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?