Artists First – a small revolution in music file distribution

Linking the many to many, passionate fans etc. Is something that Tomi and I passionately believe in. And that also today businesses are required to rethink how they go to market otherwise they face outside players coming into their once stable industries and significantly disrupting them. For example, Skype vs. BT or the mobile operators, Amazon vs. WH Smith etc.

I said as much in a recent opinion piece in NMA this week.

In the same edition of the paper Peggy Anne Salz, writes a main feature entitled doing it yourself Peggy mentions an interesting business called Artists First.

Peggy explains

Artists First, a UK based firm of muscians-turned-technicians that enables artists to create, package and sell their content directly to mobile users and collect payment via reverse SMS. After launching in March, the service is live in over 25 countries.

The company is also working on a peer-to-peer application and developing a range of content-creation tools that will allow artists to rip a snippet of their content and deliver it as a realtone (ringtone?).

The CEO Mark Bjornsgaard says

Its all about empowering artists to communicate directly with their mobile audiences, limiting the role of the middleman who could get in the way of that exchange and generating revenue streams from a whole range of income streams over and above the music.

But its not just music, video, pics, info can be made accessible. Artists First seem genuine and passionate about what they are doing. I wonder what the record labels think?

We have already mentioned the influential pitchforkmedia site that also is doing very well reviewing bands.

Apparently there are already 1000 bands using the service with 30 new bands joining every day.

The times are certainly a-changin’

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Posted in: Web/Tech

65% of Readers believe magazines sell editorial plugs

While marketers are pushing for print's answer to product placement, it turns out that most magazine readers already consider it rampant.
A study released yesterday by Starcom USA found that 65% of the consumers believe that advertisers pay for editorial mentions.

Warning for editors
"This study is not a permission slip," said Brenda White, director-print investment at Starcom Worldwide. "It's a warning." If readers already believe editorial content is for sale, she said, publishers who push the needle further could jeopardize what reader trust they have.

Via Adage

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Posted in: Advertising, Darwin, Ethics, Marketing, Media

The Go Team… Go

I was reading a review of the band Go Team at Pitchforkmedia having read an article about them in a newspaper.
and this excerpt caught my attention

These wondrous abilities are what had me dreading the American reissue of the Go! Team's excellent debut Thunder, Lightning, Strike. If you haven't heard the backstory, this lawyer-stuffed country made it difficult for the Go! Team to clear the original album's samples for domestic release, forcing the band to slightly tweak the material in order to purge the recordings of legal pitfalls. In addition, the record was reportedly given a gift certificate to the remastering day spa, a process with the potential to thoughtlessly drain some of the group's messy, homemade charm in the name of fidelity. With an album that's been widely available for over a year, even the smallest changes could prove annoyingly distracting to those who've been with the Go! Team from their blog-hype birth.

Bloghype birth – I like that. So I went and did a little "searching" and sure enough this young band have quite a bit published about them online.
On Friday I blogged about a Guardian/ICM report about teens between 14 – 21 who lives are being shaped by the internet, mobile phones and the IPod.
So its not surprising that The Go Team have built their success as much online as they have by playing live. Radiohead if I remember correctly succeeded in America by releasing for free, KidA and Amensiac online on two fansites before they headed over the Atlantic.
Don't stick your ad in a music magazine – get online and go and find your community of fans. There is one out there somewhere.
My 16 year old daughter was online this weekend tracking down tickets on ebay for a band she is currently nuts about. She found them and is now hoping I am going to listen to some hardcore EMO at the Meanfiddler in London in the very near future.
Build it and they will come. But you don't need millions but a mobile connected passionate fanbase.
Rock on.

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Posted in: Convergence, Culture, Engagement Marketing, Generation C, Media, Networks, Participation, Philosophy, Social Networks, Society, Trends, Web/Tech

Intel? Digital Communities Initiative

Intel is leading a diverse group of high-tech companies to help 13 “pilot” communities design, develop and deploy comprehensive solutions and services to enhance government efficiency, promote economic growth, foster greater community satisfaction and bridge the digital divide. The applications range from automating mobile workers such as meter readers and building inspectors, to increasing the safety and enhancing resource management of first responders by remotely monitoring vehicle location, to enhancing parent-teacher collaboration for improved student success.

Intel say that The Intel? Digital Communities Initiative brings together technology leaders and progressive cities worldwide to plan and deploy advanced digital services for communities. These services transform the way Digital Communities live, work, and play via a solutions framework that includes wireless broadband connectivity, core computing technologies, and interoperable applications.

