The NPD Group's quarterly Digital Music Monitor reveals in its latest issue that Mac users are much more likely than PC users to pay to download music online. What's more, Mac users are more likely to buy CDs and are more likely to watch videos and listen to music on their computers and MP3 players.
Michael Robertson shares thoughts on Imeem deal
On his blog, Michael Robertson, founder of MP3tunes.com shares his thoughts on the recent Imeem deal with UMG and why that is bad for Imeem and bad for digital music web companies in general.
Lupe Fiasco
This posting isn't meant to be timely in any way, shape or form. I'm not late on Lupe, I was just thinking and felt like writing about how I see a guy like Lupe Fiasco changing the game. Changing the face of hip hop. I don't remember what day it was. It was probably sometime in the early the summer. I was on the living room couch, MacBook Pro propped on my lap, answering work emails and checking my Facebook. The television was on.
Live Nation rocks the music industry
Michael Rapino, CEO of Live Nation, is turning the music business on its head. The new company, a spin-off from Clear Channel Communications, plans to generate revenues from all aspects of an artist’s career. Rapino recently acquired Signatures Network and is planning to fire Ticketmaster, then build a network to sell tickets direct to fans.
Facebook Users Protest Online Tracking
The New York Times reports Facebook users have mounted another major campaign against the popular Web site. Over 50,000 users have rallied to sign an online petition against an advertising program Facebook recently implemented to track purchases Facebook users made from external Web sites. Those purchases would subsequently be published into publicly accesible news feeds viewable by anyone connected to that purchaser. Those against the program cited their concerns over privacy and the lack of a one-button click to opt out of the program.
As Facebook continues on its path to becoming one of the most powerful social networks online, it must continually weigh the balance between user privacy and programs to generate revenue. Although the Web site is considered similar to other social networks, it has led the user-generated genre in creating a more socially and politically active environment. Although the other social networks are copying Facebook’s features, Mark Zuckerburg’s network is considered superior in a way Google is considered superior to Yahoo!
Fortunately, Facebook is a private company able to react quickly to user concerns. The company has taken immediate steps to resolve the issue. You can read more at NYTimes.com by clicking the link below.
Universal's CEO Once Called iPod Users Thieves. Now He's Giving Songs Away
Wired writer Seth Mnookin chronicles the upset Universal Music Group CEO Doug Morris feels today about the digital revolution and the iTunes stranglehold Apple holds on the download music market. In an era of new technology, Morris is old school, and he shows it.
From the outside looking in, record labels helmed by men in their 70s (i.e. Morris, Davis) seem like foreign countries led by oligarchs. Crotchety old men yelling in the halls, "they must pay for everything," yet they once instructed their promo departments to ship hundreds of boxes of free CD's to mom & pop retail as a bribe so those stores would sell more and pocket the difference.
Get The Look of Lupe Fiasco's Superstar Video
MTV.com's Buzzworthy blog folks posted our StarStyle.com "Get The Look" widget of the styles from Lupe Fiasco's "Superstar" video. Visit MTV.com's blog or just select the styles from the widget below. You can also take the code and post it on your page by using the Get Code button. Enjoy!
The Selling of An Album: Jay-Z's American Gangster
Def Jam President and popular rap star, Jay-Z’s decision to sell his album in its entirety through various online outlets with the exception of iTunes sparks controversy. He claims he does not want his concept album downloaded as singles. Customers who pre-ordered the album on iTunes got the download, but that left others out in the cold on release day. Fast Company takes a look at the consequences.
Leona Lewis has the X-Factor for America
This week, Billboard Magazine reports J/RCA is set to release London's X-Factor winner, Leona Lewis' debut album, "Spirit," next Spring in the U.S.
The New Deal: Band as Brand
Jeff Leeds from the New York Times reports on "a new type of business relationship based on labels looking past the latest CD sales figures". My concern here--and it's a point the the article makes--is that major record labels are ill equipped and inexperienced to handle an artist's business beyond music sales, marketing and PR and music video production. As record labels based their business on tomorrow's chart numbers, managers and artists realize the labels may not have their best interests at heart. In my experience, when a label is approached by a brand to work their products into a music video, the label is seeking to meet some bottom line, quarterly number. On the other hand, manager's take great care to discuss the appropriate brand partnerships with their artists.