HD Everything

Last year broadcast TV went digital as stations across the country shut down their analog transmitters as per law. Not everyone owned a digital TV set, so provisions were made that allowed everyone the opportunity to get a converter box that converts digital broadcasts into analog so that everyone could continue to watch their favorite TV shows. Eventually, everyone, at some point will own a TV set with a digital receiver. As the transition takes place among consumers, the opportunity for them to own High Definition TV sets as opposed to Standard Definition TV sets, is being made possible by falling prices for High Definition sets. And, at some point, all TV transmissions well be in High Definition and all TV sets will receive High Definition.

But, what about Radio? Today, more and more radio stations are broadcasting in HD. However, the HD in HD Radio doesn't stand for High Definition. While there is a digital signal being transmitted, the analog transmission is still being transmitted as well. Radio has not been mandated to cease analog transmissions. So, everyone will always be able to receive their favorite Radio stations without the need to purchase an HD Radio receiver. But when we talk of HD with regard to Radio, the HD stands for Hybrid Digital.

Hybrid Digital allows a Radio station to transmit a digital version of their analog signal as well a a second channel, which can be used as a separate stream of programing. This is what's known as muticasting. Stations may use their second channel to broadcast news and weather or they may offer a completely different genre of music from the one that's being broadcast on their main channel

Hybrid Digital Radio makes use of what is know as I.B.O.C. or In Band On Channel. This means that Your HD Radio receiver first tunes into the analog frequency, scans for the digital signal and then locks it in once it finds it. Most HD Radio receivers are capable of playing both the analog and digital broadcasts and there are many brands available for use in your car or home.

Some have said that HD Radio sound quality is not all that the great. The truth is, is that HD Radio sound quality is very good. What people are actually talking about is HD Radio coverage. All signals that are transmitted digitally are subject to environmental obstruction. The result in digital TV broadcasts is what's known as pixelation, where the picture breaks up into small cubes or freezes altogether. HD Radio can suffer from a similar problem. But, since HD Radio receivers can play both broadcast signals, if the HD drops out, the analog signal is always there as a backup.

Actually, in all honesty, as a songwriter, I don't listen to as much radio as maybe you might think. The reasons why are enough for a blog post all it's own. Suffice it to say, my opinion is that HD Radio has a lot to offer, especially if stations are willing to use their second broadcast channels to air commercial free music or news and information. I know that this may not always be economically feasible, but for those stations that do, there is a greater chance of increasing their listenership, which, I think would be great for everybody.

It's Here!

This week, Spotify landed in America. What is it, and why should you care? For years now, e-business has been trying to find a successful model for providing content at zero cost to consumers, as a way to promote their products or subscription services.

Of course iTunes and Rhapsody have been offering streaming of music files with great success for quite a while now. But, in the case of Spotify, the music is being made available to cell phones and other mobile devices, for free. Spotify is significant because it comes in two flavors, free ad supported and a two tiered subscription service. The trick has always been, figuring out how to make the free service pay for it self while attracting enough consumers to make a profit from the paid service.

Ever since the introduction of the iPhone, streaming media has been increasing in it's popularity. In my opinion, nothing could replace owning your own copy of an album or single. Streaming, however offers computer, laptop, and mobile users an opportunity to access music files that may not be readily available, otherwise.

One other thing that has also been problematic, seems to solved as well. That's the issue of paying artist for the use of their songs. Earlier this month, Soptify reached a licensing agreement with ASCAP (American Society of Composers Authors & Publishers) for the right to stream some 8.5 million musical works in ASCAP's repertory. This should not only serve to make everyone happy, but it meets the needs of everyone from the content provider to the artist and the consumer.

To try Spotify you have to be invited. You can either wait until they send you one or you can visit their website and place your email address on a waiting list. Or if you still can't wait, you can pay $4.99 a month for their unlimited tier which gets you hours of ad-free listening. For $9.99 a month the premium option gives you the unlimited hours, plus you get mobile device support and the ability to listen to music offline.