Digital Communities Worldwide The Digital Communities pilots span major geographies including the Americas, Europe and Asia Pacific. Participating cities include Cleveland, Ohio; Corpus Christi, Texas; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and Portland, Ore. in the United States, along with Mangaratiba, Brazil; Dusseldorf, Germany; Gyor, Hungary; Jerusalem, Israel; Principality of Monaco; Seoul, South Korea; Osaka, Japan; Taipei, Taiwan; and Westminster, United Kingdom.

Intel have made a smart move by offering government a cost effective way of linking people, knowledge and collateral for the 21st Century. Though, in the US we know that big business has been trying to stop local cities from developing its own broadband infrastructure claiming that it will in the future harm its future profits.

No wonder those big-business hyper-commercial big-dollar boys are having convulsions and attacking Dinah Neff Chief Information Officer at Philadelphia City Hall in her quest to do the right thing. Her desire is to make sure that as we move inexorably towards a digital world – certain groups of people are not left in the prehistoric analogue one

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Posted in: Web/Tech

Intel? Digital Communities Initiative

Intel is leading a diverse group of high-tech companies to help 13 “pilot” communities design, develop and deploy comprehensive solutions and services to enhance government efficiency, promote economic growth, foster greater community satisfaction and bridge the digital divide. The applications range from automating mobile workers such as meter readers and building inspectors, to increasing the safety and enhancing resource management of first responders by remotely monitoring vehicle location, to enhancing parent-teacher collaboration for improved student success.

Intel say that The Intel? Digital Communities Initiative brings together technology leaders and progressive cities worldwide to plan and deploy advanced digital services for communities. These services transform the way Digital Communities live, work, and play via a solutions framework that includes wireless broadband connectivity, core computing technologies, and interoperable applications.

Digital Communities Worldwide The Digital Communities pilots span major geographies including the Americas, Europe and Asia Pacific. Participating cities include Cleveland, Ohio; Corpus Christi, Texas; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and Portland, Ore. in the United States, along with Mangaratiba, Brazil; Dusseldorf, Germany; Gyor, Hungary; Jerusalem, Israel; Principality of Monaco; Seoul, South Korea; Osaka, Japan; Taipei, Taiwan; and Westminster, United Kingdom.

Intel have made a smart move by offering government a cost effective way of linking people, knowledge and collateral for the 21st Century. Though, in the US we know that big business has been trying to stop local cities from developing its own broadband infrastructure claiming that it will in the future harm its future profits.

No wonder those big-business hyper-commercial big-dollar boys are having convulsions and attacking Dinah Neff Chief Information Officer at Philadelphia City Hall in her quest to do the right thing. Her desire is to make sure that as we move inexorably towards a digital world – certain groups of people are not left in the prehistoric analogue one

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Posted in: Web/Tech

Intel? Digital Communities Initiative

Intel is leading a diverse group of high-tech companies to help 13 “pilot” communities design, develop and deploy comprehensive solutions and services to enhance government efficiency, promote economic growth, foster greater community satisfaction and bridge the digital divide. The applications range from automating mobile workers such as meter readers and building inspectors, to increasing the safety and enhancing resource management of first responders by remotely monitoring vehicle location, to enhancing parent-teacher collaboration for improved student success.

Intel say that The Intel? Digital Communities Initiative brings together technology leaders and progressive cities worldwide to plan and deploy advanced digital services for communities. These services transform the way Digital Communities live, work, and play via a solutions framework that includes wireless broadband connectivity, core computing technologies, and interoperable applications.

Digital Communities Worldwide The Digital Communities pilots span major geographies including the Americas, Europe and Asia Pacific. Participating cities include Cleveland, Ohio; Corpus Christi, Texas; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and Portland, Ore. in the United States, along with Mangaratiba, Brazil; Dusseldorf, Germany; Gyor, Hungary; Jerusalem, Israel; Principality of Monaco; Seoul, South Korea; Osaka, Japan; Taipei, Taiwan; and Westminster, United Kingdom.

Intel have made a smart move by offering government a cost effective way of linking people, knowledge and collateral for the 21st Century. Though, in the US we know that big business has been trying to stop local cities from developing its own broadband infrastructure claiming that it will in the future harm its future profits.

No wonder those big-business hyper-commercial big-dollar boys are having convulsions and attacking Dinah Neff Chief Information Officer at Philadelphia City Hall in her quest to do the right thing. Her desire is to make sure that as we move inexorably towards a digital world – certain groups of people are not left in the prehistoric analogue one

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Generation “C”ers growing up on digital technology

wow, what an interesting report by the Guradian and ICM

In their piece published today Young blog their way to a publishing revolution

The opening salvo goes like this

Millions of young people who have grown up with the internet and mobile phones are no longer content with the one-way traffic of traditional media and are publishing and aggregating their own content, according to the exclusive survey of those aged between 14 and 21.

