hypebot

Some Fast Thoughts On Michael Jackson

Just in case you're not totally sick of reading about MJ:

• I have to admit that my own reaction is best summed up by this from @nealbrennan via @iancr: "As a tribute to Michael, I am going to carry Emmanuel Lewis around my house for the next hour." 
• But apparently interest was so high that Google thought it was being attacked and Twitter crashed briefly.
• Be on the lookout for at least two major pieces of fallout:
  • Promoter AEG had been forced to self-insure the upcoming London shows and face a huge liability
  • Many fans bought tickets via secondary sources and may find it near to impossible to get refunds.
• Two memorable videos via The Daily Swarm after the jump: Jackson's attack on Tommy Matolla and his record label and his best dance moves.

Could Microsoft Be Seeqpod's Savior?

Seeqpod has been down for two weeks today and during that time the landing page has changed subtly several times. The latest incarnation includes this message:

While we're cocooned for metamorphosis...

Enjoy a featured playable search result

The first link points to a video on graphic video of a radiometer and the second points to  a Microsoft Seach screen.  Is Microsoft the mystery buyer that Seeqpod founder Kasian Franks promised? Could Microsoft be repositioning Seeqpod's search capabilities to broaden its search engine?  Why not point the Seeqpod url to Google; or why point it anywhere at all?

TotalMusic Births Playlist Widget Tunepost

Last year Universal CEO Doug Morris was publicly hawking a concept called TotalMusic that he envisioned as some kind of unlimited music service not unlike Nokia's Comes With Music. One idea that Moriss floated had manufacturers like Zune building the price of the service into the cost of their portable players. Then there was silence...

Now it appears that TotalMusic is re-focusing on playlists under the monikor Tunepost. Former Director of AOL Music and current TotalMusic VP Of Product Management Jason Herskowitz has posted a sample playlist widget on his blog and ou can get on a list for beta invites here. Beyond that, details are scarce.

With support from the world's largest label group Universal, Tunepost should be able to avoid the licensing battles that crushed MuxTape and are crippling Project Playist.  What they do with their legal head start and how well they can monetize it in a down economy is worth watching closely.

NET RADIO BROADCASTING TO CELL PHONES INCREASING

Internet radio stations on your cell phone are already a reality according to an article in today's RAIN newsletter "Orban/CRL has announced that several Internet netcasters are now streaming high-quality stereo audio programming to 3GPP mobile devices via Orban’s OPTICODEC-PC aacPlus streaming software. Groove Salad, Secret Agent, and Indie Pop Rocks from San Francisco netcaster SomaFM and Santa Fe, NM’s Blu 102.9 FM are all streaming using 3GPP streaming technology in addition to their normal aacPlus audio streams.

"According to Rusty Hodge of SomaFM, '3GPP aacPlus streams can actually sound better than FM radio. With these netcasters using this innovative technology, it is sure to help set the pace for more high quality streams and content to become available to the exploding wireless communications market.'...

"These stations join the many other netcasters who are listed on www.tuner2.com, a free streaming directory listing site for OPTICODEC-PC aacPlus netcasts. 3GPP streams are now also listed at www.tuner2.com/tuner/tuner2.wml for WAP browsers.

"Compared to MP3 and Windows Media Audio, these stations have found that OPTTICODEC-PC’s advanced aacPlus codec can reduce their bandwidth costs by almost two-thirds while increasing the audio quality they deliver to their listeners..."

HYPEBOT: It's all a bit technical for us. But new software that lowers bandwith requirements while increasing sound quality therefore making broadcasting to cell phones possible and bandwidth costs for all net broadcasting lower, then we're damn excited.

New IFPI Report Says 1 In 3 Music Discs Sold Worldwide Are Pirated

International music trade gorup the IFPI says in a new report that one in three music discs sold worldwide is an illegal copy, creating a US$4.6 billion music pirate market that destroys jobs, kills investment and funds organized crime. Despite the huge scale of the problem, some governments have taken encouraging steps to address music piracy in the last 18 months, according to the recording industry Commercial Piracy Report 2005 published by IFPI today.

A total of 1.2 billion pirate music discs were sold in 2004 - 34% of all discs sold worldwide. But growth in disc piracy has slowed to its lowest level in five years, partly thanks to stepped up enforcement efforts in countries including Mexico, Brazil, Hong Kong, Paraguay and Spain. Industry and government enforcement efforts are also reaping results. The past year saw record levels of pirate production taken out of action, while seizures of commercial CD burning equipment in 2004 were twice the levels of 2003.

