurs, though anyone able to solve the ad-supported riddle gets serious the bragging rights.

Article first published by Digital Music News. Subscribe to the Kerascene Digital Music News Blog to be kept informed of the latest news. Services offered by Kerascene Music include: Easy Digital Distribution, Music Business Email Lists, Music Contracts, Kerascene Recordings... and more: www.kerascene.com.

Facebook And MySpace In Talks To Connect

noreply@blogger.com (Kerascene Music) — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 13:41:00 +0000

Executives of both companies have confirmed that Facebook and MySpace are in talks to share some content via its Connect platform, which allows people to log into third party sites using a Facebook ID. The talks come at a time when some measurements show Facebook with twice the traffic of MySpace

Thus the urge to merge content. “Facebook is focusing on building the best technology which helps people share content, while at MySpace they are focusing on more a content-led strategy," Sheryl Sandberg, Facebook’s chief operating officer, told the UK's Telegraph. "We would like to have their content, as we already do with many other sites, shared across our network because it is good for our users."

Many sites like iLike and imeem already make their content available on MySapce as Facebook Connect partners. “We are open to working with MySpace and are in talks with them at the moment. Owen (Van Natta, CEO of MySpace) used to work at Facebook and we are still very close to him.”

Van Natta confirmed the talks. “Partnerships are going to be a big part of our strategy moving forward as a lot of value can be derived from them. Facebook is about core communications with your friendship network, whereas MySpace is about congregating around popular content with people who share your interests.”

Article first published by Hypebot. Subscribe to the Kerascene Digital Music News Blog to be kept informed of the latest news. Services offered by Kerascene Music include: Easy Digital Distribution, Music Business Email Lists, Music Contracts, Kerascene Recordings... and more: www.kerascene.com.

NARM Launches A Digital Music Think Tank

noreply@blogger.com (Kerascene Music) — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 12:22:00 +0000

The National Association of Recording Merchandisers has launched a Digital Think Tank task force of NARM members dedicated to resolving issues surrounding the business of digital music. Members include: 7digital, Amazon.com, E1, EMI, IODA, Iris, iTunes, Microsoft, Mix & Burn, Napster, Nokia, The Orchard, Rhapsody, Rhino, Sony, Topspin, Universal, Verizon, WEA, and Wind-up.

At yesterday’s kick-off meeting, the Digital Think Tank formally established working groups that will tackle three broadly defined issues identified by the NARM membership: digital supply chain and operations, metrics and data visualization, and product development.

Three Digital Think Tank Working Groups

* Digital Supply Chain - “New products and services only increase the need for better information flow between partners. Therefore, operational efficiencies are a key issue, and that’s what the Digital Supply Chain & Operations Work Group will seek to address,” said Bill Wilson, NARM’s Director of Digital Strategy & Business Development, who will execute the work of the Digital Think Tank and its work groups.

* Metrics & Data Visualization - Content creators and retailers have also told NARM that the modern marketplace demands roid marketing and programming decisions based on timely measurement. The Metrics & Data Visualization Work Group will work to determine if there are ways to consolidate the current myriad of data sources to provide more user-friendly and rich in insights.
* The Product Development Work Group will serve as a resource and sounding board for those who identify and want to rapidly deploy new services for music fans.

“The world of the supply chain for music has become incredibly complicated,” said NARM President Jim Donio. “Historically, through the work of our Operations Committee, NARM has been the instrument of change in helping identify and resolve a host of operational issues surrounding the sale and distribution of physical product. With the Digital Think Tank, we’re assembling members into this new task force, and bringing our problem-solving experiences from the physical world to bear on similar issues surrounding digital music. The ultimate mission is to help make the business and consumer experience in the digital realm the best it can be.”

Article first published by Hypebot. Subscribe to the Kerascene Digital Music News Blog to be kept informed of the latest news. Services offered by Kerascene Music include: Easy Digital Distribution, Music Business Email Lists, Music Contracts, Kerascene Recordings... and more: www.kerascene.com.

Google Music: The Partner Circle Starts to Widen

noreply@blogger.com (Kerascene Music) — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 12:28:00 +0000

Google is planning to update its music-related results next week, and details are now leaking on a broader partner circle. Initially, partners Lala and iLike tipped their involvement with a special invitation to a Hollywood event next Thursday (among other hints and leaks). But sources to Digital Music News are now sharing details on a partnership group that may also include Imeem, Pandora, and eventually, iTunes and AmazonMP3.

