Archive for Music
02.19.07
Posted in Technology, Music, Business at 6:24 pm by stark
The 2 major players in the burgeoning satellite radio industry have announced a deal to merge into a single company. The move, announced as a merger of equals, will combine the services of both companies to create a much more comprehensive lineup to subscribers. Sirius CEO, Mel Karmazin, will lead the new company with XM CEO, Hugh Panero, sticking around only until the deal is closed. While the deal has been announced, it still faces several hurdles including antitrust approval and provision with the Federal Communications Commission that specifically forbids the two companies from combining. What this move means for subscribers is still a question that can’t be answered. On one hand, subscriptions may go down, due to reduced cost and shared resources, but on the other hand may go up as a result of price fixing due to the monopolistic nature of the merge.
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02.17.07
Posted in Entertainment, Music at 1:27 am by stark
Last month we heard news that Audioslave band members (formerly of Rage Against the Machine) were reuniting for a one time concert with former frontman Zach de la Rocha at this year’s Coachella festival. The story continues to get interesting though as current Audioslave frontman, Chris Cornell, announced today that he will be leaving the group due to “irresolvable personality conflicts as well as musical differences.” This has the rumor mill spinning like a top with speculation that Zach de la Rocha may be rejoining the band permanently after the festival. No official news has been released either way, but with Rage Against the Machine being at the forefront of anti-establishment hard rock in the 90’s, they have millions of fans who would love to see a new project from the band hit the streets. Will it happen? I guess we’ll just have to see if the band still has what it takes to “take the power back.”
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02.14.07
Posted in Movies, Music, Offbeat at 11:00 am by bobbyjoe
Ever wonder about what gifts to give on Valentine’s Day or what things to do? Ever wish you just had a nice list of recommendations? Ever wish you didn’t have to go to 10 different Top 10 Lists just to compile the information your sad un-romantic self needs on this day of the year? Well, your wishes have come true. Without further ado, we now present the Top 10 List of Top 10 Lists for Valentine’s Day…
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02.06.07
Posted in Technology, Apple, Entertainment, Music at 7:16 pm by stark
Steve Jobs, the CEO of Apple, Inc. and never one to back down from a challenge, has written an open letter to the music industry on issues of Digital Rights Management (DRM). While Apple’s current model for distributing music is a DRM solution written in house, known as FairPlay, in the letter, Jobs goes into detail of how this was mostly a solution to ease the minds of worried record labels at the time and ultimately may not be the best solution for the future.
In fact, Job’s goes on to offer several solutions, but one of which is the idea of distributing DRM free music (similar to what is done with iTunes competitors such as Emusic and Amie Street). He explains that only 3% of music in use today is DRM’d music and that the remaining 97% comes from both downloading (illegal and from DRM free resources) and from legal CD purchases that are later ripped to digital music players.
I know many of us out there despise DRM music and a lot of times it is an obstacle that is not worth having to overcome with an HMV just down the block. I personally stopped using iTunes Music Store as soon as I bought a new music player, that was not an ipod, and none of my songs could easily transfer over. Hopefully those behind the recording industry will begin to see the light and soon enough, DRM may be a thing of the past.
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02.05.07
Posted in Apple, Gadgets, Entertainment, Music at 12:15 pm by bobbyjoe
On Jan 30, 2007 Apple announced the world’s most wearable digital music player, the iPod shuffle, will be available in five brilliant colors. So go ahead add some color to your attire!
In five brilliant colors and just $79, the 1GB iPod shuffle lets you wear up to 240 songs on your sleeve. Or your lapel. Or your belt. Clip on iPod shuffle and wear it as a badge of musical devotion.
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