Obviously CDs are on their way out. Downloading took over but with much of the industry unhappy because of illegal downloading. There is a solution on the horizon, but will it work?
Flash drives offer new choices for music fans
By Jennifer Netherby
NEW YORK (Billboard) - When the Mars Volta put out its latest album, "The Bedlam in Goliath," in January, the act gave its hardcore fans an option that is becoming increasingly popular -- and creative.
Instead of a CD or digital version of the Universal album, fans could buy a $30 USB drive designed like a Ouija board planchette. The device comes with a digital-rights-management-free version of the album and the promise of more bonus materials in coming months. Users simply plug it into their computer's USB drive and then listen to the album or download it into their music library.
The Mars Volta joins a growing number of recording artists who have experimented with USB releases in recent months, among them Jennifer Lopez, Ringo Starr and Matchbox Twenty.
More are expected in coming months. Austin-based All Access, the company behind USB releases from Matchbox Twenty and Starr, has signed deals with EMI, Warner Music Group and Universal Music Group to make USB bracelets for other artists.
"The selling point to the labels is a really good one -- it's a marriage between merchandise and music so that people will at least buy it instead of stealing it because they want the merchandise," All Access CEO Chris Guggenheim said. "It's the only for-sure non-stolen product."
HIGHER MANUFACTURING COSTS
At this point, the releases are offered more as collectibles to build fan loyalty than as sources of revenue.
The cost of putting an album out on a USB drive is pricier than releasing it on a CD, partly because bands aren't placing bulk orders and partly because flash drives cost more than discs. Guggenheim said that bracelets generally cost $5 to $7 per unit. But costs can rise to $17 per unit or more for flash drives with more memory and other additions.
Universal doesn't expect to make money on the 2,000 USB units it put out for the Mars Volta release or on the 2,000 USB units it will put out for Erykah Badu's February 26 release, "Nu AmErykah," Universal senior vice president of digital business development Cameo Carlson said.
But it does expect to keep fans connected to both acts. Those who buy the Mars Volta USB stick get a new extra on the 29th of each month, ranging from bonus tracks to wallpaper. Badu will create new bonus features throughout the year for those who buy "Nu AmErykah" on USB.
"It's not for everybody," Carlson said. "It's for the hardcore fan that wants tons of pictures, who really wants something more and the opportunity to get new stuff every month."
For bands, USB drives offer a cooler way to get their music to fans in a souvenir package that fans can wear or carry with them, giving the band free promotion.
Starr wore a wristband containing his latest album, "Liverpool 8," to the Grammy Awards, getting attention for the release that a CD jewel case certainly wouldn't. Guggenheim said that about one wristband is sold for every three CDs of Starr's album.
In October, Matchbox Twenty released its latest album, "Exile on Mainstream," on USB bracelets, putting out an initial 25,000 units. Manager Michael Lippman said that "tens of thousands" have been sold.
ROOM FOR EXTRAS
"USB is going to be the future," Lippman said. "You don't have to download it on a computer, you put it in and it comes up, (and) there's plenty of room to add additional material."
Some indie bands have turned to USB drives for releases because they can order fewer units and spend less money than they would for an order of 1,000 CDs, said Ed Donnelly, president of Los Angeles-based Aderra, which makes drives for Barenaked Ladies, Jars of Clay and indie bands like Los Angeles' Killola. Acts can place orders for as few as 100 USB drives preloaded with their album and other goodies.
Along with the songs from the album, Matchbox Twenty included its first video, behind-the-scenes footage, pictures and an Internet link to the band's site.
Based on the success of its album sales on USB, the band is selling bracelets of its live show at concerts during its current tour. All Access replicates the bracelets after a concert in minutes. The bracelets are quickly sent to the merchandising booths, where fans can buy a recording of the show they just saw as they leave. Each bracelet costs the same as one of the band's concert T-shirts.
Barenaked Ladies, considered the pioneers of USB releases, put out "Barenaked on a Stick" in 2005, a 128 MB flash drive loaded with 29 previously released songs plus videos and other content. The band followed it up with souvenir flash drives at its 2006 concerts in support of "Barenaked Ladies Are Me." The concert USB keys came loaded with the new album, live tracks, ringtones and videos for $25.
Willie Nelson, Jars of Clay and the Black Crowes also have sold USB bracelets at concerts.
Bands typically sell the drives to 5 percent of their audience at a show, depending on how tech-savvy the crowd is.
Reuters/Billboard
Yahoo News
Monday, February 18, 2008
Thursday, February 7, 2008
Music History Class 433
Looking thru old CDs and Audio files, We were thinking about what influenced young musicians, HH SOUND Will look at American Cities and their scenes thru the years and their effect on Music Culture.
CHICAGO
In the last 20 years Chicago has had so much to offer
The mid 90’s were an exciting time musically. Styles were on their first laps, so to speak, Punk had spawned so many sub-genres and scenes .
Some of us here were huge fan’s of these bands. …
THE JESUS LIZARD, Who represents the Prototype 90’s Chicago Sound ..PERIOD, They effected so many, with those bombastic, driving Drum lines locked tightly with David Sims and his perfect post-punk snarly bass tone. Duane Denison painted over all that beautifully with a Tasty display of angry chords in a quazi-surf tone, very original and powerful …Lastly who can ever forget the unforgettable David Yow and his live performances. He was Like watching different Car Crash over and over again for 60 minutes leaving you slack jawed and sweaty…..more Later from the way back Machine
CHICAGO
In the last 20 years Chicago has had so much to offer
The mid 90’s were an exciting time musically. Styles were on their first laps, so to speak, Punk had spawned so many sub-genres and scenes .
