Spotify, A Blessing in Internet Music Streaming

I was reading on cnet news about a new music streaming source called Spotify. This full-service tool allows users to search and stream as their hearts desire instead of a typical music streaming service that works similar to radio broadcasts; once the song is over it’s gone until the next time around. Not only does Spotify let us listen to the same song over and over until we throw up (which I am shamelessly guilty of), but it can find playlists off of Last.fm and allow the users to share them. This is very cool.

This service has gained support from the major labels. It seems that they are learning from the mistakes they made with Napster by embracing complimentary music and playing “nice”. It’s good to know that they are opening their blind eyes to the fact we are educated music lovers that will support what is good and it’s not about being free. This is about control; our control. One of the creators is Ludvig Strigeus, who created the popular uTorrent. Strigeus has proven that he understands the resources needed to operate a successful P2P environment. NIN has publically released their music in torrent form as a symbol of being tuned into what the public is doing to get their valued music.

Have I sold you on this new music service that treats the consumer well and is getting amazing reviews from the important players? Now, everyone that lives in the UK, Sweden, Finland, Norway, Spain and France, go get it! As for me, who lives in the free democracy of the USA; it looks like I still don’t have control when it comes to my music. ☹

-Jodi

Spotify, A Blessing in Internet Music Streaming

Drums, Guitar, Computer and a Mission

Engaging a group is never an easy thing. I think that it’s a process of creating stuff that fuels your internal passion, showing that passion and building a community around that.

In the case of musician Justin Vernon, he’s found himself engaging a group just by taking his troubles of a broken band and broken relationship to the backwoods of Wisconsin and recording his sorrows away.

In 2006, Vernon posted his sad songs from his album, “For Emma, Forever Ago”, on MySpace, hoping for some feedback and maybe sell his story via a few CDs. The reaction over time has spawned a community of followers that can relate to his style and sincere tone. In turn, that caught the attention of new media blogs and other social networks.

For Vernon, being real and always true to himself, has cashed out well. In a recent Wall Street Journal article titled, “Musician Finds a Following Online”, he tells artists to always keep on the path, playing shows and putting their noses to the grindstone, not worrying what the end result is going to be. With that concept in his mind, his new band Bon Iver is playing sold-out shows across the United States.

The music industry has changed but the basic principals have not. It comes down to this: you make good music from your soul, you put it out there, you adore your listeners, you embrace the feeling of success and the rest has no choice but to follow.

-Jodi

Drums, Guitar, Computer and a Mission

Money, Get Away!

All I’ve heard about for the past couple of weeks is how money is destroying our lives.

The people that had it, lost it, those that don’t have it still don’t have it and the folks that need it, can’t get it.

Reports from the entertainment industry have mirrored the general markets. As of October 10th, the numbers for the major music companies are as follows:

• WMG - $5.95 off a 52 week high of $11.50
• Sony - $23.51 off a 52 week high of $57.19
• Apple- $88.74 off a 52 week high of $202.96
• Sirius XM - $.40 off a 52 week high of $3.94*
• Viacom - $20.68 off a 52 week high of $44.95
• Live Nation - $11.74 off a 52 week high of $24.03
• RealNetworks - $3.63 off a 52 week high of $7.61

*NASDAQ normally de-lists sub $1 stocks, but the exchange is considering an exception based in current market conditions.

This looks very depressing but on the other hand, we can’t give up on our entertainment. What keeps us working day in and day out is the thought of Friday night’s rock show, catching a good flick at the theater, buying that awesome home entertainment package and inviting good friends over for a entertaining evening!

Let’s take some lyrics from the classic Pink Floyd tune, “Money”:

Money, its a crime.
Share it fairly but don’t take a slice of my pie.
Money, so they say
Is the root of all evil today.
But if you ask for a raise its no surprise that they’re
Giving none away.

To solve this problem, I vote for Emma’s plan on the latest episode of “News and Views”. She encourages us to put our cash in a shoe box and stash it under our beds. That way we are responsible for our own piggy banks and can get back to the basics of enjoying our short time on this earth…

Jodi

Money, Get Away!