Archive for February, 2011
How friendly are Friends?
February 28th, 2011 | 
Author: No, not Facebook… This is about our leading cultural institutions and their membership systems. Friends schemes are a wonderful thing if you’re in them; and as public subsidy shrinks we’ll be seeing more and more developing. But with demand for membership starting to outstrip the supply of seats, the most sought-after events can sell out before booking has opened to the general public.
Now, in an ideal world, I personally would like the government to support the performing arts wholeheartedly, delivering high-quality performances and making low-cost seating available to all at the same modest price. Museums are free; why not music? But this is looking increasingly like a pipe-dream, at least in Britain. Instead, here is what’s happening, as written by muggins in today’s Indy:
The other day, public booking opened for this year’s Aldeburgh Festival. Helen Hayes, who runs a recording studio at the nearby Potton Hall with her husband, dashed to her phone, hoping to book seats to take their small son to hear the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra conducted by Sir Simon Rattle. It wasn’t to be. “I’ve just tried to book for the CBSO Rattle concert and it is sold out – before public booking opens!” she declared on Facebook, adding: “Talk about access to music… and they get most of the public funding for music in this area. Elitist? Classical Music?”
So what happened? Well, Aldeburgh’s Snape Maltings concert hall seats a modest 800. The 16,000-odd Friends of Aldeburgh Music receive priority booking. And everyone wants to hear Sir Simon Rattle in action.
Non-members can keep phoning the box office and hope for returns. The alternative is to become a Friend…
Read the whole thing here.
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Most Popular Music Videos of All Time
With music videos being as popular as ever, choosing the top videos of all time is an ongoing chore since new videos are being produced daily. Some music videos that you think should have made the top five won’t be there and not because they were not good or even creative, but simply because they did not hold that uniqueness needed to be one of the top five. So with this in mind, please go through our choices and see if you agree with who we picked.
Number 5: “Just” – Radiohead
Director: Jamie Thraves in 1995
The mystery of what the guy says at the very end of the video is right up there with the Cadbury secret! Even after 14 years, we are still unsure and the director and band remain hush- hush about what is said. None of the group wants to reveal what has happened to the video’s hero that makes him disconnect himself from the world around him and sit on the pavement. Perhaps they are not sure what is said themselves and after all this time are in the great debate about the final words.
Number 4: “Take On Me” – A-Ha
Director: Steve Barron in 1985
This band had limited success but this hit was one of the first examples of how MTV was a powerful enough force to take a video clip that started at nothing and took it to number one. The video actually depicts a story and is one of the first following that format. The concept used was unique and clever for its time.
Number 3: “Atmosphere” – Joy Divison
Director: Anton Corbjin in 1988
A bit on the bizarre side, children and/or midgets dressed in Druid costume conduct a funeral on a beach. At first it seems like a tribute done in poor taste to a late singer and drifter, but the melodies and macabre rhythms mesmerize those viewing this video. After watching further, the visuals make more sense. The black and white cinematography and still shots make it seem like Division is a fading Read the rest of this entry »
Voltaire- BRAINS!
One of Voltaire’s most popular songs off his 4th album, “Boo Hoo” Well hello there little boy. Don’t be shy. Step right up, I’m a reasonable guy. Don’t be frightened by the look in my eye. I’m just your average evil meteor from outta the sky. Well, I’m just shy and scared in this place I’m just a fish outta water from outer space You can see that the trip has left me tired and drained So why don’t you be a pal… And bring me some BRAINS! Go down to your neighbor’s place See the dull expression on his face you’d be doing him a favor if you brought him to me He aint using his brain he’s just watching TV! Go down to Mr. McGee’s He hasn’t had a thought since ’43. His brain is the portrait of atrophy. He ain’t using it, why not give it to me? BRAINS, BRAINS, I won’t lie, I’ll eat their brains ’til they’re zombified. Sure they might think it’s deranged But they won’t give it a thought After I’ve eaten they’re brain. BRAINS, BRAINS, It’s okay. It’s not a matter if it isn’t gray, And if at first they think it’s strange, they won’t think twice If they don’t have a brain! Go down to the Wonton shop, My fortune cookie says that I just can’t stop I suck the noodle right out of their heads And half an hours later, I’m hungry again! Then creep into the donut stop Sneak in tip-toe past the cop. Pick me up a cruller and a cupful of tea. And any other sweetbreads you happen to see. BRAINS, BRAINS, I won’t lie, I’ll eat their brains ’til they’re zombified. Sure they might think it’s …
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voltaire music cd (1)This is by Bartok – yes, really
Almost a Friday historical – the Andante, or Albumblatt, by Bartok, written for the then 15-year-old Adila d’Aranyi (elder sister of Jelly) in 1902. Bartok fell for the d’Aranyis in turn (oh, and Stefi Geyer), but it seems that neither of those feisty sisters returned his feelings. Which, to judge from this performance (1978) by Gyorgy Pauk and Peter Frankl, must have been pretty powerful. Enjoy.
