hypebot

Please Comment On Design Changes

Yes, I'm playing with the design again...

What do you think of the changes so far?  Is the type too small in this post?  What about the right column?  What changes would you like to see?

A Short Survey For Musicians

In collaboration with Evolving Music and Indie Music Tech we're running a survey:

• Musicians: How do you collaborate with other musicians, engage with fans and, profit from your art?

If you are a musician or work with them please take this short survey here and we'll share the results with you soon.

More: Vote in other recent Hypebot polls here and tell is what surveys you'd like to see.

Next Week: Empowering The Artist

Over the next two weeks on Hypebot I'll be exploring at least five of the top web sites that are helping indie and d.i.y. musicians gather fans, communicate with them and monetize their relationships.

Sonicbids,  OurStage, TopSpin, Nimbit and ReverbNation each have their own approach to the challenges facing artists competing in the new music marketplace.  We'll be taking a careful and occasionally critical look at each including new exclusive interviews with executives from all five companies.

We'll also be soliciting and publishing reader feedback. First question: What other popular artist empowering sites and services do you think we should feature in addition to the five above?

Terry McBride's Instant Promo Plan

READ PART 1: McBride Speaks

PART 2: (London) The final section of the day at yesterday's Music Tank Millennials gathering and probably the most anticipated, was the brainstorming session dubbed Artist Road Mapping. Terry McBride and representatives from all parts of the industry discussed what an up and coming artist, James Yuill (video and links after the jump) could do to get his music out there. Terry knew nothing about James before he arrived and it was exciting to see the man in action. He is all about “getting out of the sand box and onto the beach”. Its not about being creative its about using your imagination, which McBride says are two very different things. Focusing on how you can get the artist (the brand) to make a connection with their fans should be a personal and varied process.

The exercise started off with a shy artist who was in the sandbox and ended up with an eco-fighting, Guinness loving, creative geek who had jumped out of the box and was running towards the beach of opportunities. Some of the suggestions:

• Creating his own Guinness advert using his music and then sending it to Guinness. Even if they didn’t use it could go on You Tube.
• Making the stems of his tracks...

Millennials Coverage: McBride Speaks

PART 1 - (London) Yesterday's "Face to Face With The Millennials" was a Music Tank conference with Terry McBride, CEO of Nettwerk Music and manager for such as Avril Lavigne, Barenaked Ladies and Sarah McLaughlin. The day started with a keynote speech by Terry, which was more an open forum of discussion as Q&A was encouraged throughout. He focused on key points that are covered in his report “Meet the Millennials”. Highlights of the keynote include:

• Fans are the record companies. Ownership of the song does not lie with the artist or the label or the publishers, but rather the consumer.
• Scarcity is value. As there is only one artist this makes them a scarce commodity so we can capitalise on that.
• Artists are brands. They may not like the word but that is essentially what they are, and in order to succeed you have to focus on ways of building the brand.
• Amazing technology is available and we should embrace it, build online communities and create opportunities within the digital world.
• We should be selling digital tracks cheaper (the tipping point)...

TuneUp Solves Music Metadata Mess

As consumers gather ever larger download libraries, most contain incorrect metadata and cover art. TuneUp is designed to fix the problem by enabling users to clean up their music collections via an iTunes plug-in that automatically fixes mislabeled song information, finds cover art, shows upcoming concerts, and delivers related videos, bios, news, and recommendations.

I'm not privy to TuneUp business plan, butall this detail about my collection and tastes offers limitless possibilities for marketers. Imagine the power of positioning a mention for a hot new dance release inside the collection of a proven dance music collector?

TUNEUP DETAILS: The first version runs...

Friday's Music Briefing: eMusic, Ministry oF Sound & More

> An in depth look at IODA (Independent Online Distribution Alliance) and the services it offers beyond digital distribution. (TechNewsWorld)

> More on eMusic's remake and plans to compete: add lots of social networking features. (Fortune) Sounds good for existing subscribers but will it attract more? "So...we're gonna build a sandbox and its gonna feel a little like imeem, but you gotta pay to get in."

> Global dance giant Ministry of Sound is rebranding itself to MSHK Group. The name change is part of a diversification strategy which include HedKandi toiletries, camping equipment and audio hardware. (Billboard)

> Indie music site Insound adds a unique t-shirt line. (Listening Post) Smart brand extension that you're seeing at retail record stores too.  Loving a band or genre is a lifestyle...

