The Rise of the EP

When is the last time you bought an actual CD? Or even an entire album from iTunes? It's interesting to note that these days, it's far more common for people to just pick and choose the songs they like from the 30 second previews or just buy their favorite new single on the radio instead of going for the entire package. This is yet another example of how iTunes and digital media have changed how the music industry operates. Instead of taking years to put together new material in the form of a complete album, artists have turned more to the EP format to get new material out there faster. EP's, or Extended Play albums, usually have four to eight new songs - just enough to be more than a single, but not enough to be a full album.

This switch can be attributed to two things: the freedom that comes with iTunes' option to buy songs individually as well as full albums, and our generation's growing lack of attention span. It is rare at a college campus gathering to hear one song in its entirety, let alone an entire album. Also, we're impatient. We can't wait for our favorite artists to come out with new material, and they have recognized that.

This change is not necessarily good or bad. In fact, it seems to have more pros than cons for everyone involved, both the fans and the artists. In an interview with Rolling Stone, Billy Corgan of the Smashing Pumpkins said he was never comfortable with the album format because it felt forced. "It was obviously an economic decision made by others and not an artistic decision made by creators." He also points out, "It can be draining to record 15 songs over a six-month period." And as the same article article accurately points out, "Who cares, I'm only going to put a few songs on my iPod anyway."

-Erin

The Rise of the EP

Instructions on how to Fall Fast from the Top (iTunes)

Ok, take a business plan that has worked for years and break it apart slightly to give users a sense of independence. There, that is the full business plan for iTunes. Their thoughts were good you know, just about 5 years late. After all the Napsters, Kazza, pirate bays, and bit torrents already had that idea. So iTunes idea was to take their idea and put a price on it. I’ve never been too much of a fan, but they have been somewhat successful. I mean even I purchased 1 album from them (Anthony Hamilton's Point of It All).

Ok it’s set, they’re following the same plan as freeware with a price and they sold a few billion. People are getting comfortable with this, and their sales are expanding by large percentages compared to falling physical sales. So of course with every business mind, when a product starts selling why not bump the price? I mean it’s a great idea for physical products when it costs more for distribution, but where is the overhead rising in digital music? Does it cost more not to upload? No, that's free. I just don’t see a reason for this price increase. And surprise surprise, their sales are down… again.

Now some songs are cheaper than their original .99, but with all the newest songs at 1.29 its a great business idea, and it looks good on paper if same sales continue.

In general this would have worked great… what, 10 years ago? Nice Try iTunes, its a good model. Just a little late. iTunes will either change their price or fall eventually, but with the low overhead and high profit it may take awhile.

I know I’m a little late on this but some people still didn’t know iTunes bumped their prices up so speak what you want about this.


From the mind of

Keveeno Reeverts

Step 1

- Take an idea from another site selling the same products for free

Step 2

- Sell for an amount to help the artists out (good idea, i mean they still need to get paid)

Step 3

- offer less than what some of the free sites give

Step 4

- After some success, bump the price

Step 5

- File chapter 11 so you can keep your Bentlys and million dollar home

Instructions on how to Fall Fast from the Top (iTunes)

Price Bumping – Value Jumping

For all of us “legal” music downloader’s, the days of the .99 across the board tracks on iTunes are over.

I’m not surprised because the strategy is tried and true; lure us into a feeling and once we are hooked on it, bump the price of the experience up. Most of us are still hooked into the easy and popular way to legally get our music. So we will whine, but will crave our Apple fix. They do have rebuttals planned for our whining over this price increase, in the form of value added programs that jump at us in the form of “passes” to make us feel special. The Fray’s iTunes “pass” accompanies the release of the featured track. This pass is set at $17.00 and delivers songs, video’s and photos over a time frame in hopes to retain fans over the long haul.

Innovation and freeware supporters, Nine Inch Nails, are coming out with an app for the iPhone in hopes of connecting their fans interactively with the intent of being a fine “up-selling” group. “ One of the biggest wake-up calls of my career was when I saw a record contract," Reznor says. "I said, 'Wait — you sell it for $18.98 and I make 80 cents? And I have to pay you back the money you lent me to make it and then you own it? Who the fuck made that rule? Oh! The record labels made it because artists are dumb and they'll sign anything' — like I did." (NIN iPhone App Extends Reznor's Innovative Run)



So, who will rule? Free and up-selling or expensive and value-added?

-Jodi

Price Bumping – Value Jumping

Royalty Whores

It looks like songwriting/publishing royalties on digital downloads are being disputed, and as a songwriter who isn't even making money from songwriting (yet), it makes me angry.

The current rate is 9.1 cents per track, which is the same for digital downloads, CDs, cassette tapes, vinyl, and anything else that might come around. Right now, the royalty is exactly the same, no matter which medium the song is sold through. And that makes sense, doesn't it? The songwriter is being paid for writing a song, and that song remains the same, no matter how it's sold.

