Archive for March, 2009
*Apple has released iTunes 8.1, an update that contains fixes and enhancements related to large libraries, iPod and iPhone syncing, and CD ripping. Also included is support for the latest iPod shuffle, as well as a Genius expansion into video content (movies, television shows).
*On the iPhone side, Apple is planning a significant OS upgrade. The latest OS 3.0 will be unveiled on March 17th in Cupertino. “Join us at an invitation-only event to learn about the new SDK and get a sneak peek at the iPhone OS 3.0 software,” an emailed invite reads.
*U2 sold 484,000 units of No Line on the Horizon, according to Nielsen Soundscan. But how did the rest do? Taylor Swift grabbed second place with just 52,285 on Fearless, and Neko Case scored third with 44,300 on Middle Cyclone. Lady Gaga ranked fourth with 42,308 units on Fame, and the rest fell below 40,000.
*Kraft Canada recently charted a song. The company commissioned Toronto artist Andi to write a 30-second ditty to promote its Triscuit brand. A full-length, three-minute version was then released, part of a broader strategy designed to give the branding effort some legs.
*Mininova getting paid. According to filings unearthed by Ars Technica, Mininova pulled revenues of 1.04 million euros ($1.34 million) in 2007, a figure confirmed by the company. That colors the recent Pirate Bay hearings, and could inform an upcoming decision in April.
*ArtistData (artistdata.com), a centralized publishing tool for artists, has now added support for Twitter and Facebook status updates. Additionally, an RSS-enabled artist news feed is part of the recent rollout.
*AOL Music is now unleashing Noisecreep (noisecreep.com), a microsite dedicated to heavy metal and hard rock music. Noisecreep represents the latest in a number of genre-specific site launches.
The battle between YouTube owner Google and the music industry now has multiple theaters, on both sides of the Atlantic. In the United States, Warner Music Group has yanked its content, based on dissatisfaction with per-video payouts. In the United Kingdom, YouTube is proactively pulling music videos following a cantankerous negotiation process with performance rights group PRS for Music. Read the rest of this entry »
Universal Music Group Distribution (UMGD) is now breaking the walls between digital and physical, at least within its internal org structure. UMGD is the sales, marketing and distribution arm of the Universal Music Group. Read the rest of this entry »
