snapshot 4/9/08

Adobe launches Adobe Media Player
Adobe has officially launched its Adobe Media Player application which has been in public beta since last year. Adobe Media Player is a desktop application built on Adobe AIR that lets users watch streaming and downloaded web videos from content partners including CBS, PBS, MTV, Revision3, and Blip.tv.


Zune Goes Latin
Zune today announced a collaboration with MSN Latino and partnership with Remezcla.com to be the exclusive music sponsor for each site. The new co-branded online platform will launch on April 15. The arrangement with MSN Latino gives Zune the exclusive naming rights to MSN Latino's music channel, which will be rebranded as Zune Musica through 2009 and include links to Zune Marketplace to buy music.

Remezcla.com is a network of bilingual sites showcasing local Latino and Latin American cultures. Launched in New York City in 2006, Remezcla is expanding nationwide including Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami and San Francisco, and will partner with other online and social networking sites like MySpace Latino. Zune will become the network's exclusive online music store through 2009.


Full Text Of Orchard MySpace Letter To Labels
· If news reports are true, it is unclear whether and how the equity the participating major labels received will be shared by them with their artists, or with the independent labels they simply distribute (yet count in their overall market share, and whose music they presumably intend to include in the MySpace service
· To our understanding, independents have not been offered any equity. However, we will make a strong and unequivocal commitment to you: very simply, if we negotiate for and receive equity, we will share it with you
· Digital retail is fairer than physical brick-and-mortar retail ever was. iTunes led by example and helped to shift music industry dynamics towards a more level playing field for all industry participants (for example, in their continued efforts to further standardize pricing, and their reasonably democratic way of dealing with placements on the site). In that light, if reports are true, the apparent MySpace licensing approach is troubling. It hearkens back to a time none of us wants to revisit ... Where independent artists and labels were third-class citizens in the global music economy, instead of the second-class citizenship (with a good chance for an upgrade to first) that we enjoy today


In-Stat: digital 40% of all music in 4 years
Direct music downloads should make up a full 40 percent of all music sales in the space of four years, according to a new study by In-Stat. Research by the company suggests a blossoming of online purchases to the point that two out of every five legal music acquisitions in 2012 will have been made for an Internet-sourced copy instead of a physical copy. The anticipated surge is attributed to much more widespread access to high-speed Internet connections as well as a continued preference for single songs over whole albums and digital libraries that more closely match what's available at retail.


Last.fm’s Free Music ‘Boosts Sales’; Unlimited Services ‘To Kick In By 2012’
Last.fm claims its 12-week-old free, full-track music streams have resulted in 119 percent more CD and download sales through its Amazon.com click-through partnership. Some of that is attributable to an expected increase in site users following the new offering - but Last.fm also claims those who were members prior to the launch have been purchasing 66 percent more albums and tracks than beforehand, thanks to the full new previews. Figures for Last.fm’s 7Digital and iTunes affiliates weren’t disclosed.

Co-founder Martin Stiksel (via emailed release) offers the stats as evidence free music discovery can lead to dollars: “In just over two months, it’s become clear that people will buy CDs and downloads if they get access to the kind of service we offer.” That may help reassure some music execs that services like his, imeem and iLike can indeed aide sales.


Wal-Mart Stalemate Continues; Carey, Adams Campaigns Emerge
In the meantime, the retailing giant is aggressively pushing a pair of new releases across its digital and physical stores. The first involves Mariah Carey, currently signed with Island Def Jam (UMG). Carey is now preparing the release of E=MC2, a follow-up to The Emancipation of Mimi. Ahead of an April 15th street date, Wal-Mart is offering an in-studio Carey interview, and instantly delivering an MP3 of "Touch My Body" alongside an album pre-order. The interview is being layered into Wal-Mart's in-studio series, Soundcheck, sponsored by Degree.

Also on the list is Bryan Adams, who is planning an exclusive physical release across Wal-Mart and Sam's Club stores in the United States. The album, called 11, hits both mega-stores on May 13th, according to the Adams website. The album was unavailable for download Wednesday morning on walmart.com.