Benefits Of Using Myspace Promo Tools And Services To Stand Out, Get Myspace Plays, Climb Charts
Breaking into the music industry is hard work, and for many its nearly impossible. A combination of luck, skill, and connection used to be the only way to land a record deal, luckily with sites like Myspace, Youtube, and Facebook the ability for young or up and coming artists to make a dent and to even possibly break into the industry is more of a reality then ever.
Myspace in particular, is the leading site for artists to displays their skills and to attract fans. With a variety of services that cater to the needs of musicians it is easier then ever to interact with fans, organize shows, and promote new songs. It is a great tool for making contacts in the social and business worlds and then networking with them in order to fulfill a goal.
For many musicians this goal is as simple as getting their sound out there, and can be as difficult as becoming a big star. Myspace is rapidly becoming a quick and easy reference for magazines, television talk shows, and those all important music executives to see what is popular. Using standards as simple as whoever is leading the pack on the chart, makes it possible for musicians, no matter where they are from or who they are to gain fame and popularity.
A top spot among the music charts is considered the Holy Grail for many musicians. There is a chart for individual genres and a separate one for the site overall, ideally one would want a position on both charts.
These charts are important for many reasons, top among them being attracting the notice of music labels. Although your songs are able to stand on their own as a testimony of how talented and meaningful your music is; the main thing labels, fans, and others look at is the Total Play Counts that are displayed on your page.
The Total Play Counts are also what is used to rank musicians in the charts; saying that the Play Counts are important to your career is quite accurate, Read the rest of this entry »
Schubert in memoriam
February 12th – the anniversary of my mother’s death in 1994. It doesn’t feel like 17 years ago; it doesn’t fade. Here is her favourite piano piece, Schubert’s Impromptu in G flat, Op.90 No.3, played by her favourite pianist, Krystian Zimerman. This doesn’t fade either.
Top 7 – Lee DeWyze – The Boxer – Inspirational Songs
Top 7 – Lee DeWyze – The Boxer – American Idol – www.lee-dewyze.com – no copyright infringement
Video Rating: 4 / 5
Turn On The Radio Ringtone | Download Reba Turn On The Radio Ringtone
Turn On The Radio ringtone – Download Turn On The Radio ringtone direct to your phone in seconds! Be one of the first to get Turn On The Radio ringtone on your cell phone.
“Turn On the Radio” is the title of a song recorded by American country music singer Reba McEntire to serve as the lead single for her upcoming 34th career album, All the Women I Am, which is set to be released on November 9, 2010.
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Being well known for releasing awesome songs, Reba have done it again with the release of Turn On The Radio. Although this is a fairly new release by Reba, “Turn On The Radio” is currently one of the top downloads at online music stores such as Amazon and iTunes. There is already a buzz on video tube sites such as YouTube and Turn On The Radio is certain to rocket high into the charts around the globe. Make sure you don’t miss out on this latest offering from Reba. This song’s reach is not just limited to mp3 downloads, the Turn On The Radio ringtone is one of the hottest ringtone downloads around at the moment. If you’re into Reba in a big way, you should definitely have some Reba ringtones on your phone.
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True fans of Reba should be downloading their music legally. Tracks cost as little as .99 from a site such as iTunes and even less from a subscription site. For information about subscription music sites and to get free trials, have a look at www.legalmusicguide.com. You can also get the Turn On The Radio Ringtone sent directly to your phone. If you are looking for the latest and greatest ringtone, click here to Download Turn On The Radio Ringtone straight to your phone now.
