Next Big Sound (a/o May 24th):
Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC2012) is now descending upon San Francisco. Chitter-chatter surrounds a newly-unveiled iOS6, more on OS X Mountain Lion, updates to an Apple-grown mapping app (instead of Google's) and Siri
it improvements. CEO Tim Cook will preside, and of course, a rumors of a new iPhone are also simmering.
Perhaps catastrophes like the Indiana State Fair and Pukkelpop are causing promoters to err on the side of caution. Accordingly, Electric Daisy Carnival organizers reacted quickly to high winds in Las Vegas on Saturday night. Attendees were initially shuttled into the bleachers at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, and the gates were closed before the entire evening was cancelled. Saturday tickets were accepted for the Sunday night event, in which tamer weather prevailed.
Across the country, Bonnaroo was stuffed with names like Skrillex, Alice Cooper, Phish, Radiohead, Questlove, D'Angelo, GZA, Childish Gambino, Kenny Rogers, Bon Iver, and the Beach Boys. It was also live-streamed on YouTube, just like Coachella before it.
The race for centralized and distributed media management continues. Qualcomm Atheros has just launched its Skifta Engine, usable by device manufacturers to create mobile-based, media distribution solutions for DNLA-enabled devices. We're currently testing Skifta; more ahead.
On the publishing side, the Netherlands-based Fintage House has entered into an investment and strategic partnership with UK-based Rights Agency Limited. Fintage specializes in publishing rights across film, music, and tv, including digital; the combination will widen the collective footprint in neighboring rights.
Fanzy, a Facebook-focused, social loyalty rewards engine, now has 20,000 brands using its platform add-on. Sony Music Entertainment is among the bigger names.
Our bad: we misspelled Azealia Banks last week (also, it's pretty easy to misspell 'misspelled' for added embarrassment).
Insert angry major label artist here. The latest is Fiona Apple, whose team is fighting label Epic/Sony to stop meddling in her latest album marketing campaign. Perhaps the irony is obvious, as is the ominipresent present-day dysfunctionality.
Are aliens stealing our music? That's the focus of Listen.com (and ultimately Rhapsody) founder-turned-author Rob Reid, who tongue-in-cheeks the possibility of some seriously, 'Universal' sized piracy. Year Zero hits shelves July 10th.
© 2013 All Rights Reserved
Follow Us