Archive for February, 2008

Redbox and Amazon

By Collin, 20 February, 2008, 1 Comment

Today I got giddy about technology and media. As most of you know, I’m getting my master’s in Recording Arts and as a result do a lot of thinking about the media market. I also think a lot about the market because I like movies, music, and games and am always on the lookout for cheap ways to procure quality media - which brings me to this post. This probably isn’t revolutionary and feel free to chastise me on being “behind the times”.

Redbox
Redbox is a DVD kiosk located … almost everywhere that lets you rent DVD’s for $1 a night. I first encountered this little wonder in Alabama, of all places. As usual, I looked and read the signage but reserved judgment until I had more information. A few weeks (months?) ago I found out that my good friend Stevo was an avid patron of the Redbox. He regaled me with tales of 3 rentals at a time for the low price of $3. I was impressed. What I learned online, and what Stevo failed to mention, are the two huge (in my opinion), and one less huge, features of Redbox.com: 1) you can check if your local Redbox(es) carry the movie you want in addition to exactly what they do have in stock, 2) you can pre-rent the DVD online so you don’t have to worry about someone picking it up before you get there and 3) you can return the movie at any Redbox nationwide. These three features make Redbox mighty appealing, especially because of the price. For anyone who has ever not wanted to go to the video store and check if they have the movie they want or rented something on vacation and brought the movie with you instead of returning it to the local store - you’ll get Redbox. I have yet to rent anything, seeing as I just found out these juicy facts tonight, but I will be doing so shortly. I know there are also some pretty price competitive (not to mention time/gas saving) online rental options as well. I’m curious, what do you use and why?

Amazon.com MP3 Downloads
There are a few things I have decided that I don’t like about most mp3 files recently: low bit rate, high price, and stupid DRM (Digital Rights Management). I’ll start with bit rate. The reason that mp3 files are so much smaller than wav files is that they are compressed, meaning reduced in quality. Wav files are so large because they carry a lot of information and mp3’s just use a clever algorithm to take certain information out and still make the music sound passable. The most common bit rate for an mp3 is 128 kbps - which is all of the regular song files on iTunes. Not distinguishable to the normal ear (and barely noticeable to myself) most people can’t tell the difference between a 128 kbps album and a CD but, I think, if you do you’re really cheating yourself. Also, DRM is evil. It stifles your ability to enjoy the music you’ve already paid for by limiting the number of CD’s you can burn as well as computers and mp3 players you can use with those files. There is nothing good about DRM. The same files from iTunes that are 128 kbps are also crippled with DRM. Every single one of them. Lastly, the price of most music online (*cough* iTunes) is too high. The industry is struggling to adapt to the new model of music delivery and using an extinct pricing system to prevent people from abandoning CD’s altogether. Online albums should not cost $10 - CD’s, yes, digital music, no. This brings me to my support of Amazon’s MP3 site. Amazon does not have any DRM on any of its music. None. Plus, everything is encoded at 256 kbps - double the norm for Apple. AND most of their albums are $9 as opposed to $10 … not to mention the constantly changing group of “sale” albums that feature new releases and music that you actually want for $6-8 (I’ve already bought two albums for $6). Now, in all fairness to iTunes they have started releasing “iTunes Plus” music that is also DRM free and encoded at 256 kbps. However, the pricing model is still old. It might just be one dollar but hey … it’s a dollar. The iTunes Plus catalog is also smaller than that of Amazon. There are other decent options I’ve come across as well like eMusic.com (mostly independent artists, uses a subscription model, recommended by Evan). I’m still curious, how do you get your tunes?

Hopefully, this has been at educational and will help you save some money and hassle in the future.

*UPDATE:  I have successfully rented my first (and second) Redbox DVD and I have a few extra bits of information.  The “end of the day” is actually 9pm, so if you’re only planning on only paying “one night” (i.e. $1) you need to have it back to a machine by then.  The cost is actually $1 plus tax so don’t be shocked when there are some extra pennies added to your cost.  You can also buy used DVD’s from them (not the newest releases but recent ones) for $7.

Copyright Law and Some Tidbits

By Collin, 18 February, 2008, 1 Comment

In Article I, Section 8 of the US Constitution, Congress is granted the power to “…To promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by securing for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries.”

At first, the length of a copyright was 14 years with eligibility for a 14 year renewal.  Next 28 years with a 28 year renewal.  Next 75 years or the life of the last surviving author plus 50 years without chance for renewal.  And finally in 1998, depending on the circumstances, 95/120 years or life of the last surviving author plus 70 years.

