Musings of The Brain

Music & Video Games Share a Special Link

Thu, 04 Sep 2008 15:24:39 -0400

Music & Video Games Share a Special Link:

You guys know I love articles about music and video games. Here is another good one. Highlights include the fact that the Smashing Pumpkins are the first artist to release their newest single exclusively on Guitar Hero and this quote below about how people buy music of new bands that they hear in these games.

“Yeah, I’ve bought like three bands’ full libraries and some songs off iTunes after hearing them in-game,” said Brandon West, a high school sophomore from Mechanicsville, Md. “It’s a great way to warm up to play, too.”

Postcard.fm allows you to send audio postcards to your friends....

Tue, 02 Sep 2008 13:47:09 -0400

Postcard.fm allows you to send audio postcards to your friends. Just pick a photo, an MP3, and a friend. Enjoy!

Another Spin for Vinyl Records

Mon, 01 Sep 2008 00:14:44 -0400

Another Spin for Vinyl Records:

Very cool article about vinyl. Makes me want to go out and by a record player.

I haven’t done one of these in a while. Here’s...

Mon, 01 Sep 2008 00:13:48 -0400

I haven’t done one of these in a while. Here’s thesixtyone.com. I think the concept here is pretty interesting, and if someone explained it to me, I’d like it. But, when you go to the site as a first time user, it’s so overwhelming. Below are my thoughts.

Summary:

thesixtyone is all about music discovery. Using the idea of the “bump,” thesixtyone lets listeners pick their favorite songs on the site. The points get confusing, and I’m not sure if I would spend the time to figure out the site if I weren’t doing a competitive analysis. Nevertheless, it’s a pretty cool idea when you start using it.

Pros:

You get a lot of points and don’t feel like your actions on the site are useless
The radio player is continuous and doesn’t stop when you change pages
The advertisement is not intrusive
Lots and lots of music
Easy to search by genre
Game play is very developed with different levels and achievements to accomplish and receive
Easy registration process

Cons:

Initially overwhelming on the homepage with lots of text, music, columns
No explanation of what a “bump” is when I get to the site although a “bump” is at the center of the site
- Have to take the action to learn what it is
Website is confusing and doesn’t help walk me through how to use it
- The About and FAQ are hard to find also
Points are confusing
- Hard to understand what I get points for
- I can get points for referring people but I can only find this out in the FAQ
The navigation for my profile page is above an advertisement and close to the header of the site
- Makes it hard to find it

Music industry wants bigger slice of Guitar Hero, Rock Band pie

Mon, 25 Aug 2008 18:14:20 -0400

Music industry wants bigger slice of Guitar Hero, Rock Band pie:

The music industry execs are vultures!

Dave Matthews Band Saxophonist Dies

Wed, 20 Aug 2008 13:43:16 -0400

Dave Matthews Band Saxophonist Dies:

Sad news that many of you have probably heard already.

Ringback Tones Sales to Triple in Four Years

Wed, 20 Aug 2008 13:32:38 -0400

Ringback Tones Sales to Triple in Four Years:

Interesting article on those songs you hear while you’re on hold.

Is the Music Industry Digging Its Own Grave?

Tue, 19 Aug 2008 15:45:19 -0400

Is the Music Industry Digging Its Own Grave?:

Good editorial type article about what’s going on with Pandora, Muxtape, and the music industry in general.

Perhaps Pandora Must Be Our Sacrificial Lamb

Mon, 18 Aug 2008 10:33:42 -0400

Perhaps Pandora Must Be Our Sacrificial Lamb:

Without a doubt, you all have seen this news. I think this sucks. What’s funny to me is that record labels are missing the point with Pandora - it’s a way to get people to hear and discover new music.

What’s the problem? If I hear a new artist on Pandora and go out and buy some music, then Pandora has created a valuable service. Record labels should find a way to embrace the internet and not screw it.

I love Pandora. I’d be sad to see it go.

Allman Brothers Band sues record group for $13 million

Tue, 12 Aug 2008 10:15:10 -0400

Allman Brothers Band sues record group for $13 million:

Claiming “digital exploitation,” the Allman Brothers Band is suing UMG in order to raise their cut of digital shares.

Record labels…. ewwwww

Music site Imeem dials up volume of traffic

Mon, 11 Aug 2008 17:52:38 -0400

Music site Imeem dials up volume of traffic:

Great article about Imeem’s usage.

