Best Buy To Sell Albums by Local and Unsigned Artists; The Laughter of a Child Still The “Best Buy” Of All
By Mike McHugh on 07-18-2008
Having just announced its experimental foray into selling vinyl again (TMT News), electronics retail giant and owner of the largest private geek army in the world Best Buy has announced plans to stock CDs by local and unsigned bands. Playing a nice foil to Wal-Mart’s strategy of not carrying any album without an American flag or Steve Perry on the cover, Best Buy has partnered with RegionalCD.net to inject local flavor into select franchises.
According to CMJ, bands are judged on their Internet exposure via MySpace and Facebook, as well as their local followings and live performances. Artists will be paid a cut for each CD they sell, starting off with “light orders at select stores — instead of costly overstocking — and let demand dictate the proper inventory levels for each location,” says Best Buy.
Whether Best Buy’s intention is to find the next Vampire Weekend, move in on the independent record stores, or simply to please the local bar band crowd with heaps of CDs from the winner of Senor Frog’s Summer Band Battle Bone-anza remains to be seen. Either way, it’s always interesting and frightening when the big boys dip their toes in the indie pool.
Take the plunge here, if you dream of being shelf-mates with Carrie Underwood.
They Never Drew First, But They Drew First Blood: Not-So-Young Guns Universal and MasterCard Join Forces in Downloading Initiative
By David Nadelle on 07-18-2008
When you're number one, you have to flaunt it. If we didn't get the tips of our fingers cut off by grisly henchmen for not paying up on our "Hell's Kitchen" bets (we thought Petrozza had it in the bag!), we would blow on our nails and rub them haughtily on our chest like the brazen boasters we are. In our opinion, TMT runs classier industry news stories than anyone, period. We newsies certainly love to grab them, mangle the facts so much that they don't even resemble news stories anymore, then post them to a bewildered audience who smile politely at our inanities, but roll their eyes when we're not looking. Our attempts lately have focused primarily on the uneasy future of the music industry, the difficulties of competing in this modern download-reliant world, and the newfangled ways the big record companies market their product.
This story is no different because Universal Music Group is hooking up with wallet-controlling superpower MasterCard to deliver free downloads to their already crippled-by-interest customers!
The imaginatively named "Roots of Rock" could have only been devised by a turret-dwelling wizard or by hotshot New York advertising agency McCann-Erickson, who did indeed concoct this scheme to provide free songs to customers under the card's Priceless umbrella. Financial terms of the deal were not specified, but MasterCard said that once 100,000 songs had been downloaded it would continue to provide the Universal catalog at the very reasonable price of 80¢ per song. Apart from the large number of artists available for download, some live video performances that aired on PBS's Soundstage concert series will be available free to cardholders.
Additionally, every time a consumer uses their MasterCard until August 31, they will be automatically be entered in a sweepstakes competition to win a meet-and-greet with either Jon Bon Jovi, Kenny Chesney, or Eric Clapton and get a historical tour of each of these artists respective home towns (New Jersey, Nashville, somewhere in England). Who wouldn't want to wistfully stroll through this with Jon Bon Nob Noj?
Amy Fuller, group executive, Americas marketing MasterCard Worldwide, had this to say about the contest: "Consumers' passion for their music is unmatched Music is something that is very individual and we know that personalization is something consumers love to experience. With 'Roots of Rock,' we've created unparalleled music experiences with three of the world's most popular artists, providing consumers with and intimate perspective on these icons that few fans will ever have."
That may be true, but if this means more slowhands will be making me wait by using their MasterCard to pay for two items in the express checkout at the grocery store, then I'm not all for it!
Swedish Invasion, Round 3: Jose Gonzalez Takes on America – Well, Part of It
By Liz Louche on 07-18-2008
José González, he of the Argentine name and Swedish hometown, of the Knife cover that wound up in European advertisements for the Sony Bravia LCD Television, of the really awesome cover of Bruce Springsteen's "The Ghost of Tom Joad" (as a member of the Swedish trio Junip), is preparing to get his tour on. While some of us will be going back to school and others will probably be forever seeking employment in this stupid, dead-end economy, González will be embarking on a selected series of dates in the United States.
Mute Records artist González' last release, In Our Nature, was released in late 2007. The success of his 2005 debut, Veneer, resulted in a slew of SXSW performances, late-night television gigs, and that pinnacle of indie rock breakthrough success: a featured song in a season finale episode of The O.C.. Where will he go next? Well, it looks like Spain.
* DJ set, with Richard Swift
** BAM Next Wave Festival: Red Hot + RIO
MusicFest NW Music Festival: Tickets are cheap and there are actually bands worth seeing!
By Nicole C. on 07-18-2008
What's this, some kind of joke? A music festival that's actually affordable and features several bands worth seeing? Could this really be true? Sure enough, Willamette Week's MusicFest NW in Portland, Oregon is happening September 3-6 and is going to give comparable summer fests a run for their money. Dan Deacon, Calvin Johnson, Mogwai, John Vanderslice, Mirah, Vampire Weekend, TV on the Radio, Del the Funky Homosapien, and The Murder City Devils are heading up the large festival bill, with more acts still yet to be revealed.
Tickets for the event are only $50 a pop for a wristband, which can get you into any show if you arrive early enough and do a bit of prioritizing. Shows will be happening at around 15 different venues located in the Portland area, and individual tickets are already on sale for some of the larger shows. This is the 8th year for the festival, which has seen attendance growing considerably in the last couple years.
Check out the rest of the lineup and how to purchase tickets at MusicFest NW's official website.
Scott Walker Produces Concert Cloaked in Mystery/Lack of Information!
By Liz Louche on 07-17-2008
Have you ever wanted to experience the lush, orchestral works of Scott Walker without, you know, actually experiencing Scott Walker perform them? If so, then you'll definitely want to head on over to London's Barbican this November for three magical nights veiled in mystery. The mystery in question being exactly who is performing during the event, entitled Drifting and Tilting: The Songs of Scott Walker. At this point, the lineup has yet to be revealed by either the 4AD or Barbican websites, but you can count on taking in some Scott-produced versions of classics from -- taa daa!!... Tilt and The Drift. And while Mr. Walker himself will not be singing the hits, or well, any songs, the Scott Walker band will be present and active. Plus there will be an orchestra, loads of music geeks in the audience, and what 4AD promises to be "special" guests, so whoever it is, it's got to be good
11.13-15.08 - London, UK - Barbican Theatre
