Tag Archives: Apple

DLing Under The Radar

Here is one more example of the mismanagement of the music industry and its inability to grasp the money possible through accepting and promoting file-based music (remember, CDs are digital, too):

Apple Isn’t The Only One With 1 Billion Downloads

Posted Feb 26th 2006 4:11AM by Sharky Laguana
Most of us couldn’t help but notice thenews this week that Apple had just completed it’s one billionth download, certainly a milestone in the digital music industry. But what about the other company that just celebrated the same? Perhaps you weren’t aware that TouchTunes, a maker of digital jukeboxes since 1998, has also downloaded over 1 billion tracks, and they did it with just 16 thousand jukeboxes, as comapred to Apple’s customer base of 42 million. Like iTunes, TouchTunes is a dominant player in it’s chosen niche, and is said to have an estimated 75 per cent share of the digital jukebox market. Learn something new every day, dontchya?

Two points to be made: (1) I am certain these boxes make more money per machine than non-downloading machines because they have access to so many more tracks; that means more money for the artists (ha) and music industry; (2) Here is a solid example of why the music industry should have recognized the profit potential of file-based music and why it should continue to push the direction.

Miscellaneous: Music

I prefer content and posts with a coherent theme, but I have a couple of bits that I thought were interesting. Here they are:

(1) Sony BMG creates a music label for LGBT artists

I came across this story in The New York Times, but could not find a satisfactory account of it anywhere. Basically, Sony Music Label Group, a unit of Sony BMG Music Entertainment, is partnering with Wilderness Media, which works with MTV on LOGO, to create a LGBT-oriented music label named Music with a Twist. The label has not signed artists, but is preparing compilations with LGBT artists and LGBT-themed music. For a second I almost stopped disliking Sony BMG. For more, do the usual News.Google search.

(2) Korn has entered an unusual contract with its music label and concert promotors

Under the terms of the arrangement, Live Nation Inc. will share far more than is typical for a promoter, which normally receives a cut of the band’s box-office sales but little else. Instead, the company is paying roughly $3 million for an estimated 6 percent stake in the band’s box office, licensing, publishing, merchandise and CD revenue for its recently released album, “See You on the Other Side,” and its next album, music industry executives involved in the deal say. Live Nation will also be the exclusive promoter of Korn’s concerts in the United States.

The deal reflects a new twist on relationships that generally involve only two players. Music acts sign contracts with record labels to distribute their CD’s; the acts strike separate deals with concert promoters to market their live performances. The labels and promoters historically have not shared in each other’s earnings, but under Korn’s arrangement with Live Nation – and an earlier all-encompassing pact that the band struck with the music giant EMI Group – the money will flow into one shared pot. The three-way partnership is the latest example of how the various players in the music business are scrambling to keep pace with a shifting market.

(3) Killing the iPod

In 2005’s Q4, Apple sold more than 100 iPods per minute (sorry, no linked articles on this). That’s amazing. It’s time to stop underestimating the iPod and to stop referring to “iPod killers.” Just as no one beat the Walkman in terms of sales and cred, no one will beat the iPod for digital audio players. In addition, iTunes downloads are out of this world, and enjoying 83 percent of all online music sales (again, no linked articles; pulled from Jobs’ keynote). Total online music downloads hit more than 1 million in the last week of the year. Check out music sales for 2005; the turning tide is impressive. It is also worth noting that P2P file sharing has doubled since the RIAA began filing lawsuits against its customers.

(4) Copyrights keeping older music down and out

Without diving into the storm surrounding copyrights, the Library of Congress found 84 percent of recordings from before 1965 can not be reissued without permission from the copyright holder, which is usually the original music label. That partially contributes to another finding that more than 70 percent of US music recorded before 1965 is not legally available in the US.

Making The Switch, Kinda: The Story And Useful Software

In early November I bought my first Apple, a 12 inch PowerBook. The inclusion of a Mac into my computing family is less of a switch and more of a diversity situation, as I am still running machines with Microsoft Windows XP (Pro and Home) and Red Hat Fedora Core 4.

I wanted a laptop so I could work while on the road (a frequent but not usual occurrence), at a coffeeshop, or my backyard. I’m glad I did, but I’m also glad that I have a desktop to compliment the laptop lifestyle.

There are a couple of reasons why I went Apple. One is that I was growing tired of Windows. The desire to spice up my OS life may be a result of the fact that I have primarily used DOS/Windows machines my entire computing life (since mid-1990s), but it was also because I was becoming frustrated with Windows Updates and virus issues. I gave Linux in the forms FC3, FC4, and Ubuntu (The Breezy Badger) a go, but found the hardware problems and update utilities to be both problematic and a hassle.

A second reason why I made the switch was because I wanted to become familiar with OS X. I was promised by several people that interoperability issues were largely solved, although I experienced some basic problems within the last couple of years (on OS 9 machines, however). In particular, ZS’ success and happiness with his switch gave me the extra push to take the plunge (Note: He e-mailed 20051128 to say that he’s having some odd problems).

So far, I am happy. I have had no problems integrating it into my networks (home and work, both of which are Windows dominated) and interoperability issues have been zero, although I have mainly used it for only Web and word processing tasks.
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