I know, it is subtle… but important! Working through the methodology I am putting in place using both DiCoDE (strategies) and DIRT (business models) and testing it on the Digital Music ecosystems, I realized my model is not just about distribution of the digital content but increasingly also about its consumption. Communication about this content also, but I’ll come back to it later…
Going through my discussions with Julien from (especially related to our ), mapping the music sector ecosystem, some of my previous foresight on the topic (not yet available online due to technical restrictions) and filling the new DiCoDE model/canvas on the topic for adding it as an example in my book, I realized, just like keeps on saying, that models move from ownership into access to content. Digital Music’s future (as all the buzz about Apple having bought Lala.com, building a server farm and being about to launch a subscription-based iTunes in the cloud service seems to show it) is closer to services like Spotify, Last.FM or Deezer than the current dOWNload model. I still need to tackle the piracy dimension in the model/canvas, as you can see…
Music is not only downloaded to the device but is embedded in an experience that requires much more players working in harmony: the device (and its OS), the browser or playing app, the web service, the connectivity, the content and the aggregation and/or social features. It means that Carriers can hope to enter the game again and that the content provider can upgrade its role from raw material provider to service. Giving more value, and eligible for capturing more value too… I’m working on this Business Model dimension now, based on (and improving) DIRT model. Of course, all feedback is welcome!
as more information, services and media continue moving to the web. The numbers, resulting from a Pew Internet survey of Internet users, skew towards dollars spent on digital music, software and apps, with fewer consumers having spent money on newer content markets, such as e-books, and podcasts. On average, those surveyed are spending $47 per month for digital goods and access to premium web services.
The average monthly spend is affected by extremely high-end users, such as . The Pew research team reports that without these consumers who rely heavily on the web, most purchasers actually spend $10 per month for digital subscriptions, content and access to media behind a paywall. Here’s a rundown on some of the Pew results for spending on digital goods:
33% of internet users have paid for digital music online
33% have paid for software
21% have paid for apps for their cell phones or tablet computers
18% have paid for digital newspaper, magazine, or journal articles or reports
16% have paid for videos, movies, or TV shows
11% have paid for members-only premium content from a website that has other free material on it
10% have paid for e-books
7% have paid for podcasts
5% have paid to access particular websites such as online dating sites or services
2% have paid for adult content
A few thoughts jump out at me from the survey results, the main one being that only 21 percent of surveyed consumers have purchased apps for their cell phones or tablets. Initially, I figured this number would be higher, given growth of the mobile app economy. But two factors are likely at play here. , so free downloads wouldn’t count for this statistic. And second is smartphone ownership: . As a result, smartphone adoption here (which is high compared to other countries) is likely around 30 percent, which would preclude 70 percent from buying apps on their phone.
I’m somewhat surprised by the low number of e-book buyers, however. Digital books for most platforms can be read on a wide array of devices: smartphones, computers, tablets and of course, dedicated e-reader devices. Even though it won’t share sales numbers, (s amzn). Between that news and the cross-platform support for e-book content, I would have expected more spending on e-books from the Pew Internet survey.
Chances are more than good that many of you are familiar with Pandora, the digital music service that suggests songs based on your likes or dislikes. It’s a service that’s free and can be a great way to discover new music. I probably would never have come across ( a power pop artist with a voice that reminds me a bit of tom petty) if it hadn’t been for Pandora’s suggestion. Pandora’s great strength is it’s music search engine that engine that throws new artists at you, but in doing so there are bound to be songs/artists that you can’t stand for a moment (do you hear me Styxx, i’m talking to you. UGH come sail away). And that points out the largest reason why pandora and i parted ways a while ago, because pandora limits the number of songs that you can pass on in a given timeframe.
Which is why I’ve fallen hard for. Go there and play around for a while and then come back. you can listen to my if you’re into that kind of thing.
grooveshark allows you to search for artists, create playlists, and then share them with friends on facebook and twitter.
with all of this great digital music out there and as more people are using their laptops to send music to their stereo systems(i didn’t play a single christmas CD this year, just ran my grooveshark holiday playlist), i’m wondering where library collections of CDs will be in 5 years.
i don’t have any answers, but i’d love to hear your thoughts on this.
posting by jim who will never understand the attraction of Styxx, and doesn’t care who knows it.
We here at Audio Recon had an extraordinary year. Our catalog has grown to over 80 releases from artists all over the United States. We continue to be a prominent force in the ever changing world of digital music and maintain our relevance globally and in our home base of Indianapolis by organizing many exciting live events and releasing music by some of the city’s most acclaimed artists.
This year we took Indianapolis by storm and hosted epic events at some of the best venues in town. In addition to memorable shows like “the NOW School” at the Vogue, our Broad Ripple Music Fest showcase w/ headliner Serengeti, and numerous shows at the historic Melody Inn, we’ve become pretty cozy at . They’ve been gracious enough to allow us to set up shop every Wednesday night for the past 20 weeks. Our weekly Recon Wednesdays have been a succesful experiment combining great performances from top local acts with out of town bands. We hope to continue this in 2011 and bring more touring artists to town.
Audio Recon and our partner labels delivered many great new albums to the digital market place in 2010. Audio Reconnaissance released new albums from , , , , ,, and . Invisible Inc Multimedia delivered new releases from and . Pattern Hungry Records released albums from , , , and . Wormusic dropped a dope new EP from as well.