Some of us here were huge fan’s of these bands. …
THE JESUS LIZARD, Who represents the Prototype 90’s Chicago Sound ..PERIOD, They effected so many, with those bombastic, driving Drum lines locked tightly with David Sims and his perfect post-punk snarly bass tone. Duane Denison painted over all that beautifully with a Tasty display of angry chords in a quazi-surf tone, very original and powerful …Lastly who can ever forget the unforgettable David Yow and his live performances. He was Like watching different Car Crash over and over again for 60 minutes leaving you slack jawed and sweaty…..more Later from the way back Machine
Monday, February 4, 2008
Space Rock!
WASHINGTON (Feb. 1)- The Beatles are about to become radio stars in a whole new way. NASA on Monday will broadcast the Beatles' song "Across the Universe" across the galaxy to Polaris, the North Star.
This first-ever beaming of a radio song by the space agency directly into deep space is nostalgia-driven. It celebrates the 40th anniversary of the song, the 45th anniversary of NASA's Deep Space Network, which communicates with its distant probes, and the 50th anniversary of NASA.
"Send my love to the aliens," Paul McCartney told NASA through a Beatles historian.
"All the best, Paul."
The song, written by McCartney and John Lennon, may have a ticket to ride and will be flying at the speed of light. But it will take 431 years along a long and winding road to reach its final destination. That's because Polaris is 2.5 quadrillion miles away.
NASA loaded an MP3 of the song, just under four minutes in its original version, and will transmit it digitally at 7 p.m. EST Monday from its giant antenna in Madrid, Spain. But if you wanted to hear it on Polaris, you would need an antenna and a receiver to convert it back to music, the same way people receive satellite television.
The idea came from Martin Lewis, a Los Angeles-based Beatles historian, who then got permission from McCartney, Yoko Ono and the two companies that own the rights to Beatles' music. One of those companies, Apple, was happy to approve the idea because is "always looking for new markets," Lewis said.
Perhaps coincidentally, the song's launching comes a day before the release of the DVD of the Julie Taymor movie named after the Beatles hit.
AOL Music News
This first-ever beaming of a radio song by the space agency directly into deep space is nostalgia-driven. It celebrates the 40th anniversary of the song, the 45th anniversary of NASA's Deep Space Network, which communicates with its distant probes, and the 50th anniversary of NASA.
"Send my love to the aliens," Paul McCartney told NASA through a Beatles historian.
"All the best, Paul."
The song, written by McCartney and John Lennon, may have a ticket to ride and will be flying at the speed of light. But it will take 431 years along a long and winding road to reach its final destination. That's because Polaris is 2.5 quadrillion miles away.
NASA loaded an MP3 of the song, just under four minutes in its original version, and will transmit it digitally at 7 p.m. EST Monday from its giant antenna in Madrid, Spain. But if you wanted to hear it on Polaris, you would need an antenna and a receiver to convert it back to music, the same way people receive satellite television.
The idea came from Martin Lewis, a Los Angeles-based Beatles historian, who then got permission from McCartney, Yoko Ono and the two companies that own the rights to Beatles' music. One of those companies, Apple, was happy to approve the idea because is "always looking for new markets," Lewis said.
Perhaps coincidentally, the song's launching comes a day before the release of the DVD of the Julie Taymor movie named after the Beatles hit.
AOL Music News
Saturday, February 2, 2008
Flosstradamus at Underground, Chicago.
Every Hipster in Chicago came out last night for a Thursday Thunder electro-rager at the Underground to witness the Flosstradamus duo rip apart their iBooks for our listening pleasure. Despite the typical crap-weather of a Chicago winter's eve, the entrance to Underground was exploding with kids who risked ruining their new Nike Dunks in the slush to make sure they were able to show off their steez to fellow Flosstradamus lovers.
HH Sound rolled in to the depths of Underground right before J2K and Autobot took the throne, which was built on a stage in the center of the club. Underground was literally exploding at the seams and we had to squish our way past hair gel and sequence to make it to some place that was remotely open enough to possibly shake our tail feathers.
The place went bonkers when the young duo took hold of their head phones and kicked off the night. Spinning everything from J. Lo to Charlie Daniels to 3 6 Mafia, Flosstradamus brought normally divided crowds together with their unique mixes of Baltimore club, hip-hop, house, obscure remixes, and juke...all for the sake of fun. Check out some of pics from the night and make sure to check out their next dance party before they blow up so huge you will need a special pass to get into a Flosstradamus gig.
Photo Credits: Sadiq Samani
HH Sound rolled in to the depths of Underground right before J2K and Autobot took the throne, which was built on a stage in the center of the club. Underground was literally exploding at the seams and we had to squish our way past hair gel and sequence to make it to some place that was remotely open enough to possibly shake our tail feathers.
The place went bonkers when the young duo took hold of their head phones and kicked off the night. Spinning everything from J. Lo to Charlie Daniels to 3 6 Mafia, Flosstradamus brought normally divided crowds together with their unique mixes of Baltimore club, hip-hop, house, obscure remixes, and juke...all for the sake of fun. Check out some of pics from the night and make sure to check out their next dance party before they blow up so huge you will need a special pass to get into a Flosstradamus gig.
Photo Credits: Sadiq Samani
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