2highbehind

Tim & Jason celebrate the Chocolat Baby BOOM

>> GIZMODO eat that!

Microsoft has pulled back from a plan to exclude rival media players from portable music devices using its software.

Details of the plan--and the reversal--were contained in a quarterly status report that Microsoft and the Department of Justice filed on Thursday with the federal judge that oversees the company's landmark antitrust settlement. >> ZDNET

At the MS HQ people can't show the white earplugs. White budplugs are still allowed though ;-)

Yahoo Bumps Price on Portable Subscription Downloads

In a move that may have been inevitable, Yahoo Music Unlimited has bumped the price on its portable subscription download service. Effective November 1st, pricing on portable subscriptions will move from $4.99 to $9.99 per month for those that pay annually, and from $6.99 to $11.99 per month without the annual pre-purchase. The increases will not affect users of the PC-based service, which still maintains its rock-bottom, $4.99 per month charge for annual subscribers. The increase was sent in a recent email to existing subscribers.>> Digital music news

Now you get $ 0,00099 for each song you made, VIVA!

If we don't buy them, they will shove it down our throats

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Global sales of digital music players are expected to jump to nearly l billion units a year in 2009, driven by consumers' desire for the pocket-sized devices and falling costs for flash memory components, research firm IDC said on Thursday. >> Reuters

Resurrected Commodore Purchases Dutch Music Provider

While the original Commodore remains a quaint relic of the 80s, the name is now bubbling back with a digital music play. Yeahronimo Media Ventures, which purchased the Commodore brand earlier this year, has now acquired backend digital music provider Lyzia. The company was purchased with a mixture of cash and shares. Lyzia, a Dutch concern, powers music services for The Music Factory, Sanoma, Vendex, and Orange. Yeahronimo indicated that Lyzia will continue to operate as a stand-alone entity. Meanwhile, Yeahronimo has inked a joint venture with Dutch investment firm Content Factory to market a collection of old Commodore games. Earlier, Yeahronimo used the Commodore name to create two portable MP3 players, though those devices mostly flew under-the-radar. >> Digital music news

Gotshrimp >> Yeah!! Timmy can you say something interesting about this?

Mobile Music More Popular Than Games, But More Profitable?

Mobile consumers are more interested in music than games, according to a recent research finding from In-Stat. Specifically, 34 percent of respondents in a recent survey indicated some level of interest in wireless music downloads or mobile-based radio. But major hurdles could hamper overall profit potential according to the group, including pricing, revenue sharing and DRM concerns. Per the In-Stat report, "widespread uptake of music applications may be on hold" in the absence of inexpensive and simple access to mobile music downloads. >> Digitalmusic news

Gotshrimp >> So I think I am on the right track here. But I am sure when Funky cops 4 will hit the market in 2007 this will all be different ;-) What about the combination???

IODA Pushes Member Content Into GoFish Search Engine

Users of GoFish Multimedia Search will soon have access to a catalog of promotional, indie content. As part of a new deal with the Independent Online Distribution Alliance (IODA), GoFish Technologies will now bolster its results set with thousands of legal music tracks, videos, artwork, and other promotional assets. That will add to an already rich searchable index of over 70 million multimedia files, something GoFish has been steadily amassing over the years. Michael Downing, co-founder and CEO of GoFish Technologies, pointed to a growing appetite for independent artists. "GoFish customers are increasingly seeking out fresh and new content from independent labels," Downing said.>> Digital music news

I rest my case!

NEW YORK (Billboard) - Major labels Sony BMG and EMI are releasing more and more new CDs that block fans from dragging their tunes to iPods.

Now, in the most bizarre turn yet in the record industry's piracy struggles, stars Dave Matthews Band, Foo Fighters and Switchfoot -- and even Sony BMG, when the label gets complaints -- are telling fans how they can beat the system. >> Reuters

Gotshrimp >> Yes it is most annoying thing when you buy a cd and you find out it can't be played on the iPOD. I think we should be able to take legal steps towards these record companies. VIVA >> Jermaine Dupri

RIAA Takes Shotgun to Traders

Hundreds of people are being wrongly sued by the Recording Industry Association of America for illegally trading music online, legal experts say.

Attorneys representing some of the 14,000 people targeted for illegal music trading say their clients are being bullied into settling as the cheapest way to get out of trouble. Collection agencies posing as "settlement centers" are harassing their clients to pay thousands of dollars for claims about which they know nothing, they say. >> Wired

Gotshrimp >> I think it's time for the A-Team, don't listen to music FOOL!!

First-Half World Sales Dip 6.3%, Digital Sales Triple

The global music industry recorded another downbeat tune in the first half of 2005 when total sales of physical recordings slumped 6.3% in value to $12.4 billion in retail value, and 6.6% in unit sales.>> Billboard