Why do birds suddenly appear whenever digital download/vinyl bundle packages are near? Insound reports actual good news in the record industry, opportunity to buy totebags!
By Liz Louche on Nov 17 2008
In what must surely be a herald to the approaching golden age of American life and stuff -- projected by Nostradamus and a large portion of liberal pundits to occur sometime between November 4, 2008 and January 20, 2009 -- there is actually good news coming from the usual total downersville known as the record industry. And it comes in the form of one of the most love stories of our time: that of MP3 album downloads and vinyl sales, together and better than ever.
Over the past year, vinyl LP sales have been on the rise, and online retailer Insound in particular has benefited. Insound co-founder Matt Wishnow recently told Billboard, "The percentage increase over the last 12-18 months in vinyl sales has been dramatic -- close to 100%. Our gross margins and pricing model for vinyl are the exact same as that for CDs. However, there is one major difference and that is the elasticity of that margin. We don't discount vinyl often because consumers believe that vinyl is worth the suggested price."
It's nice to see a music retailer doing well, and of course it's awesome to see sales figures helping out the careers of our friends Fleet Foxes and Iron & Wine. But wait, there's more! Everybody likes hearing good news, but when this good news benefits you yourself, then it's AWESOME NEWS! And that's what's up next: awesome news. See, when Insound started offering simultaneous MP3 download/vinyl purchase bundles, not too many indie labels were down. But now, online shoppers can expect to find almost 500 titles available from the likes of Sub Pop and Matador, which are providing loads of titles from the two aforementioned bands, as well as The Shins, Mogwai, Wolf Parade, Band of Horses, Flight of the Conchords, and The Postal Service.
It gets better: in 2009, you'll be able to get MP3 downloads with more than just vinyl. Yes! You'll be able to get digital download bundles alongside such exciting and possibly earth-friendly physical products such as tote bags! t-shirts! super dreamy band posters! and more, all within roughly $20.
These packages are possible through what Billboard calls more "lenient royalty deals." According to Wishnow, many of Insound's indie label partners work with artists who "control their own publishing or who have progressive publishers." This allows the online retailer to pay mechanical royalties only once for the download/physical bundles, and helps you, the Flight of the Conchords obsessive, to purchase every single imaginable tie-in and format of music -- all for one low, low price.
_Jeremy Enigk’s_ Tour Is Beginning _today_, And It’s Going to be _paradigm-shifting_!
By Mango Starr on Nov 17 2008
Yes, it's true! _Jeremy Enigk_'s tour begins _today_! Hitting up cities like _Pocatello_ and _Lawrence_, this tour should be _paradigm-shifting_. But despite how _paradigm-shifting_ it'll be, it's expected to be _titillating _ too, because _he might play songs from his forthcoming album OK Bear_.
_Jeremy Enigk's_ latest album is _ The Missing Link_, which was released or is set to be released _last year_ via _567 Records_. The funny part? Well, did you know that _this tour will feature Enigk on acoustic guitar, with Kaanan Tupper helping out_?? HAHA!
Anyway, here are the tourdates for _Jeremy Enigk_, which again, starts _today_ and hits up cities like _Pocatello_ and _Lawrence_. Just don't be surprised if _this tour will feature Enigk on acoustic guitar, with Kaanan Tupper helping out_, like I said in the second paragraph!
New Antony and the Johnsons Album Coming To Bring Beautiful Gender-Bending Tunes To All!
By Scott Lauer on Nov 17 2008
(This preview has been approved for all audiences.)
In 2005, Antony and the Johnsons released I Am A Bird Now (TMT Review), one of the most crushing epics to come out of the new millennium.
And now, in 2009, Antony and the Johnsons are bringing you their full-length follow-up, The Crying Light.
Following the Mercury Prize-winning Bird, Antony is set to please audiences once again. Critics agree: Antony and the Johnsons have something special going here. The Los Angeles Times reports, “Before the rapt audiences eyes (and within our delighted ears), Antony had become an unnamed creature in a freshly born world”; while the UK Guardian muses, “This latest reinvention means his own legend is assured.”
Antony and his beloved Johnsons are expected to dive deeper than ever before, exploring relationships with the natural world, featuring arrangements by avant-classical composer Nico Muhly. Listeners will laugh, cry, and be moved (presumably) to songs like “Her Eyes Are Underneath the Ground,” bringing us a world of winking leaves where the sun “dances crystals in my eyes.” Share in Antony’s joy in “Kiss My Name.” And be shocked and awed by the album centerpiece “Another World,” where Antony will lead audiences into the despair of a vanishing landscape.
Hear the album that has critics rejoicing:
“Antony has moved on to a transformed sound still more beautiful. Joining him in the shadows was breathtaking.” – Evening Standard
“This isn't a heart breaking; it's a heart waking...” - The Oregonian
Coming to ears near you, January 20, 2009.
A Secretly Canadian production.
Marnie Stern Sets Up Kissing Booth; Indie Boners Popping Up Everywhere
By Julbucket on Nov 14 2008
Facts:
1. Marnie Stern is hot.
2. Marnie Stern is really good at guitar.
3. Marnie Stern can play a double-necked guitar.
4. Marnie Stern will make out with you.
Yes. That’s right. Marnie Stern is going to kiss you. All you have to do is hit up Los Angeles’ El Ray Theatre tomorrow night. In addition to melting your face with her playing, Stern will kiss you on the cheek for $3, kiss you on the lips for $10, or give it to you Full-On Tongue Style™ for one hundred smackers. Good deal!
Stern's kissing booth is also occurring at tonight’s show at San Francisco's Bimbo’s 365 Club, but it’s probably too late if you’re reading this. In fact, as I write this, Marnie Stern is probably French-kissing somebody who isn’t you.
What an awesome PR move... I’m now going to list her tourdates. Marnie, you’re so smart!
Mario Speedwagon’s Under The Radar News Roundup: Wierd Records, Mark Kozelek, Napster, TorrentValley.com, and Thrill Jockey
By Mario Speedwagon on Nov 14 2008
This week we have anniversary parties, websites shutin’ it down, old dudes releasing solo records, Thrill Jockey signing another band who met in art school, and more!
- Wierd Records in New York is turning five years old. To celebrate, it's having an anniversary shindig at the Music Hall of Williamsburg November 21, 2008, featuring Blacklist, Xeno & Oaklander (I kind of wish it was Xenu, like that Scientologist bullshit,) and Led Er Est. Doors are at 8:30, jams start at 9:30, and it's $10.
- Mark Kozelek of Sun Kil Moon and the Red House Painters is dropping his latest LP, The Finally LP, December 9, 2008 on Caldo Verde Records. Party.
- So, I totally forgot Napster existed, let alone that people still use it (same as Friendster... really?) Anyway, Miram Hall Patel -- the chick who ruled that peer-to-peer music sharing services “knowingly encorage[ed] and assist[ed]” the swapping of copyrighted music, therefore “destroying” the music industry -- decided we need to reform the policies of copyright licensing, royalties, and other shit by forming some music-industry-cheese-dick administration comprised of people with “competing interest” to set up new rules. Napster, really?
- TorrentValley.com has been “raided and shut down,” as reported by TorrentFreak. Oh well.
- Thrill Jockey continues to tear it up by signing Mountains. Mountains is a duo from Brooklyn-by-way-of-Chicago Art School and has been compared to “Brian Eno and Fennesz” (cool!) The group is preparing its third LP for a Thrill Jockey release of February 17, 2009.
Alright, I’m out, bitches.