Sales of pirate music exceed the legitimate market in a record 31 countries in 2004 - including, for the first time, Chile, Czech Republic, Greece, India and Turkey.

Spain is one of ten top priority countries named by the IFPI report, where piracy levels are at unacceptable levels and where additional government action is urgently needed. They are: Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Pakistan, Paraguay, Russia, Spain and Ukraine. It also highlights four other countries - Bulgaria, Canada, Korea and Taiwan where piracy, both physical and on the internet, is a special focus for the international recording industry.

For more on the IFPI report including the Top 10 offending countries click below.

Yetnikoff Sounds Off On Sorry State Of Music Biz At Commotion Records Event

Chris Marlowe writes on HollywoodReporter.com that, "Attendees at Commotion Records' event at the Grove in Los Angeles Tuesday evening got a double-barreled look at the music industry."

"...the former president of CBS Records Group during the highflying '80s (and Commotion co-founder), took the floor, and it became "The Walter Yetnikoff Show."

"...An unholy terror at the height of his power at CBS, he has mellowed into an almost avuncular figure..."

"...During a question-and-answer session, the outspoken Yetnikoff vented his spleen about the contemporary music business. "When you set out just to make money, you often don't," he said, noting the biz's ongoing decline. "Today's music industry bores me because it's run by conglomerates. ... Today's pop music is mostly really boring, because it's a copy of a copy of a copy."

"He added, "Would Bob Dylan get a contract today? I don't think so -- he sings funny." He pointed out that Bruce Springsteen was allowed to take a big chance with his now-classic solo 1982 album, "Nebraska." Yetnikoff said, "The patience (with Springsteen) paid off. In today's climate, I'm not sure the record executives would be that patient."

"So who does Yetnikoff like in music these days? "The White Stripes -- it's original," he said."

Read the full story including much more in the indy film soundtrack business here.

WALL STREET SPANKS WARNER MUSIC GROUP

According to Digital Music News, "Top analysts continue to be cool on Warner Music Group, with a new set of opinions driving the stock down further. Goldman Sachs led the negativity, rating the stock "in-line/neutral" despite being one of the lead underwriters in the recent IPO.., Merrill Lynch...took the pessimism a step further, rating the stock a "sell" ...Wall Street drove the stock downward..."

"The recent opinions largely fall in line with previous sentiments from investors, with Warner Music suffering a rather lackluster IPO in May. Soon thereafter, the company released a mediocre quarterly earnings report, though digital revenues are steadily increasing..."

Coalition of Independent Music Stores' Top 200 for Week Ending 6-19-05

Label/Pos./Artist / Title

CAP 1 COLDPLAY|X&Y

RCA 2 FOO FIGHTERS|IN YOUR HONOR

V2 3 WHITE STRIPES|GET BEHIND ME SA

VRGN 4 GORILLAZ|DEMON DAYS

MBL 5 AS I LAY DYING|SHADOWS ARE SEC

GEFN 6 COMMON|BE

AAM 7 BLACK EYED PEAS|MONKEY BUSINES

INT 8 BECK|GUERO

MERG 9 SPOON|GIMME FICTION

COL 10 SYSTEM OF A DOW|MEZMERIZE

EPIC 11 LIFE OF AGONY|BROKEN VALLEY

WAR 12 COODER*RY|CHAVEZ RAVINE

GEFN 13 MORRISON*VAN|MAGIC TIME

INEP 14 AUDIOSLAVE|OUT OF EXILE

NWWT 15 YOAKAM*DWIGHT|BLAME THE VAIN

SUBP 16 SLEATER-KINNEY|WOODS

UNJJ 17 JOHNSON*JACK|IN BETWEEN DREAMS

OHB 18 PRINE*JOHN|FAIR & SQUARE

EPIT 19 MOTION CITY SOU|COMMIT THIS TO

RCA 20 MATTHEWS*DAVE B|STAND UP

LHWY 21 ADAMS*RYAN|COLD ROSES

RYKO 22 ENO*BRIAN|ANOTHER DAY ON EARTH

INT 23 NINE INCH NAILS|WITH TEETH

GEFN 24 WEEZER|MAKE BELIEVE

EPIC 25 OASIS|DON'T BELIEVE THE TRUTH

Click below for the rest of the chart.

