August 5, 2010
Radio Industry, Technology
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The story of Last.fm seems like every start-up’s fairy-tale dream: a bunch of music fans start up a personalized radio and social media network in a small East London office. It catches on worldwide. Then, the site is bought out by CBS. When Last.fm dropped its coveted on-demand music streaming service in April 2010, though, spectators worried that CBS was running the service into the ground. Now, a new partnership with music technology developer MXP4 has them back in the news—and could be changing the way the online radio industry works.
MXP4 produces audio-mixing software which lets people manipulate their favorite songs by adding instruments, stripping away backing music, or blending songs together. The technology is now available on the websites of licensed artists and on MXP4’s website. Read the rest…
July 14, 2010
Radio Industry
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For radio music fans who feel the waters have grown stale in recent years, there is now light on the horizon. You won’t hear it on the FM dial, though: “New Normal Music” is currently an online-only initiative, though it was started by radio veteran Tom Leykis. Leykis promises to bring a wealth of experience to the venture, and says the show will highlight artists not normally played on Modern Rock stations, starting with a continuous stream of 50,000 songs less than a year old.
Leykis has been involved with radio since he was 14 years old, when he served as a fill-in host for Long Island station WBAB. He contributed to talk radio shows in the late 1970s and became the host of the long-running and often controversial talk show The Tom Leykis Show in 1994. The show ended in 2009, and Leykis began a weekly program called The Tasting Room focusing on the high-class lifestyle. Read the rest…
July 14, 2010
Consumer Electronics
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With the recent release of the new iPhone 4, U.S. Cellular has stepped up its game and announced the unveiling of FOUR new phones later this year, starting with the Samsung Acclaim on July 9, followed by the HTC Desire in early August. The LG Banter Touch, featuring an ergonomic slide-out keyboard, will arrive in October along with the fourth device.
All four devices run on the Android operating system, developed by Google and the Open Handset Alliance. The first device, the Acclaim, is a U.S. Cellular exclusive and also features a 3.2-inch touch screen and keyboard. The Acclaim also boasts a 3-megapixel camera and, of course, Wi-Fi functionality. Read the rest…
July 14, 2010
Music Industry
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Artists who have been distributing their music through TuneCore now have the opportunity to reach a larger audience, thanks to a deal with European digital music site Spotify. The process involves a one-time yearly fee for each track which allows it to be streamed by listeners.
TuneCore has already achieved some success, announcing that artists featured on the site were paid for over 65 million songs and albums in 2009. This represents an impressive achievement for a site founded in 2005. TuneCore also differentiates itself from other digital music retailers by keeping none of the sales or rights for the music. Artists like Frank Black of the Pixies and Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails have also involved themselves with the site, either by purchasing or releasing music. Read the rest…
July 14, 2010
Home Theater
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3D-capable BRAVIA HDTV’s are now available to pre-order at Sony Style stores, and 3D Blu-ray devices will be coming in July. Sony also released a free update for other Blu-ray models, including players and home theater systems, which will activate 3D compatibility. The announcement secures Sony’s spot at the head of the 3D home entertainment world, now featuring a total of 19 products.
Sony is also focusing on its ad campaign for the upcoming launch, and has secured NFL quarterback Peyton Manning as well as musician Justin Timberlake to help inform consumers and avoid confusion. It’s easy to see how consumers could be overwhelmed by the many options available, but this short rundown should alleviate issues. Read the rest…
July 14, 2010
Recording Studios
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The studio which launched Duane Allman to stardom may not last much longer. Capricorn Recording Studio, located in Macon, has been placed on the Georgia Trust’s 2010 “Places in Peril” list. Some of the issues noted include extensive weather damage, vandalism and burglary, and the dilapidated state of the surrounding buildings. This may not mean much to fans of artists like the Marshall Tucker Band, the Charlie Daniels Band, and Dixie Dregs, which were all launched from the studio.
Capricorn was founded in 1969 when founders Phil Walden and Frank Fenter started the Capricorn Record Series, which became noteworthy after releasing the Allman Brothers Band’s debut album later that year. Two years later, the studio released what many still consider its most acclaimed album, the Allman Brothers’ double LP At Fillmore East. In 1979 the studio went under for the first time, but was relocated to Nashville in 1991. There, it became a part of the Warner Records label and held its own in a changing industry, recording artists like Widespread Panic, Cake, and 311. Read the rest…