Mike McGuireA couple of items crossed the mailbox today during that slow run-up to Xmas.
My esteemed colleague Andrew Frank pointed me at this story which noted that with iMeem’s sale to MySpace, MySpace did not agree to also purchase the debts to artists who were owed money for sales conducted via iMeem’s SNOCAP-based storefronts would not be getting paid. Unfortunately, this probably sounds familiar to a number of artists.
Certain record label executives should take note of the situation as well because this would seem to be an unfortunate but useful development to illustrate how a label, of some sort, might be better able to insulate a band or artist from an all-to-real phenomenon: web-based businesses that all of a sudden aggregate large audiences then seem unable to monetize those audiences.
Item #2: TopSpin Media is helping market and distribute a new album by Pixies guitarist, Joey Santiago, and drummer Mike Lovering, called “The Everybody.”
Topspin’s tech team apparently leverage the iTunes “LP” format specifications Apple’s made available which are essentially a bunch of HTML code. The result: The Everybody can be purchased in multiple formats: $10 for the album in 320kbps MP3 with bonus tracks, or for $40 you get the 320kbps encoded MP3s, Apple loss-less or FLAC formats, and a collection guitar, bass, drum and other instrument stems that a user can remix and sell. Yes, sell, royalty free. (The stems are covered by a Creative Commons license.)
While the Everybody’s new release is very exciting to the true fan and the hardcore remixer, clearly it’s not intended to target casual music listeners or even casual Pixies fans. But what is important is that Santiago and Lovering et al are using the technology to reach the fans and musicians who do know them and are eager to interact with the music beyond simply listening. This model isn’t going to be for every musician or artist but it sure does provide an excellent example of what is possible in terms of content bundling and making/maintaining direct links to fans using the Internet.
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Category: Uncategorized Tags: online music remixes