Several sources within the independent label sector tipped the information on Imeem and Pandora, though neither company would respond to inquiries Thursday. Separately, another source close to the process pointed to the eventual inclusion of the 'bigger boys' like iTunes, though the negotiation process may take longer. In terms of content, all four major labels are licensed and ready, though various independent labels, including aggregators like IODA, are also part of the plan, according to sources.

Other questions remain unanswered, including how Google will handle search queries and results. Most queries are for artists, opening the question of which songs are ultimately presented. Other concerns include the disambiguation of unclear or misspelled entries, though these are broader, search-related questions Google routinely addresses.

Article first published by Digital Music News. Subscribe to the Kerascene Digital Music News Blog to be kept informed of the latest news. Services offered by Kerascene Music include: Easy Digital Distribution, Music Business Email Lists, Music Contracts, Kerascene Recordings... and more: www.kerascene.com.

Google To Launch Music Service

noreply@blogger.com (Kerascene Music) — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 17:32:00 +0000

Several sources are reporting that Google will be launching a music service as early as next week. Rumored to be called, depending on who you talk to, Google Music, Google Audio or Google OneBox, the service will center on streaming rather than download sales.

Wired and TechCrunch seem to have the best sources so far with Eliot Van Buskirk at Wired's Epicenter blog reporting that Google "will not become a music retailer, but will offer enhanced music search with a streaming function - first of possibly several vertical search offerings. Searching for an artist or song will apparently bring up a box (thus Google’s working title: “OneBox”) with a streaming link randomly assigned to stream from either Lala or iLike."

Buskirk suggests that the labels are in the process of gathering assets including video for Google, but it's not clear to me why that would be necessary if iLike or Lala are the audio provider and certainly Google's YouTube already has every video imaginable on its servers. Stay tuned as details come in...

Article first published by Hypebot. Subscribe to the Kerascene Digital Music News Blog to be kept informed of the latest news. Services offered by Kerascene Music include: Easy Digital Distribution, Music Business Email Lists, Music Contracts, Kerascene Recordings... and more: www.kerascene.com.

Spotify To Launch Mobile Offering With 3

noreply@blogger.com (Kerascene Music) — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 07:25:00 +0000

Sweden's Spotify, the European digital music service, will be available to customers of British mobile operator 3 through a new HTC Hero phone, the three companies said on Monday.

Spotify, which recently announced a service on Apple's iPhone and Google phones, will be available on the 3 network from November, allowing users to access a huge range of music on their computers and mobile phones.

The smallest network in Britain, 3 said the deal was also significant because it was the first time it will sell the HTC Hero, which is based on Google's Android system.

Subscribers to the 3 network will be able to use the phone with unlimited access to the Spotify Premium service for an upfront fee of 99 pounds ($161) and 35 pounds a month, as part of a 24 month contract.

"Spotify Mobile is a fantastic digital service which gives consumers the ability to enjoy and share music in an affordable way," Charlotte Blanchard, Director of Products & Services at 3, said in a statement.

"As a first step we've built this service into an attractive, well-priced package with the HTC Hero. Over time our deal with Spotify will extend across a range of our products including Mobile Broadband."

Spotify has won plaudits from the music industry, which has been hammered by piracy, for offering a better and smoother alternative to illegal sites. It has more than 6 million users in Europe and over 5 million tracks available.

The deal is also a boost to 3, as analysts believe offering services such as music and games increases customer loyalty.

Article first published by Yahoo!. Subscribe to the Kerascene Digital Music News Blog to be kept informed of the latest news. Services offered by Kerascene Music include: Easy Digital Distribution, Music Business Email Lists, Music Contracts, Kerascene Recordings... and more: www.kerascene.com.

Fan-Funded Craziness

noreply@blogger.com (Kerascene Music) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 11:31:00 +0000

The curious concept of fan-funded music continues to percolate, thanks to the recent coming-out of London-based Pledge Music. According to details tipped to Digital Music News by the company over the weekend, the startup involves British A&R brain Malcolm Dunbar. Pledge (pledgemusic.com) officially launches later this month, and jumps into a field already populated by the likes of Slicethepice and SellaBand. Dunbar has plucked talent for a number of big labels, including Universal Music Group, Warner Music Group, and V2.

