From: owner-ecto-digest@smoe.org (ecto-digest) To: ecto-digest@smoe.org Subject: ecto-digest V10 #49 Reply-To: ecto@smoe.org Sender: owner-ecto-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-ecto-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk ecto-digest Thursday, February 19 2004 Volume 10 : Number 049 Today's Subjects: ----------------- Today's your birthday, friends... [Mike Matthews ] Re: Music shareware (was: Re: MP3s) [Paul Schreiber ] More music industry articles ["neal copperman" ] Suggestion from the Ectophiles' Guide inbox [Neile Graham ] The Reputation News [Michael Curry ] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Wed, 18 Feb 2004 03:00:04 -0500 (EST) From: Mike Matthews Subject: Today's your birthday, friends... i*i*i*i*i*i i*i*i*i*i*i *************** *****HAPPY********* **************BIRTHDAY********* *************************************************** *************************************************************************** ******************** Jim Sturnfield (no Email address) ******************** ******************** Juha Kannisto (no Email address) ********************* *************************************************************************** -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- - -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Jim Sturnfield Thu February 18 1954 Aquarius Juha Kannisto Wed February 18 1970 Aquarius Joel Siegfried February 19 Penguin Crossing Linda Saboe Tue February 20 1951 aimless Teresa Ross Wed February 23 1977 pisces Michael Curry Fri February 24 1967 Pisces Paula Shanks Mon February 25 1952 Pisces Brni Mojzes Fri February 26 1965 the vanishing boy Pamela Pociluk Fri February 28 1964 Pisces Peter Clark Thu March 04 1948 Pedestrian Tim Steele Fri March 08 1963 Pisces Matt Bittner Thu March 12 1964 Pisces kIrI Hargie Fri March 13 1970 Pisces Bob Dreano Thu March 13 1958 Pisces Randall K. Smith Sat March 15 1969 Pisces Jessica Skolnik March 16 Pisces Alan Sodoma Thu March 18 1965 LuckyLurker Richard Konrad Sat March 18 1944 Pisces - -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 18 Feb 2004 00:47:29 -0800 From: Paul Schreiber Subject: Re: Music shareware (was: Re: MP3s) Michael wrote: > I would like to see a web site with the names and addresses of > musicians where I could send a check for any CDs I pirate. The > address would have to be independent of the record company so they > could neither track nor steal the shareware fees. Each artist could > declare what a fair fee would be for each copied track, or full > album. It would either be what they get from the sales of their CDs, > or what they _should_ be getting if they weren't getting ripped of by > the record company. There was a web site that did this -- it was fairtunes.com. They got bought out by musiclink, and Matt (cofounder, friend of mine) says he doesn't trust the new owners much. Google "fairtunes" for some interesting articles. Paul shad 96c / uw cs 2001 / mac activist / fumbler / eda / headliner / navy-souper fan of / sophie b. / steve poltz / habs / bills / 49ers / "This is radio's main problem, they still see their historically viable role as simply a place to 'discover' new music that's for sale by someone else. Those days are gone, you can't 'discover' anything new on radio today except the latest commercials." -- Don Joyce, Negativland, writing to Pho [demime 0.97c-p1 removed an attachment of type application/pkcs7-signature which had a name of smime.p7s] ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 18 Feb 2004 22:55:45 -0000 From: "neal copperman" Subject: More music industry articles There's an article by Don Henley in the Washington Post about the state of the music industry. The paragraph I found most interesting was this one: The music industry must also take a large amount of blame for this piracy. Not only did the industry not address the issue sooner, it provided the P2P users with a convenient scapegoat. Many kids rationalize their P2P habit by pointing out that only record labels are hurt -- that the labels don't pay the artists anyway. This is clearly wrong, because artists are at the bottom of the food chain. They are the ones hit hardest when sales take a nosedive and when the labels cut back on promotion, on signing new artists and on keeping artists with potential. Artists are clearly affected, yet because many perceive the music business as being dominated by rich multinational corporations, the pain felt by the artist has no public face. Full article at: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A46669-2004Feb16.html neal Killing the Music By Don Henley Washington Post - February 17, 2004 http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A46669-2004Feb16.html When I started in the music business, music was important and vital to our culture. Artists connected with their fans. Record labels signed cutting-edge artists, and FM radio offered an incredible variety of music. Music touched fans in a unique and personal way. Our culture was enriched and the music business was healthy and strong. That's all changed. Today the music business is in crisis. Sales have decreased between 20 and 30 percent over the past three years. Record labels are suing children for using unauthorized peer-to-peer (P2P) file-sharing systems. Only a few artists ever hear their music on the radio, yet radio networks are battling Congress over ownership restrictions. Independent music stores are closing at an unprecedented pace. And the artists seem to be at odds with just about everyone -- even the fans. Contrary to conventional wisdom, the root problem is not the artists, the fans or even new Internet technology. The problem is the music industry itself. It's systemic. The industry, which was once composed of hundreds of big and small record labels, is now controlled by just a handful of unregulated, multinational corporations determined to continue