The Next Big Sound Article on CollegeOTR.com

Wed, 06 Aug 2008 21:32:06 -0400

The Next Big Sound Article on CollegeOTR.com:

This is an article about us. CollegeOTR did this story.

Google Rolls Out Free Music Service In China

Wed, 06 Aug 2008 11:19:46 -0400

Google Rolls Out Free Music Service In China:

Interest article as Google tries to gain a larger precense in comparison to Baidu.com. Google is allowing free downloads of music in an ad supported model.

I wanted to take a moment to introduce myself and share...

Mon, 04 Aug 2008 11:55:38 -0400

I wanted to take a moment to introduce myself and share who’s behind this blog. My name is Jason Sosnovsky, and I am part of a new music site called The Next Big Sound. I started this blog to share the research I’ve been doing on other online music sites. Rather than keep the findings private I decided it would benefit the community to post mini-reviews of each site.

I enjoyed sharing it with all of you along side some news, songs, and miscellaneous sports shorts. I will definitely keep the blog going as I keep posting about the changing music industry.

Here’s a quick description of The Next Big Sound:

The Next Big Sound is a music website that I started with 3 friends from Northwestern University and a new buddy from Brown University. The premise of the site is to shift the current music industry model on its head by allowing anyone the chance to play the role of a record mogul. Moguls will predict which artists they think are going to become superstars and sign them to their own personal record label. When listeners come to the site, they can stream some of the best unsigned music in the country from our radio player. When the listener hears an artist they like, they can register for free as a mogul and “Sign” the artist to their personal roster of 10 spots.

The Next Big Sound is about empowering listeners to push their favorite artists to fame while expressing their own musical interests. Moguls have an incentive to be the first to sign an artist because we keep track of the order of signings. Thus, a mogul will be able to prove their ability to predict the next superstar early in their career. The site also empowers artists to find true fans. Since moguls are able to only sign 10 bands, the moguls that sign artists are more likely to be real fans who buy the music, go to the shows, and buy the merchandise. Moguls will become advocates for artists as they try to increase their score by getting people to sign you and raise your following.

Visit The Next Big Sound at www.thenextbigsound.com.

Best,
Jason

Free Music From Urban Outfitters!

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 16:08:59 -0400

Free Music From Urban Outfitters!:

21 free songs. Rock!

Here’s a new site for you all -...

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 15:39:22 -0400

Here’s a new site for you all - Anywhere.fm

Summary:

Anywhere.fm is a social music service that allows users to upload their full music collection to the website and access it from anywhere. Using friend radio anywhere.fm also helps users discover new music.

Pros:

Simple concept, useful service, very well executed
iTunes looking music player is familiar and easy to navigate
Quick and easy registration
Extensive user base-over 13 million songs have been uploaded!
Computes music compatibility between users as a percentage fit
Easy to create and share playlists with friends
Free music that you can stream continuously

Cons:

Small community: the #1 most popular person on the site has only 43 friends
Outward facing comments seem ineffective and unneccesary
Link doesn’t work to purchase music
Unclear how iMeem is making use of the start-up

Chew on This: Hit Song is a Gum Jingle

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 13:03:25 -0400

Chew on This: Hit Song is a Gum Jingle:

Genius move by Wrigley! Chris Brown rocks this song, and it is going to be on a Double Mint commercial. Wrigley also has deals with Ne-Yo and others. Read on!

energyface: When the Sun Grows on Your Tongue - Black Moth...

Mon, 28 Jul 2008 23:14:13 -0400

energyface:

When the Sun Grows on Your Tongue - Black Moth Super Rainbow

I love this track. These guys are currently filling the void that Boards of Canada has created in me by not putting out a new album.

Cool song. Fun to listen to.

Mick Jagger defies years as he hits pension age

Mon, 28 Jul 2008 23:12:47 -0400

Mick Jagger defies years as he hits pension age:

He probably doesn’t need it though. Just a hunch. Good article!

Broken Record: Four Mistakes That Killed the Record Indstry Before File Sharing

Mon, 28 Jul 2008 23:12:14 -0400

Broken Record: Four Mistakes That Killed the Record Indstry Before File Sharing:

craig:

artistspaid:(via yvynyl)

on point.