Id Obelus and Ace Ha released our first ever maxi-single in 2010 entitled, . The song was licensed to TAG Games for use on the hit rhythm action video game, (TAG Games/Mobile Pie) for iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad.
In addition to the above releases dropping on itunes, amazon, and every other major vendor of digital downloads, we also launched our as a one stop place to get FREE releases from us. This year we brought to you, ““. Our first compilation, a tribute to J.D. Salinger packed full of progressive hip hop tracks from artists on our rosters and beyond which featured appearances from underground favorites such as 2Mex, Neila, Staplemouth, and Nomar Slevik among others. We also brought you free releases from , , (wormusic), (pattern hungry records), re-releases from the and president E. Brown’s , plus singles from and wormusic’s .
This year we also teamed up with independent label, to create , a free EP to celebrate the release of Jookabox’s which showcased our artists’ interpretations of songs from the album.
In addition to everything else, this past year we started renting a studio in the Murphy Art Building in Fountain Square which we share with our partners at Pattern Hungry Records.
We have big plans to continue evolving on into the new year with new artists set to join our roster plus a few new team members to help with the business side of things as we continue to grow. Please come out and party with us this Wednesday @ Local’s Only as we present our 3rd annual celebrating another great year of independent music. Thanks so much to all of our artists and supporters! It’s been an awesome year… let’s keep building in 2011!
Special Thanks to these friends and contributors; Michael Kaufman at Asthmatic Kitty, Dan Farhner of BRMF and Transpanther, Kyle Long & Cultural Cannibals, Dave & Kevin at LOMAP, Gibson Thorn of Street leaves, Musical Family Tree, Nathan Monk Art, Aaron Coleman, Four See Entertainment, Spitten Writtens, Eratic & Mr. Kinetik, Dave at The Melody Inn, Matt Schwegman at The Vogue, The Murphy Art Center, DJ Deadrisk, and Big Car.
“Imagine a room where music is produced by touching the wall or the floor…” , an open-source project exploring new interfaces for digital music, creates new pathways to musical expression and creativity. Check out the video playlist on the homepage, which gives an overview of EAMIR’s featured projects.
Welcome to the exclusive pre-release of the Drum and Bass double EP, courtesy of out of Cape Town, South Africa.
The EP’s, named “Joy” and “Lost” both have two tracks, featuring vocals by Sindy Dondolo and Crosby, as well as some ferocious work on the guitars by Bosko Popovac. You can and pick up or both for a discounted R30( little under $4.50).
Here’s a track, I believe from Mix n Blend’s debut album, that you can find a free download of on , along with a lot more sick music:
Mix n Blend meet Fletcher – Shall We Swing [Liver Remix]
Make sure you sign up to to get all kinds of free dope music. Today we got a free download of a sick new EP called “Honey Beats.” It was commissioned and compiled by the cogs of Dopeness herself, Honey B. It features two tracks by Sibot, one featuring Xspand, a remix of a Mix n Blend & Fletcher track by Kalahari Surfers, and a track each from Jam Jarr and Dank. It’s pretty dank.
I’m not sure if I should do this, but here’s a track from the “Honey Beats” EP by that will hopefully persuade you to , because they’re really that sick. And for $4.50, I might even buy 2..enjoy:
Mix n Blend & Fletcher – Shall We Swing (Kalahari Surfers Swinging In The Rain Remix)
Welcome to the exclusive pre-release of the Drum and Bass double EP, courtesy of out of Cape Town, South Africa.
The EP’s, named “Joy” and “Lost” both have two tracks, featuring vocals by Sindy Dondolo and Crosby, as well as some ferocious work on the guitars by Bosko Popovac. You can and pick up or both for a discounted R30( little under $4.50).
Here’s a track, I believe from Mix n Blend’s debut album, that you can find a free download of on , along with a lot more sick music:
Mix n Blend meet Fletcher – Shall We Swing [Liver Remix]
Make sure you sign up to to get all kinds of free dope music. Today we got a free download of a sick new EP called “Honey Beats.” It was commissioned and compiled by the cogs of Dopeness herself, Honey B. It features two tracks by Sibot, one featuring Xspand, a remix of a Mix n Blend & Fletcher track by Kalahari Surfers, and a track each from Jam Jarr and Dank. It’s pretty dank.
I’m not sure if I should do this, but here’s a track from the “Honey Beats” EP by that will hopefully persuade you to , because they’re really that sick. And for $4.50, I might even buy 2..enjoy:
Mix n Blend & Fletcher – Shall We Swing (Kalahari Surfers Swinging In The Rain Remix)
It may not yet be a Christmas tradition to gather the family around the iPod, but here are the most downloaded holiday hits of all time, according Nielsen SoundScan! Can you guess #1? Let the countdown begin and see if you’re right!
#10
“White Christmas” by Bing Crosby
From the 1942 movie Holiday Inn, Irving Berlin won an Oscar for Best Song with this classic!
It may not yet be a Christmas tradition to gather the family around the iPod, but here are the most downloaded holiday hits of all time, according Nielsen SoundScan! Can you guess #1? Let’s begin the countdown!
#10
“White Christmas” by Bing Crosby
From the 1942 movie Holiday Inn, Irving Berlin won an Oscar for Best Song with this classic!