> Live Nation continues to ramp up to be ready to do its own ticketing in November with a deal with Telstra for peak computing power. (press release) Should help with the big on-sale days.

> cNet offers the Top 5 Online Music Stores. (cNet)

Terry McBride At "Meet The Millennials"

INTRO: FROM THE POST-PRESS RELEASE

PART 1: MCBRIDE SPEAKS

 

(Press Release) INTRO: Music Tank celebrated it’s 5th anniversary on Thursday in style with the launch of a unique music business experiment, kicked off by Nettwerk Music Group CEO Terry McBride. Hot on the heels of his acclaimed report ‘Meet The Millennials’, McBride was challenged by MusicTank to demonstrate live on stage the practical applications of his lifestyle-marketing philosophies and in his own words get us all thinking ‘outside the sandbox and onto the beach’.

Joined by representatives of some of the leading organizations in the music, gaming and advertising industries, such as Electronic Arts, Warp Records, Rough Trade, KLP, Last.fm and MTV (see below for full list of contributors),Terry was tasked with creating an experimental 12 month road map fit for tomorrow’s music business for one of the UK’s hottest new talents, James Yuill, who was introduced to the audience by his manager Amul Batra.

Hypebot Joins ArtistDish Podcast Debut

I've been thinking about podcasting as another great way to communicate the interesting things happening in music 2.0, but couldn't find a format that offered something new.  Thanks to the enterprising Patrick Woodward, that's changed. Every couple of weeks I'll join Pat and fellow new music industry traveler Duncan Freeman in a half hour discussion of the latest trends, start-ups and services that we're calling ArtistDish.  Here are the players:

• Duncan Freeman is an entrepreneur developing applications for the indie music industry. He co-founded Skribit and blogs @ IndieMusicTech.
• Patrick Woodward masterminded the podcast and from his perch in L.A. shares thoughts about all things music and digital @ PatWoodward.com
• Bruce Houghton (me) runs booking agency Skyline Music and as you know by now blogs daily here on Hypebot.

Join us for podcast #1 and subscribe at ArtistDish.com or via iTunes. 

EU Wide Music Licenses Approved

The European Commission has approved EU wide song licenses, a move sure to speed the growth of territory wide download, broadcast and music 2.0 services. Previously country by country licensing was the norm.

It's "a blessing for us," says 7Digital's Peter Davias. But some artists group disagree fearing EU wide licenses will lead to lower payouts. One bright spot for disgruntled acts: they can now sign with a right organization outside of their home country if they prefer.

Full EC statement

AimeStreet Debuts Charity Downloads

Watch out Bono. Variable priced download leader AmieStreet has named Creative Visions Foundation as the lead charity in  "Download To Make A Difference" a new campaign using downloads to support humanitarian causes.  It kicks off with AmieStreet donating $2 to Creative Visions for every free download of the new single, "Anything," by composer-philanthropist Peter Buffett and multi-platinum star Akon exclusively available at AmieStreet.com/CreativeVisions.

Founded in 1999, Creative Visions Foundation was inspired by Dan Eldon, the youngest photojournalist ever at Reuters, who was murdered while covering the Somali conflict in 1993. CVF supports and nurtures "creative activists" – people who use art, media and technology to inform, inspire, and empower others to catalyze change.

Thursday's Music Briefing: iTunes UK, Influencers Study & More

> iTunes UK has dropped plans to cut download prices saying lower exchange rate changes mean there is no longer a discrepancy between EU and UK prices. (Billboard)

> New study says US "influencers" - that top 8% that drive trends discover music via other influencers and (believe it or not) on the radio. (FMQB) They must mean college and non-comm radio...

> eMusic is undergoing some site upgrades and says it will have a whole new site in the next 10 months. (DMN) Smart to be innovative although no changes announced so far are close to revolutionary. Maybe the should read my list of ideas in "How eMusic Can Save Its Soul.

> EU close to extending copyrights to 95 years. (ars)

> WMG adds SendMeMobile to its list of ringtone and other mobile content distributors. SendMe will also promote WMG acts across its properties. (press release)

> Music industry insiders find upside in album leaks. (Reuters)

> Sixthman announces a slew of music fan cruises. (press release) A great example of brand extension.

