24.09.09 The End of the Mega-Tour; The End of the Mega-Artist...
The mega-platinum, arena-playing artist may be a thing of the past, and concert industry executives are now watching the shift in real time. At Transmission in Victoria, Canada, a number of promoters pointed to aggressive price (and fee) chopping by Live Nation as a sign that bigger venues are simply getting harder to fill. "This is not a healthy business," one top promoter told Digital Music News, while blaming more than just the Great Recession for bigger-venue problems. "There are just too many media channels, and 50,000 bands with same tools competing for attention. It's just harder to build a group to that level."
Indeed, for years, many in the concert industry have regarded arena-friendly groups like the Rolling Stones as old guard relics. At some point, the gravy train ends. But in the new setting, bands at least have the ability to build targeted fanbases, most importantly within geographic regions. That means that bands can play a much greater role in promoting their gigs, and filling gigs far from their hometowns.
Or, at least that is the theory. "Internet presence doesn't always translate into attendance," another promoter relayed during a breakout, 'roundtable' session. "But if I know a band can blast a fanbase, then I'm interested."
21.08.09 Muzak Still Has Something In-Store...
The recently-bankrupted Muzak is still in the background. The b2b provider of background music and related services is now introducing a handy device that allows easy in-store programming. What is it? The 11-ounce Encompass MV allows the retailer to easily program in-store Muzak Logomusic, announcements, or other content, all programmable from the internet.
The Encompass fits in the palm of the hand, though it stores 500 hours of programming and can be controlled from remote locations. Sounds like an iPod wearing a suit, and consumers will probably never encounter this invention. And that is the whole point - better background oftentimes means better buying, and more lucrative shopping floors.
In that light, Muzak is also bundling the device with targeted programming options, part of its Muzak Styles initiative. The result is a more customized fit. "A one-size-fits-all approach simply can't work for everyone," stated Bob Finigan, vice president of Product and Marketing. "We really consider every scenario — from a complex, fully network-managed solution, to the simple plug-and-play self installation."
11.08.09 T-Totaling: Soundscan Now Counting More Album T-Shirts...
Nielsen Soundscan is now recognizing a larger number of album 'Music Tees,' according to details tipped to Digital Music News on Friday. After a quick negotiation in July, Soundscan agreed to count album t-shirts from Mos Def (Downtown Music), as developed by Invisible DJ, LnA and Girlie Action Media. Now, the lineup is expanding to include Perez Hilton signing Sliimy (Perezcious Music/Warner Bros. Records), as well as the Nylon Records roster. On top of that, Downtown has just released an Amanda Blank version, and is planning a David Gray release in October.
If the Mos Def concept is any indicator, the newer shirts will feature printed album artwork, tracklistings, and even lyrics with an attached redemption code for downloading MP3s. That challenges the traditional album, though all of the elements are still bundled into one package. Hence, the Soundscan participation. "In a show of support for this revolutionary new format for delivering music to fans, Nielson has signed a deal with the Music Tee, LLC, to allow Music Tee sales to be counted as album sales once the music has been downloaded," Girlie Action shared.
www.digitalmusicnews.com
06.08.09 Another Round of Layoffs at Rhapsody...
Rhapsody America is further reducing its workforce, according to details confirmed Thursday by joint venture partner RealNetworks. The pare-down closely follows a soggy quarterly review by RealNetworks, a joint venture partner. In correspondence with Digital Music News, company spokesperson Ryan Luckin confirmed a layoff round of between 8-9 percent of the total force, or 12 individuals.
On a slowed-down Twitter, vice president of Music Programming Tim Quirk also disclosed the reduction. "Had to lay off excellent writers, radio programmers, product managers and more today. Help me find them new jobs," Quirk tweeted. In December of 2008, Rhapsody also slimmed its headcount, part of a much broader chop across RealNetworks and Viacom.
www.digitalmusicnews.com
04.08.09 The Latest: Tenenbaum Broke, Spotify Not-So-Broke, Twitter...
- Joel Tenenbaum is already flirting with bankruptcy. "I don't have $675,000 or any appreciable fraction of that," Tenenbaum recently told CNN. "But if it comes down to $675,000 actually standing, then I'd file for bankruptcy. I don't have any choice."
- Peter Sunde is now stepping down as the de-facto face of the Pirate Bay. "I have decided to not be the spokesperson for the Pirate Bay anymore," Sunde blogged. "I want to build something new and I want to focus my energy in a different direction."
- Spotify appears poised to finalize a serious round. According to the Financial Times, Hong Kong billionaire Li Ka-shing, Wellington Partners, and existing backers are plunking 30 million pounds ($50 million) into the company, at a broader valuation of roughly 148 million pounds ($250 million). Separately, paidContent pointed to the involvement of a major label, though licensed content may be the only investment chip.
- Twitter tacked another 7 million users in June, according to comScore, lifting total monthly uniques to 44.5 million.
www.digitalmusicnews.com
