MP3
Downloading
I never download, but I listen to online radio stations.From albums to singles
As we all know, the record industry is blaming the Internet distribution of MP3-files and the copying of their releases with recordable cd's. They fight in the court rooms with Internet distributors, meanwhile trying to convince producers of hardware to furnish their products with copy-protection algorithms. But is it really their music that's being burned by a growing host of young and also older people? --Ger TillekensInternet distribution restores the single as a viable consumer option, and could push the Big 5 record labels further into exclusively developing entertainers whose focus is on individual hit songs rather than conceptually ambitious but potentially less profitable albums, such as Justin Timberlake, Nelly and 50 Cent.
"The majors have been in the business of making [bad] albums with only one or two songs that people actually want to pay for," Atkins says. In simplest terms, the record industry is in trouble because people are getting fed up with paying almost $19 for an album that contains one or two songs they want to hear. The arrival of the Internet music store provides a portal for these disaffected listeners to get those two songs relatively inexpensively, as well as to explore numerous other options. --http://www.grammy.com/features/2003/0707_onlinemusic.html
Publish my taste
"Publish my taste, not just my music files." --Andy OramMusicbrainz.org
http://www.musicbrainz.orgMusicBrainz is the second generation incarnation of the CD Index. This server is designed to enable Audio CD and MP3/Vorbis players to download metadata about the music they are playing. All of the data collected on this server is made available to the public under the OpenContent license.
China
‘‘Record companies everywhere find that they not only need to fight piracy, but also develop alternate revenue streams.’’ Piracy — which accounts for 95 percent of music sales in China, according to Berman’s organization — has forced multinational record companies serving the world’s most populous country to abandon classic-style album contracts, drop development of formal distribution channels and eliminate any possibility of a top-40 list based on sales. ‘‘China is the ultimate example of industrial-scale piracy and its impact,’’ Berman said. ‘‘The business model for the record industry worldwide is moving toward resembling what we see in China today.’’ Alternative sources of income tapped by top Chinese stars include paid appearances, sponsorship deals and extended concert tours through the nation’s vast hinterland. --Jay Berman, chairman and chief executive of the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry, a London-based group representing 1,500 record companies worldwide.Napster
Napster is the killer app that will be undoubtedly remembered more than any other MP3-related software. When Napster hit the Internet in 1999, it allowed anyone with a connection to find and download just about any type of popular music they wanted, in minutes. By connecting users to other users' hard drives, Napster created a virtual community of music junkies that's grew at an astonishing pace.Links
Some interesting sites on the online audio and the music industry:Books
- Peer-to-Peer : Harnessing the Power of Disruptive Technologies - Andy Oram [1Book, Amazon US]
Software projects like Napster and Freenet have challenged traditional approaches to content distribution with their use of peer-to-peer file-sharing technologies. In this book, key peer-to-peer pioneers offer insight on how the technology has evolved and where it's going. They draw on their experiences in business and technology to explore problems and solutions and contemplate the future of computer networking. Issues discussed include accountability, security, metadata, performance, and interoperability. Oram writes and edits books on programming and networking. [...] - Sonic Boom -- John Alderman [1Book, Amazon US]
Napster may or may not be a factor in the music scene of the future, but its extraordinary rise--and the attention it focused on the MP3 digital audio format--has ensured its status as a key figure in bringing this new type of sound recording to public consciousness. Sonic Boom, by veteran cyberjournalist John Alderman, cogently recounts the brief but tumultuous story that led up to this upstart song-trading exchange attracting 500,000 users each night--along with the wrath of the traditional recording industry.
2004, Jul 22; 13:58 :::: Apple
Apple 15 GB iPod M9460LL/A - Apple [Amazon.com] [FR] [DE] [UK]
The super-slim iPod defines what a digital music player should be. It’s lighter than two CDs, can hold up to 10,000 songs, thousands of digital photos and works as a personal voice recorder. Now you can sync with iTunes for Mac and Windows at blazing speeds, and take your entire music collection with you wherever you go. --From the Manufacturer
The iPod is a hard drive based music player from Apple Computer that can play MP3, WAV, AAC/M4A, AIFF and Apple Lossless files. In addition to playing music, iPods may be used as an external hard drive. iPods are distinguished by their small size, simple user interface based on a central scroll wheel, and fast FireWire or USB 2.0 connection. As of January, 2004, the iPod was the most popular digital music player in the United States, having over 50% of the market. --http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IPod [Jul 2004]
First announced in October 2001 [1] (http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=01/10/23/1816257&mode=thread), the iPod was originally available with a 5 GB hard drive. A 10 GB version was announced in March 2002, and a 20 GB version in July. Firmware upgrades have added some PDA functions. Some of the iPod software was developed by Pixo, a company founded by two of the developers that had worked on the Apple Newton, a Personal Digital Assistant produced by Apple Computer. --http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IPod [Jul 2004]