http://www.macrumors.com/2011/05/18/apple-signs-emi-cloud-music-deals-almost-done/

“They rob Americans of jobs and their innovative ideas; fuel organized crime; and create a serious public-safety risk to consumers.”

Many of the seized domains belonged to hip-hop blogs.  These blogs were receiving intentionally leaked mp3s from the record labels, managers, and artists.  The RIAA has been fighting to eliminate sites that offer leaked audio files but many argue that this practice is a vital marketing tool for the artists and labels.

I can definitely see why the RIAA stands where it does on this subject matter.  However, this is a new generation of the music business and something needs to be down about this.  For example, how can you shut down these blogs for infringing upon copyrights when the rights holder’s are the ones intentionally sending the leaks?  In the past two years, I have learned how blogs have crucially helped to promote music whether legit or illegally.  All the blogs are doing is adding extra promo to the record releases.  If the labels and artists didn’t want them to have the leaks then that’s a different story.  For the most part, many of these leaks are purposely sent to the blogs to create hype and buzz for the release.

http://www.musicdish.com/mag/index.php3?id=12915

-John Bassmaji

Follow @JohnB_MillerSt

As these companies are benefit from music piracy, their attempts to take action against music piracy includes feeble if non-existent efforts to take-down infringing content. In the midst all of this, copyright Owners have a large amount of work to not only prove their ownership but also to issue take-down notices whilst Service Providers seek sophisticated ways to perpetuate music piracy, most commonly abusing Safe Harbour Laws and using their technology platforms as a cover to facilitate users’ uploading of copyrighted content. In fact, Service Providers including music Search Engines themselves get into the act and simply upload the copyrighted content whilst conveniently blaming their users.

They are idiots.  Go steal all their music.

That is all.

Tom Hollingsworth

Enjoy,

The Teach

Retailers are using more and more online videos to market their products.  Videos are now the third most prevalent online marketing feature for retailers, behind only customer ratings and reviews and alternative product images.  This touches directly on Web 2.0 strategies covered in this course.  New reports suggest that 73% of ecommerce sites use video to market their products (as of Q4 2010).  This is a huge jump from the 55% of sites using this strategy in 2009.

These videos are typically created by the retailer themselves or by product manufacturers.  Additionally, these clips are also being posted to social media sites like Facebook and YouTube.  Clearly retailers are trying to tap into the colossal number of people viewing videos online on a regular basis.

A further strategy that retailers might want to pursue (and some already do) is to host user generated video reviews/descriptions/tutorials on their product pages.  This will foster community, engagement, and perhaps increased interest and excitement about products.

Tom Hollingsworth

http://mediamemo.allthingsd.com/20110509/google-launching-its-cloud-service-tomorrow-without-big-musics-approval/

http://www.truthdig.com/arts_culture/item/google_to_launch_music_service_despite_industry_resistance_20110510/

Google’s cloud music player is live as of today.  Users can request a beta testing invite (see the first link above!).  Word is that google failed to negotiate a deal with any of the major record labels.  The service will mirror Amazon’s cloud music player that launched earlier this year.  The service allows users to upload copies of songs they already own into the cloud to be streamed.  Users can access their cloud storage via the website or compatible android device.  The limit is 20,000 songs for free, which is much larger than Amazon’s capacity.  Google is reportedly disappointed by the major labors resistance to the concept.  One Google exec was quoted as saying that the majors are, “less focused on the innovative vision that we put forward, and more interested in an unreasonable and unsustainable set of business terms.”

Sounds like a typical major label response to me.

Tom Hollingsworth

http://www.computerandvideogames.com/300744/news/playstation-network-hack-down-time-may-cost-sony-billions/

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703864204576314893481499216.html

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/playstation-breach-has-activision-ceo-186866

Sony’s security incompetence could end up costing them billions, as well as costing partners like video game developer Activision.  Last month Sony’s Playstation Network, Qriocity, and Sony Online Entertainment networks were hacked.  The attack led to the over 75 million users personal information to be compromised, including contact and credit card information.  The networks are still down as Sony struggles to figure out what happened. Outrage is starting to boil over as official word from Sony on their progress is slow to develop.  They have not had an official update on the status of PSN since May 5^th, after initially saying that the network would be back up sometime around the week of May 2^nd.  Analysts now believe that the network won’t be fully back online until at least May 31^st, over a month since the attack took place.

Sony is said to be mulling several ways to make up this disaster to their customers.  They will provide free identity theft insurance policies to their customers.  They may also provide free products or services to their customers.

I JUST WANT MY BLACK OPS

Tom Hollingsworth

http://torrentfreak.com/the-pirate-bay-returns-with-guns-blazing-090825/

Piracy affects not just the music industry but all media, software, and entertainment industries.  The Pirate Bay is the largest and most well known bit torrent search engine and tracker in the world, and also the most openly defiant.  They have come under attack numerous times and lost numerous legal battles yet still remain online and going strong.  This week they were shut down briefly before they enacted a backup plan that has been in place for years and put into motion for the first time.  After they were shut down they were back up with limited functionality within hours and full service within a day.  Along with the site’s reappearance they posted a defiant statement adapted from a famous Winston Churchill speech.  Here is the post:

We have, ourselves, full confidence that if all do their duty, if nothing is neglected, and if the best arrangements are made, as they are being made, we shall prove ourselves once more able to defend our Internets, to ride out the storm of war, and to outlive the menace of tyranny, if necessary for years, if necessary alone.

Even though large parts of Internets and many old and famous trackers have fallen or may fall into the grip of the Ifpi and all the odious apparatus of MPAA rule, we shall not flag or fail. We shall go on to the end, we shall fight in France, we shall fight on the ef-nets and darknets, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our Internets, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the baywords.org, we shall fight on the /. and on the digg, we shall fight in the courts; we shall never surrender, and if, which I do not for a moment believe, the Internets or a large part of it were subjugated and starving, then our Empire beyond the seas, armed and guarded by the Anon Fleet, would carry on the struggle, until, in Cerf’s good time, the New World, with all its power and might, steps forth to the rescue and the liberation of the old.

Signed;

The Pirate Bay Crew – Now until needed.

Clearly they intend to be around for a long time providing illegal services to those who desire them.  Good news for pirates, bad news for those opposing them.

Tom Hollingsworth