Prince, the industry Outcast

I hate to say this, but Prince has done it again. In a move that has found him isolated from his music industry bretheren, Prince gave away copies of his newest CD on the cover of a tabloid newspaper. Talk about cutting edge.

It appears that Prince realizes that recorded music is losing it's value in the eyes of the consumer faster than you can say "pirated download". Yet instead of threatening lawsuits, and legal action against the so called thieves, he has taken a higher road and given the music away. You can imagine what a slap in the face this was to his record label, Sony BMG UK, who is responsible for the marketing and sales of his newest release. In fact, the label has decided to cancel the sales launch in light of the giveaway.

The recording, titled "Planet Earth", was set for release today (July 16, 2007) in the United Kingdom, and July 24, 2007 in the U.S.

See the whole Story Here.

COMMENT: The Decline of the Music Business.

In a recent Rolling Stone report, the magazine looked at the ever declining Record business, and how industry experts are proposing the new era of the music industry should look. They have five or so suggestions for the record labels to help them succeed in the digital age. And although they had some great suggestions, I would like to offer my insight to the conundrum.

First and Foremost - Rolling Stone had a suggestion that all music should be offered "ad-supported". This meant that music downloads should basically be free for the consumer while generating advertising revenue at all of the free music outlets. While this might seem like a good idea there are a few flaws to the logic, and I don't see it being the savior of the dying labels. The ad-revenue will just not be enough, and what's to say once person A gets the music for free he won't just email the .mp3 file to all his friends who will never even see the advertising, or visit the outlet.

Essentially the problem is the value of music in the digital age has become nearer and nearer to zero all the time. Prior to the CD and the .mp3, recorded music had value if only because it was the highest quality recording. Every time a consumer made a copy of a recorded piece of music - the quality was worse, and worse so the original had an intrinsic value. Not so today - any Joe Schmoe with a computer can created the highest quality lossless copy of original recordings and give them away essentially de-valuing the original. Why would I pay for the CD when the only thing of real value anymore is the artwork? The simple answer to this: Make all music free to the consumer. It is the only answer.

Think of it in these terms, if music has no monetary value anymore, why must I keep "selling it"? Instead, why not find some other value for it? I could see giving away music as a huge marketing campaign supporting all the other offerings an artist has at their disposal. Licensing, product endorsements, live performance; these are all things that can and do support artists everyday without ever selling records. It means that instead of trying to market and sell an item that has no value (recorded music), the artists would market and sell something else that does have value, themselves. They would become their own brand, and generate revenue from this source. And what better way to make sure everyone in the world knew who you were, than to give something away for free?

What do you think is the answer for the music business? Leave a comment and discuss...

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NEWS: Radiohead Album "Almost There"

The infinitely complex nature of Radiohead. The band that went from obscure noisemakers, to epic Rock Gods with the release of their 1997 album "Ok Computer", only to find themselves back in obscurity in the present day.

However, for those of you that love to divulge themselves in the bands catalog now and again, you will be pleased to know that their seventh release to date is "Almost There". According to the web log of information at deadairspace the album is nearing completion in the studio, ready fot the finishing touches of mastering.

Stanley Donwood, the band's incredibly talented artist and web guru, described the band's new music as "almost embarrassingly minimal" with "lot's of bass". Thom Yorke, the moody paranoid frontman has described the newest work as "similar to OK Computer in a way but much more terrifying."

So exactly when can we expect to be blessed by this newest release. It appears that the band must first pen a deal with a new label, as "Hail to The Chief" marked the end of they relationship with the giant EMI. Besides that minor detail everything else looks in order.

Radiohead is: Thom Yorke, Jonny Greenwood, Ed O'Brien, Colin Greenwood, Phil Selway

Find Radiohead at
radiohead.com

Original Story: Spin.com

Jessica Simpson - Joins the Army

Now what is the world coming to. In the most recent news from the mystical land they call Hollywood, Jessica Simpson the former flame of Mr. Nick Lachey, and current ex-bounce of the all to well known John Mayer, has penned a deal to start in an upcoming movie about a Blonde Bombshell who joins the Army. The movie - called "Major Movie Star" (ha ha - we're all laughing our freakin heads off) is supposed to be a comedy, and is due to start shooting in June.

