DISC & DigitalAudioTechnology (Music & Digital Audio/Video News) TM
A New Media Newsletter For The Music Industry
Vol 7-#47- 12/18/2009 - Commentary - News - And More
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The Industry's Inside Music, Digital Audio & Video News And Commentary Of Choice To Keep You Informed Since 2003
"Print It Out And Read It All!"
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NOTE TO ALL: This is the last issue for 2009. The next issue is scheduled for January 8, 2010. (As always, I will answer all reader e-mails whenever sent)
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL AND BEST WISHES FOR A GREAT 2010!
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THE 'A-SIDE'
Commentary and One Man's Opinion
THAT WAS FAST…A DECADE PAST
“Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma - which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of other's opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.” -- Apple’s Steve Jobs
It seems like just yesterday that we were being warned about the oncoming technological catastrophes that would be a result of our entering "The New Millennium."
Of course there were no technological catastrophes, other than those we all faced when hooking up our new computers, or figuring out all the equipment we needed for that big new flat screen TV.
It's a decade past those warnings now and the old adage "Time flies" seems truer every year as we get older.
Things changed at an ever increasing rate in the past decade, and nowhere faster than in the technology arena. The term "light speed" is almost useless in describing how fast things changed sometimes on an hourly basis. (especially when it came to how fast our PCs and laptops were operating) Most of the changes were for the better, but they brought with them new challenges for almost every type of media company.
The changes in the music industry were radical, and by now one would hope that the major labels have put their best creative minds to work to start producing new revenue models that will work in the ever-changing online digital world. Perhaps the recent launch (and bold) of Vevo is a step in that direction. But I hope there are a whole lot of other ideas in the drawing rooms. Vevo is one small step into a very big digital pool. If it is successful, labels should focus on the next phase and beyond.
CD sales continued to fall precipitously this past decade. Many predicted sales would even be worse than they are today. But CD sales still provide good profits for any music company, and if anything, the last few weeks at retail, have proved that a very large segment of the population (adults) still buys them in huge numbers. But the reality is CDs will continue to drop in unit sales, and at some point in this next decade, the drop will be drastic. ( Similar to what happened to vinyl and cassette sales when CDs took over the marketplace) Every label, tough trying hard to think about that day ever coming, must have plans for survival when the shift to online digital sales becomes the primary consumer choice.
There will always be a CD market, but with over 200 million iPods out there, and Apple creating newer and better consumer products every year, it's clear to see where the CD is headed in terms of its percentage of the market.
And I don't think anybody would have predicted that vinyl records would become a profitable and viable niche market in this past decade, but that's exactly what happened. Vinyl sales have gown steadily the past few years, and turntables are selling again in stores like Best Buy, Costco, and more. (See this week's latest update on vinyl below) Labels might shrug off the total numbers of vinyl music being sold, but again, in the big picture - the picture of the consumers who BUY music, it all adds up in the end to more sales. (And vinyl records are retailing for more than CDs, making a lot of people who sell vinyl very happy)
Michael Nash, executive vice president, digital strategy and business development, Warner Music Group this year said the following about the state of industry and its opportunities, “There is a multi-trillion dollar economy of digital connectivity, made up of digital networks, wireless, broadband and hardware. Music is extremely important to this economy and the driver for a wide range of larger industries. These industries are thinking about how to partner with the music industry in new ways. The health of the music industry is going to contribute significantly to the health of this trillion-dollar economy.”
That about sums it all up if the labels create the strategic alliances they need to forge ahead in the next decade and beyond.
No company exemplifies success in this past decade better than Apple. Steve Jobs' commitment to being an innovator and bringing great products to market is one that has put Apple in the forefront of all their competition. The iPod changed the way we listen to music forever. iTunes became the #1 online music retailer in the world and did something amazing in the process. It got people to actually BUY music instead of steal it. Apple's MAC computers are increasing market share every year as more and more people discover all the great things Apple has put into their PCs.
It's my belief that those companies who follow the model Steve Jobs has created, will find themselves on the right track in this coming decade.
