hypebot

Listening To Music Via TV And PC Rises

Music marketers take note: a new survey by Parks Associates says 2/3rds of US and Canadian broadband households regularly use the PC to play music at home and a surprising 1/3 say they use their TV to listen to music. MP3 players ranked equal to TVs. (click on image to enlarge)

Myxer Adds 1.1M Orchard Ringtones

Ad supported mobile content provider Myxer is adding 1.1 million ringtones from The Orchard's digital distribution catalog. Using its patent-pending ringtone creation technology, Myxer will convert tracks from such Orchard indies as Definitive Jux, Park the Van, DIM MAK, BCD Music Group, Nuclear Blast, Greensleeves and Musart/Balboa.

Myxer claims 11 million users and is rated one of the top 400 websites in the U.S. by Alexa.

Worth Watching: myAWOL

First ReverbNation, then TopSpin and now...

"myAWOL (my Artists Without Labels) is simultaneously a music-centric multimedia content company, a vehicle for discovering, promoting and capitalizing on musical talent, and a resource for anyone in the music industry looking to make money doing what they love. It’s part old school MTV and part new school record label, with servings of event promotion thrown in for good measure." - VentureBeat

The site is currently in private beta with roll out scheduled for the end of the summer. The plan almost feels a little too ambitious, but it's way too early to tell. One interesting project is their MIDB (Music Industry Database) which wants to be the pro music equivalent of the exhaustive and more consumer focused IMDB (Internet Movie Database). I suggest signing up and watching how things develop.

Enter Two Hypebot Contests

• FOR EU READERS:
  • Win a ticket to the July 17th London Face To Face With The Millennials one day music conference which includes an interesting on the spot case study with manager Terry McBride. Enter here.
• NORTHEASTERN U.S.:
  • Tell us what you think about Hypebot and win tickets to The New American Music Union Festival. Enter here.

Friday's Music Briefing: iTunes 7.7, Google's Lively, Guitar Hero Takes On iTunes & More

HYPEBOT FEATURES:

• Sony BMG merger is back in the EU courts
• Listening to music via PC and TV rises. Yes, it says TV.
• Myxer adds 1.1 million ringtones from The Orchard
• Worth Watching: myAWOL

> Expect the chatter across the net today to focus on the launch of the 3G iPhone and with it new iTunes 7.7 software which adds 3G iPhone compatibility and a new apps store. Review @ PC.

> Google has launched a new virtual world dubbed Lively that could shake up a space left pretty much until now to Second Spin.  Because its Google and because its free, bands may want to stake out their turf there. Stay tuned for a podcast I recorded yesterday with two peers that looked at the use of virtual worlds in music marketing.

> Activision Blizzard says it will leverage its Guitar Hero game platform to create a rival service to iTunes. (FT)

> The hottest bands on EU blogs and social networking sites. (DMW)

You may have noticed the new TOP STORIES box at the top of the middle column.  It's designed to highlight some of the top features with links to them.

Sony BMG Merger Back In Court

Ever since 2004 when the merger was announced, the possibility has loomed that the companies would be forced to split apart by the EU. The  clouds grew a good bit darker today.

The EU's highest court based in Luxembourg just ruled that the lower courts did not handle the case properly when it overturned EU regulatory approval for Sony and Bertelsmann AG to combine their music units. (read more @ Reuters)

Meebo Brings Chat & Ads To Artist Sites

Meebo, an IM and chat service, today announced marketing partnerships with DashGo, Nettwerk Music Group, Sparkart, and Wind-up Records.

The deals mean that ads will be added to the chat rooms and IM's of artists like Avril Lavigne, Evanescence, The Killers, Seether, Tim McGraw, Thriving Ivory, and Weezer. Meebo shares revenue from "integrated" SparkAds ­ with acts embedding Meebo Rooms into their sites. Advertisers to date include Havaianis, Sony Electronics, Universal Pictures and Weezer.

COMMENTARY: While there's something satisfying about the Weezer...

Update: Merlin vs. Last.fm

Yesterday Last.fm announced a direct payment system making it among the first on-demand services to compensate d.i.y. acts. Hypebot questioned how fair the payment structure was and indie trade group Merlin issued a strong warning to its 12k members questioning it.