In Europe Internet Drowning Out TV And Radio...But There Is Hope For Music.

15-24 year olds across Europe are spending less time watching TV and listening to the radio as a result of using the Internet, according to research from the European Interactive Advertising Association (EIAA), the pan-European trade organisation for sellers of interactive media.  Almost half of 15-24 year olds (46%) are watching less TV, preferring instead to browse the web while 22% are listening to less radio. A third of those questioned are even reading less, choosing to consume information over the Internet.

Activities done less as a result of using the Internet:

• Watching TV                           46%
• Talking on the phone               34%
• Reading newspapers                33%
• Reading books                         32%
• Listening to the radio              22%

Across Europe, this key target audience is spending almost a quarter of their media time (24%) online, more than reading newspapers (10%) or magazines (8%). In comparison, the average European devotes 20% of their media activity to the Internet. Among 15-24 year olds, TV continues to represent the largest share of media time at 31% with radio just ahead of the Internet on 27%.

Music dominates online activity for this age group with the Internet providing a cheaper and more convenient means of purchasing and downloading tracks. A quarter of 15-24 year olds are now buying music online having previously purchased it in the shops. Almost half of those questioned (47%) would be prepared to pay for music download services, while 52% of youths listen to music online now instead of elsewhere.

Read more about the study here.

Radio On Your Cell Gains Steam

According to BussinessWeek.com, "A small deception is being practiced in Los Angeles and Washington, D.C. In those cities, 300 people who might look like typical headphone-wearing commuters are listening to the radio while stuck in traffic or holding on as their overcrowded train chugs along in the morning rush hour. But they carry a secret."

"They aren't listening to music on their portable radios, nor playing podcasts of homebrewed radio programs on their iPods. They're grooving to the radio, all right, but it's flowing from an unexpected source: their cell phones."

"This small army of testers is checking out Motorola's iRadio service, expected to launch by yearend. And these listeners won't be on their lonesome for long. Scores of handset makers, wireless carriers, Web portals, and even satellite radio companies are starting up services that offer radio over cell phones -- betting that the market for such services could be as big as camera phones and ringtones."

"...And many users want that addition. According to surveys conducted by America Online, a unit of Time Warner, more than half the respondents say they would listen to the radio on their phones. AOL is in talks with wireless service providers to offer its online radio stations on mobile phones within months..."

"Cell-phone radio might have greater appeal than mobile video. Handset maker Nokia is currently testing cell-phone video over a new network, but it has discovered that many consumers end up using the video broadcasts as radio. They listen to them most of the time, instead of squinting at the phones' two-inch screens..."

To learn more about the companies exploring broadcasting to cells and the struggle over finding the correct delivery technology, read the entire article here.

Apples Jobs Tells Stanford Grads: "Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish."

Apple & Pixar exec Steve Jobs gave an inspiring if rather simplistic graduation speech last week at Stanford University. 

The full text can be read here.

Live365 Launches Indy Label Podcast Series

Rock Ridge Music, an artist development company/label that launched last year, is taking part in new podcast series on Live365.com called "Live365 SPOTcast."  This series of weekly podcasts will be released this summer, with each week focusing on a different independent label and hosted by the award-winning programmer of BAGel Radio, Ted Leibowitz . Rock Ridge Music’s featured SPOTcast debuted on Friday, June 17th and includes tracks and interviews from label artists and clients. Listeners can download or subscribe to the XML here.

Live365.com is the world’s largest internet radio community, with thousands of stations and three million listeners a month.  The initial podcast series focuses on independent alternative and indie rock and highlights new digital labels and forward-thinking established independent record labels. As one of these tastemaker companies, Rock Ridge has put together a varied and stellar podcast which features: Sinch ("All That’s Left Behind" and interview), Sister Hazel ("World Inside My Head"), Stroke 9 ("Set You Free" and interview), and Love.45 ("Don’t Ask Me" and interview).

Launched last summer, Rock Ridge Music offers its artists a label, artist management (if needed), national distribution, and a place to develop and maintain a solid career in the music business. Rock Ridge Music can be found online at here.

Check Out AOL's Free Music Services

Check out the 200 channel RadioAOL and AOLMusic here on the first day of free access.  More on AOL's moves to open up their "walled garden" below.

AOL Offers Free Content

Today (Tuesday) is the day that AOL opens the doors for free to much of it's once "subscriber only" content.

