September 28, 2006

September 22, 2006

Labels: 1980s, 1983, Apple, Friday Flashback Fun, Kevin Costner

September 21, 2006

The iPod's shuffle feature also has sparked interest from a cadre of random-number experts and enthusiasts such as Mr. Haahr. I spoke to a few of them, including people behind several of the Web's major sources for random numbers, and found no definitive answer -- yet -- about iPod's claim to randomness, though I did learn that any computer algorithm for randomizing information can never be truly random. (An Apple spokesman said the iPod shuffles randomly, but declined to reveal details about its methods.)

September 20, 2006

So, let's say a newfangled recommender takes off. What are the implications? First, the large-scale "depackaging" already initiated by the advent of the iPod would be expedited. Bands would spend less time on sequencing since a computer would be combing songs for individual characteristics that have nothing to do with the rest of the record. Musical content would "float" in libraries, waiting to be scooped up by a recommender.

Therein lies a rarely discussed part of digital music's appeal. Sure, the Internet has revolutionized the spread of information and all that high-minded stuff, but its combination of reach and anonymity also makes it the greatest enabler of guilty pleasures ever invented. Indulgence is just a click away, and nobody needs to know, except you and some server somewhere. (At least you hope; iTunes and other legal digital-music services promise to guard your privacy.)

September 19, 2006

Revenues from prepaid cards and promotions are deferred and then recognized as (i) tracks are downloaded by the end users, (ii) if redeemed for a subscription, over the subscription period or (iii) when Napster has no further obligation to provide services or refund the associated prepayments ("prepaid card breakage"). As of June 30, 2006, we have not had sufficient historical experience to estimate prepaid card breakage rates, so we recognize prepaid card breakage when our obligation to honor the redemption of the prepaid cards or promotions has legally expired. During the first quarter of fiscal 2007, based on the resolution of certain legal restrictions associated with previously sold prepaid cards, we recognized $2.2 million of prepaid card breakage, of which $1.9 million relates to cards that were subject to expiration based on their term prior to 2007 but had other legal restrictions that precluded our recognition of revenue. The remaining $300,000 was related to cards that expired during the first quarter of fiscal 2007.

September 18, 2006

There's no mystery here that what they've done is worth copying and improving on," Eli Harari, chief executive of SanDisk, says of Apple's approach to digital music.

Despite Apple's imposing lead, its rivals believe they may be able to win over consumers -- including large numbers of people who haven't already bought digital music players -- by offering products with features that aren't currently available from Apple. For example, Microsoft's new digital music device, Zune, has the ability to wirelessly share music, something iPods don't currently do. RealNetworks, for its part, plans to load SanDisk players with 30 hours music from artists like Coldplay, Jay-Z and the Rolling Stones (the songs can be played for 30 days, or longer if users become paying customers of Rhapsody).

The agreement, to take effect before the end of the year, illustrates YouTube's push to tackle the thorny copyright issues facing it and other sites that allow users to upload video content. YouTube is developing an automated system to digitally identify copyrighted music and video uploaded by its users. It will then give a percentage of revenue from any ads that appear alongside those videos on YouTube's Web site, if their owners have agreements with YouTube and opt for that rather than having the videos removed.

The closely held San Mateo, Calif., startup said it would extend that system to other copyright owners beyond Warner Music.

"Warner Music Group becomes the first media company working with us to truly embrace the power of user-generated content and allow users to use their content in legal ways, and be able to benefit by generating revenue," said YouTube Chief Executive Chad Hurley.

September 15, 2006

Labels: 1980s, 1983, Apple, Friday Flashback Fun, IBM

September 14, 2006

I suspect that in many respects eMusic is "hit driven" as well, it's just that the "hits" are in the context of particular non-mainstream genres. Certainly from my own perspective I disproportionately download albums from eMusic based on their promotion on the eMusic front page, by the columnists for eMusic Magazine, and in the various "eMusic Dozens" lists. By contrast I rarely use the "so-and-so also likes" recommendations on individual album pages, and have never downloaded anything based on what my supposed "eMusic neighbors" are listening to.

Now, never in a million years would I have gone to Google and done a search on "sultry-voiced chanteuse doing an acoustic cover of an anthem of gangsta rap." Yet, that's exactly what I found...and I love it.

The key point here: if your niche in the Long Tail is truly one-of-a-kind, it may be so unique that no one would ever even dream to search for what it contains. The only way someone will find it is through collaborative filtering (a la Amazon) or through word-of-mouth recommendations from a trusted source that traverse the tail.

September 13, 2006

The top 10 best-selling classical "songs" on iTunes show exactly this split between calm and stormy. The list also shows an unhealthy obsession with Andrea Bocelli, the blind Italian tenor whose voice adds entire new dimensions to the word lackluster. While he tried to sing both straight classical and crossover material in the mid-'90s, he now plies a musical river that's lined with lira alone these days. And since he's appeared on American Idol, he's hit the jackpot. Recently, I downloaded all the Bocelli and non-Bocelli tracks and spent an afternoon coming to grips with what really sells.

September 12, 2006

September 11, 2006

September 07, 2006

September 05, 2006

On Tuesday, classical label Naxos will unveil a dozen new albums in a line it's calling MPkey. The albums are packaged in CD-sized boxes and will be placed on store shelves at Borders. Inside each box, however, customers will find not a CD but a card with an access code and a booklet of instructions for downloading the album from eMusic, an online music store and Naxos's partner on the series.

The partners are betting the music department of a major retail chain is an ideal place to recruit customers who haven't yet jumped the digital divide. The enclosed step-by-step instructions could make the process less daunting for first-time downloaders.

Want the CD booklet to go with your digital downloads? Just forward us your iTunes e-mail receipt or a link to your downloaded albums page in your eMusic profile, along with your mailing address, and we'll send you the complete CD artwork free of charge.

September 01, 2006

There are three questions that come to mind anytime I see a new music site:

- Is it iPod compatible?

- How intrusive are the commercials?

- How restrictive is the DRM?

The answers to these often determine how successful the site will become. In SpiralFrog's case, the answers are no, not sure yet, and somewhat.

Labels: 1980s, 1983, Friday Flashback Fun, record stores