Seriously?

Recently, a judge ruled that the online resale company Redigi was in violation of copyright law. The company established in 2011 was operating under the premise that it would buy used digital downloads and resell them. Capitol Records took the company to court and won a judgement against Redigi for infringement.

According to Redigi, the software used to upload a users used digital file did not result in a copy being made, and that it deleted the old file once the upload proved successful. This turned out not to be the case. Uploaded files were being copied to Redigi's servers and not deleted on the users computer. Redigi stated that this was a flaw in the first version of their software. They claimed that the problem had been solved in version 2.0 and that it, in effect acted like a transporter, ala, "Star Trek."

This judgement brings the digital resale business to a standstill. The only way that digital re-sellers could move forward at this point is by either getting permission from the copyright holder or acquiring a license.

While the idea of a used mp3 might appear as a welcome alternative to the purchase of a new one, since both files would be identical there would actually be no such thing. The only thing that would change is who possesses the file. If both Redigi and the first owner both retain a copy, then this would amount to nothing more than file sharing, with the exception that the seller and Redigi would be making money without any consideration for those who made, packaged and originally distributed the file.

If this sounds like I'm not in favor of digital resale it's because, in my opinion it sounds like an open door for a good dose of piracy. And, it appears that Capital Records just stepped in and brought a halt to things before the legal waters became too murky. As an independent, it's not often that I would side with a major company, but digital resale without permission could ultimately affect everyone who produces and distributes music in the digital market place.

I think that this is the same argument that music makers have been presenting since the days of Napster. But, that's just my opinion. I could be wrong.

Mass Appeal

I read an article that stated that music industry sales were flat for 2012. I found this interesting, because back in February I read another article that stated that music industry sales were up for the first time since 1999. After a quick review of both articles, I quickly realized what the problem was. This month's article was based on a survey done by the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America), while last month's article featured a survey done by the London based IFPI (International Federation of the Phonographic Industry).

The IFPI's survey was based on global record sales while the RIAA survey was based on US record sales. It seems that while global sales of recorded music were up by .03 percent, sales in the US for 2012 were actually down about .09 percent, which was a decrease from 2011. However, digital sales in the us for 2012 actually rose by .08 percent.

What does all of this mean? At first glance it appears that the US music industry has reached a level of what I'd say is, "stagnation." While new artists and veterans are having success, clearly, no one is crossing onto more than one genre in order to gain broader or what I like to think of as, "mass appeal." Artists who start on one chart or another may find themselves moving onto the Pop chart, but that is as far as they make it. In the past, this was enough to propel some artists into super stardom.

In past decades, an artist considered to be relegated to the teen market might actually appeal to a much wider audience than the 14 to 24 age demographic used by the music industry to market recorded music. In the 70s, 80s, and the first half of the 90s, it wouldn't be uncommon to see fans from all demographics showing up at an artist's concert or showing up at brick & mortar stores to purchase their music.

From the last half of the 90s through the first decade of the 21st century and into it's second, things, in my opinion have become more splintered. There's a sense that while most music fans may say that they like a variety of music and artists, it's more than likely that they tend to buy from only one particular genre. When you consider how many genres and sub genres of music that exists now, you can see how difficult it's become for an artist to obtain, "mass appeal."

Add to that, the continued consolidation of the music industry from seven major companies down to only three, and you can see how an artist signed to a major, but not having a hit record, could get lost in the shuffle. It takes time to build a following, unless a major label promotion machine is behind you from the start. Even with that, if what you present isn't broad enough, you may not reach a segment of what you feel should be your audience.


Still, we wait. Who will be the first artist of the 21st century that will produce a sound that not only their children with love, but their parents, and even grandparents might like as well? That artist will truly have, "mass appeal."

Let's Face It

Two weeks ago, Facebook announced that it was updating it's news feed. The last time Facebook made a change, they gave us the timeline.

The new news feed will offer bigger images and greater space on the page. The feed will be divided into Music, Photos, Games, and Friends. Each category will offer a more vibrant look, with commentary from friends who make suggestions for other stories that you can read, that might be related to what they've  posted.

Facebook has created an about page to give it's users an idea of scope of the change that is going to take place. As you scroll toward the bottom of the page you'll find a green box that you can click on and add your name to the waiting list for the new home page.

I've looked it over several times, and after all of my past complaints about Facebook, I can honestly say that this is a change that's worth waiting for. In my opinion, it represents a step toward giving users a reason for signing in and sharing all of that free content.

You don't have to take my word for it. Go to Facebook and check it out for your self. Over two hundred thousand users have already signed up for the roll out.

...And Then Some

History has been made yet again in the world of science. On March 12th., NASA announced that an analysis of soil samples recently drilled on Mars has revealed that the planet was once capable of supporting microbial life. In fact, the Yellowknife Bay area where the rover has been exploring is believed to be the remnants of a dry river bed. And, it's believed that Mars at some point, had  a much thicker atmosphere.

NASA scientists also say that the finding of a combination of oxidized, less-oxidized, and non oxidized chemicals proves that Mars' soil provided an energy gradient for microbes like that found on Earth. The partial oxidation of the samples that were drilled appear gray. NASA is now characterizing the area of probable habitation as, the new "gray Mars."  This new find not only justifies Curiosity's mission on Mars, but also lays the ground work for the possibilities of future findings.