The question that was posed to me by my teacher I will pose to you: Assuming that the last surviving author dies 100 years after the creation of a work, is 170 years really what the writers of the constitution meant by “securing for limited times”?  As a songwriter it’s hard to choose sides.  My brain says that 170 years is a crazy long time and completely unwarranted.  My gut says that no one else should ever be allowed to make money off my hard work and creativity without paying me (or a surviving relative of mine).  Should we revert to a system of 14 years with 14 years renewal options so that creative works can enter the public domain and become a force of creativity for generations to come?  Or is the ownership of a copyright and inclusion/exclusion from public domain the measure of a works creative strength?  I value your feedback and thoughts - please share.

One interesting note - copyright law has been extended every time “Steamboat Willie”, the original Mickey Mouse cartoon, has been poised to enter public domain.  Consider that in the motives of our government extending copyright length.

Van Halen Sample Rate Issues
In this video Van Halen is playing to a recorded track of keyboards.  The keyboards, for some reason, are not being played at the normal sample rate and are therefore being played back in a higher key.  The band starts playing in the original key and … well, you’ll have to watch and see what happens : )

Amazing Cover of “The Final Countdown” (originally by Europe)
This tidbit title is total sarcasm.  While I don’t find this video quite as funny as my friends (Stevo and Nate), some of you might.  Let me know if it’s a youtube gem or piece of garbage … and if you managed to make it through the whole thing.

The Music Industry (and other rants)

By Collin, 13 February, 2008, 3 Comments

Right now I’m taking a class on the history of the recording industry. About half of our time is spent talking about the current state / downward spiral of the gargantuan. It’s awesome. Because most of the people who will read this will probably be interested in what I’m learning I have come to share.

A few recent happenings that signify a shift in the industry:
1. Radiohead releases it’s album, “In Rainbows”, online with a pay-what-you-want model. You’ve probably heard about this one already but some things that you might not know are: Radiohead hasn’t really released any sales data yet. Probably because they’re too busy burning the extra money they have just for kicks. Also, their CD went straight to #1 when it was released in hard copy. Proof that you can make free music online work for you.
2. Madonna signs with (no, not a label) a concert promoter. That’s right, folks. Who needs the big labels? Not Madonna … or anyone, really. While no specific details of distribution methods have been released she will likely make a deal with Wal-Mart, Target, and the like.
3. Paul McCartney signs with the Starbucks label. In a slap to the face that gets more vicious every day, the industry loses one of the greatest songwriters of the past 50 years … to people who make coffee.
4. The Eagles ink a direct release deal with Wal-Mart for their most recent album. What you might not know is that deal led to “Long Road Out of Eden” being the #3 top seller in America for 2007 with 2.6 million units sold.

Basically, everything is changing. Walmart is likely going to cut back their CD shelf space in 2008 by 30% (with other major retailers to follow, presumably). Labels are laying people off left and right because they aren’t changing their business models and trying to fight a losing battle against the digital revolution. The music industry as we know it will be dead shortly.

While it sounds like a grim, depressing, and terrible thing it’s actually not. What this means for the average consumer is that your music selection is going to grow exponentially - from old releases becoming available for the first time in a while to new artists springing up everywhere (including your neighborhood). Essentially, we are seeing the end of the “rock star”. There will still be some nationally known acts being promoted but everyone will turn to their niche rather than just accepting what’s being shoved down their throat.

Also, sometime in the next few years, I predict that radio will come back to the people. Right now Clear Channel owns like ALL of the radio stations in America. No offense, but only people with personalities and tastes more bland than vanilla listen to that kind of radio. It’s not good. It’s corporate manufactured garbage that isn’t being played because the DJ likes it or the industry respects it. It’s on the air because the labels think (they really have no idea, they’re just guessing) that you will like it. Music for the lowest common denominator. College radio stations, though often forced to play everything but the top 40, have programming created by students who (for the most part) are still passionate about what they listen to. Other stations, like WXRY in Columbia, are still pursuing the dream and playing what they actually like.

It’s a great time to be involved in music. But it’s scary too. Any comments, ideas, opinions, observations, etc. you’d like to share are more than welcome. Just out of curiosity, how do you get your music these days?

SUGGESTED READING:
- Our teacher signed us up for a free newsletter from Steve Meyer called “Disc & Dat”.  It can be a little lengthy but his rants at the beginning are priceless.
- Something that Mr. Meyer linked to from his newsletter: “The 7 Most Unforgivable Grammy Award Snubs of All Time” is hilarious.  The person who wrote the article is totally pissed and it makes for very entertaining reading.