CBGBs Closes Up Shop, Moves to Vegas

So the venerable punk club has committed the highest sin of all... selling out to Vegas. Ugh.

Music critic Greg Kot on the Future of Music Summit

The Future of Music Summit is over, but here's what critic Greg Kot had to say.

Google YouTube Merger to CHANGE EVERYTHING, shout hysterical media analysts

See the hysteria for yourself here.

Crain's Chicago Business takes a look at the Chicago music industry this week with a series of reports. The report takes a look at the history of the industry in Chicago and why its still a music destination. (Can you say "Lollapalooza") They also profile local band The M's on their search for rock n' roll stardom, talk to engineer Steve Albini about his studio, profile microphone company Shure Inc, ask the indie lables how they feell about the digital music revolution, tell you how to navitage the wedding band industry, explore the efforts of the Chicago Sinfonietta to attract new younger audiences, and finally talk to a composer about mixing music with business. Its a thorough and fascinating report - take a look.

Mercury picks up U2 from the Island

No, the Irish rock band wasn't stranded on an island, but U2 did switch record labels from Island Records, their longtime home, to Mercury Records. Both labels are within the Universal Music Group, and Jason Iley, who's team handled U2 at Island, was recently made president of Mercury. U2's greatest hits album is due next month.

Google Buys YouTube, Sony and Universal Offer Music Videos

Didn't we see this coming? Premier video sharing site YouTube has been bought by Google. The site, which was started by two twentysomethings in a garage, went for $1.65 billion, in a move many say is reminiscent of the dot-com boom of the 90s. Earlier that day, record labels Sony and Universal both announced deals they had made with YouTube to share music videos via the website. Apparently, the internet killed the video star.

MySpace Hosts Concerts for Sudan, United Nations Asks Lonely

We talk a lot on this blog about the ways in which social networking sites and new technologies have been harnessed by bands, record labels, radio stations and music marketers to get their business more exposure. It's nice to see that the power is also being utilized by some great causes as well. MySpace is hosting 20 concerts to raise awareness and money about the humanitarian crisis in Sudan, Billboard reports today. Meanwhile, the Wall Street Journal reports that the United Nations has enlisted a variety of web video stars, including YouTube's (in)famous LonelyGirl15, to star in videos for their anti-poverty campaign. It's nice to see MySpace and YouTube being used for more than just marketing to sell items, but to "sell" important ideas too.

Tower Records Liquidated, Stores to Close

The Chicago Sun-Times reports that Tower Records stores are to close, as three thousand employees of Tower Records are to lose their jobs as the company is immediately liquidated. The winning bidder, Great American Group, paid 134.3 million dollars, and about 15 million more were sold off through leases and properties. As of right now, no official word on the Tower Records website. Although the second place bidder, Trans World, appealed, saying they hoped to keep some stores open if they won, GAG won out. The liquidation will take about six weeks, so go pay your respects at your local store and buy some cds at a discount.

Album Art War

What if all the record albums got into a war? If you've ever wondered that, and even if you haven't, this YouTube video is for you.

MySpace is good, but you still need a record deal

The Chicago Tribune's RedEye reports this week on why MySpace is replacing traditional record label deals in the minds of new artists. They point out, however, that selling your music on your own through MySpace leaves you as the artists with all the work - no publicist, no marketer, no connections. The long and short of it is that MySpace is a great way to get a buzz going so you can take it to the next level and get that record label to sign you.

Have your latte and music too!

Starbucks, long a leader in bringing music into their business, has now paired with iTunes. The iTunes store will now feature a Starbucks-branded area featuring music from the Starbucks Hear series.

XM Radio, FCC Clash Again

The latest casualty is board member George Haywood, who steps down this week amid more regulatory trouble revelations. XM Radio has been pumping up the music at more than 200 antennas to an illegally high power. Better turn that music down, and fast guys!

Microsoft and MTV Team Up For Youth Technology Study

We’re used to being asked how we use technology such as instant messaging, text messaging, digital music, ringtones, social networking websites and iPods; now, MTV wants to know how that use affects your daily life. They are joining with Microsoft to produce a study about the future of technology. The study will track youth in countries all over the world, and analyze data according to factors such as gender and generational differences.

Forget eBay, bid on Tower Records

The end of Tower Records is today, as over a dozen companies are lined up to bid on the music empire. With options for the winner to buy just the inventory, just the web domain, and to sell off or divide whatever they want, it seems the era of Tower Records is over. The company is claiming that there is still value to the brand, which is true, but if the new owner destroys the empire, its hard to see how much value that could hold. Bid are expected to start at $90 million.

