Gerd Leonhard's Blog on The Future of Music, Media & Entertainment

why I love Gmail

I have to admit: I LOVE Gmail. It rocks. I does everything I want email to do, and then some. finally, the search is over. for now ;).   Of course, I have a long wish-list that they could address.... but they probably will (such as having the choice to use various signatures, not just one). But:  It always works. It is intuitive. It is changing the way I work with email - puts me in charge of it, rather than vice versa. I send all my e-mail via gmail now, and back it up with Thunderbird using gmail's pop3. The best of both worlds. The ads?  Don't bother me - in fact, I find some downright useful --- even clicked on a few of them, lately!.  Gmail is IT. period. imho

Nokia and Microsoft --- huge deal

surprise surprise.... this is big news. I will blog more on this later

Thedeal.com: Battle hymns of Digital Music

An interesting feature in Thedeal.com, using some soundbites provided by Dave Kusek and myself (as co-authors of the Future of Music book); a good summary / snap shot of the current status pf digital music. A Download thedeal.com on digital music Leonhard Kusek Feb 14 2005.pdf (just in case this page goes away...:).

Digital Natives...?

know the feeling?

The Art of Digital Music - Kelli Richards

This is a 'must-have' book by my longtime colleague Kelli Richards. " Exploring the music and techniques of world-class artists, Backbeat Books¹ "The Art of Digital Music" www.artofdigitalmusic.com") shows firsthand how the top creative minds in music use digital technology in their work and provides invaluable advice for musicmakers of all levels. Through a dynamic blend of practical production tips, inspiring case studies, and extensive graphics, authors David Battino and Kelli Richards detail the creative freedom today¹s digital tools afford. In in-depth
interviews with the digital music pioneers, legends, and current hitmakers‹artists, producers, and visionaries such as Alan Parsons, Steve Reich, Don Was, BT, Chuck D, Jimmy Jam, and Bob Rock‹the authors cover everything from studio setup tips and sampling to incorporating synths and
using distortion, and they provide a fascinating look at the future of digital music. The accompanying DVD features sound bites from all 56 interviews; actual music such as exclusive live recordings, unreleased demos, and out-of-print classics; performance videos; interactive Flash movies; royalty-free samples by the artists; behind-the-scenes photos; extensive Web links, and more. "The Art of Digital Music" is a must-have for musicians who use technology to make music and for fans who want to understand how technology is changing the way music is created, experienced, and shared"

Order it at Amazon - it's worth it!

Napster versus Replay Music

Napster versus ReplayMusic

An interesting scenario has recently emerged: while the new Napster allows you to download as many tracks as you want, and listen to them on your PC, and now, with Napster To Go, on any compatible devise, anytime you want [as long as you keep subscribing], the new Replay Music boasts that it can take all these supposedly secured WMA files and re-encode them into MP3s that you can own 'free and clear'. 

This is from their website: "Replay Music captures MP3 files from both subscription music services and online radio stations. Every song is saved on your PC as a high quality MP3 file, automatically tagged with the artist, song title, album and genre, and perfectly separated into individual tracks. You can even burn songs directly to CDs. Plus, it's incredibly easy to use. What a great way to discover new music!  What's Different about Replay Music? Unlike other recorders which just work with a few ShoutCast stations, Replay Music is the only product that works with both high quality online radio stations and popular subscription music services...."

Wow! I had people telling me that it works perfectly - as advertised ;) -, turning all subscription services and even webcasters and online radio stations into ... you guessed it, open celestial jukeboxes. MyMp3.com anyone?   Now, you may argue, who would bother?  Well, I checked on various use groups and blogs - and a LOT of people do this now, in increasing numbers. In fact, it is becoming a bit of an alternative to p2p filesharing, and the web flows over with 'how-to' manuals on this stuff. Check out this dialog  Now, the Replay Music people sell it for $50 - and there isn't much that can be done to stop these kinds of software programs, since they are not per se infringing, imho. After all, ProTools and Cool Edit and Sound Forge are recording tools, as well, and can be used for this purpose (albeit less conveniently so). And of course, Window's own RECORDER does the job just fine.

Right or wrong?  Legitimate or illegal?  Unfair?  Let me hear your comments --- this is a hot subject.

From Music Tank UK: Pew study facts

A good summary from Music Tank
A recent Pew Internet survey of artists and musicians in the US has revealed that a large majority have embraced the Internet and consider it to be a helpful tool to their careers.
+ 32 million Americans consider themselves artists and about 10 million of   them get some kind of compensation for their creations and performances; + American artists have embraced the Internet as a creative and inspiration-  enhancing workspace where they can communicate, collaborate, and promote their work;  + Artists are divided, but not deeply concerned about the file sharing that happens online; + They want control over their creations, but most do not say Internet piracy  is a big threat; + Artists think unauthorized peer-to-peer file sharing should be illegal, and most would go after the companies, rather than individual file-sharers; + Online artists are also active consumers of media content online. But those who download files say if they get content for free, they usually support the
artist or author in other ways.  [Source: Mary Madden, Artists, Musicians and the Internet. Pew Internet & American Life Project, December 5, 2004]

More on the Napster vs ITunes debate

here.  Well, as for me, I just gave an IPod to my fiancee, and bought myself a ZEN MICRO. Always have it both ways?

ok ok I will not send you a lot of junk if you do this

promise!  Sign up for my mailing list here

Napster to go launches - The Registe UK slams it

I just published a rebuttal to this UK Register piece on Napster To Go - check it out at the Future of Music book blog.  " The Register (UK) usually has some very smart and informative views on digital media trends, but this one falls short, and pervasively so: it claims that Napster will train-wrack with their new Napster To Go service and that $30 Million ad campaign, because... people still want to OWN their music. This incited me to post a rebuttal to Ashlee Vance, the writer of this piece... so here it goes. *Do read the whole thing... but here he says: "The big difference here is that after the three years are up, Consumer B [that's the Ipod Tunes fan *GL] has something to show for his investment. He still owns the music. If the Napster customer stops paying for the service, his music is all gone. He's paying $179 per year to rent music...." The thing that is missing here is that people will STILL and IN ADDITION buy downloads, CDs, DVDs... and maybe even pre-loaded memory sticks and hard-drives, AND they will subscribe to a 'renting' service like Napster. Because they are different , and they provide diffferent values for different people. The great thing about Napster-to-go is the CHOICE, and the huge burden it takes off the users' chests. Now, I can try stuff much quicker, no-strings-attached, without having to think twice about my selection - THIS is the celestial jukebox we were talking about back in 1998. Who cares if it's not for keeps? Neither is GMail or Online Radio. This new scheme is good news for artists that need to be discovered, and for acts that need exposure. ITunes is not - it sells music simnply to heat up demand for Ipods. Music is the trojan horse - end of story (but hey, I love my Ipod, too!) You got it wrong, Ashlee V.: a LOT of people will flock to Napster to go because 'renting' music has huge value for the user - I can have anything I want for a fixed fee. Netflix sound familiar? Now, step 2, watch Napster build their brand on the millions of people they will attract with this offering - and what will they sell them? CDs, DVD, album downloads, concert recordings, tickets, merchandising .... that's where it's going. Rethink! "