Based on a statement by Merlin's CEO to PaidContent Hyepbot also reported that they were contemplating legal action. Asked if they had sought legal advice, Merlin's Charles Caldas said, "...we’d do whatever we feel is necessary to ensure that our members’ rights are properly protected." But a Merlin spokesmen this morning sought to tone down the threat saying, "Merlin continues to take a positive approach to negotiations and want to deliver a comprehensive deal for our members." 

INgrooves Snags More Labels

INgrooves has announced a number of significant additions to its client roster. The recent artist imprint signings include Jimmy Buffett (Mailboat Records), John Michael Montgomery (Stringtown Records), Kia Shine (Rap Hustlaz) and Everlast (Martyr-Inc Records. 

New label clients include K-Tel International (Chubby Checker, Tina Turner, Little Richard), SMC Recordings (Killer Mike, Pastor Troy, San Quinn), Strange Music (Tech N9ne) and Paid In Full Entertainment (Paul Wall, Chamillionaire). SMC Recordings and Strange Music are international deals that will leverage INgrooves' new presence in the UK.

Buzznet Adds The Gauntlet

Buzznet has added hard rock and heavy metal destination The Gauntlet to its growing portfolio of  music blogs and communities which include Stereogum, Absolute Punk, Idolator, Vampire Freaks and FOE.

Unlike some other Buzznet aquisitions and investments, this deal is being presented as a partnership. "Through this partnership, I will now have the resources to not only add some amazing new features and functionality to the site, but also expand our audience..." states Gauntlet's Jason Fisher.

Hypebot Readers On EMI's New CEO

QUESTION: What do you think of EMI's new CEO?

CAST YOUR VOTE HERE.

Thursday's Music 2.0 Briefing: Last.fm, PirateBay, Japan's iPod Tax & More

HYPEBOT FEATURES:

• Last.fm News
  • Last.fm throws indie acts a roylty bone
  • Merlin tells its members beware
  • Update: Last.fm vs. Merlin
• Mebo brings chats rooms, IM....and ads to artist web sites
• InGrooves snags more labels
• Buzznet adds metal with The Gauntlet
• What Hypebot readers think of EMI's new CEO

> PirateBay wants to add total network encryption. (ars)

> Japan has scrapped a 1-3% iPod tax that was to compensate labels for lost revenue. (AHN) Yet the UK is getting ready to and one.

> SonyBMG will move to the old CAA building in Beverly Hills (Variety) So much for trying to cut costs...

> Digital distributor IODA expands its Latin Music network. (press release)

> iLike is set to announce expanded tools for spreading content across multiple social networks. (DMN)

> Seagate grabs the sponsorship of Live Nations US Download Festivals in Denver and San Fran. (press release)

> Sorry The Briefing was late this morning. I was recording the first in what I think will be series of podcasts with two great bloggers/thinkers in the new music space. Stay tuned...

Merlin Questions Last.fm Royalty Program

Indie global rights body Merlin has issued a bulletin to it’s 12K members regarding Last.fm’s new Artist Royalty Program. The organization is also considering legal action. Highlights of the bulletin:

• "The Program...does not appear to offer any compensation for any past illegal use of repertoire.  It is unclear to us whether or not the terms and conditions of the Program are intended to prevent master owners pursuing such compensation."
• "...we have for the last few months been negotiating with Last.fm regarding a non exclusive blanket license and a settlement agreement on behalf of Merlin members. Unfortunately, these negotiations have stalled -  in particular due to Last.fm’s unwillingness to properly address its illegal infringing activity."

Last.fm Throws D.I.Y. Acts Royalty Bone

BUT THERE'S NOT MUCH MEAT ON IT...

Last.fm today launched it's Artist Royalty Program which gives unsigned artists the opportunity to accrue royalties directly from Last.fm. The site claims this is the first time that D.I.Y. musicians can earn directly from a free streaming platform.

And while Last.fm claims the royalties are comparable to what they're paying majors, how much can artists expect to earn? Not that much and certainly less than from internet stations like Soma.fm and Radio Paradise.  According to terms on Last.fm web site:

• If your track is played on our free radio service you will accrue a 10% of the Share of Last.fm’s Net Revenue (see the definition of “Share” and “Net Revenue” in the terms and conditions) from the free radio service.