If ever here was a need for innovation in the music industry, it's now. (Yesterday in reality)
This decade flew by before almost any of us realized it was over. The next decade will go by even faster.
Time waits for no one. And it won't wait for any company to catch up once they are left behind.
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THE 'A-SIDE' - TRACK 2
THE
Morgan Stanley just released a bulky report predicting that the mobile Web will eventually be "at least 2x size of Desktop Internet."
Driven by 3G and the increasing popularity of smartphones, the financial services provider predicts that smartphones "will out-ship the global notebook + netbook market in 2010E and out-ship the global PC market (notebook + netbook + desktop) by 2012E."
In particular, Morgan says that Apple's iPhone/iTouch/iTunes ecosystem "may prove to be the fastest ramping and most disruptive technology product / service launch the world has ever seen," while "a handful of incumbents (like Apple, Google, Amazon.com and Skype) appear especially well positioned for mobile changes."
You can read more here: http://tinyurl.com/ya2rhyo
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And Now For Some News….
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Radio Moves To The Computer Screen
Radio World
As Internet video becomes a standard marketing, branding and communication tool, traditional TV broadcasters find themselves moving from the television screen to the computer screen. The same holds true for radio.
The growth of Internet radio has sparked a desire to stream not only audio from radio stations, but video content as well. More stations are installing television production equipment into their studios to broadcast their morning shows -- from cars to office cubicles. As digital media and Internet video continues to grow, more radio stations will stream live video to their audience. As the audience grows, so will the number of advertisers and revenue, enhancing the bottom line for the broadcasters.
Read the rest here: http://tinyurl.com/ydo6l7a
AND WHILE WE'RE ON THE SUBJECT OF RADIO, THIS GREAT ARTICLE FROM JERRY DEL COLLIANOS'S 'INSIDE MUSIC MEDIA'
The Vanishing Car Radio
Broadcasters should be concerned about the changes ahead next year in what used to be called the car radio.
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Green Day Rock Band Coming
From Wired.com
Harmonix’s unexpected announcement of a Green Day-themed Rock Band has everyone talking, and not necessarily in a good way.
Read the rest here: http://tinyurl.com/y9dncvp
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From The
The pop sensation's bold stances on feminism, sexuality, fame and so much more have helped elevate her music to its own art form.
Read the article here: http://tinyurl.com/ycyu8gu
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That Vinyl Thing Again: How Vinyl Record Sales Stack Up
More on vinyl’s growth with information and facts about vinyl records sales for individual albums and artists.
CD sales are off 13 percent in 2009 heading into the lucrative holiday shopping season, after a 20 percent annual drop in 2008 from the year before, but sales of vinyl records are bucking that trend.
Read the rest here: http://tinyurl.com/y9lefly
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iPhone Unseats All Microsoft Devices
Apple Insider
Apple's iPhone finally unseated Microsoft devices in terms of overall use in October, according to new data from comScore.
To date, studies have found that the iPhone was outselling Windows Mobile devices, and had a greater presence online, but this latest survey of mobile operating system marketshare found that the iPhone spiked to nearly 9 million U.S. users by the month of October, pushing it well past Microsoft's total of just over 7 million users. In July, the two companies were about even in total mobile OS market share.
Furthermore, comScore has found that about 36 million Americans own a smartphone, while another 196 million own a traditional cell phone. The numbers are meant to represent actual ownership and use of devices, rather than sales. According to Apple Insider, the milestone had been expected as recently as this summer when it was revealed that the iPhone, for the first time, outsold all Windows Mobile phones in the second quarter of 2009. Globally, meanwhile, Apple had a 13.7 percent share of the market, while Windows Mobile took just 9 percent during that frame.
Read the rest here: http://tinyurl.com/ybeg7s5
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Online Digital Music Growth Slows At My Space, Pandora
From Media Post
Americans love buying digital music, but growth rates related to other digital music activities are leveling off, according to new research from Forrester.
Despite the best marketing efforts of companies like MySpace and Pandora, mainstream Americans still haven't taken to streaming music services, according to a survey of some 4,600 Americans, along with 13,000 Europeans.
