Wednesday, December 26, 2007

snapshot 12/21/07

DMX back in business with new label deal
After being released from his Sony Music deal earlier this year, rapper DMX has signed a deal with the music division of Canadian online gaming company Bodog Entertainment. The rapper plans to release his next two albums, "Walk With Me Now" and "You'll Fly With Me Later" in 2008.


And the Next Starbucks Release Is ... Kenny G
Starbucks is now planning to co-release a Kenny G album with Concord Records, its longtime partner-in-crime. The album, Rhythm and Romance, is a collection of Latin-influenced love songs slated for release in early February. "It is a great pleasure to work with Kenny G and our friends at Concord to co-release Rhythm and Romance," said Kenneth Lombard, president of Starbucks Entertainment.


Downward Sales Spiral Intensifies, Floorspace Threatened
Album sales declines are only intensifying this quarter, and that could further threaten floorspace next year. Just recently, Pali Research analyst Richard Greenfield pointed to year-over-year declines of more than 25 percent - for the second straight week. And every weekly reporting period since Thanksgiving has featured a decline of greater than 20 percent. "Given that the holiday season is the most important selling period of the year for the industry (with Q4 now destined to be the industry's weakest quarter this year), we are increasingly concerned with floorspace reductions from large retailers in 2008," Greenfield opined on Thursday.


Microsoft patent could force downloaders to view commercials
A new patent application filed by Microsoft describes methods for "enforcing" advertisements in downloaded media. Traditionally, ads accompany streaming content and, by extension, restrict that content to a browser. But technology that could bring ads to downloaded content would open up new opportunities for digital distribution services, advertisers, and consumers, and could give DRM a whole new leg to stand on.


Pumpkins go acoustic for new iTunes EP
In between heavy touring schedules, The Smashing Pumpkins have found time to create a four-song acoustic EP, American Gothic, to be released January 2 exclusively via iTunes in the United States. The set includes the tracks "The Rose March," "Pox, "Again, Again, Again (The Crux)" and "Sunkissed," and was produced by frontman Billy Corgan and drummer Jimmy Chamberlin. The band has previously performed "The Rose March" on the road.


Mininova Launches Content Distribution Service
The popular BitTorrent site Mininova officially launched its Content Distribution service, an easy way for indie publishers to share their content with a wide audience, for free of course.


Is Amazon's iTunes Killer growing up to be a big boy?
It's been a little over two months since Amazon launched its MP3 Download store, and the site's still around. So how is it doing? Well, Amazon hasn't publicly announced any numbers yet, but billboard speculates Amazon's captured about 3% of the digital download market and 6% of the physical CD market. Considering that it hasn't even been three months since Amazon's digital music store opened shop, that's pretty damn good. With Pepsi joining Amazon to give away free MP3s, word of Amazon's new DRM-free store will only spread. Silicon Valley Insider suggests Amazon must be reaching a mainstream audience if Fergie is a top seller at both Amazon and iTunes.

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