Captaining the initiative will be founder and CEO Benji Rogers, a longtime struggling musician looking to tilt the equation a bit. "Musicians will get the funding and promotional support that they need, and the fan will get the music that they want at the price that they want to pay," Rogers described. Other executives involved in the model include former Rough Trade and Sanctuary marketing director Dan Symons; former Warner Music, London Records and V2 Records A&R coordinator Cecelia Lewis; A&R consultant Rich Lynne and A&R scout Ryan Lofthouse.

But will this model hold water? Pledge is opting to allow artists to keep all royalties, perhaps the only reasonable approach given the level of options that musicians currently enjoy. But that makes it difficult to benefit from downstream success stories, and helps to flatten longer-term value growth. The company is also encouraging lots of charitable donations, while planning to charge low, flat-rate commissions.

Article first published by Digital Music News. Subscribe to the Kerascene Digital Music News Blog to be kept informed of the latest news. Services offered by Kerascene Music include: Easy Digital Distribution, Music Business Email Lists, Music Contracts, Kerascene Recordings... and more: www.kerascene.com.

Music Blog To Offer High-quality Song Streaming

noreply@blogger.com (Kerascene Music) — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 12:38:00 +0000

SAN FRANCISCO - Consumers seem reluctant to sign up for online music services that charge subscription fees, yet a music blogging site is hoping to reel in music lovers by offering unlimited access to a catalog of high-fidelity tunes for $5 a month.

Berkeley, Calif.-based Mog, which launched in 2006, said Wednesday that it plans to roll out Mog All Access before Thanksgiving. The new service includes partnerships with the four major music labels — Universal Music Group, EMI Music, Warner Music Group and Sony Music Entertainment — along with thousands of independent labels.

The catalog will initially include more than 5 million tracks, and the company plans to add millions of additional tracks in the coming months.

Mog isn't necessarily cheaper than similar offerings. Best Buy Inc.-owned Napster, for example, sells a $5-a-month music-streaming pass billed in three-month increments of $15. And since Mog isn't offering users the opportunity to download tracks from its site, you'll have to listen to the music on a computer. The company expects to release an iPhone or BlackBerry application this year, possibly both, that will allow downloads on those devices for an expected $12 to $15 per month.

CEO David Hyman said that one of the main things that sets Mog apart from other offerings is the quality of the audio, which will stream at 256 kilobits per second. This is double the streaming rate for Napster and for RealNetworks Inc.'s Rhapsody and Microsoft Corp.'s Zune Pass subscription music services. It basically means that, as long as you have a good Internet connection, tracks should sound better through Mog.

"It feels like all these songs are local on your hard drive, even though they're coming through the browser," Hyman said.

Article first published by Yahoo!. Subscribe to the Kerascene Digital Music News Blog to be kept informed of the latest news. Services offered by Kerascene Music include: Easy Digital Distribution, Music Business Email Lists, Music Contracts, Kerascene Recordings... and more: www.kerascene.com.

Facebook Traffic Soars As MySpace Tumbles

noreply@blogger.com (Kerascene Music) — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 17:44:00 +0000

Facebook accounted for 58.59% of all U.S. visits to the top 155 social networking Web sites in September of this year - a 194% increase since September 2008 according to Hitwise. MySpace was second with 30% of social networking. The picture was far different just a year earlier in September of 2008 when MySpace accounted for 66.84% of U.S. social networking and Facebook sat at just under 20%.

Twitter, which grew 1170% in the last year, still accounts for only 1.84% of all social networking traffic. The seldom talked about Tagged.com grew 47% in the last year to stay ahead of Twitter with 2.38% of social traffic.

ANALYSIS: For marketers of music, success is not just found in overall numbers, but in who is being reached. MySpace still puts more emphasis on music and attracts a younger crowd; though that too is shifting: the 18-34 demo declined 13% at MySpace and increased 10% at Facebook last year. Twitter users are more active consumers and often help shape trends and opinions.

But Facebook has the eyeballs and is grabbing more every day. If there is still mass media, Facebook, at this moment, is it.

Article first published by Hypebot. Subscribe to the Kerascene Digital Music News Blog to be kept informed of the latest news. Services offered by Kerascene Music include: Easy Digital Distribution, Music Business Email Lists, Music Contracts, Kerascene Recordings... and more: www.kerascene.com.

The Hardscrabble Realities Of Licensing Music

noreply@blogger.com (Kerascene Music) — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 12:58:00 +0000

Want to license your music into a film, television program, commercial, or other production? The Rolling Stones can command millions, as can a range of other well-established groups. But the off-the-street indie is usually looking at a very modest payout - that is, if anyone is calling back.

