Tag Archives: music

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.

Album Reviews

1————>3———->5
Terrible———–>Fantastic

5
Cale, John Black Acetate
Various Artists Full Cycle Live 02
Glass, Philip Naqoyqatsi
Lady Sovereign Vertically Challenged
Size, Roni Return to V
Sonic Sunset Burning Love Breakdown (20051202)

4
Xerophonics Copying Machine Music
Death Cab for Cutie Plans
Quintron and Miss Pussycat Swamp Tech
Underworld RiverRun Project

3
Valley of the Giants Valley of the Giants
Air Moon Safari
DJ Jeff Maddox Trick Bitches
Liars It Fit When I Was A Kid
Matmos California Rhinoplasty
Omega One LoFi Chronicles
Various Artists Funk-Fu, Psycho Funk vs. Rare Grooves (1970-76)
Wobbly, People Like Us, and Matmos Wide Open Spaces

2
Vast Aire Look Mom…No Hands
Death Cab for Cutie We Have the Facts
Dirtbombs Dangerous Magical Noise
Various Artists Ghost in the Shell Megatech Body
Various Artists Ghost in the Shell, Stand Alone Complex, 02
White Stripes, The Walking With A Ghost

1
DJ Envy and Tapemasters Inc Down And Dirty, Part 05
DJ Exclusive Dretox
Various Artists Ghost in the Shell, Stand Alone Complex, 01
Various Artists Ghost in the Shell, Stand Alone Complex, Be Human
Various Artists Ghost in the Shell, Stand Alone Complex, GET9 Single
Moon, Sun Kil Tiny Cities