A generation has grown up using the internet as its primary means of communication, thanks to an early grasp of online communities and messaging services as well as simple technology allowing web users to launch a personal weblog, or blog, without any specialist technical knowledge. On average, people between 14 and 21 spend almost eight hours a week online, but it is far from a solitary activity. There are signs of a significant generation gap, and rather than using the internet as their parents do – as an information source, to shop or to read newspapers online – most young people are using it to communicate with one another.

Then next bit really echoes with one of our theories in the book that of Gen “C” or the Community Generation

This trend towards online communication has already manifested itself among music fans, with enthusiastic new communities forming around the latest bands often before they have even released a single or been heard on the radio. According to the survey, those aged between 14 and 21 download an average of 34 tracks a month from the internet and buy an average of two CDs. Of those with internet access at home, almost eight in 10 have a broadband connection. The explosion in cheaper high-speed internet access, which allows quicker access to music and video files and is typically charged at a flat monthly rate, has led to an upsurge in the time web users spend online.

The media regulator Ofcom said this year that more than 8m households are now connected to broadband

Other interesting stats are that 31% of 14-21 year olds have their own blog or website.

Interestingly the report supports the claims in our book that in our view media consumptiion has radically changed. Even Rupert Murdoch has woken up this fact and is something we reported on earlier this year.

Even old crusty Michael Howard at the Tory Party Conference yesterday said of these young Generation “C”ers that

Their youth has been shaped by the internet and the iPod, by cheap flights and mobile phones

And finally in a co-joining article in the Guardian, Gen “C” poses a real challenge for the BBC as they try hard to re-capture and younger generations interest in old Auntie.

The results suggest that for the first time in its 83-year history, the BBC risks losing the close relationship with viewers and listeners on which it relies to maintain public support for the licence fee.

Though to be fair its not all bad news as the article points out.

But I guess Tomi and I need to give a big thank you to the Guardian and ICM for providing us with credible data to support our research and theories put forward in our book.

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Posted in: Web/Tech

Generation “C”ers growing up on digital technology

wow, what an interesting report by the Guradian and ICM

In their piece published today Young blog their way to a publishing revolution

The opening salvo goes like this

Millions of young people who have grown up with the internet and mobile phones are no longer content with the one-way traffic of traditional media and are publishing and aggregating their own content, according to the exclusive survey of those aged between 14 and 21.

A generation has grown up using the internet as its primary means of communication, thanks to an early grasp of online communities and messaging services as well as simple technology allowing web users to launch a personal weblog, or blog, without any specialist technical knowledge. On average, people between 14 and 21 spend almost eight hours a week online, but it is far from a solitary activity. There are signs of a significant generation gap, and rather than using the internet as their parents do – as an information source, to shop or to read newspapers online – most young people are using it to communicate with one another.

Then next bit really echoes with one of our theories in the book that of Gen “C” or the Community Generation

This trend towards online communication has already manifested itself among music fans, with enthusiastic new communities forming around the latest bands often before they have even released a single or been heard on the radio. According to the survey, those aged between 14 and 21 download an average of 34 tracks a month from the internet and buy an average of two CDs. Of those with internet access at home, almost eight in 10 have a broadband connection. The explosion in cheaper high-speed internet access, which allows quicker access to music and video files and is typically charged at a flat monthly rate, has led to an upsurge in the time web users spend online.

The media regulator Ofcom said this year that more than 8m households are now connected to broadband

Other interesting stats are that 31% of 14-21 year olds have their own blog or website.

Interestingly the report supports the claims in our book that in our view media consumptiion has radically changed. Even Rupert Murdoch has woken up this fact and is something we reported on earlier this year.

Even old crusty Michael Howard at the Tory Party Conference yesterday said of these young Generation “C”ers that

Their youth has been shaped by the internet and the iPod, by cheap flights and mobile phones

And finally in a co-joining article in the Guardian, Gen “C” poses a real challenge for the BBC as they try hard to re-capture and younger generations interest in old Auntie.

The results suggest that for the first time in its 83-year history, the BBC risks losing the close relationship with viewers and listeners on which it relies to maintain public support for the licence fee.

Though to be fair its not all bad news as the article points out.

