Next Big Sound (a/o May 24th):
Can't make the trek? Then let Couchella begin! YouTube is live-streaming the Coachella action starting today (Friday) at 3:50 pm PCT. More details here.
Because only music executives like doing lines. GrouponLive (which is Groupon + Live Nation) is now offering an option that allows fans to bypass lines at events, instead of redeeming vouchers of tickets. It's called G-Pass, and it's now moving out of beta across the US.
Which brings us to Soundsupply, the 'Groupon for Digital Music'. "We are a new startup that is aiming to be the internet's first music flash-sale site for indie music," founder Tim Mortenson explained. Soundsupply just added its "Supply Drop 2" of time-sensitive releases, more at soundsupp.ly.
Separately, Live Nation is now accused of accepting kickbacks of nearly $3 million from the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority since 2007, according to details unearthed as part of a legal action involving the New Jersey Star-Ledger. Then again, these kickbacks do not appear illegal, and are used to draw major artists. The softer parlance would be 'rebates...'
Do you smell something burning? Spotify just inked a deal to secure the entire Red Hot Chili Peppers catalog, though losses continue. CEO Daniel Ek recently confirmed to business publication Dagens Industri that year-2011 net losses hit $59.4 million, on revenues of roughly $250 million. This year, revenues will move towards $900 million, though losses will remain. "Our focus is all on growth. That is priority one, two, three, four and five. But of course we expect to make a profit in the long run," Ek stated.
It seemed like a good fit. Jay-Z's Rocawear clothing line will soon be available inside Yankee Stadium, part of a broader marketing alliance involving the team.
Who says scarcity is dead? Beyonce just published her first tweet ever on @beyonce, despite having the certified account for years. So, that's 1 tweet, and 3,835,854 followers, perhaps the greatest tweet-to-follower ratio to-date.
Google Music may be getting dogged by media conjecture, but the broader financial picture remains stellar. The company just reported a 24 percent bump in first-quarter revenues to $2.89 billion, as well as a 2-for-1 proposed stock split.
Can we make it more 'epic sounding'? Neil Davidge (Massive Attack) has just completed the musical score to Halo 4. Davidge, a Kobalt Music client, was tapped by 343 Entertainment and Microsoft (teaser trailer here).
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