links for 2008-04-22
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WOW! This is so true! These are the problems every music startup faces today
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This does not come as a shock… and we wonder why we are in such a pickle.
April 22, 2008
April 21, 2008
Three things I learned at the NAB (National Association of Broadcasters) Convention
Just returning from NAB in Vegas, my mind is ripe with new and reinforced ideas about the broadcast industry. In my short two days attending functions and working my way through scores of exhibits, I came away with a few ideas about what is going on in this industry as it pertains to Music Licensing and the Music providers in the field.
1. IP TV is king
The hot topic around the exhibit floor was IP TV. According to Wikipedia, IPTV (IP Television) is a system where a digital television service is delivered using Internet Protocol over a network infrastructure, which may include delivery by a broadband connection. A general definition of IPTV is television content that, instead of being delivered through traditional broadcast and cable formats, is received by the viewer through the technologies used for computer networks. There were loads of various back-end providers peddling their wares. As a general rule of thumb, more access is better for everyone. I dont believe that the proliferation of IPTV will actually bring more music revenues, but it does offer more people the chance to experience the production…
2. Music Library Competition is STIFF
In the realm of production music there is some stiff competition. Production libraries and falling prices continue to make my job more difficult as a licensing agent. This combined with the fact that major labels and publishers are now buying their way into the game with the purchases of companies like NonStop Music and others makes it ever so important that the independents learn to compete in this market. (Two of the most disturbing things I saw were companies named
We are going to have to start playing the game their way in order to compete (unfortunately). One great thing we have going for us is the fact that our music is actually performed by musicians, rather than midi keyboard and it appears that there is little competition in the Classical field. So this ought to be an interesting year as we embark on bringing in more content revenue competing with a mass market of inexpensive alternatives.
3. The NAB is an event to hit every year and to prepare for on the backend. For us, that means laying tons of infrastructure groundwork to create a real product to take to that market. It is no longer going to be acceptable to simply roll in saying “we’ve got a crapload of music”. The customer today wants to hear that music. They want to search that music and experience that music. That is where the good companies are separated from the greats in the industry. The same applies to anyone in the broadcast field… not just music libraries. This show is FOR REAL. It is the closest thing I have found to CES size-wise. I am looking forward to putting my gameface on and rolling into town with my guns-a-blazin next year.
April 11, 2008
links for 2008-04-11
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Harumph! Love this guy
April 10, 2008
links for 2008-04-10
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very interesting. I love Hypebot because of posts like this.
April 9, 2008
Music like (Toilet) Water- What happens to the rest of us
Unless you have been hiding under a rock over the past week or so, you already know that Warner has tasked Jim Griffin (former head of Geffen digital) with designing a scheme whereby Internet Service Providers will charge a premium fee to customers ( a music tax if you will) in exchange for unlimited P2P and Torrent streaming of Major Label content. They have dubbed the initiative “Feels like Free”… or “One Big Tip Jar” that all of the labels and artists would divvy up.
I have kept quiet for much of this discussion as I tried to dissect the various commentary from the blogosphere and come up with my own take on the situation. Well here it is…
This concept (while utopian) is a good one if you can excuse the fact that the very same labels that sued Shawn Fanning’s (Napster) tail off 6 years ago because of the evil nature of P2P are now endorsing it and wanting to take P2P to market. This move is a day late and a dollar short. I do not understand why our industry takes so long to jump onto popular tech initiatives. I mean… I would have been selling digital music on Myspace 3 years ago if I had been in a place to make such a decision. This whole concept (rooted in the Future of Music) of music being all around us… in our lives in every possible way is a good one. The problem is how do we legitimize it? I know that is what Warner and the isp’s are trying to do, but I fear it is the wrong way to do it. I am concerned about what happens to legitimate e-tailers. What about iTunes revenues? What about eMusic? Will the checks coming from these giants start to diminish when everything is flowing like water? I think so… Than we are in a worse quandary than we are in now. Furthermore… where are the independents in this? When we have a giant pool of revenue to be split by the majors and the independents, I am afraid our little slice of the pie just might not be enough to justify this huge change in business model.
On a positive note, I am glad that the majors are looking at opportunities such as this. It often takes a major player to be the catalyst for change. I just wish they would find a more feasible model.
links for 2008-04-09
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This is a real issue in the Digital marketplace. With so many players, it is becoming difficult to balance the difference between opportunity and profitability
April 8, 2008
links for 2008-04-08
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Good advice for the fledgling newbie… Also IODA is a hell of an aggregator.
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Holy Cow this is cool!
April 4, 2008
links for 2008-04-04
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It’s about time! I wish them all the success in the world… hopefully a legit version of the ever popular lyric sites can remain solvent
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Sweet new site that helps folks with zero DJ skills create a beat-matched (sort-of) mix… What’l they think of next….?
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Great bulletpoints on those who stand to win and lose from the Myspace music venture
April 3, 2008
links for 2008-04-03
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This should be very interesting. Perhaps someone from the tech industry will be able to help “right the ship” I will be watching this move very closely.
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More on the move from Google to EMI… a bit more detailed
April 1, 2008
links for 2008-04-02
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This makes too much sense! Grand Theft Auto, already known for their excellent soundtracks is now offering up MP3 purchases with GTA 4. Videogames are going to be such an influence as we move forward looking for sales…
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Awesome explanation for the un-initiated re: social media
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Get it, Read It, Love it
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Dubber is another music visionary… Thouroughly looking forward to reading 100 questions!
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Great screwups! I love it.. A great history lesson for all music lovers