their mad rush toward further consolidation and merger. Sony and BMG announced their agreement to merge in November, and EMI and Time Warner may not be far behind. The industry may soon be dominated by only three multinational corporations. The executives who run these corporations believe that music is solely a commodity. Unlike their predecessors, they fail to recognize that music is as much a vital art form and social barometer as it is a way to make a profit. At one time artists actually developed meaningful, even if strained, relationships with their record labels. This was possible because labels were relatively small and accessible, and they had an incentive to join with the artists in marketing their music. Today such a relationship is practically impossible for most artists. Labels no longer take risks by signing unique and important new artists, nor do they become partners with artists in the creation and promotion of the music. After the music is created, the artist's connection with it is minimized and in some instances is nonexistent. In their world, music is generic. A major record label president confirmed this recently when he referred to artists as "content providers." Would a major label sign Johnny Cash today? I doubt it. Radio stations used to be local and diverse. Deejays programmed their own shows and developed close relationships with artists. Today radio stations are centrally programmed by their corporate owners, and airplay is essentially bought rather than earned. The floodgates have opened for corporations to buy an almost unlimited number of radio stations, as well as concert venues and agencies. The delicate balance between artists and radio networks has been dramatically altered; networks can now, and often do, exert unprecedented pressure on artists. Whatever connection the artists had with their music on the airwaves is almost totally gone. Music stores used to be magical places offering wide variety. Today the three largest music retailers are Best Buy, Wal-Mart and Target. In those stores shelf space is limited, making it harder for new artists to emerge. Even established artists are troubled by stores using music as a loss leader. Smaller, more personalized record stores are closing all over the country -- some because of rampant P2P piracy but many others because of competition from department stores that traditionally have no connection whatsoever with artists. Piracy is perhaps the most emotionally gut-wrenching problem facing artists. Artists like the idea of a new and better business model for the industry, but they cannot accept a business model that uses their music without authority or compensation. Suing kids is not what artists want, but many of them feel betrayed by fans who claim to love artists but still want their music free. The music industry must also take a large amount of blame for this piracy. Not only did the industry not address the issue sooner, it provided the P2P users with a convenient scapegoat. Many kids rationalize their P2P habit by pointing out that only record labels are hurt -- that the labels don't pay the artists anyway. This is clearly wrong, because artists are at the bottom of the food chain. They are the ones hit hardest when sales take a nosedive and when the labels cut back on promotion, on signing new artists and on keeping artists with potential. Artists are clearly affected, yet because many perceive the music business as being dominated by rich multinational corporations, the pain felt by the artist has no public face. Artists are finally realizing their predicament is no different from that of any other group with common economic and political interests. They can no longer just hope for change; they must fight for it. Washington is where artists must go to plead their case and find answers. So whether they are fighting against media and radio consolidation, fighting for fair recording contracts and corporate responsibility, or demanding that labels treat artists as partners and not as employees, the core message is the same: The artist must be allowed to join with the labels and must be treated in a fair and respectful manner. If the labels are not willing to voluntarily implement these changes, then the artists have no choice but to seek legislative and judicial solutions. Simply put, artists must regain control, as much as possible, over their music. [The writer is a singer and drummer with the Eagles and a founding member of the Recording Artists' Coalition.] (c) 2004 The Washington Post Company ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 18 Feb 2004 19:11:46 -0800 From: Neile Graham Subject: Suggestion from the Ectophiles' Guide inbox Thought Enya fans here might be interested in hearing this new name. - --Neile >Name: Gerard Quinn >Topic: Correction > >Meav should definitely be added to your list. She is "Enya-like" >and Irish, and probably belongs in the "upper atmosphere" group. > - -- - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Neile Graham .... neile@sff.net/@drizzle.com ... www.sff.net/people/neile Les Semaines: A Weekly Journal ........ www.sff.net/people/neile/semaines Editor, The Ectophiles' Guide to Good Music ........... www.ectoguide.org Workshop Administrator, Clarion West ................ www.clarionwest.org ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 18 Feb 2004 19:16:20 -0800 From: Neile Graham Subject: Recent reminders of great music While totally obsessing over Jesca Hoop's samples, we've also been playing some oldies but goodies and I was reminded how wonderful they are: * Jane Siberry's _When I was a Boy_. Damn, what an album! * Aether's _Smoke from Vanished Kisses_, ethereal but deep. Coincidentally, the day after we listened to them, I got an email message from one of the members saying they hadn't disappeared but were working on individual projects. The Aether album can still be purchased from them, and now her email address has been added to the Ectophiles' Guide's page for them * Frou frou's album which has grown on me incredibly since my initial disappointment that it was way more pop than Imogen Heap's solo album Right now Jim is playing Baxter's new album, which while very Euro-dancy in places is also as wonderful as their debut. Cheers! - --Neile - -- - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Neile Graham .... neile@sff.net/@drizzle.com ... www.sff.net/people/neile Les Semaines: A Weekly Journal ........ www.sff.net/people/neile/semaines Editor, The Ectophiles' Guide to Good Music ........... www.ectoguide.org Workshop Administrator, Clarion West ................ www.clarionwest.org ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 18 Feb 2004 22:22:12 -0500 From: Michael Curry Subject: The Reputation News Forwarded, for those interested.... >Date: Wed, 18 Feb 2004 19:47:18 -0500 (EST) >From: elizabeth@reputationmusic.com >To: reputation@reputationmusic.com >Subject: [The Reputation News] (no subject) > >Hey guys - Lots of new information in this update! > >1. Updated tour dates >2. New record and free mp3! >3. Street team (we'll make it worth your while, wink) >4. T-shirts (cheap and only a few left!) >*** > >1. Updated tour dates >*note - Regrettably, I had to cancel my solo show opening for Mary Lou >Lord b/c of some reputation shows. But I added another solo show so I'd >love to see you there! >*we could use help flyering for these shows. If you're interested, please >see the street team info below > >Feb. 25 Chicago Bottom Lounge - Elizabeth solo opening for Tilda Tora, >David Singer and the Sweet Science, and the Lavellas. I'm first at 8pm >sharp. 21+ >Feb. 26 Springfield, IL the Underground Tavern >Feb. 27 Kansas City, MO the Hurricane w/ Ultimate Fakebook (their final >shows!) - two shows: early all-ages and late 21+ >Feb. 28 Grinnell, IA Grinnell College w/ the Gossip > >Mar 12 Champaign, IL Cowboy Monkey w/ Decibully (ex-Promise Ring, >Polyvinyl Recs) >Mar 13 Iowa City, IA Gabe's Oasis w/ Ester Drang (Jade Tree) and Haley Bonar >Mar 14 Lawrence, KS Jackpot Saloon w/ Glory Bee and Rainbow >Mar 15 Oklahoma City the Conservatory w/ Don Caballero and Decibully >Mar 16 Fayetteville, AR - JR's Lightbulb Club w/ Decibully >Mar 18 Austin, TX SXSW The Ritz Lookout! Records showcase >Mar 19 Houston, TX Mary Jane's Fat Cat w/ Pedro the Lion and Ester Drang >Mar 22 Valdosta GA Vito's >Mar 24 Miami, FL Churchill's w/ Septembre and TBA >Mar 26 Mt Pleasant SC Village Tavern w/ the Damnwells and Gingersol >Mar 27 Atlanta the EARL w/ the Hiss and the Close >Mar 28 Chapel Hill Go! w/ Don Caballero >Apr 9 Chicago, IL Schubas w/ the M's and Pilot to Gunner > >*** more south and northeast dates soon. And a west coast tour in late >April and May! > >2. New Record and free mp3! > >The Reputation's second record "to force a fate." will be out April 20 on >Lookout! Records. Go to www.lookoutrecords.com to download a free (and >legal!) mp3. The tracklisting is as follows.... > >1) let this rest >2) bottle rocket battles >3) follow-through time >4) face it >5) the lasting effects >6) march >7) cartography >8) some senseless day >9) the ugliness kicking around >10) bone-tired >****** > >3. Street team > >Yeah, it's a cheesy term - but for lack of a better one, we're going with >it (though "the rumormongers" was suggested by someone on the >groups.yahoo.com/group/thereputation listserve which I thought was pretty >funny).. > >As most of you know, we have a new record coming out on Lookout! on April >20. We're looking for help with two things - promoting the record and >promoting upcoming shows. Basically flyering, checking to see if our >record is in stores, etc. We're still working on what we can do to thank >people for the help but right now we're contemplating releasing some >streetteam-only mp3's, guestlist when we can, and other things like that. > >For now, we're not looking for any commitment. We just want to generate a >list of people who are at least interested in helping out. Then we'll >e-mail you and go from there. Our friend Andrew Mall is going to help us >run it. Any help would be so, sooo appreciated. If you're potentially >interested and would like to get information about it, please e-mail >streetteam@reputationmusic.com . So many of you guys have been great about >helping in the past and we promise we'll do our best to make it >worthwhile! > >In your e-mail, please put "Reputation Street Team" in the subject line, >and in the body, please let us know where you live and what areas or towns >you could potentially flyer in. >****** > >4. Shirts > >Ok, we have a handful of shirts left from the first two sets of Reputation >shirts we ever made. We have very limited quantities and we're about to >make new shirts. We figured we'd offer them to people our on our mailing >list at reduced prices. The thing is, you have to act quickly. We don't >have very many left and we're leaving on tour really soon so we have to >receive checks and ship them off before we leave. Shirts will be $8 >postage included and $15 for two. If you and some friends want to buy a >few, get in touch and we'll see what we can hook you up with. We also have >a _very_ few "elmore" shirts left from my solo tours before the band >started. If you're interested, please e-mail sean@reputationmusic.com and >he'll send you a list of what's available. But you have to act fast b/c we >don't have many left and we'll need checks by the end of next week. > >see you all soon - hope you like the new record.. >xo >the reputation > >Elizabeth Elmore >Northwestern University School of Law, Class of 2004 >(and/or) >The Reputation >elizabeth@reputationmusic.com >www.reputationmusic.com >www.lookoutrecords.com >www.initialrecords.com > >-- >http://www.reputationmusic.com ------------------------------ End of ecto-digest V10 #49 **************************