paulfosterdesign

I thought the music publishers hated iTunes

Realised today that I have been buying music from iTunes recently and been wondering why that is? Historically I never bothered even looking on there as it was by default more expensive, I think I once found a track cheaper.

I haven’t ranted about the music industry in a while. So, pondering the recent subconscious change in behaviour, I realised the swing has coincided with the record companies fixing the price across the board at 99p per track [which I think is ridiculous] so there is no incentive to shop around any more, iTunes is more convienient for me [I’m playing my music in it, and purchase is 2 clicks away], and likely, the millions of other iOS, Mac and eventually iCloud users.

So that being the case, if the record companies believe they are pursuing a strategy to ween people off iTunes they might have to try a little harder again.

Whilst considering writing this I just bought a track and I noticed iTunes dropped that price off of the album it was from. Haven’t seen that happen before. Incentivisation, clever.

Will licensing issues spoil the online media party forever?

Yes.

Why can’t people in Sweden or New Zealand (or anywhere outside the US) use Netflix or Amazon Cloud Player if they want? Why can’t Americans watch the latest episode of Doctor Who on the BBC iPlayer?

Technically all these things could be overcome easily, but a licensing system that clings on to an old-fashioned view of the world stops them.

This. Well, and the increasing prices to pay for the increasing licenses.

The internet was meant to breakdown barriers and we seem to be rapidly heading towards small and smaller sub-divisions or islands. An AOL-like portal system where content is ring-fenced with adverts.

Great article and worth a read.

Universal and Sony Music plan 'instant pop' to beat piracy

Hallelujah! The music execs have finally decided that letting me have time to forget I was going to buy a track [not pop!] wasn’t in their financial interest.

What we were finding under the old system was the searches for songs on Google or iTunes were peaking two weeks before they actually became available to buy…

Could never figure that one out. ‘Wow I love this track, what is this? I want it now!’ - Goes to purchase, released in 3 weeks, riiiiiight…

Well caught up popular music industry.

Music biz still in need of "radical overhaul" to thrive - Ars Technica

Some sensible suggestions here. I can see how an artist and producers might have problems opening up for remixing of their music, and certainly see the music labels kicking up a fuss. But this is what you need to do, open up to the modern world.

Again - How media can (should) sell music…

Bravo to Channel 4 for doing this. I watched ‘Jamie’s American Road Trip’ and there was this surreal bit with guitars that i knew i knew. And after a lengthy google I found it, because the makers have taken the time to not only credit the music but even tell you where in the programme it featured. This is how it should be done, and as an artist i would want it to happen.

I just bought ‘Kids With Guns’ - Gorillaz.

Sony Ericsson’s motion activated MH907 headset could change things forever, via Engadget

Hopefully this will be the start of many more interactive body contact consumer products. I admire Sony for doing something unnecessary, and hopefully it will open people’s perceptions to how they can interact with their products.

It’s also a wonderful excuse for them to include their beloved proprietary connectors. Brilliant

Music Industry Wants Royalties From iTunes 30 Second Samples

This is so unfathomably stupid i can’t work out if it leans toward fact or fiction.

One thing that doesn’t seem to be mentioned (if true) is that if this is only being levied upon iTunes. Now the music industry is starting to feel confident about their homebrew stores maybe they think they can roll up on iTunes like this.

The music execs really deserve not to make a penny more til eternity if this is true. Unbelievable.