OK. Streaming is not new. iTunes is working. So why Spotify? Because it's working too. Europeans have been using it for years. If things go well here in America, it may be just the incentive to induce illegal down loaders to stop downloading illegally.

Free! Free! Free!

I bet that got your attention. I must admit that the lure of getting something for nothing is a very powerful one. A free CD or download is almost sure to get noticed. Before the internet, there was some free music but not like we find it today. The whole idea of offering free music via the internet, was as a way for independent artists to promote their latest CD releases or their up coming live shows. Their hope was to increase their audiences and in so doing, make a living making music.

One the earliest websites to host free music, was IUMA.com. The letters stood for, Internet Underground Music Archive. The site offered bands and artists free web pages from which they could showcase their music and network with other artists and musicians, as well as meet their fans. At one point the site had the largest selection of independent music on the internet. However, having found no clear business model to generate the revenue needed to keep the site online, it officially ceased operations in 2006, two years after being abandon by it's parent company, Buongiorno UL Ltd in 2004.

So, if money has always been an issue, how is that the notion that music should be free become so pervasive?

The internet has been the home of free stuff for most of its existence. There's been free utilities, free graphics, free email, and the list goes on. But, during the dot com boom of the mid to late 1990s, scores of businesses offering all kinds of products and services came online. While many never made a penny, one thing was clear. Making money via the internet had arrived. In the mid 90s Mp3.com was almost synonymous with free music. That, was until the company went public in 1999. While you can still get free downloads, they've put more emphasis on the offerings of major label artists.

What's the big deal anyway? Recorded music has nearly always had a price tag. And, there was a time that no one thought twice about how much their favorite artists' releases would cost. They were just glad to have new music. Today, at a basic cost of $.59 to $.99 per download of a single, getting that song that you can't get out of your head or the one that you'd be searching for a long time, sounds like a steal to me. I know that one of the biggest draw backs to buying anything on line is having the means to make the payment.

What I talking about, is eCommerce. One way to get that prized item that you've found online, is by setting up a PayPal account. PayPal is company that allows you to establish an account with funds taken from your credit card or bank account. It was founded in 1999 by Max Levchin and Peter Thiel. Payments are made via email. In its infancy, the company was closely linked to eBay users, but anyone can get a PayPal account.

Another, and very popular way to make online purchases is by using your credit or bank debit card. But, if you don't have either, fear not. Prepaid debit cards appear to be the way to go. Prepaid debit cards offer those with poor or no credit, as well anyone wishing to make purchases online, an easy way to buy goods or pay for services online. For about two dollars per transaction, a prepaid debit card can be loaded with any dollar amount that you specify. You don't over spend, because the limit is set by the amount that you place on the card. Walmart, netSpend, and Green Dot are just a few of the prepaid providers.

A recent Bloomberg article stated that recorded music sales rose by 8.5%, which is up from last year at this time. A lot of the increase was due to digital music sales. I think that it's too soon to tell whether a better product is the reason for this. It might mean that more and more artists are resisting the temptation to give their music away. Or, it could be that stronger measures are being taken against those who download illegally. Or, maybe recorded music is finally being viewed as something of value again.

Internet Radio?

What can I say? I spend so much more time at sites like YouTube and MySpace, that I really haven't listened to much of it. I know about Last.fm, Live365, Jango, and Pandora. They all do a very good job, and some stations play totally commercial free. But, I also know, however, that a lot of broadcast radio stations are streaming their on air programming over the internet these days.

So, how does anyone feel about that? I know that broadcast radio is still very popular and the way to go if you really want to break through to a wider audience. It would seem that internet radio is really about availability and connectivity. While it's true that portable devices and hand held mobile unit use is on the rise, when it comes to internet connectivity North America ranks third behind Europe and Asia, which is ranked number one.

Though the price of a new desk top or lap top continues to fall, not every one appears to be interested in computing, or at least, not enough to spend an inordinate amount of time surfing the Web. Those with connectivity through the use of their cell phones may still not be using them, to do so. So, if we're continuing to go digital, and continuing to connect our TVs and audio devices to the Web, when and how can and/or will everyone join in the "digital revolution?"