CIMS Indie Store Charts

CIMS Top 200 for the week ending July 6, 2008

TW LW Artist   Title
1 2 COLDPLAY VIVA LA VIDA
2 1 SIGUR ROS MED SUD I EYRUM VID SPILUM END
3 113 LOS LONELY BOYS FORGIVEN
4 3 ESCOVEDO,ALEJANDRO REAL ANIMAL
5 D ALKALINE TRIO AGONY & IRONY
6 4 LIL WAYNE THA CARTER III
7 5 MY MORNING JACKET EVIL URGES
8 6 FLEET FOXES FLEET FOXES
9 192 MAYER,JOHN WHERE THE LIGHT IS: JOHN MAYER
10 10 WOLF PARADE AT MOUNT ZOOMER

Read the rest of the Coalition Of Independent Music Stores Top 200 and the Top 50 Vinyl after the jump.

Foundry Is Topspin's Latest Convert

VC FIRM MAKES SERIES B INVESTMENT

Topspin Media has received a round of Series B funding from The Foundry Group. The venture capital firm wrote effusively, "the timing is finally right for a company like Topspin to have a major impact in the music world."

Some of this is just VC spin. But I spent time last week talking to Ian Rogers and studying the company; and Foundry is on to something. I'll write more extensively soon, but Topspin appears to be breaking through the clutter of disjointed widgets and apps to offer an elegant suite of solutions that get to the core of fan attraction, capture, communication and monetization.

Here's how Foundry Group's Ryan McIntyre describes the current state of the music industry and the tools needed to thrive in the new environment:

"The distribution of digital music has finally gone mainstream...But this shift really just sets the stage for the continued evolution of the business of being an artist in this new era....

Win Ticket To Music Tank's McBride Smackdown

Following his recent "Meet The Millennials" report, MusicTank has invited its author and Nettwerk Music Group’s CEO Terry McBride to the London on July 17th for a one day conference designed to present and test his theories.

McBride will debate his ideas with fellow professionals. Then he will be confronted with an up and coming British act and asked to create a career plan on the spot. With nowhere to hide; this should be a fun and interesting test of Terry’s beliefs and skills.

Want a free front row seat?  You need to 1) be in London July 17th. Sorry not enough of you are buying ads to support a travel budget. 2) be able and willing to write a bit about what happens for Hypebot.  Let us know why you're the one to watch Terry scramble to keep his image intact in the comments section (preferred) or if you're too proud to admit your boss won't spend the £99.88, email here. 

ReverbNation Passes 200K Acts

ReverbNation, a marketing and promotion for music added its 200,000th artist last week, up 100,000 in the last six months. In addition, 6000 labels and managers have created profiles to  and 2,500 venues are using the service.

ReverbNation attribute the growth to its free suite of Fan Relationship Management (FRM) technologies.  The suite includes a content repository, promo widgets and apps for viral distribution across social networks and blogs, integrated Street Team tools, a communications platform and a stats package.

Over the coming months, ReverbNation will expand with more tools...

Wednesday's Music Briefing: Mobile Music, EMI News, OurStage EPK's & More

> Growth remains slow for mobile music services. (Reuters)

> Supreme Court Justice Breyer was a victim of P2P info theft.(Washington Post) At least they'll know what it is the next time a case comes before them.

> P2P LimeWire introduces a "Live At Lime" EP series recorded at the company's Brooklyn studio. (LimeWire)

> EMI News -

• From the new CEO: "...running after the CD would be like cleaning the windows when the building's already on fire", said Leoni-Sceti who just left his job as a cleaning products exec to run EMI. (FT)
• EMI is releasing a compilation CD from Video Games Live's symphonic concerts. (press release)
• A new deal has EMI providing fulfillment for Canadian indie distributor Fusion III. (Billboard)

> OurStage unveils a new free artist EPK service and pacts with Live Nation and other promoters to offer gig opportunities for up and coming musicians. (OurStage Marketplace) Unlike Sonicbids, OurStage's EPK and gig opportunities come without a fee. I'd love to hear from readers who have experiences with either service.  I'll look into both more and write more soon.

> Thumplay grabs Jay-Z ringtone exclusive. (press release)

Capital Launches Vinyl Campaign

On August 19, Capitol/EMI will launch a vinyl campaign in the U.S. with the release of eight classic titles “From The Capitol Vaults”. Six of the the newly remastered, limited edition albums are presented on 180-gram LPs, while two albums initially released as double 10” 140-gram LPs will be reissued in their original configuration. All of vinyl packages feature replicated artwork and packaging true to their original single or gatefold jacket LP releases.

U.S. vinyl sales have increased by more than 80% in the past and growing. Additional “From The Capitol Vaults” vinyl titles will follow. (See a list of the vinyl releases after the jump.)