Next Big Sound (a/o May 16th):
It's becoming a predictable routine. Wall Street once again hammered Pandora on Thursday following fresh reports of an oncoming competitor. This time, Bloomberg pointed to an Apple-brewed interactive radio launch by early 2013, based on progressing major label talks.
But it looks like Pandora is also making friends. Like the Digital Media Association (DiMA), part of the freshly-formed Internet Radio Fairness Coalition. The group includes AccuRadio, Clear Channel, Pandora, and Radio Paradise, among others. Now, the lobbying amplifies on the Internet Radio Fairness Act of 2012 (IRFA), which aims to normalize royalty rates across most radio platforms. The current system forces internet radio to pay larger royalties than other types of digital radio, though whether IRFA is ultimately shorting artists remains a serious debate.
Megaupload - the old Megaupload, that is - probably won't be returning in the near future. Earlier this month, Megaupload filed a request to temporarily dismiss the indictment against the company in order to "try to rehabilitate itself," including a resuscitation that would allow some former members to recover uploaded files. However, the US Government just submitted its opposition to the motion because Megaupload had initially sworn that it would not return, and rehabilitation implies an intention to relaunch the site. More here.
Mark Cuban's AXS TV, launched in July, is doggedly pursuing its concert-focused programming philosophy. AXS will exclusively broadcast a Counting Crows concert from this year's SXSW on Sunday, November 4th; more filmed gigs ahead.
Version 1.2 of Sony Entertainment's Music Unlimited iPhone and iPod touch app is now available for download. Aside from a redesign, it features two new components: My Channels allows you to create channels based around an artist and Playlist Management allows you to edit playlists directly on the device.
Alicia Keys has now launched an interactive app for kids. Keys also produced the music for "The Journals of Mama Mae and LeeLee," which allows users to read books, play music, and write in a journal.
Republic Records announced the release of At the BBC, a CD and DVD collection of live performances of Amy Winehouse. It is scheduled to be out on November 13th.
The Electronic Dance Music Network has now launched with aims to "bring the sound of EDM to as many people as possible," according to CEO Jason Muir. The Network is a collaboration of sites tailored to meet the demands of artists and listeners across the genre and industry. EDMN will deliver high-quality coverage of music and events, in order to "make it much more popular." Member sites include house.net, trancemusic.net, electro.net, and more.
Is the iPad the latest technological trend for DJs and music entertainers? To add functionality and style, Native Union has created the versatile Gripster, which serves as a grip, stand, handle, and provides 360-degree rotation.
Visitor Friday, October 26, 2012
Yes, the old mega is dead, but here comes the new one:
http://torrentfreak.com/new-megaupload-to-launch-on-police-raid-anniversary-121026/
However, it may become a valuable source of income for content owners:
Pirates who upload stolen files are provided with a "decryption key giving them sole responsibility for who can have future use of their files".
That presents a lot of possibilities for identifying and suing the uploaders directly.
Columbia College Chicago Friday, October 26, 2012
I'm not sure how IRFA wouldn't be bad for artists. It reduces the rate that a website operator has to pay out to give them parity with a business that had to launch a satellite in order to get their business off the ground (pun intended). They are completely different entities, so I don't understand why we would license them the same way.
Also, the language in the Act that restricts SoundExchanges right to communicate with their members is pretty awful.
http://tinyurl.com/9uefya6
I don't think there's any debate. We are all pretty clearly lined up on either side of the issue. Now it comes down to who can buy more legislators to pass it or stop it.
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