Broadband usage continues to rise, but so does it's cost. Broadband is the speed which an internet service provider offers with speed of access at about 10Mbbs for DSL (digital subscriber line) or 30Mbps for Cable modem. These greater speeds offer users the opportunity to download the larger file sizes of video and music clips with relative ease, allowing the user to experience the Web without the interruptions caused by re-buffering. Otherwise, it can be frustrating trying to listen to a song or watch a movie poking along at 56kps. Currently, America is number twelve behind the the UK and Canada, with Korea leading the pack in Broadband usage. If we're going to get everyone onto the internet it, perhaps we should seriously consider bringing everyone up to speed.

3D and smart TV sets are making their way into the market, but who but the more affluent will actually be able to afford them. I'm not against new technologies. I love technology. I just think that it's a little like putting the cart before the horse. With that being said, it's safe to say that maybe the market for these emerging technologies are those who are already using them. It's estimated that about 77% of the American population is using the internet on a daily basis. That's a little over 3/4 of all Americans. Sounds like enough to do the trick, right? But, still, I could name 10 people right off the top of my head who don't have internet access, or even a computer for that matter. So, how do we arrive at that figure? Anytime your name appears in someones database, you are considered to be an internet user. That's whether you used a computer at the library or local internet cafe or someone typed your name as you applied for a loan or credit card online.

What's any of that have to do with internet radio? If traditional radio is still the best draw, it says a lot about how access to a computer and the internet hasn't made a dent in broadcast radio's territory. In fact it's estimated that 284 million people tuned into traditional radio in 2010. That's a little more than the total number of internet user for this year so far.

While internet radio offers a wider variety, less commercials, and an opportunity to actually buy the music that you're listening to, just like the internet it uses, it represents a business model that will take time to reach our population at large. Meanwhile, just about everyone has a radio in their car.

Still, if you haven't listen to internet radio yet, you may what to give it a listen. Some sites allow you to make your own station that plays the music of your favorite artist and those who are similar to them, for free and without registration. It might be something that you only do while you're surfing the web, or it might just be something you find your self doing a lot more often.

Rock Of Ages

Funk is my favorite genre of music. Jazz is a constant source of inspiration. But, Rock continues to influence what ever I write. It was always on the radio growing up and it just has something that keeps pulling me back.

Rock, like Rock n Roll, Jazz and Funk came from R&B, which was derived from the Blues, so it comes from good lineage. It all started with Chuck Berry. In 1955, while in Chicago to catch a Muddy Waters show, when the performance was over, Berry approached Waters and asked who he should see about making a record. He was directed to the offices of Chess Records, a Blues label. Berry didn't have any tapes on hand, so he went home and recorded some. He wrote a song that used a Blues scale, but he raised the tempo and dropped the repeated first line of every verse. The result was a song called "Ida Sue," which was later renamed "Maybellene." Chess loved the song and quickly released it. The record soon cross over from the R&B chart over to the Pop chart where it reached #5. With that, history was made.

Berry's hit began the Rock n Roll explosion that took place afterward. Soon, artists such as Fats Domino, Ray Charles, Elvis Presley and Bill Haley and the Comets would follow. In the beginning, R&B and Rock n Roll were almost interchangeable. Artists from one chart often crossed over to the other with ease.

The sound of Rock n Roll stayed pretty much the same on into the the 1960s. The increasing electrification of the instruments that were played began to change things. And, the arrival of the Beatles would introduce the artist as song writer. R&B began to drift toward Soul and Gospel. And, the Funk of James Brown had an effect on Rock n roll as well as artist began to dropped the the 2 & 4 beat emphasis to go for a more straight ahead sound. The improvisational guitar solo at the center of most songs became longer and sometimes, they represented the heart of song. The Folk music influence brought the singer/songwriter to the forefront, as the social upheaval of the decade began to produce, "message songs." All of these things met up at Woodstock, in 1969. I can't really say that this is when and where Rock n Roll became Rock, but I think that a pretty good case could be made. Nothing in Rock was quite the same after that. Artists most noted from that time were Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, and The Rolling Stones.

