Digital Audio/Music
BBC Internet Poll Shows World Opinion Against Three-Strike Policy
March 9, 2010 - 6:01pm — Eric VolpeBuilding on the potential three strike internet disconnection ban being debated in Europe, BBC recently conducted a poll of 27,000 people across 26 countries aimed at gauging the value of the Internet. The BBC found 87% of those polled across the world believe that Internet access should be “the fundamental right of all people.” This comes as no surprise, as last week we announced that the European Union has officially declared themselves staunchly against cutting Internet access to repeat piracy offenders.
Here are a couple more interesting facts from the poll:
BPI Trying to Seduce ISPs With Promises of Music Subscription Money
March 9, 2010 - 5:44pm — Eric VolpeThe British Phonographic Institute, a three-strike-friendly record label trade group (whom we've already mentioned today), is lobbying for British ISPs to bundle music subscriptions into their broadband packages. The tactic is meant to spur ISPs on to more wholehearted support for the three-strikes policy currently under consideration in Parliament.
In the words of BPI Chief Executive Geoff Taylor:
"It's increasingly clear that it isn't smart [for an ISP to just] be a 'dumb pipe'… ISPs such as Virgin Media have recognized that legal digital music services offer a more exciting and profitable future than continued widespread piracy.”
Drake and Kate Nash Studies on Mixtapes, Twitter, and Albums
March 9, 2010 - 2:27pm — Eric VolpeIn a recent guest blog post for Hypebot, Trendrr's Alex Mann uses Drake's social media popularity to argue that artists no longer need to release albums to be successful. Drake has yet to release an album, but his mixtape, So Far Gone, was the 6th best-selling rap album of 2009, and Mann points to Drake's success in the social media game - more popular on Twitter than Lil' Wayne, a recent quadrupling in listener frequency on Last.fm - as the keys to his success.
40% of UK Unable to Name a Legal Online Music Source
March 9, 2010 - 11:26am — Max Willens
A recent study done by UK consumer advocates Consumer Focus finds that 40% of UK residents can't name a single legal digital music service.
Island Records to Center Upcoming PR Campaign Around mFlow
March 8, 2010 - 2:23pm — Max Willens
mFlow, the "social iTunes" application that compensates users for turning others onto songs, will be used to market the debut EP by Island Records' Lauren Pritchard.
American Idol Tightens Its Grip On Contestants
March 8, 2010 - 1:15pm — Eric Volpe
The Wall Street Journal's arts and leisure blog, Speakeasy, announced a recent consolidation of all American Idol Twitter, Facebook, and MySpace accounts to the official American Idol/FOX page. At 6PM on March 3, a blanket message was displayed on all contestants’ pages reading:
“Thanks so much for following me/joining my Fan Page! All my updates from now on will be on our Official American Idol 9 Contestant Page, please become a fan there to read all my updates throughout the season!”
BMW Incorporates Mobile Music Markets in 2011 Countryman
March 8, 2010 - 12:02pm — Eric VolpeAs terrestrial radio begins to decline, car drivers are looking to embrace the growing mobile music business, and they're starting at the bottom. Even though one in five Americans aged 25-54 listens to online radio at least once a week, consumers aged 18-25 are much more interested in the variety offered by digital programming, which is why the 2011 BMW Mini Cooper Countryman will feature full integration with the iPhone and other smart phones, enabling in-dash internet radio via 3G connectivity.
Radio 6 Closure Garners Protests
March 8, 2010 - 11:33am — Eric Volpe
Ever since the BBC announced two weeks ago that it was considering closing its indie radio station, BBC 6 Music, the UK indie world has been up in arms. Numerous petitions to keep 6 Music on the air were circulated online, and several prominent artists released statements protesting the idea.
Hordesourcing: What's Popular Right This Second!
March 5, 2010 - 12:32pm — Max Willens
As more and more media moves online, the methods of tracking its popularity are changing too. For the most part, this means much more responsive technology and than charts that used to be published weekly or monthly, and yet another opportunity to feel connected to the most current information.
