Next Big Sound (a/o June 18th):
Want to really break the file-hosting space? This is probably far more effective than raiding mansions in New Zealand. According to details first spilled by Torrentfreak, PayPal is now cutting off a number of file-hosting sites, including MediaFire, Putlocker, and DepositFiles. We've sporadically seen this type of squeeze-play in the past (think allofmp3), though it could represent a fresh tactic that also includes pressure against advertisers and payment processors.
Yes, there's more to Austin that SXSW and Austin City Limits. And, Run-D.M.C. didn't quite die that day. Now, the surviving members are slated to reunite at Fun Fun Fun Fest in Austin, which kicks off in early November. The group called it quits in 2002 following the senseless, shooting death of Jam Master Jay.
The whole 'evil' thing is now becoming a running joke. Just this week, Google settled a massive privacy suit involving the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), one that involved evasive, 'evil' cookies on Safari. The sneaky workaround allowed Google to deliver lots of ads, despite default privacy protections on the browser. The fine, at $22.5 million, represents the largest privacy-related settlement for the FTC.
Blame it on deep-discounting? Seattle Weekly writer Chris Kornelis has been digging through Nielsen Soundscan data for the first half, and found that catalog albums are actually outselling new releases. That is, 76.6 million catalog, 73.9 million current for the first six months of 2012.
Still hot? Songza is now getting pushed out of the top 10 app rankings, across both the iPhone and iPad. Meanwhile, Pandora remains on top, though Songza is aiming to make some noise with a freshly-released Android update that includes Concierge.
And yes, SPIN has now been acquired by Buzzmedia, as confirmed Tuesday. The deals includes the pulp magazine, SPIN.com, and other assets like apps.
Eventbrite has just inked a substantial ticketing partnership with Disco Donnie Presents, a major stab into the hyper-competitive, land-grabby EDM. That's an eye-opener for a number of larger competitors, most notably Live Nation and Ticketmaster.
The Frogs co-conspirator Dennis Flemion is now presumed dead. Flemion went missing in Wind Lake, in Racine, Wisconsin, and has likely drowned.
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