Best Creative Brief Ever
Just a wonderful letter from Mick Jagger to Andy Warhol about the design of a Rolling Stone’s album cover. Got to love the total of the creative input includes, “do whatever you want and let me know how much to pay you.”
[Found via Letters of Note]
iTunes Now 3rd Largest US Music Retailer
NPD Group Music Watch has just released a report that highlights for the first quarter of 2007, covering both physical and downloadable music, Apple’s iTunes is now the third-largest US music retailer. During the quarter iTunes had a 9.8 percent market share. Wal-Mart remains the nation
News Flash: People Really Like iPods
Well it has been mentioned on just about every tech blog and tech site all across the net. Apple has shipped its 100 millionth iPod. Pretty amazing since it was done in just over 5 years. Since its November 2001 launch, Apple has introduced more than 10 new models that went from just playing music to the ability to record and play videos, hold photos, and with more varied colors, styles, and pricing.
Couple this with the fact Apple’s iTunes music store has sold more than 2.5 billion songs, 50 million television shows, and more than 1.3 million movies that is a lot of revenue. Not to mention synergy. I don’t think Job’s is the business god that some think he is, but gosh this is nothing short of amazing.
Apple rolls out iTunes 5
Along with the iPod Nano and iTunes Phone (aka the Moto ROKR E1), Apple also launched iTunes 5.0 yesterday. The new version of the iTunes includes a handful of updates, including the ability to sync with the iTunes Phone, and also features a revised user interface (Apple calls it "streamlined"). If you are using WinAmp or another MP3 player you ought to give iTunes a spin.
iTunes vs. Music Industry
Let me see if I have this right. Less then three years ago no music executive could figure out how to make a profit selling digital music online. Then along came Apple and half a billion downloads and a 75 percent market share later, one company showed an entire industry what is possible.
Now comes more news reports that several major labels want to rework their contracts to move away from the .99 cent pricing model.
Basically, they want to charge more for new or popular music. Hey Sony and Warner, how much money is enough? Apple built iTunes and the music store. They put millions behind it in advertising, and they sold the heck out of your product. You music executive cry 24/7 about people downloading your music for free. Ever think your business strategies (not to mention quality of content) might be a root cause?
The Musical Baton
I have not felt this "unhip" since my high school days, which are farther in the past then I care to admit. Heck, it seems I might be one of the only people in the blogsphere not to get passed the musical baton. But Gene dropped his and I’ve picked it up and I’m running with it.
Total volume of music on my computer:
11.10 GB. 2,406 songs. 8.7 days. 95 percent of my music is ripped from CDs. The other 5 percent is equal parts PodCasts and downloads from Furthur.
The last CD I bought:
- The Outernational Sound, Thievery Corporation
Song playing right now:
- Bob Rules, Keller Williams
Five songs I listen to a lot, or that mean a lot to me:
- Rakim, Dead Can Dance
- Three Little Birds, Bob Marley
- Emily, Los Lobos
- Volare, Gispy Kings
- About to Make Me Leave Home, David Lindley & Hani Naser
Five songs I’m happy I rediscovered while doing this:
- Walkin’ After Midnight, Madeleine Peyroux
- You Look Like Rain, Morphine
- Down By the River, Neil Young
- Love Will Tear Us Apart, Joy Division
- Where Did You Sleep Last Night, Nirvana
Well I’m supposed to pass this baton to five more people, but I don’t know five people with blogs that have not already participated. So I’ll just drop it and you can do with it what you want.
