2009 November | Cr@zyEye Music Services

More Music Industry News: Smashing Pumpkins, IsoHunt, Holiday Sales, RouteNote & More

30Nov
Categories: Trusted Contributor Comments
- Smashing Pumpkins and label settle lawsuits. (AP)
- IsoHunt Asks Court to Legalize Its Operations - For more than a year, BitTorrent search engine isoHunt has chased the Canadian music industry in court. In an act of self-defense, the founder of the site has sued the Canadian branch of the RIAA, asking the court to legalize its operations. After an initial setback, isoHunt submitted a full claim to the court this week. (TorrentFreak)
- Music Retailers: Holiday Selling Season Off To A Decent Start (Billboard)
- Alicia Keys to perform live on YouTube. (YouTube blog)
- Online music distribution service RouteNote has launched a desktop program to simplify the process of uploading music to iTunes, eMusic, Amazon and elsewhere. (press release)
- Canada's record companies branch out - Loss of markets, retailers means dancing to a new beat. (The Star)
- Big companies are dominating Facebook. (Epicenter)
- Indie label Earache recently partnered with file host RapidShare to promote Gama Bomb's new album and the two are declaring the experiment a success. During the first days, the album received 10,000+ direct downloads from RapidShare via Earache's site and 30,000 elsewhere. Gama Bomb's previous album sold just under 7,000 copies in its first year. (press release)
- Live Nation hires a new promoter team in France. (press release)
Tags: blogging, Social media
Seth Godin: Watch The (Music) Money

30Nov
Categories: Trusted Contributor Comments

"If you're in the music business but you never buy tickets or downloads, can you really empathize with the people you're selling to?
...Money is more than a transfer of value. It's a statement of belief. An ad agency that won't buy ads, a consultant who won't buy consulting, and a waiter who doesn't tip big—it's a sign, and not a good one."
- more on Seth Godin's blog

Tags: blogging, Social media
Georgia Wonder: Recording An Album With No Cash

30Nov
Categories: Trusted Contributor Comments
Nevada Music Hands Over The Keys After Hours
(UPDATED) Indie rockers Georgia Wonder are a lot like other struggling musicians. They wanted to record, but had no cash. Not even enough for a decent home studio; much less professional mics or all the extra gear and instruments. But this band turned that obstacle into an opportunity and added a new page to the indie d.i.y. playbook.
Georgia Wonder asked for and got the keys to Nevada Music, the largest music shop on the south coast of the UK (think Guitar Center USA). Both during store hours and after the store closes each night, they'll be recording their next album dubbed "Made In Nevada" using all the gear the store has on sale.If they can raise the cash for an HD camera (donate here), they'll also shoot the whole thing and post it on Muzu.tv and a week later on a special YouTube channel. "It will be part fly on the wall documentary, part product demo, and part watch us make stuff up as we go." says the band's Julian. Moore. "We really haven't a clue what's going to happen".
Any resulting media attention and buzz benefits both the band and the store, and costs each virtually nothing. "One thing I have learned about guerrilla marketing is if you can think of something virtually free to do and everyone wins then you have thought of something that will actually get done," says Moore. The band has just released their second EP "Destroy" with CD pressing funded by fan pre-sales. Check it out via Bandcamp.
More:
- Georgia Wonder's 10 Reasons MySpace Is The Best Music Site Evah
Tags: blogging, Social media
As Music Industry Struggles, Artist Income Grows

30Nov
Categories: Trusted Contributor Comments

(Updated) The UK's Times Online called this "the chart that the music industry didn't want you to see;" and I've been hesitating publishing it without adding context and analysis. But the more I stare at it, the more it speaks for itself.
It tracks the three pillars of music industry revenue - recorded music, live music, and UK performance royalties collected by PRS over the last 5 year for both artists and the industry. Conclusion: while record labels are suffering, artist income is on the rise. Join the debate.
Follow up Essay: As Record Labels Fall, Is Artist Income On The Rise?

Tags: blogging, Social media
MIDEM Announces Showcases & Twitter Contest

29Nov
Categories: Trusted Contributor Comments
MIDEM has launched a Twitter contest on for students and younger music industry professional. Now through December 9th you can win entry to the world largest gathering of the music industry. If you are between 18 and 26 years and not registered at MIDEM, add this message at the end of each of your tweet:
- # RT & WIN I am under 26 and I want to win a MIDEM VIP access +http://tiny.cc/Du6kl
One winner will be picked in a random drawing on December 16th. The prize is 2 MIDEM VIP passes plus 2 car transfers, 2 nights hotel and 2 invitations to the NRJ Music Awards.
For the third year, MidemTalent is promoting developing artists with strong export potential. From January 24-26, thirteen diverse artists and will perform at the Carlton Hotel in Cannes for those attending MIDEM.
A full list of artists and what's new at MIDEM 2010:

The artists:
- ALEX HEPBURN (Warner-UK)
- DEPEDRO (Pias Recordings-Spain)
- DIVING WITH ANDY (Universal Music Classics-France)
- FRANCOIS BOURASSA (Effendi Rec.-Canada)
- HINDI ZAHRA (EMI Blue Note-France)
- KING CHARLES (mi7 Records-UK)
- LISA HANNIGAN (Hoop Recordings-Ireland)
- PACO VOLUME (Discograph-France)
- PLASTISCINES (Because-France)
- SOPHIE HUNGER (Two Gentlemen-Switzerland)
- THE BLACK SWAN EFFECT (Real World Rec.-UK)
- TIGRAN HAMASYAN (Plus loin Recording-France)
- WAYNE BECKFORD (Believe Digital-UK)
New at MIDEM 2010:
- MidemNet for free - Access to the digital business conference is included in MIDEM registration.
- MidemNet Lab - Discover the latest digital innovations through the juried selection of 15 promising start-ups
- MIDEM+ - Innovative networking solutions and one-on-one expert guidance
- Redesigned exhibition zone - Networking, knowledge and open meeting places right at the heart of the market.
- The Fringe - A new artist showcase .
Tags: blogging, Social media