Laws to Tackle Online Piracy Could Raise the Cost of Accessing the Internet by Nearly $50 per Year per Subscriber
By Brom on 01-22-2010
TalkTalk Group, one of the biggest ISPs in the UK, believe that laws currently being debated in the UK to tackle online piracy could cost an extra £30 ($48.80) per subscriber. Charles Dunstone, CEO of the ISP, wrote that “this could make Internet access unaffordable for 600,000 hard-pressed families.”
The UK’s Digital Economy Bill would ensure that ISPs had to take action against people suspected of copyright infringement. This has led to concern amongst ISPs of the extra costs that would result in these rules being implemented. Inevitably these would be passed onto consumers. BT, another ISP, reckon the laws could increase prices by £25 ($41) per subscriber.
However, the British Recorded Music Industry (BPI, and Satan’s little brother) believes that the true cost is actually much lower. A report they commissioned from Sweet Consulting showed that “introducing measures to identify and notify copyright infringers would cost £13.85 million ($22.5 million) in the first year, £9 million ($14.6 million) in the second, and £3.45 million ($5.6 million) in the third.” This would result in only a 24 pence (39 cents) rise per subscriber in the third year.
As a small-town Republican smarting over Scott Brown’s orgasmic result, I don’t know what to think. I hate government regulation, but then I hate poor people too. If only George Bush was still President…
Death Cab For Cutie More or Less Guarantee a New Record in 2010, Strategically Avoid Making Any Guarantees That It Won’t Be Just Awful
By Nobodaddy on 01-22-2010
For a band that you’d think would have driven off their entire fan base by now with all of the editorialization-provoking garbage they’ve been dumping on the world for the better part of this past decade, Death Cab For Cutie sure have had an incredibly busy 2009. They pushed that big single from the New Moon soundtrack, shot a ludicrous video for the song in Toronto, and got married (yes, all four of them, I think) to “actress” and “musician” Zooey Deschanel.
But that 2009 trash was just a couple of hamburgers in the recycling bin compared to what’s coming down the garbage chute in 2010, because it seems as though the boyz are gearing up to half-ass another full-length studio record of spikethorny deepability and melan-jammy what-have-youness. And to hear them tell it, phoning-it-in all the time is apparently much harder work that you’d realize:
“We’re really just starting to crack it open, like kind of getting into the demos for the first time, bouncing some ideas back and forth,” guitarist/producer/failed solo artist Chris Walla said in between yawns and big spoonfuls of peanut butter. “So we haven’t dived in and hit the ‘record’ button yet. We’re trying to figure out when to dive in and hit the ‘record’ button. That’s sort of where we’re at.” Hey man, cool; that’s sorta where my band is at right now too.
“We’ve definitely cleared space [in our schedule]. It’s the project this year for us,” drummer Jason McGerr chimed in, “but we don’t know where we’re going yet.” So there you have it, folks. You don’t have to have any idea what’s going on around you in order to be in this band. But I guess maybe that’s why they all (again, all four of them) got married to Zooey Willfarrel or whoever.
So, I guess more details on the new Death Cab album coming, you know, whenever.
Gang Gang Dance Sign to 4AD
By Mr P on 01-22-2010
New York’s Gang Gang Dance have signed to 4AD for their fifth album, the as-yet untitled follow-up to Saint Dymphna (TMT Review). Details on the new album are scant, but it’s expected for release this year. Not excited? Check out these quotes from the press!
“Yes, yes, I’ll take me some more of them Gang Gang Dance trax!” -Village Voice
“Seriously, they’re really fucking good, man. No, seriously.” -The Guardian
“Amazing. ‘Nuff said.” -Pitchfork
“Oh my GOSH — this is game-changing music.” -Tiny Mix Tapes
The group has booked four dates for late March, hugging their performance at this year’s Big Ears Festival.
03.25.10 - Baltimore, MD - Ottobar
03.26.10 - Morgantown, WV - 123 Pleasant St.