Read the rest here: http://tinyurl.com/ycbuny4
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CONCHORDS FLIGHT ENDED:
COACHELLA DATES: Dates for the 2010 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in
ROCK'N'ROLL 2010 NOMINEES: The Stooges, Genesis and ABBA lead the list of artists that will be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame next year at a March 15, 2010 ceremony held once again at New York City’s Waldorf Astoria. The class of 2010 also includes the Hollies and Jimmy Cliff.
N'AWLINS JAZZ UPDATE:
LAMBERT #1 TOP ARTIST OF 2009 IN ROLLING STONE READER'S POLL: Rolling Stone readers picked American Idol runner-up Adam Lambert as 2009's #1 artist. Rounding ou t the Top-10: Pearl Jam, Lady Gaga, Kings of Leon, Green Day, U2, Bruce Springsteen, Animal Collective, Wilco, Taylor Swift.
FULLER'S NEXT IDEA: American Idol creator Simon Fuller has announced a new venture for early 2010 called If I Can Dream, a reality show that will document five aspiring stars’ Hollywood struggles via 24/7 Webcam, constant Twitter contact with viewers, a weekly episode airing on Hulu and MySpace blogs.
CUDI LEAVES THE MONSTER BALL: Kid Cudi has left the Monster Ball early, vacating his opening-act slot on Lady Gaga’s current tour just five days after punching a fan during a solo performance in
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THE TOP 20 ALBUMS FROM THE BILLBOARD CHART
FOR WEEK ENDING 12/26/09
1. Susan Boyle, I Dreamed A Dream
2. Andrea Bocelli, My Christmas
NEW - 3. Glee, Season One - Volume 2
4. Taylor Swift, Fearless
5. Carrie Underwood, Play On
6. Lady GaGa, The Fame
NEW - 7. Chris Brown, Graffiti
8. Justin Bieber, My World
9. Michael Buble, Crazy Love
NEW - 10. Gucci Mane, The State vs. Radric Davis
11. Soundtrack, Glee: Season One
12. Michael Jackson, This Is It
13. Now 32, Various Artists
14. Lady GaGa, The Fame Monster EP
15. The Fall, Norah Jones
16. Josh Groban, Noel
NEW - 17. Jimmy Buffet, Buffet Hotel
18. Soundtrack , New Moon
NEW - 19. Thirty Seconds To Mars, This Is War
20. Miley Cyrus, Time Of Our Lives
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TV WASTELAND, IT'S ONLY TV WASTELAND
WHAT AMERICA'S WATCHING
The Top 20 Network Primetime Report - Based On Nielsen Ratings
Network Primetime Averages by Viewers
Week of 12/7/09 - 12/13/09
[Show, Network, Total Viewers in millions]
1. Sunday Night Football, NBC, 20.8
2. CSI, CBS. 16.4
3. The Mentalist CBS, 16.3
4. 60 Minutes, CBS, 16.2
5. NCIS, CBS, 15.0
6. Sunday Night NFL Pre-Show, NBC, 15.0
7. Two and a Half Men, CBS, 14.8
8. Criminal Minds, CBS, 14.4
9. Big Bang Theory CBS, 14.3
10. Biggest Loser, NBC, 13.5
11. Survivor:
12. CSI:NY, CBS, 12.9
13. CSI:
14. NCIS:
15. Disney Prep & Landing, ABC, 12.0
16. Christmas At The White House, ABC, 11.9
17. A Charlie Brown Christmas, ABC, 11.1
18. Bones, Fox, 10.9
19. Barbara Walter 10 Most Fascinating People, ABC, 10.5
20. Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, ABC, 10.3
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Quotes Of The Week:
"I wish he would stop calling me for advice." -- David Letterman, taking a jab at his replacement, Tiger Woods, on his late show
"I am most proud of having written songs that became anthems for young women. I realize that in these songs I am saying so much of what young women want to say." -- Beyonce in Entertainment Weekly
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THE ‘B SIDE’
FROM ‘THE ONION’ –
"Oh man, 'Frosty' is unreal, you got to check it out," said Robinson, adding that the song's innovative fusion of jazz and lullaby conventions was "peerless" and "way ahead of its time."