The creative freedom that was won in the early 1970s was actually due in part to the successes of the Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, and Eric Clapton. The first artist of that decade to win such freedom was Stevie Wonder. While Stevie was an R&B artist, it didn't stop artists in other genres from following suite. In fact, creative freedom would serve to help 70s Rock artists to make some of the most memorable music ever made. Nothing went untried. Synthesizers increased their creative potential as well as the use of arranging and composing techniques. Ideas came from their lives, imaginations and experiences. Rock lived and breathed on the Top 40 chart. But, there was no one sound. 70s Rock represented a very diverse group of artists who goal seemed to be, not to sound like anyone else. This held true until Disco would change almost everyone's style by the end of the decade. All of the experimenting and collaborating came to a screeching halt as the major labels hurried to capitalize on Disco's success. Some artists caved in, while some others left the business for a while. Rock would survive, but a lot of what made Rock artists of the 70s so unique would be lost, as creative freedom would be traded for an artist's chance to grab at the brass ring. Some 70s artists were, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Aerosmith, Eagles, and Peter Frampton.

The 1980s got of to a quirky start. Disco was gone and the drum synthesizer quickly became popular. Also, the gated reverb used by Phil Collins on "In The Air Tonight," swept the industry, as artists went looking for a sound that the major labels would except. Eventually, artists who began to make a name for themselves in the 70s found a way to break thought the muddle to become, in some cases, super stars. The advent of the music video and MTV and VH1 helped to make some artist's careers. While not as innovative as 70s music, in my opinion, Rock of the 80s was still an entertaining mix of music and persona. Rock eventually rebounded and and thrived as the result of the arrival of the, "power chord," and a growing interest in "Heavy Metal." But, in the late 1980s, Rap was on the rise, and about to become the "darling of the music industry. Once again, things were about to change. Some 80s artist were Metalica, Motley Crue, Van Halen, and Bon Jovi.

Five years after receiving it's first ever Grammy in 1989, Rap was had become a sensation, and the major label were all over it. The same Rock artists who were a staple in the 80s were all but left to fend for themselves in the 1990s. Again, some artists embraced Rap while some others left the business, or they went independent. But, in 1992, the Grunge sound of Seattle broke through in the guise of Nirvana's Nevermind CD. In my opinion, their success changed Rock, maybe even more than Rap. While it was popular for a time, Grunge wasn't very stylish at all. In my opinion, at times it appeared to resemble the three chord Rock similar to that of a garage band. But, at least it encouraged young and up and coming artists to keep trying. Meanwhile, mergers and acquisitions created a situation where many labels were dropping artists from their rosters, as they looked to better manage their bottom lines. Those acts with stage presence, in my opinion, seemed to be the ones who got signed. By the end of the 90s, the internet was becoming the place to find the kind of Rock that you were looking for. Some 90s artist were, Pearl Jam, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Nine Inch Nails, and No Doubt.

Here in the 21st century, many artists, both those well known as well as those who are still relative unknowns, have taken their music online in search of an audience. The DIY movement is in full swing, offering music lovers and fans around the planet the widest variety of music across every possible genre. Somewhere out there, the first internet sensation is busy toiling away at their craft. Who knows what kind of music they will present? But, it's always possible, that when they do finally arrive, they just might bring with them, the next Rock n Roll explosion.

All That Jazz

I like Jazz. I grew up listening to it. Miles Davis, Gerry Mulligan, and Dave Brubeck were favorites at my house.

When you're young and you like Jazz, it might make you feel a little odd, especially if none of your friends even care for it. But, I had no problems. The parents of a lot of the kids I grew up with liked Jazz as well. That being said, I know that a lot of people have trouble relating to it.

Jazz is an out growth of the Blues, which was born in the rural south. The music is characterized by a strong but flexible structure, rhythm, and meter, punctuated by improvisation. Early forms of Jazz include, Ragtime, Dixieland, and Swing. By the 1940s Big Band was a big deal. By the 1950s, BeBop had given way to Cool Jazz. Cool Jazz players tended to have larger ensembles as opposed to the usual trios, quartets, and quintets. Also, they experimented with different instruments within their ensembles. Some of the artists included Chet Baker, Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie,and Miles Davis.