Google – Creating a Cloud-based Music Locker?
You may have heard the rumors, which have been circulating for nearly a year now, that Google will launch its own digital music service which will involve a cloud-based digital locker. This service will enable users to store their music for a $ 25 annual fee.
Google has started reaching out to different record labels hoping that they will jump into the deal, which will allow them to share access to their music. Part of the deal involves a feature that would let online users to listen to and browse through an online store’s music selection without purchasing the tracks they like. Instead of downloading the music file, users will just store them in the “music locker” then listen to them later on.
Unlike the conventional way of purchasing music file which only allows a 30 seconds snippet preview; Google’s music service feature will friends of its subscribers listen to the purchased music files at least once without having to buy it themselves.
This idea of offering a digital storage locker is actually a retry of an initial attempt made by another company a decade ago: the MP3Tunes website, owned by Michael Robertson. He was the first to launch internet-based music services. At MP3Tunes,Robertson introduced a music service with online streaming, but his initial efforts landed him in a lawsuit with Universal Music.
Part of Universal Music’s lawsuit against MP3Tunes was emphasizing that the latter was violating copyright issues by acquiring music files illicitly. At present, MP3Tunes is battling another lawsuit with another record label, EMI, for the same sort of music copying charges.
Google’s attempt to connect the public to its cloud based music services would have been the first time since the failed attempt of MP3Tunes. While streaming providers like Rhapsody and MOG have invaded the industry of online music services, there are some features that users dislike. For example, most users still prefer to download the files onto their computer, so perhaps they have several reasons for not trusting the online locker concept.
Following MP3Tunes attempts to introduce online music locker to the public were Apple’s Lala, which would have been iTunes’ version of online locker. Lala has since ceased operation. Another similar service is Best Buy’s Napster.
Establishing another media service is Google’s way of expanding its social network. With the desire of record labels to continuously profit from online users, selling the rights remains impossible.
Google has tried every means to convince the big record labels to let them get in on the media industry. In fact, Google has contracted with a law firm to take care of the negotiations every step of the way. Whether the record labels would sign in the deal with Google or not remains a question to most of us.
One thing is for sure—the profit generated and projected for the music industry will never go away, hence the interest of record labels in retaining full control of the business. It will always be the music giants’ prerogative to protect copyrights of its artists, and as an extension, their own profits…so unless Google can accomplish those goals, maybe they shouldn’t hold their breath.
The Day a Record Label Cliché was Ruled Out
Have you ever been to a record store selling used and promotional copies? You’ll see many CD’s reading “For promotional use only – no reselling”. You probably had to think twice whether to buy a copy or not, wondering if it could be some sort of illegal sale. If you have ever bought a “Promo” CD before, you can rest assured that the FBI is not going to show up at your door and arrest you while your neighbors look on in horror.
Just recently, a higher court in San Francisco ruled that buying and selling of promo records is not in any way copyright infringement. Promo records are copies that are distributed by record labels, mostly to radio stations and some music critics, before the actual release date.
It was a big name in the music industry, Universal Music Group, that sued a California resident, Troy Augusto, about 4 years ago. The record label sued Augusto for allegedly reselling their promo CD on eBay. Similar actions would have been taken had the case favored UMG. Prior to suing Augusto, UMG’s standard practice was to send notifications to eBay with the objective of stopping the auctions. In court, Mr. Augusto firmly argued that he has the rights to sell the copies because he owns them, and stated that the First Sale Doctrine is applicable in his case.
The First Sale Doctrine dictates that if you own a book or recording which you legally acquired, you retain the right to do whatever you want with it. You can give it to a friend, have the library keep it, or sell it to a record store. This rule makes borrowing a book from library possible. Thus, it annoys publishers and music labels as their profitability opportunity is impacted.
The Supreme Court originally ruled when this doctrine was codified that anyone who has bought anything in these categories are given the full ownership as long as the products is not being copied or reproduced. This case clearly showed that there is a distinction between copyright sale and sale of copy, so buy with confidence!