Now for the Commentary - I only have one thing to say: "What the frick were/are they thinking." I would like to meet the writer who diligently spent hours and hours hunched over a dark desk, draining all his/her thoughts onto a blank sheet of paper to write this epic bard. Then - what producer in his right mind would throw millions into making a movie like this. And lastly, I want to know - WHO PICKED JESSICA! Haven't we all learned from the last movie endeavor that there is not a much in the way of anything goin on upstairs there.

The deal, apparently negotiated by all star manager/dad/creepy fella Joe Simpson is one of three movie deals Jessica is looking into right now. And if you can believe it - at least one other movie actually had the word "Blonde" in the title. I know I never would have thought of it.

Jessica has also said that she is taking a break from doing any major recording, as her heart is still heavy over the "recent" breakup between her and Nick.

Enough said.

NEWS: Courtney Love to sell Kurt's Belonging's

In an effort to rid herself of the memories of her late husband, and to finally move on from his death 13 years ago, Courtney Love is holding an auction at Christie's where she will sell off all of Kurt's old things.

"My daughter doesn't need to inherit a giant... bag full of flannel... shirts," Love quoted the AOL website Spinner.com. She plans to leave her daughter with a sweater, a guitar, and the [presumed original] lyrics to "Smells Like Teen Spirit", as a memory of the father she never really knew.

There is no date set for the auction, but we'll keep you posted.

Original Story

News: Raconteurs Recording Another Album

According to Billboard News, the Raconteurs are busy recording another album at Blackbird Studio in Nashville, TN. The album, which as of yet is unnamed is the groups second album following up their successful "Broken Boy Soldiers" released in 2006.

Jack White, of the White Stripes and acting producer for the groups claims this song list is "very different" from their original album, but he is very pleased with what the band is producing. They currently have 12 songs written at this time, and are trying to finish recording in a three week window, before the members get along with their busy schedules.

The album should be complete sometime next year.

The Raconteurs are: Jack White of the White Stripes, Brendan Benson, and Jack Lawrence and Patrick Keeler of The Greenhornes.

News: Smashing Pumpkins, "Zeitgeist" Track List

The Smashing Pumpkins, one of the most successful alternative rock bands of the 90's disbanded, after their epic farewell concert in 2000 at Chicago's Metro, the same place their career started in 1988. Each of the band's members went their separate ways to do solo work and focus on their own careers.

But in a year where miracles happen, the Band has pulled together (much like the Police), and is getting set to release a whole new album entitled "Zeitgeist" on July 7, 2007. According to the Billboard news release, the album is chock full of rock and roll reminiscent of their earlier days, and should be everything that the fans are waiting for.

The track list as announced, is as follows:

"Doomsday Clock"
"7 Shades of Black"
"Orchid"
"That's the Way"
"Tarantula"
"Starz"
"United States"
"Never Lost"
"Bring the Light"
"Come On (Let's Go)"
"For God and Country"
"Pomp and Circumstance"

The band, who's only known returning members include frontman Billy Corgan and original drummer Jimmy Chamberlin, will kick off a European Festival tour with a show at the Grand Rex Theatre in Paris on May 22. Their first show in the US will be on July 7 at the Live Earth concert in East Rutherford, N.J.


Original Story at Billboard.com

Bono, The Edge, and Spiderman on Broadway

It has been reported that Marvel Comics is preparing a musical based on the popular graphic novel "Spideman". According to Billboard.com - preparations are underway, writing is taking place, auditions are being held... It's really on. The musical will be directed by Tony award winner Julie Taymor.

Now - apart from the fact that U2 has built a solid career of rock and roll music. I can't help but think, a musical? Really? Not withstanding the musical "Tommy" which featured the musical endeavors of the Who, I wonder what Bono is thinking. Perhaps he has some time on his hand from his busy schedule of saving the world, and needed another creative outlet for his bored mind.

