This is about vandalism to a door at the vacant federal courthouse across the street from the public library in downtown Seattle. The damage to federal property gave the federal government standing to appoint a federal prosecutor and begin a grand jury investigation. Personally, I suspect the door was damaged by undercover police agents.
This incident reminds me that it would be a good time for all of us to check our bookshelves and take a hard look at our online associations.
Many of us have books and friendships that might be difficult to explain to a federal prosecutor. It is always prudent to dispose of problematic reading material as soon as possible, and to discontinue relationships with anyone whose commitment to property rights and free market principles could be called into question.
If you are uncertain about what kinds of media and literature might get you into trouble, simply consult the community service personnel at your local police precinct office. They will be happy to assist in your efforts to defend American values.
I was thinking today about how when techies start talking about musicians wanting to get paid being "entitled", they sound exactly like Paul Ryan or like Mitt doing the 47% thing. Kind of obvious, I know. Just hadn't connected the dots.
I'll probably start posting some videos from last week's FMC event here. Of particular note to Oregonians is the fact that Ron Wyden who sponsored IRFA spoke. He is actively soliciting feedback from musicians about his (terrible terrible) bill. He struck me as a well-meaning dude who isn't really in touch with the reality of what independent musicians' lives are like.
I would have liked to ask him about the math on the rate change, or why his bill leaves terrestrial radio aside (which is a giveaway to Clear Channel). But instead I focused on section 5 of the bill which seems to make it illegal for organizations to advocate against direct deals which bypass blanket license rates in favor of direct deals (which result in lower payout but more airplay--effectively a form of payola.)
"Leaving aside why these companies are bothering to chisel hundredths of a cent from already ridiculously low "royalties," or paying lobbyists to work a bill through Congress that would lower those rates even further-- let's instead ask a question they themselves might consider relevant: Why are they in business at all?
Pandora and Spotify are doing nothing for the business of music...
The answer is capital, which is what Pandora and Spotify have and what they generate. These aren't record companies-- they don't make records, or anything else; apparently not even income. They exist to attract speculative capital."
Portland startup vadio.com Plays music video stream based off a radio station stream. Presumably the radio station is already playing ASCAP&BMI, and the music video owner is licensing the vid for free. Again, maybe they fall into the making money on startup category rather than making money for musicians. Plays out of the Rackspace cloud (they bought land for a data center in Boardman, OR).
Totally weird evasion. "I'm a lawyer in name only!" Hunh? But you went through law school, and you are a LEGISLATOR so it's not like you don't understand how language in legislation works... The founder of indie rock demands answers!
I mean, the "free speech" thing isn't really the issue--it's the erosion of musicians' right to collectively organize for better rates through the abuse of anti-trust law. It's the same kind of bullshit anti-union thing that is happening in other parts of society, but people ignore it because it's a technology thing, and we think of tech companies as progressive.
Seattle rapper Mackelmore's new album just debuted (correction-- debuted in October) on Billboard at #2 without a record label. It's his third or fourth album though the official line is that this is his first 'studio album'.
The set has achieved sales in excess of 78,000 the first week. Wikipedia relates a strategy of releasing singles with videos and strategic touring over a year before the complete album was offered. Note that he built a strong all-ages hometown following and parlayed this into a strong kickstarter campaign to finance videos with high production values. His initial kickstarter (last year) had something like a $40,000 goal which he overshot by $40,000.
He's a good citizen activist that contributed quite a bit of sizzle and umph to the successful Washington State Marriage Equality campaign. I'm expecting he will be received culturally as the long lost "good" twin to Eminem's Slim Shady.
Here's a key track from a few years back:
Decent, approachable, hard-working fellow, that built a good support structure from scratch, blessed with brilliant timing, extraordinary luck, and winning cultural attributes. Most of his writing is a bit too sanctimonious for my taste, but his clip from Jimmie Fallon two nights ago backed by The Roots is pretty fun.
Talked to him two years ago at his merch table at an allages hiphop night in Olympia. Now I'd guess he's worth about $2 million, probably ten times that by the end of next year. (Correction----I thought he was at #2 now, right before Christmas. That was wrong. He'll be worth more like $5M next year, and has a long way to go before his volume is Eminem-ish.)
Nine weeks on Billboard 200. Debuted at #2, presently at #64.
While I feel your call aesthetically, this is quite a different scale of business achievement than AdF's self-released peak at #22 in 1998. (Ten weeks on the chart.)
Kickstarter financing of 4 or 5 singles with videos released in the year leading up to an album. I think that is noteworthy. Basically the reverse of the old fashioned release strategy.
