Tuesday, June 26, 2007

snapshot 6/26/07

Study: iPhone for Apple, not music lovers
http://www.ipodnn.com/articles/07/06/26/iphone.for.apple.lovers/
A new study released Monday suggests that very few consumers use mobile phones to play musical tracks, and that Apple's iPhone is unlikely to fuel a resurgence in mobile music. "While the iPhone could raise consumer awareness of, and interest in, music phones from other manufacturers and mobile operators, it is more likely to attract a unique market segment, hard for competitors to emulate," research director Joe Laszlo said. "Apple fans and status seekers will rush out for a first generation iPhone; music fans will probably wait a while."


National Day of Silence for Internet radio
http://www.last100.com/2007/06/26/national-day-of-silence-for-internet-radio/
If you try to “tune in” to many Internet radio stations and online music services today, and hear nothing, here’s why: protesting against an impending royalty rate increase that, if implemented, would lead to many services having to shut down, webcasters across the US are holding a national Day of Silence.

As well as smaller webcasters, many big name stations and music services have joined the protest, including Yahoo!, Live365, Rhapsody, MTV Online, and Pandora.


Does a move to online singles liberate bands or just tie them to a new, barren orthodoxy?
http://technology.guardian.co.uk/news/story/0,,2111516,00.html
According to the press release, it's all about blazing a trail for a "radical new music industry business model". Stripping back the corporate-speak, the story becomes clear enough. The Northern Irish rock trio Ash have vowed to never release another album, and to devote their lives instead to a succession of downloadable singles. "When you're tied to the album format," said their singer and songwriter Tim Wheeler, "you find yourself waiting six months between finishing a record and releasing it. By leaving this behind, we can enter a new phase of spontaneity and creativity."


Jump-Starting Mobile Music in the US

http://weblogs.jupiterresearch.com/analysts/card/archives/2007/06/jumpstarting_mo.html
JupiterResearch estimates that nearly 28 million music phones will be in US consumers' hands at the end of 2007. However, if use follows the precedent set by ring tones, only a modest percentage of consumers will actually listen to music on their phones.

Approximately 20 percent of online consumers are impulse music purchasers. This segment, already reasonably engaged in mobile music activities, represents the best target for becoming regular users of OTA music stores or services. Tying into key purchase motivators, such as radio play and friends' recommendations, can help drive OTA impulse music purchases more broadly.


Listen to the Music; Today's "MP3 players" recognize a variety of music file formats. In fact, it is more appropriate to call them portable media players, or PMPs.
http://www.contentagenda.com/articleXml/LN621796992.html?nid=3038
The popular "MP3 player" moniker has been around for a decade now, but it describes an Apple iPod about as completely as "patent office clerk" describes Albert Einstein. Today's "MP3 players" recognize a variety of music file formats. In fact, it is more appropriate to call them portable media players, or PMPs. They store and display photos and documents, play videos, and come equipped (many of them) with FM tuners and voice and radio recorders. And now Wi-Fi is making its way into several PMPs (and being utilized in several different manners).


Is the CD Becoming Obsolete?
http://www.audioholics.com/news/industry-news/is-the-cd-becoming-obsolete.html
Glancing at a report on Forbes.com this morning, there was an article showing that CD sales are expected to be down 20% 2008 (slightly higher than the 15% drop initially predicted). Why such a drop? Well, there has been a recorded drop of 18% so far in 2007 and the trend seems to be steady and indicative of future trending.

While overall music sales is expected to drop by about 9% in both 2007 and 2008, what's truly happening (according to this report) is a gradual shift away from physical media to downloadable formats. What this indicates, so far, is that US sales of digital music will be growing at an estimated rate of 28% in 2008, however physical sales will drop even further, resulting in a net overall decline.


Toshiba to Bundle Vongo with Laptops
http://www.betanews.com/article/Toshiba_to_Bundle_Vongo_with_Laptops/1182874643
Computer manufacturer Toshiba said Tuesday that it will begin bundling a free 30-day trial of Starz Vongo movie service with its Satellite or Qosmio laptop computers in the US beginning in July. The company will place an icon on the desktop of its computers as part of the agreement to allow consumers to register for their trials of the service. Starz typically charges $9.99 USD per month for access to Vongo.


Old Stars, New Music, New Money
http://www.forbes.com/home/media/2007/06/25/music-recording-sony-biz-media-cx_lh_0626older.html
As sales of recorded music continue to their alarming decline, record labels are searching for underserved market niches. Sony BMG and Universal Music Group think they've found one: They believe there's new money in new music from old stars. Forbes online takes a interesting look at how several major labels are creating new imprints to release new CD's by classic artists.


Fairtilizer - New Online Music Service
http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/fairtilizer_new_online_music_service.php
which is an online music community aspiring to define a new generation of music media. The premise behind this startup is that user generated music media is a threshold where online recommendations, distribution, artists and labels will pass the traditional TV, radio and print vehicles. In a not-so-new venue Fairtilizer, early on, has the key element for a successful music startup – some killer artists.

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