Jonathan Miller, America Online CEO, is heading this shift in the company's approach seemingly influenced by his time as an entertainment executive and relationship with parent corporation Time Warner. He described AOL's plans to remake the company from internet content provdier to true media conglomerate to The Hollywood Reporter.

The full interview can read online here.

Lefsetz Letter Urges Record Labels & Radio To Invest In New Business Model Or Die

Excerpted from a recent Lefsetz Letter: "Now, you record companies fiddling with the CD should take note. You're living in a terrestrial world, and that's why you're fucked...But that's not why I'm beating you up here. I'm beating you up because you live by the mantra of giving people what they want.

"I'm not sure when things flipped. When art became about money instead of expression. When instant sales were seen to triumph over long term sales..."

"The record companies' business has been declining for half a decade. Is this about piracy, or is this about a failed business model? Could it be that if the labels focused on signing and promoting artists of value, who were in it for the long haul, their business would INCREASE??"

"Talk to the man on the street. You'll hear it again and again. Radio sucks."

"Radio used to be the MOST adventurous medium, that's why it continued to prosper after the advent of television. But now listenership is down and revenues are too...Could it be that a new model must be employed? That instead of playing fewer records, they should play MORE? That's what the Jack format is about. However, Jack leaves aside one of the selling elements of radio, personality. But...where are the NEW greatest hits coming from?...Unless radio invests in itself, it's going to die. Unless the labels invest in themselves, THEY'RE going to die.

Subsribe to free Lefsetz Letter here.

Study Predicts $11.3 Billion Mobile Music Market In 5 Years

According to Digital Music News: "Just how big will the mobile music market be in 2010? Certainly, things will look a lot different than they do now, with a new market being shaped by beefier devices, faster delivery networks, surging interest and more robust batteries. That has most research groups asking just how high this market will rise, with Informa Telecoms and Media projecting an $11.3 billion market by 2010. Realtones will account for $6.8 billion of that total, outpacing polyphonic tones next year. Current ringtones sales, including both real and polyphonic tones, account for an estimated $4.9bn this year according to the research."

"While Informa sees a painful death for the iPod as the mobile music market evolves, the Apple devices are currently enjoying a nice reign...Ringtone sales themselves could start to feel a pinch, with many still amazed at just how much money one tone can fetch. That offers an interesting opportunity for companies like Xingtone and Primetones, which both other do-it-yourself ringtone creation tools...Meanwhile, many newer phones offer embedded ringtone creation tools, posing another major threat for existing ringtone revenues."

INDY SHANACHIE FINALLY JOINS DIGITAL DOWNLOAD WORLD WITH THE ORCHARD

(CelebrityAccess MediaWire) - The Orchard has signed independent label Shanachie Entertainment for exclusive worldwide digital distribution and marketing. The Orchard will leverage Shanachie's artist roster globally for distribution to all leading digital music stores and services and the major wireless carriers through The Orchard's numerous mobile partnerships.

Shanachie joins the ranks of other major labels, including Lookout! Records and Saregama, that have partnered with The Orchard to market and sell their music digitally. The Orchard has digital distribution and marketing relationships in place with over 100 of the world's leading digital music stores globally, including iTunes, eMusic, Napster, MSN, MusicMatch, Real/Rhapsody, and Yahoo! In addition, The Orchard maintains distribution partnerships with industry-leading mobile companies around the world, including Sprint, Dwango Wireless, Zingy, 9 Squared, HIFI Ringtones, IAM Mobile, Securycast, Arvato Mobile and Hudson Soft.

Founded as a small traditional Irish music label in 1975, Shanachie has grown into a dominant independent that releases 50-70 titles each year with a strong catalogue encompassing blues (through its Yazoo imprint), folk, world music, reggae, smooth jazz, Americana, Latin music, rock, funk, jazz, klezmer and more.

Shanachie's catalogue features releases by contemporary jazz artists Kim Waters and Chuck Loeb, reggae trailblazers Augustus Pablo and Black Uhuru, African trumpeter Hugh Masekela, juju master King Sunny Ade, Pakistani artist Nusrate Fateh Ali Khan, bluegrass artists The Stanley Brothers and many more.

TOP MUSIC INDUSTRY LEADERS HOLD TWO DAY RETREAT

On Thursday the leaders of key music organizations completed a two-day CEO retreat near Napa, CA focused on issues confronting the industry as well as strategies to ensure a healthy future for the U.S. music community.