On March 14th scientist at the Large Hadron Collider at CERN say that new data all but confirms the existence of the Higgs Boson. Since the Higgs was first discover in July 2012, scientists had been just a little cautious about their findings. But, now with twice as much data as before, many are ready to stop call calling the new particle, "Higgs like."

The Higgs Boson is theorized to be the particle that gives mass to all matter. The theory was first proposed by Dr. Peter Higgs, in 1964. With the discovery of the Higgs, there has been much speculation about the possibility of such things as faster than light speed travel, or at least the ability of being able to un-mass an object, and possibly voiding inertia and/or canceling the effects of gravity.

Life on Mars. Light speed travel. I'd say that those are two for the books and definitely representative history in the making. It's just my opinion, but I think we would all be wise to stay tuned. I'm sure that there is more to come from both fronts.

One Good Turn...

If you have iTunes, perhaps you remember it's social network called Ping. Ping was shut down last September for failing to gain enough significant attention from iTunes music buyers. Some of Ping's critics claimed that the reason why it failed was a lack of integration with Facebook and Twitter.

Personally, I liked Ping, and as a Ping user, I saw that it was integrated with Facebook and Twitter. Maybe it wasn't to the liking of it's critics, but it was at least enough to let friends and followers at the other two sites know what you were either buying or listening to.

I had only one problem with Ping. I thought that users should have been able to access the network from a web page as well as from the iTunes software. I think that having a way for non iTunes users to see and hear what's going on at iTunes may have helped the network grow.

Now, Spotify is looking to make it's bid at a social network with it's new follow tabs. The new follow tabs are the first step on Spotify's way to becoming a full fledged social network. You can follow your friends as well as the artists whose music you enjoy. Soon, Spotify will add a discover tab which will feature new music from artist that your followers are listening to, as well  those that follow you. Whats more, they are going to be introducing a new auto preview feature that will allow you to dip into new music without leaving the music that you are listening to.

Music and social networking seem to be a great match. Making it work has been a bit of a challenge. What better way to find out about new music than though a network of like minded individuals. And what better way to meet these individuals than at a music site that offers you the opportunity to connect with them. Sounds good, but only time, trial, and error will tell us just how it should all come together.

Changing Times

At the end of 2010, Billboard announced that it would start a social media chart to keep track of how recording artists were doing on social sites. The chart was dubbed the Social 50. On February 21st 2013, Billboard unveiled it's YouTube chart.

In the early 1990s, Billboard changed the name of the R&B chart to the Rap/Hip Hop & R&B chart. Back then I thought that this somehow was making the statement that R&B was on it's way out... hmmmm. So, when they announced their social media chart I was certain that something was going to run afoul. Surprisingly, the chart was pretty much what I thought it might be, which is a reflection of the top major label recording artists

The new YouTube chart represents exactly those same artists, albeit not necessarily in the same order. I think both the Social 50 and the YouTube charts are great ways for Billboard to stay in line with the growing changes brought about by the digital age.

However, I was a little disappointed. While I knew what these charts would look like, I was kind of hoping that I would find music from artists that I had never heard of, with music that was so diverse that I would be compelled to check out those charts to hear what was, really new. As it is, both of these charts represent more of the same from the same handful of artists. Most of them have been present for about the last 10 or 15 yrs, though their sound has remained relatively the same as when they started.

There is so much more music on YouTube then what you will find on the new YouTube chart. While it is a good barometer for measuring how songs on the top 40 are doing, you're not going to see that great new band or artist that you found, anywhere near it. At least Billboard is keeping up with the changing times

After The Fall

On February 15th the world was stunned and surprised by the news of a meteor strike over Russia. While it's true that meteors enter Earth's atmosphere everyday, one the size of the one that exploded over the Ural Mountains, happens only once a century.

The meteor struck the Earth's atmosphere at about 33,000 miles per hour, at an altitude of about 12 to 15 miles above the Russian city of Chelyabinsk. The object was estimated to be about 50ft in diameter and weighed an estimated 7,000 tons. The explosion, which created a shock wave that had the force of a 500 kiloton bomb, knocked out windows and crumbled a few walls. More than 1,000 people were injured by glass and flying debris.

Hours later, asteroid 2012 DA14 which is about twice the size of the Russian meteor, passed within 17,200 miles of the Earth. The two events were not related to each other, however, it tends to make one wonder, even if momentarily, about what is out there in the darkness of our own solar system that just might be headed our way.

It isn't known what if anything is planned in the event that something much larger than the Russian meteor or asteroid 2012 DA14, should be on a collision course with the Earth. At least it's good to know that someone is watching the skies and keeping track of anything that might prove to be a threat.

NASA's Near Earth Objects Program discovers and catalogs the various objects that are relatively close enough to the Earth that they may eventually make contact. Since 1994, some 9734 near Earth objects have been detected. Of those, 862 are asteroids. Of those asteroids, one in particular came to NASA's attention. In 1994, an asteroid named Apophis, which has been discovered to be about 1,066 feet wide, was calculated to contact the earth on April 13th 2029. However, further investigations led to the alternate date for an impact in 2036, but both dates have since been ruled out.

Humanity seemed to go about its daily existence until the 1980s when a giant crater was discovered off the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula. Since then it is believed that a giant asteroid struck the Earth about 65 million years ago, bringing extinction to the dinosaurs. Concern began to grow over the possibility that such an event could also do the same to humanity. Gladly, we now possess the technology by which we are able to keep an eye on our surrounding universe, and hopefully, we will stand a much better chance.