RIP Tower.

UK Chart Company Punishes Beck for Cover Art Creativity

Those stodgey old Brits are up to it again! What's up with punishing Beck and making ineligable for the UK Charts, simply because his cover art is creative? Billboard doesn't understand it either, and notes that he will still be eligable for all Billboard charts.

Beck to headline Woodie Awards

Beck has been asked to headline the MTV organized Woodie Awards, ABC reports. MTVU, the college targeted version of the media empire, has users vote on "the music you lived your life to this year".

Pollstar's ready with holiday tech gift ideas... already!

I have seen a few Christmas ornaments out in my local Target store, but I didn't think we were ready for gift ideas just yet. Pollstar thinks I'm wrong, though, because they've posted a round up of all the latest techie gadgets. I'm most interest in Zune, the iPod alternative, particularly in how they chose the pre-loaded content of "new artists". Check out the list here.

Newsweek weighs in on YouTube

YouTube has reached the annals of Newsweek magazine, who this week weighs in on the viability of the website as a real business. In related news, ZDnet does a comparison of MySpace video traffic versus YouTube video traffic. In the meantime, another competitor is jumping in - Miscrosoft has launched SoapBox. Is it possible YouTube could be to Soapbox what Friendster was to MySpace?

Look out MySpace and Facebook - here comes Wallop!

Wallop is here, and its taking on MySpace and Facebook! The Microsoft backed company developed a social networking site where users will pay to customize their profiles. Will it work? Time will tell. Wallop will need to lure trendsetters in order to prove they are cool enough to pay for. As a marketing tool for music, it doesn't seem as useful as MySpace. Don't forget though, Friendster has recently made a play for a comback too!

Ticketmaster vs Live Nation

We all knew this was coming sooner or later... as Clear Channel gets its sticky fingers into every aspect of the music industry, their concert promoter division Live Nation is now taking on Ticketmaster. High ticket prices have turned off fans and reduced revenue for several years, and Live Nation sees the problem as Ticketmaster's skyrocketing fees. This fight is between two companies who both have monopolies on various portions of the entertainment industry - now it seems LiveNation/CC is looking to break Ticketmaster's monopoly, or at least get their fees reduced. What I'm interested in seeing is how LiveNation will frame their argument (they can't very well argue against the evil of monopolies, can they!) and if Ticketmaster will give in. I predict that in the short term, Ticketmaster will give in to keep LiveNation as a client, but in the long term, LiveNation will develop their own ticketing system, allowing them to control every aspect of the entertainement experience.

British Library warns music could be lost forever

Due to copyright laws preventing copies, the British Library is now concerned that some music in its archives could be lost forever. Without a change in law, recordings would literally rot away before they are able to be archived. Its time for the law to catch up with technology! Click here to search the archives and see some of the things at risk of being lost.

UK wants tax breaks for encouraging new artists

In a move most Americans would find laughable (our tax breaks being reserved for the richest 1% and oil companies), UK record companies are asking the government for tax breaks to offset their investment in new artists, The Independent reports. The British record industry trade association, BPI, is championing the idea, which would put what they call the "creative industries" on par with other business and industry sectors in terms of development and research. I'm still waiting to hear the effect it would have on the music industry in Britain...

Yo Quiero Mi MTV

Washington Post reports that MTV's "MTV Espanol" is expanding to reach 55 percent of Latin households by the end of the year. Particularly interesting is the partnership with Walmart, which will have a special branded music section in stores. What this all signals is the growing Hispanic/Latin market's affect on the American mainstream, and competition for such. Since the Hispanic/Latino population will comprise a quarter of the United States by 2050, companies are scrambling to create brand loyalty now and reap the benefits for future generations. If you haven't already, it's time to read up on Rock En Espanol!

Road Trip to Iceland!

Pollstar reports that the Sugarcubes, the group that launched Bjork, are reuniting... but there's a catch. It's in Iceland! Tickets are available via Icelandair for a package that includes tickets to the show. Talk about a road trip!

Online Radio Listenership Up, Up, Up... But we still listen to ads on regular radio?

FMQB reports that internet radio listenership is up once again, with YahooMusic/Launch coming out on top.

BUT

Arbitron concludes that 92 percent of listeners will continue to listen to commericals.

Does anyone else think these studies are kinda... contradictory? Or are we just too lazy to change the channel.

Follow up to the Hawthorne Heights drama

Victory is now considering a lawsuit against the members of Hawthorne Heights for libel.

