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Started by Jason Herskowitz. Last reply by David Rose Jan 30.
I've listed the sources that I currently aggregate for mediaor's "tail" in the sidebar. Are there are any other sources that you guys would like to see added (or removed)? Read More »
Started by bryon Oct 14 2007
I became agitated when I read the wikipedia article for pop music (specifically the 2nd and 3rd paragraphs). Is it just me or should there be a real difference between pop music and popular music (... Read More »
Tagged: classification, pop, genre, music
At the NARM website there is a PDF of NPD Group's "NARM 2008 Physical Products Concept Test," the presentation given at last week's NARM conference in San Francisco. The study presented seven product concepts to about 1,400 respondents aged 13 and over. NPD argues there is no replacement for the CD -- which it insists still has life -- and alternative physical formats like digital album cards, CDVU and USB drives can find some success in niches.
The content page (slide 5) surprised me a bit. Lyrics are especially important to older consumers while younger consumers said bonus content was most important. Environmentally friendly packaging was the third most important product feature.
The CDVU format (slide 7) tested well with heavy physical buyers (which makes sense) and was the highest format next to the CD. Likely CDVU buyers are willing to pay the price of a CD. According to the survey, at $12 an equal number of respondents said the CDVU was both too expensive and too cheap.
The DFS updatable CD with Internet access to bonus content scored well with 18-24 segment. The MFA enhanced CD with bonus content (slide 13) was liked for the bonus content but was seen as a high-cost option for getting that content. The MVI format (slide 15) scored best with the 13-17 age segment. The digital album card (slide 17) received lukewarm response, had the strongest appeal to heavy digital buyers and was liked for gifting purposes. Interestingly, the digital album card's bonus content received a more positive response than its open format (slide 20).
The USB drive (slide 24) does not appeal to core digital buyers but has a broad appeal (for different reasons) and a higher acceptable price range.
As I wrote yesterday, the CD is not dead. Physical formats are not dead. Just as with digital products, what is needed for new physical products is some tinkering, creativity and persistence. Some respect for the consumer would be nice, too, and I assume that post-Sony BMG root kit that won't be a problem.
• Six banks are reportedly near a deal to finance the private equity acquisition of Clear Channel. (Deal Journal)
• Chicago promoters are facing proposed legislation that could make it more difficult to hold concerts at licensed venues. "The ordinance as it stands requires independent promoters to apply for a license at a cost between $500 and $2,000 every two years, submit to fingerprinting and a criminal background check, secure as much as $300,000 in liability insurance and be at least 21 years old." (Chicago Sun-Times)
• Related: An interview with Chicago alderman Brendan Reilly. "Unfortunately, there are bad apples in this industry as well who are ruining it for those folks with a good business model. I know that law enforcement is in favor of passing an ordinance that will help us better regulate these folks and license them so we can track the bad actors and get them out of the industry." (Time Out Chicago)
• Starbucks' Hear Music is going to release a CD/DVD package for the next John Mellancamp album, Life, Death, Love and Freedom. The DVD will contain the entire album in CODE, a high-quality audio format developed by musician/producer T-Bone Burnett and a group of engineers. (Digital Music News)
• Seen at Billboard.com: An ad for the Zune Pass subscription service with the text, "Hurry, before they make this illegal. Discover unlimited music for the price of one CD a month." If the Zune Pass really is endangered, it's nothing a few more rounds of charity couldn't fix.
• The struggles of France's "three strikes" law. (EFF Deep Links)


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