In the 1960s, Rock n Roll became Rock, and began to find its way over into Jazz. In fact, R&B, Soul, and later, Funk would also begin to merge with Jazz. Jazz of the 60s seemed to expand in all directions as various artists experimented with sounds of other genres. The increase use of amplified instruments pushed Jazz toward a more electrified sound, as opposed the the more acoustic sound of the previous decade. This gave Jazz artists a greater opportunity to define their music and create a more unique and individual presence for each of them. Some of the artists from the 60s were Cannonball Adderley, Bill Evans, Charles Mingus, and John Coltrane.

What's interesting about Jazz of the 1970s, is that the sound of it is considered to have started in the 60s. The electrified sound of 60s Rock gave birth to Fusion while Funk took Jazz to a higher dimension. The introduction of the synthesizer allowed Jazz artists to let their imaginations run free. The result was some of the most creative and imaginative music ever made. Suddenly, Jazz was listenable and danceable. It was both interesting and exciting. And, with the help of technology, it became inventive, progressive, and innovative. Herbie Hancock's Headhunters album, in my opinion, epitomizes the depth to which Jazz artists of the decade were able to go. Chick Corea, Stanley Clarke, George Duke, Quincy Jones, Jeff Beck, and more would all follow suite as as Jazz's popularity began to rise.

All was well with Jazz, until the success of Disco threaten to throw things on the back burner, as the major labels moved to capitalize. Jazz's rising popularity through the 70s seemed to evaporate at start of the 1980s, as Rap quickly moved in to fill the vacuum left by Disco's later demise. Instead of continuing to lead the pack, many Jazz artists dabbled with the dance sound in order to stay in the public's eye. However, a lot of Jazz artists actually pushed for a return to a more traditional or contemporary sound. It was a strange decade for Jazz, as the economics of recording music often produced some odd collaborations. Rap and later Hip Hop would also have an impact, as some saw a correlation between those genres and Jazz. By the end of the decade, Quincy Jones would produce the most notable melding of Rap and Jazz with the album, Back On The Block. Some of the artists were, Wynton Marsalis, Brandford Marsalis, and Pat Metheny.

Smooth Jazz is considered to have been born in the 70s. But, it was the late 80s and early 90s that lifted the genre to radio format prominence. Smooth Jazz, leans heavily on R&B, Pop, and Rock elements as a means of making the music more appealing to a wider audience. With the music buying public becoming increasingly enamored of Rap, Hip Hop, the prefab Pop of the 90s, Smooth Jazz radio was the most likely place to turn for something upbeat and rhythmic, but not offense to the ears. I think, and this is just my opinion, that Jazz was a victim of the merging and acquiring of the 1990s. While there were all types of Jazz recordings made in that decade, the emphasis on being commercial was so strong, that many artists did what ever was necessary to be heard. Some artists from that decade were, Pharoah Sanders, Bill Frisell, and Don Byron.

In all honesty, here in the 21st century, I've probably listened to more Jazz from the past then any other time I can remember. I don't think it's because there's isn't any good Jazz being made. I think it's because Jazz hasn't been given the attention that it was once given. If you want to hear good Jazz, you have to seek it out for your self. In fact, the Smooth Jazz station in my area, which had played a reasonable mix of all sub genres, went under last year. What does that tell you?

This past winter, Esperanza Spalding, a Jazz bassist, singer, and composer won the Grammy for Best New Artist. I'd like to view this as encouragement, not only for Jazz artists, but for anyone who believes in music as art and not just a product. Choosing her should be a clear indication that hard work can and will eventually triumph, but, only time will tell.

Rhythm... And The Blues

My favorite genre of music is Funk. But, I grew up listening to R&B, Jazz, and a dash of Blues. Rock was always on the radio, but I didn't get into it until I started school. Occasionally, some Country music might find it's way onto my palette. Lets just say that my taste in music is very "eclectic." What I really like is anything that's well written. And, I'm not usually bothered if the singer isn't very good, as long as what they're singing moves me in some way.