But the Digital Media Association, which represents digital music stores, is proposing a decrease in royalties to 4.8 cents per track. That's almost a 50% decrease! I don't know the last time royalties were so low, but I can confidently say we could measure the time in decades. I'm not sure what the specific argument here is, but the mere notion that royalties should be cut so drastically if at all is insulting to the entire art and profession.

But then there's the National Publisher's Association, which represents publishers and songwriters (who generally split the royalties 50/50). They're proposing an increase to 15 cents a track. Their argument is that distribution and manufacturing have become much cheaper with the digital age, so there should be more profit to be shared. Theoretically, they're right. But in reality, the whole music industry is suffering and we can all see it. And sure, songwriting seems like it should be one of those glamorous music industry jobs that leaves you with more money than you can shake a stick at (that job really doesn't exist), but unless you're Diane Warren or Craig Wiseman, you're not going to be rich. However, if you're truly pursuing the art and profession of songwriting and you have a talent for it, you can earn a comfortable living at 9.1 cents per song--especially if one of those songs ends up on Carrie Underwood's next album.

So let's cut the greed, all of us, and let the industry stabilize a bit before we start demanding more and more for ourselves. We're in the music industry because we love it. Sure, getting paid to do it so we don't have to work elsewhere is nice, but as long as you can pay your mortgage and put food on your table, I'd say you're doing pretty good.

Courtney

Royalty Whores

Give a Mouse A Cookie (Keveeno's Look @ Myspace Music) Part 2

After midnight, and a few drinks… I do not see a major difference yet? Now myspace was a site full of music before, and now I am becoming skeptical on how much of a difference maker this will be. Will it be a competitor to iTunes? Or will it fall like every other plan for music that has come out since iTunes launch that is still not successful compared to P2P sites in sharing music, but is the best one when compared to money to the record labels as well as the artist and mouse's.

Will launch a part 2 with a lot more information and a lot less intoxication. Till then…

What has come of a new plan will either thrive or fail but what has come is a new plan. Until we give up, new idea's are needed, so even though the cookie as an asterik*... and until I find more, this cookie comes with a question mark. So before we accept this plan as the 3rd coming of Jesus, we have to remember that it is something that has been thought of but never put into action. So with Myspace's power, this has a chance at an impact and it has me excited. I will check it out more tomorrow with coffee and Advil, and until more information has been found, this is…

From the mind of

Keveeno Reeverts

Give a Mouse A Cookie (Keveeno's Look @ Myspace Music) Part 2

Now You've Got Me Going!

So I had to check my iTunes Top 25 Most Played and boy, was I surprised!

1. Velvet Revolver-She Builds Quick Machines
2. Coldplay-Fix You
3. Atmosphere-That Night (I still get goosebumps every time I listen to the lyrics).
4. Black Rebel Motorcycle Club-Weight of the World
5. Divorcee-So I Go
6. Atmosphere-Musical Chairs
7. Brad Byrd-Driven
8. The Cinematics-Chase
9. Editors-Blood
10. The Fags-Truly, Truly
11. The Killers-Sam's Town
12. The Killers-Exitlude
13. The Knives-Around the Block
14. Pete Yorn-Georgie Boy
15. The Redwalls-Front Page
16. The Strokes-Red Light
17. The Vines-Fuk Yeh
18. The Alarmists-Good Advice
19. Amy Winehouse-Love is a Losing Game
20. Ash-Clones
21. Atmosphere-The Number One
22. Atmosphere-Get Fly
23. Badly Drawn Boy-The Way Things Used to Be
24. Brad Byrd-Never Came Back
25. Calla-Imbusteros

Uh, who's iPod is this?!?
-Mistress AMG

Now You've Got Me Going!

My Itunes Top Ten

I recently checked the play counter on my laptop's Itunes. Since I don't have an Ipod (and never will hehe), I play almost all the music I listen to off of my computer. I have to say I was kind of suprised by what I found out. Take a look:


10. "The Rascals Have Returned" - Trevor Hall
9. "Pedigree" - Brother Ali
8. "Bullet and a Target" - Citizen Cope
7. "Taxi Driver" - Gym Class Heroes
6. "Love Cats" - The Cure
5. "One of These Things First" - Nick Drake
4. "Smoothie Song" - Nickel Creek
3. "Knock on Wood" - Justin King
2. "Good Times (sick pimpn')" - Atmosphere
1. "Between the Lines" - Atmosphere
*In order to protect my musical dignity, I'm not including how many times these songs have been played.

Not really what I expected, but not that weird I guess. Pretty standard stuff. Justin King is the one musician on that list that not everyone is familiar with. He's an acoustic guitar visionary, he does things to his guitar that very few people can do. For example:




I also discovered that the full album that I have listened to the most from first track to last is The Best Of The Gipsy Kings. Since I only listen to it when I'm studying, I now have a new-found sense of academic pride. ha.

Check your Itunes play counter out, see what you've listened to...you may be suprised.

MB

My Itunes Top Ten