The retreat brought together the top leaders of virtually every component of the music industry to engage and share information and perspectives on issues of the day. A broad range of topics was discussed, and the impending Grokster Supreme Court decision and concerns regarding music piracy figured prominently and engendered great cooperation and unity of purpose.

Entertainment attorney John Frankenheimer, who served as the moderator/facilitator for the retreat, stated: "It is clear that there is commonality of interests across a broad series of issues within the industry. This was an invaluable opportunity for the music industry's leadership to candidly exchange ideas and perspectives and identify common ground."

Organizations whose attended included The Recording Academy, Recording Industry Association of America, The Songwriters Guild of America, American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, American Association for Independent Music, American Federation of Musicians, Church Music Publishers Association Action Fund, Gospel Music Association, Harry Fox Agency, National Association of Recording Merchandisers, National Music Publishers' Association, Recording Artists' Coalition, R&B Foundation, SESAC, and SoundExchange.

A commitment was made both to future meetings and continued cooperative effort.

Ericsson & Napster Launch Music Service

According to the Associated Press "wireless equipment maker LM Ericsson and online music distributor Napster Inc are launching a digital music service for mobile phones."

"The service will let users download Napster's music files to their handsets, or other mobile devices..."

"...The announcement came as wireless providers and device makers rush to deliver music, video and ringtones to mobile phones, viewed by many as the next medium of choice for entertainment."

"Motorola Inc. plans to launch a cell phone that can buy and play songs from Apple Computer Inc.'s iTunes..."

"...The service offered by Napster and Ericsson is set to go live in Europe within the next 12 months and will initially be offered to operators in selected markets in Europe, Asia, Latin America, and North America."

SIRIUS TO ADD 25% MORE CHANNEL CAPABILITY

(CelebrityAccess MediaWire) -- Sirius Satellite Radio has developed a new, advanced proprietary technology that will initially increase the company's total network capacity by approximately 25% within its existing digital transmission system. The technology, known in the industry as hierarchical modulation, will allow Sirius to offer additional audio channels, as well as advanced services such as data and video, without affecting the quality of its broadcasts.

To read the full article click below.

Coalition of Independent Music Stores' Top 200 for Week Ending 6-12-05

Label Pos. Artist|Title

CAP 1 COLDPLAY|X&Y

V2 2 WHITE STRIPES|GET BEHIND ME SA

VRGN 3 GORILLAZ|DEMON DAYS

AAM 4 BLACK EYED PEAS|MONKEY BUSINES

ATLG 5 DREAM THEATER|OCTAVARIUM

GEFN 6 COMMON|BE

COL 7 SYSTEM OF A DOW|MEZMERIZE

SUBP 8 SLEATER-KINNEY|WOODS

INEP 9 AUDIOSLAVE|OUT OF EXILE

MERG 10 SPOON|GIMME FICTION

INT 11 BECK|GUERO

WAR 12 AVENGED SEVENFO|CITY OF EVIL

EPIT 13 MOTION CITY SOU|COMMIT THIS TO

EPIC 14 OASIS|DON'T BELIEVE THE TRUTH

GEFN 15 WEEZER|MAKE BELIEVE

GEFN 16 FINCH|SAY HELLO TO

GEFN 17 MORRISON*VAN|MAGIC TIME

INT 18 NINE INCH NAILS|WITH TEETH

UNJJ 19 JOHNSON*JACK|IN BETWEEN DREAMS

LHWY 20 ADAMS*RYAN|COLD ROSES

RCA 21 MATTHEWS*DAVE B|STAND UP

OLE 22 MALKMUS*STEPHEN|FACE THE TRUTH

ISL 23 CAREY*MARIAH|EMANCIPATION OF M

VAGR 24 ALKALINE TRIO|CRIMSON

OHB 24 PRINE*JOHN|FAIR & SQUARE

ISL 26 KILLERS|HOT FUSS

FOR THE REST OF THE CIMS TOP 200 CLICK BELOW

JIMMY BUFFETT LAUNCHES SIRIUS CHANNEL

Jimmy Buffett and SIRIUS are teaming up to bring you a true taste of radio paradise: Radio Margaritaville — a new 24-hour channel, featuring a wide variety of music, live broadcasts of Buffett’s concerts and other unique programs. Radio Margaritaville will debut on June 15th at 7:30 pm ET, with a special live broadcast of Jimmy Buffett’s concert performance from the Nissan Pavillion in Bristow, Virginia. The new channel launches with a concert pre-show broadcast at 7:30 pm ET, followed by the concert at 8 pm ET. "I first listened to SIRIUS' incredible programming in my car and my boat," said Buffett. "We had designed Radio Margaritaville after the old pirate radio stations that sat offshore and played what they wanted. When I saw how SIRIUS is changing the way radio is being heard, I welcomed the opportunity for Radio Margaritaville to join them." Buffett launched Radio Margaritaville in 1998 on the Internet. Now, with Radio Margaritaville on SIRIUS, Parrotheads across America can hear it in their cars, on their boats and on the go by subscribing to SIRIUS.