Rock, Jazz, and Funk all owe a debt to the Blues, which is a form of music that is melancholic in mature. It was music that expressed suffering or lament and was created by blacks in the rural south. The first recordings of the Blues are said to have taken place in the mid 1920s. By the end of the 1940s, artists such as B.B. King and Muddy Waters had made the music popular. In the 1940s, Rhythm and Blues was created by combining Blues with Jazz and Gospel, while adding a strong back beat and syncopated instruments. Though the Blues had come into its own, it was Rhythm and Blues or R&B that broke through to reach a wider audience in the 1950s.

Early R&B of the 50s was characterized by a strong lead vocal with lots of background singing in harmony. Some of the most notable groups were the Platters, The Coasters, and the Penguins. Solo artists included, Sam Cooke, Lloyd Price, and Jackie Wilson. The R&B of the 50s was also known as Doo Wop, which was harmony vocalizing, based on phonetic syllables for rhythmic structure. Here is where it is my understanding that R&B as a musical form could be both uptempo and slow ballads.

In the the 60s, the vocal group was still a very important part of the R&B scene. However, the music took on a slightly more Gospel quality. The strong backseat was still a prominent feature but the rhythm became more African. James Brown who has been, attributed for introducing the "Southern Soul," sound into R&B, took the emphasis from the 2 and 4 beat and placed it squarely on the 1. The new sound was called Funk.
As the 60s progressed, more and more of its R&B artists began to incorporate the new sound into their music. Artists such as Stevie Wonder, The Temptations, The Miracles, Supremes, and Four Tops were among the most notable of that period. The music, once again could be uptempo or slow ballad, and what seemed to be most important by this time, was the growth of the artists and the growth and development of the R&B sound.

The 70s R&B sound drew upon first, the end of the turbulent times of the 60s, and the arrival of creative freedom. One of the first R&B artists to get such freedom was Stevie Wonder. Stevie was fascinated by technology, especially synthesizers. He took those early instruments and made virtual one man masterpieces. His first hit using these instruments was "Superstition." Drawing from Blues, Jazz, Soul, and Funk, Stevie reinvented himself with a sound that was uniquely of his own making. And, other artist would quickly follow. The vocal group remained a staple of the genre while the rhythm and syncopation became increasingly funky. At times the rhythm would shift from African to Afro-Cuban in texture as artists began to experiment with just about every aspect of songwriting, arranging, and production. The Isley Brothers, Commodores, Earth Wind & fire, Ohio Players, Parliament/Funkadelic and Average White Band are some of the most notable. Once again, the music could be uptempo or slow ballad.

Heavy manipulation of the dance music scene of the late 70s created a short period of what seemed like uncertainty at the beginning of the 80s. Many successful R&B artists began to either record less and less or left the music business altogether. Those who were just getting started were left groping for a sound as creative freedom was traded away to the labels as a way for artists to secure record deals. The vocal group was still a main stay and because of a continuing dance influence, uptempo sounds were emphasized heavily, while the music could also be slow ballads. Rick James, Cameo, and The Gap Band were some of the most notable artists.

The 90s saw Billboard Magazine change its R&B chart to reflect the rising popularity of Rap and Hip Hop. The chart was called the top Hip Hop and R&B singles chart. At this point, around 1994, the first Hip Hop radio station format appeared. It was WQHT or Hot 97 FM in New York, New York. Some of the most notable artists are Babyface, Boys II Men, Janet Jackson, and Mariah Carey.

It's my opinion, that until these two events took place, R&B was a versatile and progressive genre that featured many influences, but after these two events, it became a mostly slow ballad genre with heavy Hip Hop and Rap attributes. And, I believe that Hip Hop and Rap became R&Bs uptempo counterpart, when in reality, the genre as we knew it, no longer exists. While the above artists all have influences that come from decades of R&B tradition, many who have followed in their footsteps appear, in my opinion, to be unaware or possibly do not care about such tradition. The beats and rhymes formula of success rages on as musical growth has given way to winning the "music game."