I bet Ani Difranco's #22 was probably about the same number of units in 1998 as a #2 today. But it is still a remarkable achievement. I am glad there is still a market for wide-eyed populism.
Update: looked it up. Ani's first-week sales were 50k, so Macklemore wins in that race. But her cumulative sales ended up being 240k on that record.
It's a wild guess, but yes, probably somewhere between 'about the same' and 'two or three times as much', though this record isn't over. But mainly it indicates the devaluation of label support in national marketing.
In answer to the question at the top of the thread, this is something that worked.
Comments
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/news/9600151/Scape-the-Brian-Eno-album-that-you-create.html
http://www.salon.com/2012/10/11/third_northwest_activist_jailed_for_staying_silent/
i guess the news has to label these dudes something
i think calling them "young people with the wrong books on their shelves" is the most accurate
Matt Duran
Kteeo Olejnik
there, i just put our message board into an FBI watch list
hope the FBI likes brian eno and kickstarter
Do the right thing!!!
Many of us have books and friendships that might be difficult to explain to a federal prosecutor. It is always prudent to dispose of problematic reading material as soon as possible, and to discontinue relationships with anyone whose commitment to property rights and free market principles could be called into question.
If you are uncertain about what kinds of media and literature might get you into trouble, simply consult the community service personnel at your local police precinct office. They will be happy to assist in your efforts to defend American values.
Don't forget to vote Nov. 6!
We'll be watching!
woah.
his step dad does rule! 3 cheers for Gary (a.k.a. Mr. Johansen)
http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/industry/digital-and-mobile/microsoft-presses-play-on-new-xbox-music-1007979472.story
22 countries, ad-supported free tier.
Why do you hate the free market?
TV!
I'm going to be making commercials that people don't ask for, then charging them retroactively.
Thnx!
another EP of digital water slide music for the neon pendulum
thanks for listening!
http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/industry/legal-and-management/pandora-clear-channel-others-form-lobby-1007990962.story
Sure there is money flowing on lobbying.
I would have liked to ask him about the math on the rate change, or why his bill leaves terrestrial radio aside (which is a giveaway to Clear Channel). But instead I focused on section 5 of the bill which seems to make it illegal for organizations to advocate against direct deals which bypass blanket license rates in favor of direct deals (which result in lower payout but more airplay--effectively a form of payola.)
Pandora and Spotify are doing nothing for the business of music...
The answer is capital, which is what Pandora and Spotify have and what they generate. These aren't record companies-- they don't make records, or anything else; apparently not even income. They exist to attract speculative capital."
http://pitchfork.com/features/articles/8993-the-cloud/
http://stereogum.com/1204361/deconstructing-pandora-spotify-piracy-and-getting-artists-paid/top-stories/lead-story/
The set has achieved sales in excess of 78,000 the first week. Wikipedia relates a strategy of releasing singles with videos and strategic touring over a year before the complete album was offered. Note that he built a strong all-ages hometown following and parlayed this into a strong kickstarter campaign to finance videos with high production values. His initial kickstarter (last year) had something like a $40,000 goal which he overshot by $40,000.
He's a good citizen activist that contributed quite a bit of sizzle and umph to the successful Washington State Marriage Equality campaign. I'm expecting he will be received culturally as the long lost "good" twin to Eminem's Slim Shady.
Here's a key track from a few years back:
Decent, approachable, hard-working fellow, that built a good support structure from scratch, blessed with brilliant timing, extraordinary luck, and winning cultural attributes. Most of his writing is a bit too sanctimonious for my taste, but his clip from Jimmie Fallon two nights ago backed by The Roots is pretty fun.
Talked to him two years ago at his merch table at an allages hiphop night in Olympia. Now I'd guess he's worth about $2 million, probably ten times that by the end of next year. (Correction----I thought he was at #2 now, right before Christmas. That was wrong. He'll be worth more like $5M next year, and has a long way to go before his volume is Eminem-ish.)
Can't confirm it at Billboard.com yet. I think they are a week behind.
While I feel your call aesthetically, this is quite a different scale of business achievement than AdF's self-released peak at #22 in 1998. (Ten weeks on the chart.)
Kickstarter financing of 4 or 5 singles with videos released in the year leading up to an album. I think that is noteworthy. Basically the reverse of the old fashioned release strategy.
True, both artists are 'self-released'.
fuck it we goin commercial down here
Update: looked it up. Ani's first-week sales were 50k, so Macklemore wins in that race. But her cumulative sales ended up being 240k on that record.
In answer to the question at the top of the thread, this is something that worked.