That was the sobering takeaway from a panel of music supervisors and program producers assembled Friday at New Noise Santa Barbara. "If you have a licensing offer on the table, regardless of what the price is, do it," advised Gerry Cueller, owner of GoBig! "If the price is $200, don't go for $1,000, because they'll just get another band for $200."

Sounds harsh, though the supply of music is simply too great for producers to entertain negotiations. Meanwhile, publishers are pushing more heavily on synch licensing opportunities, simply because mechanicals are slipping so badly. The result is a supply glut, and that means lower payouts for the chosen few. "There's very rarely a song that you absolutely need," commented Daryl Berg, director of Music Licensing and Supervision at Fuel TV.

Instead, producers have the luxury of searching around for similar-sounding content if a particular deal falls through. And, they are usually sifting through a pile of tunes on a tight timetable. "There's infinitely more music than licensing opportunities," Cueller relayed. "I get about 100-200 packages a week."

Indeed, the numbers game is stacked in the wrong direction, at least from the artist perspective, though a well-placed slot can open some doors. A successful show can generate lots of new fans, especially on bigger series and films. Additionally, those that own their publishing can quickly finalize deals and reap the rewards of downstream usage payouts.

And, there are plenty of ways an artist or composer can stand apart. Aside from the discouraging realities, the discussion was actually stuffed with surprisingly simple tips on how to lubricate the wheels of a deal. Some were obvious - for example, supervisors urged submitters to send polished, studio work, not rough garage demos. And, pare down the selection to the best, most licensable tracks. "Just send me the best tracks," Cueller advised.

Others tips were incredibly valuable. For example, Cueller told bands to also record instrumentals while they are in the studio. Berg told submitters to skip the fancy packaging, and just "be honest" about what the music sounds like. Adam Levin, executive producer at Headquarters Music, urged groups to accompany their music with exceedingly-clear contact information. Others advised putting the contact information onto the CD itself. "I'm very impressed by someone that sends a package that isn't scrawled out with a Sharpie," Levin shared.

And what about digital submissions? Seems like MP3s were okay - and oftentimes preferred - by supervisors and producers, though it behooves the artist or composer to check first. And, in production, MP3s can create some quality problems, according to attorney Bernard Resnick. "You can hear the difference," the Philadelphia dealmaker told Digital Music News.

What else? Researching producers can be difficult, though playing Sherlock Holmes pays off. That means checking the websites of targeted shows, and following the trail of connections to get to the right person. And, tying with insiders like Resnick can also make sense, simply because the channels are highly specialized and relationship-driven. "These people get hundreds and hundreds of submissions," Resnick relayed. "So they appreciate getting something that is tailored to what they want, from a trusted source."

Article first published by Digital Music News. Subscribe to the Kerascene Digital Music News Blog to be kept informed of the latest news. Services offered by Kerascene Music include: Easy Digital Distribution, Music Business Email Lists, Music Contracts, Kerascene Recordings... and more: www.kerascene.com.

BSkyB Launches Digital Music Service

noreply@blogger.com (Kerascene Music) — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 13:09:00 +0000

British media group BSkyB will next week launch Sky Songs, a digital music service it hopes will challenge Apple's iTunes and Spotify in the music downloads business.

BSkyB said on Sunday the service, which will go live on October 19, would offer access to over four million tracks for download and ad-free streaming.

It will include new releases and back catalogues from all four major music labels -- EMI, owned by private equity firm Terra Firma Capital Partners, Sony, Universal and Warner -- plus a range of independent labels and distributors.

The service will be operate on a subscription basis in contrast to the track-by-track purchasing model of iTunes.

There will be no advertiser-funded element such as that used by Spotify, which provides free access to music, but plays advertisements too.

Article first published by Yahoo!. Subscribe to the Kerascene Digital Music News Blog to be kept informed of the latest news. Services offered by Kerascene Music include: Easy Digital Distribution, Music Business Email Lists, Music Contracts, Kerascene Recordings... and more: www.kerascene.com.

Digital Music Forum

noreply@blogger.com (Kerascene Music) — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 06:23:00 +0000

As part of its research-focused kickoff, the Digital Music Forum in Los Angeles featured an update from BigChampagne CEO Eric Garland. "If I only had time for one slide, this would be the slide," Garland opened, pointing to a simple picture of a CD with a $16.99 price tag next to it. The picture spoke a thousand words, and offered Garland a nice runway to discuss the 'dollars to dimes' transition (to quote NBC chief Jeff Zucker) currently embroiling the business.