SIRIUS OVER YOUR SPRINT CELL

Digital Music News is reporting that Sprint and Sirius Satellite Radio are planning a wireless internet radio service. "Sprint, which has already dipped its toes into streaming audio and video content, will soon feature several Sirius channels to its subscribers...The move follows a mobile-based streaming audio offering in Britain, with Virgin Radio delivering broadcasts to 3G-enabled devices earlier this year..."

"While the possibility of mobile streaming audio is enticing, many users would simply prefer to have FM-radio access on their phones...The area is just developing, but carriers are more excited about opportunities like the Sirius one because it raises monthly charges, while an FM-radio, device-based installation does not..."

Expect many similar announcements from other cell companies and content providers in coming months.

PS: Sell your the broadcast radio stocks in your portfolio....

BMG Vet Morelli To Head RED

According to HollywoodReporter.com, "BMG distribution veteran Bob Morelli has been appointed executive vp and general manager at RED Distribution, Sony BMG's independent distribution unit. Morelli, who most recently was executive vp and general manager of Sony BMG Music Sales, replaces Ken Antonelli, who has resigned as RED president..."

AOL MIGRATES TO MORE FREE SERVICES INCLUDING MUSIC

"...In one of the most dramatic transformations in its twenty year history, the long beleaguered Internet giant is about to take down the walls that used to keep out everyone but its $23.90-a-month paying members."

"Starting on June 21, AOL's news, music videos, concerts like Bob Geldof's Live 8 benefit, Internet radio, and movie shorts, will be available to anyone who goes to its spruced up AOL.com site..."

"Imagine 27 channels that were never available before on the Web, plus email for everyone," AOL Executive Vice President, Media Networks Kevin Conroy told the Daily News."

"The goal is to capture the flood of ad dollars pouring into the Internet that has boosted rivals like Google, Yahoo, and MSN..."

Read the full Daily News online article here.

Indigo Girls Hit DC In Support Of Local Low Power FM

The Low Power FM movement got a huge boost recently when, according to Digital Music News, "...the Indigo Girls hit Capitol Hill last week to support localism, community service and diversity in broadcast media, using their guitars and voices to help launch the upcoming Community Radio Act of 2005."

"Rep. Louise Slaughter (D., NY) enlisted the Girls to help support her proposed legislation, which aims to consolidate the status of Low Power FM radio nationwide. Playing to a packed hearing room in the Rayburn House Office Building, the Girls ran through an unplugged sampling of their greatest hits for an audience that included congressional staffers, representatives from California and Illinois, and members of various interest groups..."

"The Community Radio Act is being drafted specifically in response to recent reports of fraud and abuse involving Low Power FM licenses. LPFM licenses were created by the FCC in 2000 to promote educational noncommercial broadcasting. However, according to Slaughter, the licenses are being usurped by media conglomerates: "Apparently, many hundreds of LPFM broadcast licenses awarded to individuals by the FCC for their own use were then sold for large sums of money to several owners who intend to broadcast content via satellite networks, rather than use the licenses for the purpose for which they were intended: local voices articulating local issues and featuring local artists reflecting local culture and customs." The draft version of the bill also calls on the FCC to move more quickly to distribute thousands of LPFM licenses throughout the nation, and to ensure that recipients are authentic representatives of the public interest..."

Ready the full story by news analyst Michael Baker at Digital Music News.

