The Blog for Video 2.0
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Led Zeppelin goes digital
The NYTimes is reporting on Led Zeppelin's decision to sell its music online. The group is one of the last superstar acts to hold out against the digital tide.
Under a series of new agreements, the band will make its songs available first as ringtones and similar mobile features starting this week in an exclusive deal with Verizon Wireless. Digital downloads of songs from the band’s eight studio albums and other recordings are expected to be available through Verizon and digital-music services, including iTunes, on Nov. 13.
In the US, the only digital holdouts that outsell Led Zeppelin are the Beatles and Garth Brooks
Under a series of new agreements, the band will make its songs available first as ringtones and similar mobile features starting this week in an exclusive deal with Verizon Wireless. Digital downloads of songs from the band’s eight studio albums and other recordings are expected to be available through Verizon and digital-music services, including iTunes, on Nov. 13.
In the US, the only digital holdouts that outsell Led Zeppelin are the Beatles and Garth Brooks
Labels: digital distribution, iTunes, led zeppelin, music, music downloads, online music, rock
Friday, October 12, 2007
Universal looking to take on iTunes
Businessweek details the plans of Universal chief Doug Morris to take on Apple's iTunes music service.
Morris was once a proponent of Apple's iTunes music store, but has since changed his tune. According to Businessweek sources, Morris is joining forces with other record companies to launch an "industry-owned" subscription service.
Representing 75% of music sold in the U.S., they would ask hardware makers or cell carriers to pay them a $5/month subscription fee. In exchange, consumers of their products would get unlimited music at no additional cost to them ("free"). Music companies would get the $5/month and hardware companies would theoretically sell more units.
Of interest, Businessweek notes that despite these efforts to undermine iTunes, Universal can't afford to simply pull their music from iTunes, which holds a 70% marketshare in music downloads.
Morris was once a proponent of Apple's iTunes music store, but has since changed his tune. According to Businessweek sources, Morris is joining forces with other record companies to launch an "industry-owned" subscription service.
Representing 75% of music sold in the U.S., they would ask hardware makers or cell carriers to pay them a $5/month subscription fee. In exchange, consumers of their products would get unlimited music at no additional cost to them ("free"). Music companies would get the $5/month and hardware companies would theoretically sell more units.
Of interest, Businessweek notes that despite these efforts to undermine iTunes, Universal can't afford to simply pull their music from iTunes, which holds a 70% marketshare in music downloads.
Labels: iTunes, music, music downloads, online music, Universal
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
ZDNet Asks: Where to do you stand on digital media ethics?
ZDNet's Ed Bott asks where you stand on the legal issues around digital media in this article.
HungryFlix.com has always felt that artists deserve to be paid, there is no question there. The debate does heat up when we look at organizations such as the RIAA, MPAA, big record companies and movie studios and their control over what we can and can not do with media that we purchase.
DRM simply does not work. It keeps honest people honest, nothing more. It is time to move past these failed DRM schemes and deliver real value to consumers. If you are looking for DRM-free movie downloads be sure to check out HungryFlix.com.
HungryFlix.com has always felt that artists deserve to be paid, there is no question there. The debate does heat up when we look at organizations such as the RIAA, MPAA, big record companies and movie studios and their control over what we can and can not do with media that we purchase.
DRM simply does not work. It keeps honest people honest, nothing more. It is time to move past these failed DRM schemes and deliver real value to consumers. If you are looking for DRM-free movie downloads be sure to check out HungryFlix.com.
Labels: DRM, iTunes, movie downloads, music downloads
Saturday, October 6, 2007
Facebook working on music platform
PaidContent.org is reporting that Facebook is working on an artist platform to be launched later this year, which in essence is supposed to be better than what MySpace allows with its platform, according to multiple sources I have spoken to since this morning after a slightly off-the-mark rumor came out earlier. The platform will allows bands and labels to create artists pages, and allow various widgets to be embedded for music promotion, organizing events, etc.
Current rumors state that Facebook with partner with iTunes and go after Apple's popular download service.
Current rumors state that Facebook with partner with iTunes and go after Apple's popular download service.
Labels: facebook, indie artists, iTunes, music, music downloads, online distribution
Friday, September 28, 2007
Another nail in the coffin for DRM - AmazonMP3 launches beta
Amazon has release a beta edition of its new DRM-free MP3 music download service this week. The web-based solution has received positive reviews from computer users, music download fans, and the anti-DRM community.
