I Ate Your Microphone

To many of us, the use of this type of malicious software is far from breaking news but the decision that Sony should pay compensation to all those affected should have given consumers cause for concern over Sony’s original action. Any other company found responsible for this kind of thing would expect to face hefty fines and possible further action. Sony, though, were ordered to replace the affected disks, provide software to remove the program and pay $7.50 compensation and one free album download.

Initially this may sound like a reasonable settlement. However, the fear is that the offer a free album download will essentially give Sony a dose of good publicity. Once a consumer downloads one free album and realizes the ease, they are more likely to carry on doing so making Sony the eventual winners.

Considering the invaluable information that Sony undoubtedly managed to gleam from consumer’s computers using software that is no different to spyware, the settlement seems unjustified especially when you consider the penalties that other spyware software distributors have gained in the past. US spyware laws dictate that hefty financial fines should be given to those found guilty.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, May 24th, 2006 at 4:19 pm and is filed under News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

There was an interesting story in the New York Post a few days ago. It basically looked at how dwindling CD sales are driving a wedge between record labels and publishers. Previously they had enjoyed a stable and often close relationship, but apparently as more avenues for production are opening up for musicians and bands the producers are taking action to ensure they still receive their slice of the financial pie.

Publishers have realised, perhaps a little later than most, that CDs just aren’t selling as well as they used to. MP3 downloads are increasing in popularity and as they do so even fewer CDs are being sold. This leaves them with no option but attempt to find other ways to make their “hard earned” money.

Publishers are sending out talent spotters, or A&R people, to find the potential stars. They’re also offering recording opportunities and space to their own bands, essentially cutting out the labels almost entirely. While many see it as heartening that the labels are finally getting the poetic justice they have spent years earning, it is likely tomean that publishers will simply step up to the fold and take over.

While the labels will clearly suffer to some extent, it could create more damage to the current state of musical affairs. Labels want hit records more than ever and in order to produce these hits they don’t dare to stray away from what they believe to be a winning formula. This means more of the same redundant tracks that sound the same now as the hit records of the nineties.

Independent publishers with any marketing knowledge will be set to take advantage by offering a greater level of service and a much more musician friendly relationship and environment. There’s never been a better time to be indipendent.

This entry was posted on Sunday, May 21st, 2006 at 8:08 am and is filed under News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

I know this is a little late, but I felt it would be a really good way to start off our new blog. The Canadian Music Week indie music awards were handed out way back in the beginning of March but, if nothing else, the reel of winners may give a few pointers to bands that are worth looking out for. Full details on the CMW can be seen on their webpage at http://www.cmw.net/ including information about the CMW2007 awards.

2006 INDIE AWARDS WINNERS ANNOUNCED

XM SATELLITE RADIO FAVOURITE ALBUM The Arcade Fire - Funeral FAVOURITE SINGLE Bedouin Soundclash - When The Night Feels My Song FAVOURITE SOLO ARTIST City and Colour feat. Dallas Green CHART MAGAZINE FAVOURITE GROUP/DUO Death From Above 1979 FAVOURITE VIDEO The Arcade Fire - Neighbourhood #3 (Power Out) FAVOURITE INTERNATIONAL ARTIST/GROUP Franz Ferdinand FAVOURITE INTERNATIONAL ALBUM Bloc Party - Silent Alarm FAVOURITE NEW INTERNATIONAL ARTIST/GROUP Rumble In Rhodos SYMPATICO.MSN FAVOURITE ARTIST WEBSITE Neverending White Lights - http://www.neverendingwhitelights.com FAVOURITE BLUES ARTIST/GROUP Garrett Mason FAVOURITE CHILDREN’S ARTIST/GROUP Mike Whitla FAVOURITE CLASSICAL ARTIST/GROUP James Ehnes FAVOURITE COUNTRY ARTIST/GROUP Brad Johner FAVOURITE ELECTRONICA ARTIST/GROUP The Hermit FAVOURITE FOLK ARTIST/GROUP Corb Lund XM SATELLITE RADIO FAVOURITE FRANCOPHONE ARTIST/GROUP Annie Villeneuve FAVOURITE JAZZ ARTIST/GROUP Sandro Dominelli FAVOURITE LATIN ALTERNATIVE ARTIST/GROUP CACHE FAVOURITE METAL/HARDCORE ARTIST/GROUP Cryptopsy FAVOURITE POP ARTIST/GROUP Rosette CBC RADIO 3 FAVOURITE ROCK ARTIST/GROUP Boys Night Out CBC RADIO 3 FAVOURITE URBAN ARTIST/GROUP Divine Brown FAVOURITE WORLD ARTIST/GROUP Muna Mingole GALAXIE RISING STARS AWARD OF THE CBC Elliott Brood "Ambassador" (Six Shooter)

This entry was posted on Monday, May 15th, 2006 at 9:08 am and is filed under News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.