So what's the state of the disruptive union? Garland noted that BitTorrent is the only place where albums are growing, a stark contrast to the physical collapse. On that point, BigChampagne data shows a total of 1.3 million BitTorrent downloads of U2's No Line on the Horizon (after just 30 days), hockey stick that really took off once the album was released.

What else? Paid song downloads are plateauing, though on-demand streams continue to grow. "The top songs sell a few hundred thousand weekly, less than 10 percent of free, legal streams," Garland shared, while also pointing to the gargantuan role that YouTube plays in the on-demand space.

But the only problem is that most of that action is not being monetized - at least on any meaningful level. "Increasingly, even in this world where we've gained some control, we still don't have the per unit value to drive these businesses," Garland continued.

But what about those huge price tags on YouTube ($1.65 billion), Bebo ($850 million), Last.fm ($280 million), and MySpace ($580 million)? Those bonanzas made a lot of people rich, except for the media companies powering the content. "None of this money traditionally makes it back to the content owners," Garland relayed.

Suddenly, this is a business that needs to get smaller, just to get back into the game. Actually, a well-timed opinion by ex-eMusic CEO and current venture capitalist David Pakman worked its way into the presentation, perhaps another pour of coffee for a business still bent on high-priced digital assets and higher cost structures. "We're going to have to get small," Garland stated, while using Perez Hilton as the joking example (Perez lives in the modest Park LaBrea apartment complex in Los Angeles). "Last year, a lot of us drove here in SUVs; next year, a lot of us are driving here in sub-compacts," Garland analogized.

That sounds more like the 'smaller market with inferior economics' that Pakman described, ironically a reference to the book publishing industry - perhaps next on the disruptive line.

Article first published by Digital Music News. Subscribe to the Kerascene Digital Music News Blog to be kept informed of the latest news. Services offered by Kerascene Music include: Easy Digital Distribution, Music Business Email Lists, Music Contracts, Kerascene Recordings... and more: www.kerascene.com.

we7 Beats Spotify As UK's Most Viewed Music Site

noreply@blogger.com (Kerascene Music) — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 12:47:00 +0000

Spotify may be getting the headlines, but ad supported online music streaming service, we7.com has spent the past week as the most popular music site in the UK based on page views, The figures for the week ending 03/10/09 come from online intelligence service Experian Hitwise.

"This is a significant milestone for us," commented Steve Purdham, CEO of we7. "We are delighted to be so clearly moving up the ranks of popularity in the UK. This rating serves as testament to our ad-funded, free music
streaming service."

we7 provides direct access to its extensive music library via its website for both streaming and download services. The we7 service requires no application or programme download, offering the UK users quick, cost-effective and easier than ever access to over four million tracks.

Article first published by Hypebot. Subscribe to the Kerascene Digital Music News Blog to be kept informed of the latest news. Services offered by Kerascene Music include: Easy Digital Distribution, Music Business Email Lists, Music Contracts, Kerascene Recordings... and more: www.kerascene.com.

BlackBerry, 7digital Officially Delivering MP3s

noreply@blogger.com (Kerascene Music) — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 14:34:00 +0000

Blackberry and 7digital officially unveiled their MP3 Music Store on Tuesday morning, complete with - you guessed it - 7 million tracks. All four majors, as well as a long list of independents, are part of the catalog selection.

The rollout is happening across the UK, US, Canada, France, Italy, Germany and Spain, according to information tipped by the company. Blackberry users can grab songs over-the-air using GPRS, EDGE, 3G, or WiFi.

Actually, the parties are employing some smart delivery mechanisms. On cellular connections, lower-quality downloads will be delivered, and an upgraded, high-quality version is then overlayed once a WiFi environment presents itself. The store is available through a gratis application on the BlackBerry App World. The app itself was developed in partnership with DevelopIQ, using the 7digital API.

What else? 7digital is also rolling its US-based MP3 store, with a similar content collection.

Article first published by Digital Music News. Subscribe to the Kerascene Digital Music News Blog to be kept informed of the latest news. Services offered by Kerascene Music include: Easy Digital Distribution, Music Business Email Lists, Music Contracts, Kerascene Recordings... and more: www.kerascene.com.