Amazon is offer singles from $0.89, and all files offer 256 kilobits per second and did we mention no DRM?
This is clearly the record labels attempt to reduce iTunes' dominance in the music download market. Time will tell if consumers, who seem to enjoy the seamless nature of iTunes, will move to Amazon's service. In a very interesting move, Amazon offers a downloader helper application that will directly transfer you songs into iTunes or Windows Media Player.
Consumers looking for DRM-free video downloads can try the great indie films offered at HungryFlix.com.
Amazon is offer singles from $0.89, and all files offer 256 kilobits per second and did we mention no DRM?
This is clearly the record labels attempt to reduce iTunes' dominance in the music download market. Time will tell if consumers, who seem to enjoy the seamless nature of iTunes, will move to Amazon's service. In a very interesting move, Amazon offers a downloader helper application that will directly transfer you songs into iTunes or Windows Media Player.
Consumers looking for DRM-free video downloads can try the great indie films offered at HungryFlix.com.
Labels: amazon, download, DRM, iTunes, music downloads
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
Media download stats fall in Japan
The number of downloads from legal music and video services in Japan has fallen for the first time, according to the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ).
A total of 111.6 million downloads were made during the second quarter of this year, down from 114.3 million in the first quarter of the year, the RIAJ said. The figures are derived from data supplied to the RIAJ by its 42 member companies.
Root causes for the drop were not yet determined. Even with the small decrease in volume, revenue managed a slight increase.
US-based startups like HungryFlix.com offer movie and music downloads and continue to see growth. It will be interesting to see if this negative trend moves to the US.
A total of 111.6 million downloads were made during the second quarter of this year, down from 114.3 million in the first quarter of the year, the RIAJ said. The figures are derived from data supplied to the RIAJ by its 42 member companies.
Root causes for the drop were not yet determined. Even with the small decrease in volume, revenue managed a slight increase.
US-based startups like HungryFlix.com offer movie and music downloads and continue to see growth. It will be interesting to see if this negative trend moves to the US.
Labels: digital download, download, hungryflix, iTunes, movie downloads, music downloads
Friday, July 6, 2007
Universal confirms changes to iTunes deal
Universal Music Group will not renew its long-term licensing agreement with Apple iTunes, instead moving to an 'at-will' model.
It's the end of tough negotiations between the two firms. The previous three-year deal between them expired last year, and a temporary one-year agreement was reached.
Stakes are high: while Universal is the label behind one-in-three records released worldwide, Apple's iTunes service has become the thrid-biggest music retailer in the U.S.
It is thought that Universal wants to be able to offer some music by some bands exclusively through other online music services in its attempt to reduce Apple's control of the online business.
This could mean that music from key artists may not be made available through Apple's service.
It's the end of tough negotiations between the two firms. The previous three-year deal between them expired last year, and a temporary one-year agreement was reached.
Stakes are high: while Universal is the label behind one-in-three records released worldwide, Apple's iTunes service has become the thrid-biggest music retailer in the U.S.
It is thought that Universal wants to be able to offer some music by some bands exclusively through other online music services in its attempt to reduce Apple's control of the online business.
This could mean that music from key artists may not be made available through Apple's service.
Labels: iTunes, music downloads, online music, Universal
The downloads are coming! iTunes now #3 Music retailer
According to a study from market research firm NPD Group, Apple Inc.’s iTunes Store has 9.8 percent of overall retail music sales, making it the third largest music retailer in the United States. Amazon.com and Target captured 6.7 percent and 6.6 percent of the market, respectively.
Apple's iTunes trails only Wal-Mart with 15.8% and Best Buy, which as 13.8%.
This is continued good news for the downloadable media market. Consumers have chosen convience, ease of use and quality provided by iTunes.
While the music download market grows in maturity, the movie downloads market continued steady growth through 2007 with sites like HungryFlix.com leading the way.
Apple's iTunes trails only Wal-Mart with 15.8% and Best Buy, which as 13.8%.
This is continued good news for the downloadable media market. Consumers have chosen convience, ease of use and quality provided by iTunes.
While the music download market grows in maturity, the movie downloads market continued steady growth through 2007 with sites like HungryFlix.com leading the way.
Labels: download, hungryflix, iTunes, music, music downloads, youtube
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