All in all I guess we will just have to wait and see. As for me... I'm not holding my breath.

Read the entire Article here.
Find U2 here.

Music Sales Down, But are we Concerned?

In a news report by the Recording industry Association of America RIAA, it seems that there has been quite a bit of growth in the digital download sector of the music market, however overall sales continue to decline. According to the report, there were 586 million songs downloaded through online music stores last year, which represented a 60% increase over 2005. Overall value of the record industry was only $11.5 billion which represented a 6% decline over 2005. The hardest hit market being the Latin market, which posted a 21.3% decline.

$11.5 billion. As one comes to think about it, that is a very large number. I will give them a little credit since that is well below the peak number of $45 billion mark of 1997. But still - $11.5 billion. Perhaps it would be easier to care if there were a little less greed plaguing the market all around.

We all know it, and we all see it. Tell me it's no difficult to muster up some sympathy when we see major recording artists every day living a life of opulent luxury. Partying, lavish spending trips, and over the top spending is common place amongst the wealthy music industry elite. And yet there are many people all over the world starving to death, many of them musicians themselves!

I guess it just seems unfair to me, that the music industry greed keeps the rich getting richer. In fact, It is my thought that with a little less greed, the exec's at the major labels might even see sales go up. It is just a thought, but if these super rich artists and executives were able to dismount from their high horse and spread the wealth a little, more people might be more willing to support their cause. It's their call though.

Humanitarian Madonna?

Oh the joy of being a follower. Don't do anything for yourself, simply follow what others have done. In recent weeks it appears that Madonna, the Pop-Icon-Diva who is most notably known for her song entitled "Like a Virgin", has been frequenting the Malawi Province of Africa for many humanitarian endeavors.

First following the example of the movie-iconess Angelina Jolie, Madonna adopted a son saving him from a life of poverty whilst bringing him into a life of opulence and instant fame. For sure there are more pictures of her newest addition, David Banda than of Tom and Katie's alien child.

Secondly, it appears Madonna is currently back in Malawi overseeing the construction of a children's health care center. Already during her visit, she has met the natural father of her new found love, and made him a part of her family too (although not with the paper to back it). It has also been rumored that she has plans to build yet another mansion in Malawi where she would like to spend up to a month out of the year getting to know the heritage of her son.

Now I do not in any way discount the good that the actions of these humanitarian stars is doing. It is obviously raising the awareness of the human condition in such places as Africa and Eur-Asia. It is obviously helping out individual communities when the celebrities visit and adopt, and spread their good fortune. But are they the saints they self-proclaim themselves to be? Or, are they simply following an economic trend that will gain them publicity like non other. We all know that a celebrity is only a celebrity if they are being talked about by the general public. How much of these humanitarian causes is actually, well humanitarian.

News to Use: Steve Jobs, Apple speaks out against DRM

DRM. Digital Rights Management. That Pesky little thing that plagues the Digital Music Consumer world-wide. It is the thing that prevents a user from purchasing music from a store such as iTunes, and transferring it to another computer, or putting it on another music player such as the Zune. Heard of it?

In a bold statement yesterday, placed upon the main page of the Apple computer website, Steve Jobs, CEO spoke out against DRM as it pertained to the digital music store iTunes. "Imagine a world where every online store sells DRM-free music encoded in open licensable formats. In such a world, any player can play music purchased from any store, and any store can sell music which is playable on all players. This is clearly the best alternative for consumers." Steve said in his statement. He later quotes statistics that show the Big 4 record companies selling 10 times as much music DRM free through standard issue CD's than through digital outlets such as iTunes.

According to Steve, the record Companies should stop requiring the sale of DRM music at all. "Why would the big four music companies agree to let Apple and others distribute their music without using DRM systems to protect it? The simplest answer is because DRMs haven’t worked, and may never work, to halt music piracy." he says.

To read the entire article, click here.

All quotes copyright Steve Jobs, Apple Computer. All rights reserved.