DIGITAL MUSIC NEWS WEEK IN REVIEW

• In the portable mp3 player space, Apple announced an iPod recycling program, curbing criticism from environmental groups. Meanwhile, Wall Street investors continued to voice concern over soft iPod demand. Looking forward, Steve Jobs previewed the upcoming iTunes application, which will include integrated podcasting features.
• In satellite radio, XM inked a new partnership with digital audiobook provider Audible. That relationship will see the development of next generation satellite devices, which will be capable of storing Audible content. Meanwhile, Sirius extended its deal with Ford, with the automaker feeling more confident on increased subscriber levels.
• In the regulatory environment, EU mostly expressed satisfaction over a Microsoft compliance  proposal, following months of wrangling. A modified version of the Windows OS is slated for OEM delivery June 15th, with the package lacking a bundled Windows Media Player. Separately, MSN is now said to be readying a music subscription service.
• On the label end, CD sales slipped once again, part of a continued decline in 2005. Meanwhile, scans of the recent Coldplay album appear to be strong.
• But the biggest development came from the indie sector, with a long list of independent labels creating a new consortium.
• And Clear Channel Radio beefed up its online initiative, announcing its first exclusive pre- release album stream.

MICROSOFT MAY ADD MUSIC SUBSCRIPTION SERVICE AND UNVEILS MODIFIED OPERATING SYSTEM IN EUROPE

According to Digital Music News, "Microsoft may be moving closer to delivering a music subscription service, with more sources pointing to an imminent launch. While Microsoft has always left the door wide open to such a move, a big entrance by Yahoo may be accelerating the plans....Of course, Microsoft has remained quiet on the issue. The new service will likely be heavily integrated into the existing MSN Music download store, which has trailed significantly behind iTunes."

"...A big push by Microsoft into the digital living room could also be motivating the move, with Microsoft hoping to play a big role in next-generation entertainment experiences. Meanwhile, the combination of Microsoft, Yahoo and RealNetworks in the subscription space will offer the greatest test for the format yet, with the jury still out on whether consumers want to rent music."

On a related front Digital Music News also reports that, "Microsoft is planning to debut its modified operating system throughout Europe on June 15th, with the Windows Media Player separated from the package. The modified release will be named "Windows XP Home Edition N,"with the "N" indicating that the OS is "Not With Media Player". The unbundled operating system will not replace the current version, it will merely offer an additional option to OEMs...The release follows a tense interlude with the European Union, with Microsoft feeling big heat from the regulatory agency.

KCRW-FM & KCRW.COM ADD LEXUS AS PODCAST SPONSOR

As another example of how far podcasting has come, public radio station KCRW in Santa Monica, CA (89.9 FM and KCRW.com) announced today that the Southern California Lexus Dealers will be the exclusive sponsor of the station’s podcasting line-up, for 26 weeks starting at the end of October.  KCRW is the number-one rated public radio station in Southern California. Unfortunately the station's innovative music program will not be a part of the podcasting initiative dues to complex music licencing issues.

On March 1, 2005, KCRW.com began podcasting its line-up of locally produced talk, news, cultural programs and commentaries, free of charge. The station boasts an impressive number of original shows.

Described by Business Week as "the uber-techie NPR station in Santa Monica,” and as “the cutting-edge…public radio station that has been on the forefront of Internet Radio,” KCRW went online in 1995, positioning itself as an “early adopter” of digital technologies.

KCRW.com now averages 1.5 million page views each week, as well as 500,000 streaming hours weekly. Since March 1, the average number of podcasts downloaded per week was 25,000. During the first week of June, 2005 the number leaped to 75,000.

KCRW.com operates three streams ( the on-air simulcast, an all music channel and a world news service) and features an online audio and video archive of live in-studio performances, as well as an on-demand feature for its most popular music programs, Morning Becomes Eclectic, Metropolis and Nocturna neither of which will be podcast.

Three podcasts that should be of interest to hypebot.com readers include:

• The Treatment   Elvis Mitchell, entertainment/pop culture interviews

• The Business   Variety's Claude Brodesser examines the entertainment biz

• On the Beat with Celia Hirschman   The music industry analyzed

Download the KCRW podcasts here.

Artificial Viral Marketing

Artificial viral marketing - using temporary or phony email addresses to post messages on web sites, chat rooms and even blogs like Hypebot - is a practice that few marketers admit to using publicly.  After all, it's not really honest and just adds to spam-like clutter.

But it's hard not admit that if you've got a band that would appeal to Dave Mathews fans, reaching out to them via chat boards with messages like "If you like Dave Mathews as much as I do; I think you'd love Marcus Eaton" is smart and very cost effective. 

While we can't be sure; we're guessing that in recent weeks Hypebot has been the target of artificial viral marketing for the new Universal funded video channel - The International Music Feed.  Check out what they've been posting here .