"Great concept, tight arrangement, and the lyrics are just incredible. Love that line about the 'two eyes made out of coal.' Classic." Robinson also maintained that, with its unorthodox repetitive structure, dramatic build, and "mind-blowing" imagery, "The 12 Days Of Christmas" is about as good as it gets.
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THE RADIO INTERVIEW on 'THE AMERICAN PERSPECTIVE'
"Steve Meyer is on the front line of global music sales and distribution which he expects will soar to pocket-bursting levels. What's more, he shares his insight and ingenuity with us. Steve gives us both historical perspective and futuristic vision as he chats with Judy about the love of his work, trends of the business and his personal points of view about success, happiness and blending life with the lust for life. Steve joins Judy and helps us discover the thrill of having it all with a sense of balance and purpose. "
You can listen to an interview I did with Judy Piazza of 'The American Perspective' awhile back by clicking here: (It runs about 15 minutes)
http://thesop.org/index.php?article=10306
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Check out Jerry Del Colliano's (the founder of INSIDE RADIO) daily blog, by clicking here: http://www.insidemusicmedia.blogspot.com
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Check out attorney Ray Beckerman's website at: http://recordingindustryvspeople.blogspot.com/ where he prints news about the RIAA's ongoing activities
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Check out www.tinyurl.com where you can make a smaller URL that will work for any webpage you wish to link to or reference. (As you can see, I'm using it in my news stories above!)
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DISC&DAT is formatted and best read in Microsoft Outlook if you are receiving it via e-mail and not reading it online at: www.freewebs.com/stevemeyer where you can read the current issue, some past articles and interviews, my bio, and see some photos, or at the leading music industry website AllAccess.com here: http://www.allaccess.com/disc-and-dat
DISC & DAT is meant to be your "Forum" as much as mine, so your comments are always welcome and I encourage all to be pro-active in contributing ongoing dialogue and/or commentary. I answer ALL questions asked via direct e-mail.
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Smart Marketing Consulting Services has been in business sixteen years, and consults clients in the music, entertainment, attraction, media, and technology industry on branding, marketing, online exploitation, maximizing new media, and more.
And the beat goes on, the beat goes on ...drums keep poundin' rhythm to the brain.
"Work is life, you know, and without it, there's nothing but fear and insecurity." -- John Lennon
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DISC & DAT - Weekly Edition – 2009, online at www.freewebs.com/stevemeyer
Published By Steve Meyer
President/CEO - Smart Marketing Consulting Services
Editor, Digital Technology: www.allaccess.com
Las Vegas, NV
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I welcome and appreciate forwarding of the newsletters in their entirety or in part with proper attribution.
Unless otherwise expressly stated, all original material of whatever nature created by Steve Meyer and included in this newsletter and any related pages, including various news and other information, is licensed under a Creative Commons License
ABOUT STEVE MEYER
Steve Meyer is a 38 year music industry veteran, having served in executive capacities at both Capitol and MCA Records before starting his own company, Smart Marketing, to consult clients in the entertainment, media, and broadcast industries. Steve was a recipient of many awards during his industry tenure, including Sr. VP/Promotion, and Record Executive Of The Year awards, as well as Billboard Magazine's Award for Excellence in National Promotion.
A respected authority on pop-culture and the entertainment industry, Steve was interviewed by Martin A. Grove, for three separate books on pop music.
In 2003, he started publishing the new media newsletter 'DISC&Digital Audio Technology', to address challenges the music industry was facing in the emerging online digital world. The newsletter is published every Friday, sent to almost 2,000 subscribers direct, and posted on the leading music industry resource www.allaccess.com and his own site www.freewebs.com/stevemeyer
In October 2004, Steve was a featured speaker at the Community Broadcasters Association convention in
Since 2004, Steve has consulted labels, artists, managers, producers, and media companies.
Steve is also a freelance journalist, has also had articles published in various industry publications, and guest lectures at industry events, colleges, and elsewhere when requested.
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