But I guess Tomi and I need to give a big thank you to the Guardian and ICM for providing us with credible data to support our research and theories put forward in our book.

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Posted in: Web/Tech

Generation “C”ers growing up on digital technology

wow, what an interesting report by the Guradian and ICM

In their piece published today Young blog their way to a publishing revolution

The opening salvo goes like this

Millions of young people who have grown up with the internet and mobile phones are no longer content with the one-way traffic of traditional media and are publishing and aggregating their own content, according to the exclusive survey of those aged between 14 and 21.

A generation has grown up using the internet as its primary means of communication, thanks to an early grasp of online communities and messaging services as well as simple technology allowing web users to launch a personal weblog, or blog, without any specialist technical knowledge. On average, people between 14 and 21 spend almost eight hours a week online, but it is far from a solitary activity. There are signs of a significant generation gap, and rather than using the internet as their parents do – as an information source, to shop or to read newspapers online – most young people are using it to communicate with one another.

Then next bit really echoes with one of our theories in the book that of Gen “C” or the Community Generation

This trend towards online communication has already manifested itself among music fans, with enthusiastic new communities forming around the latest bands often before they have even released a single or been heard on the radio. According to the survey, those aged between 14 and 21 download an average of 34 tracks a month from the internet and buy an average of two CDs. Of those with internet access at home, almost eight in 10 have a broadband connection. The explosion in cheaper high-speed internet access, which allows quicker access to music and video files and is typically charged at a flat monthly rate, has led to an upsurge in the time web users spend online.

The media regulator Ofcom said this year that more than 8m households are now connected to broadband

Other interesting stats are that 31% of 14-21 year olds have their own blog or website.

Interestingly the report supports the claims in our book that in our view media consumptiion has radically changed. Even Rupert Murdoch has woken up this fact and is something we reported on earlier this year.

Even old crusty Michael Howard at the Tory Party Conference yesterday said of these young Generation “C”ers that

Their youth has been shaped by the internet and the iPod, by cheap flights and mobile phones

And finally in a co-joining article in the Guardian, Gen “C” poses a real challenge for the BBC as they try hard to re-capture and younger generations interest in old Auntie.

The results suggest that for the first time in its 83-year history, the BBC risks losing the close relationship with viewers and listeners on which it relies to maintain public support for the licence fee.

Though to be fair its not all bad news as the article points out.

But I guess Tomi and I need to give a big thank you to the Guardian and ICM for providing us with credible data to support our research and theories put forward in our book.

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Posted in: Web/Tech

Ex-Freeserve boss delivers a stark message as viewers switch to new technology

TV is under threat like never before, as viewer behaviour changes Accept it, [remould] your business to suit, or die on your arse.

said John Pluthero to a Royal Television Society audience recently.
Pluthero went on to point out

the justification for this pronouncement is the rapid pace of technological change, which is fragmenting audiences and threatening broadcasters' business models. Digital TV means hundreds of new channels and lower viewing figures for the old terrestrial players.
The days of 10 million or more people crowding around their TV sets programme are drawing to a close, along with the huge premiums advertisers were prepared to pay to reach this captive audience.
Personal video recorders (PVRs), including Sky Plus, enable viewers to fast-forward through ads, and 3G mobile phones are becoming mini-TVs – 35 per cent of 3's revenues are now generated by non-voice services. Perhaps most frighteningly of all, broadband internet access means that viewers can download content online. You no longer need a TV set to watch programmes.

Media consultancy Spectrum Strategy estimates that the money generated by traditional TV advertising could fall by ?248m by 2012. Though growth is predicted by Pay TV.
But the reality is that the commercial model is under threat as we pointed out in our report The Broadcast Casino Co-authored by John Nolan of North One Television and a visionary in the role of broadcast media in a converged world.
Pluthero believes the last time TV innovated was 50 years ago with the soap opera, though does not Pop Idol, Big Brother,and Restoration get a look in?
When we were talking to Discovery Channel a few years ago I said to them, if you stop thinking about yourselves as a broadcaster and think in terms of being distributors of content with other non-traditional partners. where could that take your brand and business model. I believe my point still stands.

Closer relationships with advertisers and broadcasters will be fraught with regulation issues, and OfCom are wisely watching this space very closely.
But like all these things, if one approaches the problem with an open mind and a willingness to engage in ways of doing business differently, it can be better and it doesn't need to cost the earth.
And at SMLXL we are always looking for partners that are willing to do both.

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Posted in: Advertising, Broadcast, Convergence, Darwin, Distribution, Economics, Film, iPTV, Marketing, Media, Trends, Web/Tech