Yep Yep Yep!

Here's a nice profile on one of my favorite labels, Yep Rock.

Damn kids just don't listen like they used to...

No surprises here to those who've found failure with radio advertising as a marketing tool, but, Edison Media Research releases the results of its study on youth radio listenership. The study is being published on the blog The Infinate Dial first. So, how do we reach this demographic?

the internet revives the video star?

Okay, so we've all heard the buzz about YouTube and MySpace and the revival of videos through online posting by bands. Now, Warner Music gets in on the deal, inking a deal with YouTube to legally post videos from their artists on the site. Since they were already being posted illegally, seems like it just makes sense!

iWantOneForChristmas

Apple announced the new iPod today - the big news is that you'll be able to purchase videos and movies via iTunes to watch on it. Christmas is coming...

I heart Podbop

This is a site you really need to check out - Podbop.org. If you've ever looked at a calendar of upcoming shows but wanted to hear what the band was like before spending your money and time, Podbop.org is for you. Best of all, its free!

Indecent? Obscene? We're still waiting to find out.

The Los Angeles Times reports that a federal judge has put the FCC’s indecency rules on hold for the time being. One frustration that was common in the college radio days of this blogger was the absence of clear guidelines on what exactly is “indecent”. Check out the FCC page on the issue here and see if you can figure it out!

You really can't escape them now!

Clear Channel announced today their Z100 station in New York City will be the first to stream live via mobile phone, in partnership with Cingular Wireless. There will be 100 stations available by the end of next year, and a minimal monthly subscription is added to your Cingular bill each month. One wonders if this is in response to the rise of podcasting, which FMQB reported a few months ago was sticking it to traditional radio.

Spiral Frog's advertising-supported model takes off... at least with Universal and EMI

Spiral Frog announced today it has acquired the rights to the EMI catalogue, the largest in the world. Will the service, due to launch in December 2006, capture more than just Universal and EMI's hearts? One problem may be its lack of iPod compatability, and another may be the 90 second advertisements you have to watch for each download. Time will tell...

MySpace takes on iTunes

MySpace and Snocap, a company founed by the guy who invented Napster, have joined up to take on folks like iTunes by allowing users to sell MP3s on the site. What will the ramifications for this be?

MTV killed video star too?

New York Times critic Kelefa Sanneh has an interesting take on the void of music videos on MTV these days. YouTube, homemade DIY videos (notably Chicago's OKGo), and even MTV.com's own Overdrive portal, she argues, have made videos unnecessary on MTV itself. What do you think?

Bye -bye Mancow, hello... ?

Since Mancow's star fell in mid-July when he was booted off his hometown's rock station, I mean "left to explore satellite radio opportunities", the mornings at Chicago's Q101 have been pretty boring. Today, the station announced their new morning lineup, claiming to be attempting a Daily Show-esque blend of pop culture and comedy. Seems like they're going after quite a different audience, but then again, so is Mancow, with appearances on Fox & Friends and Chicago Tonight. Only time will tell how this will work out for both Mancow, and Q101.

As if one version of the MTV Video Music Awards weren't enough...

They plan to produce four. Now you can watch on MTV, MTV2, online at their website, and via your cell phone. Wonder how this will affect their 14 million viewers...

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060827/tv_nm/vmas_dc_1

Wired Magazine September - The Music Issue

Check out the September issue of Wired magazine, now up online. Its the music issue and there's some great articles about Pitchfork's rise to the top and the approach of the Nettwerk label in keeping their business alive. Its all online at
http://www.wired.com/wired/

Era of Tower Records over?

FMQB reports that Tower Records announced its intent to sell the company through a process under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code. The move is subject to court approval, but it will set in motion a timeline of events that will insure the sale of the company within approximately 60 days of the filing date - by Christmas!

http://www.fmqb.com/Article.asp?id=261870

Wondering where that radio job is?

A new study from the Future of Music Coalition (FMC) finds that the majority of U.S. cities now have layoffs and lesser growth in wages in the radio industry, thanks to ownership consolidation. The study also points to job losses as a cause of decreases in localism and diversity in the industry.

Read the full report at this link -
http://www.futureofmusic.org/research/index.cfm

Hawthorne Heights Sues Victory Records

Remember that snafu with Victory Records sending out an email urging the Hawthorne Heights fans to hide Ne-Yo's albums in stores? Looks like its come back to haunt them - AllHipHop.com is reporting the band is suing the label.

http://www.allhiphop.com/hiphopnews/?ID=6008

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