snapshot 11/21/07

Will Media Players Sing New Tune?
As with past holiday seasons, the biggest choice consumers have to make is whether to get a music player from market leader Apple or the other guys. But companies such as Microsoft SanDisk and Creative Technology continue to fight for market share. Apple's rivals have accepted the idea that being No. 2 to Apple in the market isn't such a bad thing.


TuneCore Deepens Proposition, Broadens Into Music Videos
Digital distributor TuneCore is now expanding into music videos, a nice addition to its existing audio offering. The company offers quick distribution into a range of ecommerce outlets - most importantly iTunes - and charges a fee for the privilege. The one-stop vehicle stocks the shelves for artists, though the company stops short of crafting label-level marketing campaigns and strategies like competitors IODA or The Orchard.

The first video distributed by TuneCore was "Love Is My Religion" by Ziggy Marley. One-time video distribution fees start at $85, and like the rest of the service, artists reap 100 percent of store-specific revenues.


Delivery options expand for music, audio
It's getting harder to buy the gift of music or an audio book for someone you love, especially if they're in their tween, teen or twentysomething years. CD and cassette tape players are no longer a prime component of techno-savvy youth culture. All their popular culture is stored on an iPod (or equivalent), a mobile phone and a computer.

Sure, you could buy someone a generic gift card or a better phone plan for whatever downloads they choose, but how personal of a present is that? What does it say about your taste, your desire to share some meaningful work of art? Some new marketing/packaging solutions could resolve this dilemma, making both you and (it is hoped) your gift recipient happy. TUNING UP: While only a handful of titles are available on the new iTunes digital album card format, major labels like Sony/BMG and EMI are excited about the potential of this new music gift and delivery device.


Apple on track to sell 25 million iPods this quarter
After analyzing October sales data from market research firm NPD, investment bank Piper Jaffray said Wednesday it expects Apple will sell a record 25 million iPods during the three-month period ending December.


Songs included in Guitar Hero 3 see a dramatic leap in digital sales
Ars Technica has had a chance to look at Soundscan's sales figures for some of the tracks included in Guitar Hero 3 before and after the game's release, and it's crystal clear that having your music included in a Guitar Hero game means increased sales for labels and bands.

Take The Strokes' track "Reptilia" as an example. The week GH III was released, "Reptilia" sold 127 percent more digital copies than it had the week before. The following week saw another 96 percent jump in sales. That number stayed high the next week as well, as the song saw a modest 3 precent increase. The story was similar for Slipknot's track "Before I Forget." That song jumped up 75 percent the week of the game's release, and an impressive 140 percent the week after.