Music Industry 2.0
Fears that internet piracy is harming the music industry are overplayed, according to new research which claims that illegally downloaded songs will take years to eclipse the market for CDs.
The survey by Entertainment Media Research (EMR), a market analyst, reveals that internet music pirates buy more CDs from the high street than most other internet-savvy consumers.
[more @ www.timesonline.co.uk]
The US music industry has set its briefs on another 744 file sharers it claims downloaded music illegally.
The Recording Industry Association of America said the various suits are for “John Doe” defendants whose true identities are unknown. The RIAA has to sue them before their ISP’s will tell them who they are under the threat of a court order. [more @ www.theinquirer.net]
Socially conscious rapper k-os, soulful singers Jacksoul and Melanie Durrant, and reggae/hip hop artist Kardinal Offishall were among the nominees announced Tuesday for the upcoming Canadian Urban Music Awards.
“2004 has been an amazing year for [the Urban Music Association of Canada] and for Canada’s urban music industry, as you’ll see from the nominees,” Aisha Wickham, executive director of the association, said at the Toronto announcement ceremony. [more @ www.cbc.ca]
A group of 17 companies and organisations have offered an alternative to a US Senate bill that would allow artists and entertainment companies to sue firms that market products that “induce” copyright violations.
The alternative, endorsed by companies such as MCI, SBC Communications and Verizon Communications, would soften the Inducing Infringements of Copyright Act, introduced by Senator Orrin Hatch in June.
[more @ www.computerweekly.com]
Loud music can do more than damage your hearing – it can also cause your lungs to collapse.
Experts writing in the Thorax detail four cases where loud music fans experienced the condition, known as a pneumothorax.
One man was driving when he experienced a pneumothorax, characterised by breathlessness and chest pain.
Doctors linked it to a 1,000 watt “bass box” fitted to his car to boost the power of his stereo. [I have suffered from this condition on several occasions and found it most enjoyable! -Ed.][more @ www.bbc.co.uk]
Pick Of The Week this week is a track called ‘What’s Needed Now’ from The Waxwings on Schnitzel Records.
The Waxwings hail from Detroit and although they’ve toured with The White Stripes and The Strokes, they sound rather British to me (and look it too judging by the haircuts they sport!).
This track comes on like like early, bluesy Rolling Stones and, dare I say it, the best bits of Oasis. Proper ballsy rock n’ roll with nasty guitar sonics, three part harmonies and a tambourine. What more do you want?
Check out the video for ‘What’s Needed Now’ here: Windows Media or Real Audio and visit www.schnitzel.co.uk for more info.
A US federal appeals court ruled in favor of peer-to-peer software makers Thursday, stating that the companies behind the Grokster and Morpheus services are not liable for copyright infringement due to the actions of their users.
A three-judge panel of the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals unanimously backed a lower court ruling that Grokster, Streamcast Networks, which makes the Morpheus service, and Musiccity.Com are not responsible for users who illegally copy or share content such as music and movies over their services. [more @ www.pcworld.idg.com]
Britain’s battered music sector got some good news on Monday as second-quarter album sales grew, legal music downloads gained momentum and sales of CD singles, a format nearly given up for dead, bounced back.
Album sales were up 3.7 percent at 210.1 million pounds ($381.7 million) in the three months to the end of June, from 202.6 million pounds in the year-earlier period, according to data released by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI). CD sales were up 4.1 percent to 200.2 million pounds. [more @ www.reuters.com]
Music fans at this weekend’s Reading festival will be able to download a host of their favourite live tracks from the event thanks to a clutch of deals done with the record companies by organiser Mean Fiddler Music.
Songs will be available for between 99p and £1.50 each, to be downloaded from the company’s website after the festival.
[more @ www.thisislondon.co.uk]
Orange has struck a deal with ITV1 and the production company behind Big Brother, Endemol, to screen a music chart of mobile ringtones.
The weekly show, to be called Orange Playlist, will be paid for in part by the France Telecom-parented mobile operator and should be coming to a UK TV screens from the end of next month. [more @ www.silicon.com]