Music Industry News

Untouchable: What a Collector Loses (and Gains) in the Age of Music Downloading

Source: Michael Ricci
December 14, 2009

Piles of CDs surround me. I have been feeding them into my computer to suck the music out of them. And then I pack them away. My Mac does not discriminate. Dufay or du Pre, Eno or Ellington, the computer digests them each with the same chipper whir, and check marks appear on my screen next to each MP3 file I have just created. I think I am supposed to feel accomplished. But this has been an exercise both exciting ...

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The Hard Drive Solution

Source: Rifftides by Doug Ramsey
December 14, 2009

What do Jeremy Eichler and I have in common? We are out of room for the thousands of CDs that show up when you commit music criticism. Eichler is the classical music critic of The Boston Globe. Some time ago, I wrote about a temporary solution that I applied to the problem of limited shelf space. Eichler has taken a more drastic step. He is putting his collection where the only space consideration is the capacity of his hard drive. ...

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Digital Distributor Iris Shifts into Growth Mode

Source: HypeBot
December 12, 2009

Independent digital distributor IRIS has added several category leading labels to its catalog: Metropolis Records, BYO, Mt. Fuji, In The Fishtank, and Pocketsongs. IRIS is one of a handful of digital distributors without ties to the majors and these label additions come on the heels of the company's report of profitability, a rarity in the current digital music space.

“As our name implies IRIS (Independent Recording Industry Services) has always been more than just a distributor," says Bryn Boughton, IRIS' ...

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Billboard and the Hollywood Reporter Sold

Source: HypeBot
December 11, 2009

Are Layoffs Ahead?

(UPDATED) A variety of sources are reporting that Billboard and The Hollywood Reporter have been sold to group led by James Finkelstein and Pluribus Capital Management. Rupert's son, Lachlan Murdoch reportedly dropped out of the purchase group at the 11th hour. Also included in the sale are Adweek, Mediaweek, Brandweek and Backstage.

Estimates of a total purchase price vary, but $70 million is the most common number given for all 6 publications. Editor & Publisher ...

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Owl Studios Signs Legendary Drummer Mike Clark

Source: Michael Bloom Media Relations
December 10, 2009

INDIANAPOLIS - Owl Studios is proud to announce that legendary drummer Mike Clark has been signed to the Owl Studios Artist Roster. Mike is currently working on a new album, which will be released on the Owl Studios label in 2010. Other artists on the session include Donald Harrison on Alto Sax, Fred Wesley on Trombone, Jerry Z on Organ, Lennny White on Drums and Owl Studios artists Rob Dixon on Tenor Sax and Derrick Gardner on Trumpet. The album, ...

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Music as Commerce: Understanding a Mindset

Source: HypeBot
December 10, 2009

Kyle Bylin, Associate Editor

It is unfortunate, that, at a time when the record industry is coming to terms with some of the most complex, multifaceted problems it has ever faced -- that what is being talked about, debated about, and is at the fore-front of this conversation is not music as culture, the role it plays in our society, and how significant it is to our personal and national identities. Instead, music as commerce, as it pertains to ...

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Police Investigating Shooting, Robbery Outside Spruill's

Source: St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman
December 10, 2009

A story published today on STLtoday.com says St. Louis police are investigating a shooting and robbery that took place outside Spruill's Lounge early this morning. The club, located on Jefferson Ave. west of downtown, is familiar to many local jazz fans for hosting saxophonist Willie Akins' long-running Saturday matinee shows.The article written by reporter Carolyn Tuft says, in part: “At 3:45 a.m. today, the 49-year-old owner of Spruill's Lounge at 1101 N. Jefferson Ave. was carrying a ...

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Chief Sign to Domino Records Free Single "Mighty Proud"

Source: JamBase
December 9, 2009

CHIEF SIGN TO DOMINO RECORDS AND GIVE AWAY FIRST SINGLE, “MIGHTY PROUD"

Chief Chief have officially signed to Domino Records, and have digitally released their first single, “Mighty Proud," on the venerated label. Also featured is the B-side “Stealing."

Chief create rollicking melodic music which captures a time where storytelling was at the core of composition, and bands were followed by fans who believed in what they stood for and knew all the words to prove it. “Mighty Proud" and ...

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