03.27.10 - Knoxville, TN - Big Ears Festival
03.29.10 - Charlottesville, VA - Southern
• Gang Gang Dance: http://www.myspace.com/ganggangdance
• 4AD: http://www.4ad.com
Dr. Dog to Release New LP on ANTI- This April, Tour for Ten Weeks
By Aaron Norman on 01-22-2010
Shame, Shame is the name of the new album coming out on ANTI- Records this spring; April 6 to be exact. Dr. Dog is often touted as sounding “generic” or like (insert pop band name here) by the people who hate fun. It’s a ‘Shame, Shame’ that these guys don’t get more love from the “cool” critics, but in any case their fans don’t seem to be paying any mind. They’ve built their reputation playing shows, and for those of you hungry for more of that, their latest tourdates are posted below.
Rob Schnapf will be producing Shame, Shame in a professional studio, even — a first for the band who are used to recording in basements and home studios. ANTI- is claiming the album has a “darker tone” and also says it’s “an album whose themes of doubt, confusion and unanswered questions are soothed by bright harmonies, taut guitar riffs and soaring melodies.” All the change (and progression?) should be welcomed by the fans, and is a necessary change if they ever want be lauded by the hipper critics. We’ll see, won’t we?
P.S. Dr. Dog will be releasing the first track digitally when they reach 20,000 fans on Facebook, so if you’re into that kind of thing, click here.
Tourdates are as follows…
01.27.10 - Troy, NY - Revolution Hall *
01.28.10 - Burlington, VT - Higher Ground *
01.29.10 - Providence, RI - Lupo’s *
01.30.10 - Syracuse, NY- Westcott Theatre *
02.01.10 - Buffalo, NY - Mohawk Place *
02.03.10 - Pontiac, MI - The Pike Room *
02.04.10 - Milwaukee, WI - Turner Hall *
02.05.10 - Madison, WI - High Noon Saloon *
02.06.10 - Iowa City, IA - The Mill *
02.08.10 - Omaha, NE - Waiting Room *
02.09.10 - Rock Island, IL - Rock Island Brewing Co. *
02.10.10 - Cleveland, OH - Case Western University *
02.11.10 - Bloomington, IN - Video Saloon
02.12.10 - Columbus, OH - Newport Music Hall *
02.13.10 - State College, PA - State Theatre *
04.14.10 - Toronto, ON - Lee’s Place
04.15.10 - Ann Arbor, MI - Blind Pig
04.16.10 - Chicago, IL - Metro
04.17.10 - Minneapolis, MN - Fine Line
04.19.10 - Aspen, CO - Belly Up
04.20.10 - Denver, CO - Gothic Theatre
04.22.10 - Boise, ID - Neuroluz
04.23.10 - Portland, OR - Wonder Ballroom
04.24.10 - San Francisco, CA - Great American Music Hall
04.25.10 - San Francisco, CA - Great American Music Hall ^
04.27.10 - Los Angeles, CA - Henry Fonda ^
04.29.10 - Santa Fe, NM - Santa Fe Brewing Company ^
04.30.10 - Dallas, TX - The Loft ^
05.01.10 - Austin, TX - Emo’s Outside ^
05.02.10 - Houston, TX - Warehouse Live Studio ^
05.03.10 - Fayetteville, AR - Majestic ^
05.05.10 - Birmingham, AL - Workplay ^
05.06.10 - Nashville, TN - Cannery Ballroom ^
05.07.10 - Louisville, KY - Headliners ^
05.11.10 - Boston, MA - Paradise ^
05.12.10 - Boston, MA - Paradise ^
05.13.10 - Philadelphia, PA - Electric Factory ^
05.14.10 - Washington, DC - 9:30 Club ^
05.15.10 - New York, NY - Terminal 5 ^
* The Growlers
^ Deer Tick
International tourdates:
05.23.10 - Berlin, Germany - Magnet
05.24.10 - Koln, Germany - Blue Shell
05.25.10 - Amsterdam, Netherlands - Paradiso
05.26.10 - London, UK - Tabernacle
05.27.10 - Paris, France - Nouveau Casino
05.29.10 - Barcelona, Spain - Primavera Sound