Soundtrack.MTV.com: Video & Details

Soundtrack.mtv.com launches today as discovery engine for the music played in MTV programming. The sites also offers catalog of corresponding content including music videos, performances, personal blogs, photos of the artists played. Bands and fans can also champion their favorite music "creating a clear path for the best to make it in front of MTV's music supervisors and onto TV". Here's a video tour plus more details after the jump.

The Truth About Music Press Releases

Our mothers told us "If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all."  In the world of music press releases I'd like to re-write that to say "If you can't say anything truthful, don't say anything at all".

Recently, the CEO of a major indie download site declared on the company's blog, "While MTV and Yahoo have closed down their music services, (our company) has grown by more than 60% over the past year."  Impressive growth, but MTV didn't close its service; it just moved partners from Microsoft to Real, and Yahoo still has a store; they just outsourced it.

Then another major music destination announced "exclusive" streams of Radiohead's In Rainbows.  I published it as a decent score for the site, but a better informed Hypebot reader pointed out that another service had offered this stream much earlier.

We all expect spin and hype in press releases. But we also expect the truth. In the digital age, those writing press releases need to remember that the truth is just a Google search or a watchful reader away. - Bruce Houghton

Nintendo Unveils Wii Music

Nintendo is finally jumping into the music with a Rock Band and Guitar Hero competitor called Wii Music.  Simulation of 60 instruments will be indcluded when the platform is released before Christmas along with an improved controller so that "every slight movement players make with their wrist or arm is rendered identically in real time on the screen, providing a true 1:1 response in their game play." In other words, your poor shredding skills will be amplified and projected.

No word yet on an acompanying music store or any special artist deals.

imeem Scores U2 Reissue Advance

Universal has given imeem streaming rights to deluxe editions of U2’s first three albums, Boy (1980), October (1981) and War (1983) a week prior to the albums’ releases on July 22nd. Listen here.  Following the release of a re-mastered Joshua Tree last year, Edge has overseen re-mastering of the first three albums from the original audio tapes including b-sides, live tracks and rarities.

U2 is the latest artist to premiere music on imeem, the third largest social network in the U.S. This year, artists including Radiohead, Scarlett Johansson, New Order, The Rolling Stones, Avril Lavigne and Ray J have debuted new music and videos there.

Radiohead & Google Team For Video

Radiohead has teamed with Google for this innovative new video. There's also an ad for it running under the first post in the left column of this blog.

Hypebot Free On Your Mobile Phone

Thanks to a new mobile version of Hypebot, you can stay on top of all that's happening in the new music industry free on your cell phone courtesy of MoFuse.

Just point the browser on your web enabled cell phone to  http://hypebot.mofuse.mobi/ and you'll get a RSS like version of Hypebot with links to the full stories.  Be sure to add a Hypebot Mobile bookmark. (screen shot of Hypebot on an iPhone after the jump)

Wednesday's Music 2.0 Briefing: EU, Death Row, Gamecues, MTV & More

HYPEBOT FEATURES:

• The Truth About Music Press Releases
• Nintendo Unveils Wii For Music
• Tunecore gets its own Billboard chart
• Radiohead and Google team for innovative new video
• imeem scores U2 reissue advance
• Hypebot adds a mobile feed
• JOIN THE DEBATE: Value of a new widget that enables Radiohead type pay-what- you-will downloads.

> EU gives boost to online music stores and 2.0 sites by pushing regional music licensing. (AP)

> The Death Row Records controversy continues with a lawsuit seeking to declare the winning bid in the bankruptcy auction void. (press release)

> Gamecues offers a platform for video game music licensing. (press release) Do any of you know of opportunities for indie and d.i.y, artists in gaming?

> MTV betas one of its many new sites called SoundTrack aimed at exposing the music it features within its many non-music shows. (SoundTrack)

> Indie consultancy Music Allies adds industry vet Ron Phillips (WMG, Amazon) as a retail sales and marketing specialist. (press release)

> Piracy raids continue in Mexico. (IFPI)

> New Metallica will debut simultaneously on Guitar Hero II and retail in September. (press release)

TuneCore Gets Own Billboard Chart

Billboard is now posting the top 25 revenue-generating albums and songs from discount flat fee digital distributor TuneCore in its Digital & Mobile section. The first chart can be viewed here.

Geoff Mayfield, Billboard's Director of Charts said, "As the music industry shifts through a fast and dramatic evolution, Billboard is constantly on the alert for new data sources from newer technology to compliment our menu of traditional sales and radio charts."...