BBC to open up iPlayer to third parties, double down on high-quality dramas | Ars Technica

The BBC is fighting back against the government's aggressive TV licence fee budget by promising to open up several of its services, including its much admired iPlayer streaming platform, to third-party content creators. The broadcaster also wants to introduce new Internet-led streaming services such as BBC Newstream, a video-led mobile news channel, and iPlay, a version of iPlayer designed for children.

The internet of sings.

Labels: distribution

Jay Z asked Apple's Jimmy Iovine to collaborate on revolutionary streaming platform Tidal: "The rap idol hopes Tidal's new model will drive more direct compensation from streaming plays, while serving as a catalyst for artist experimentation. Not beholden to record labels, musicians would be free to create almost anything they desire. For example, artists could break conventional format and release 18-minute songs, or meld genres into completely new hybrids, testing for audience response.

Yo, Jimmy! I needa get whichu.

Labels: distribution, producing

Grammy-nominated DJ Zane Lowe leaving flagship BBC Radio show, joining Apple: "Zane Lowe, who has helmed BBC Radio 1's widely-praised evening show since 2003, will sign off on March 5, according to the BBC. Lowe is known as a musical tastemaker and is credited with jumpstarting the careers of artists like Adele and Gnarls Barkley by featuring them on his show."

More signs that Apple is reorienting around changes in music listening behavior. Personally, I have no interest in streaming services. In theory, I like Neil Young's hi fidelity sample player concept. Apple could use ALAC at 192kHz and 24-bit. 16 bit aac is fine for a radio experience, but I don't agree that you can't hear the artifacts.

Labels: distribution, indie labels

Billboard 200 chart will include streaming listens from Google Play, Beats, Spotify & others in album sales | 9to5Google: "The New York Times reports that Billboard and Nielsen SoundScan plan to start incorporating both streams and downloads from music streaming services, in addition to the music sales the chart already covered, in order to more accurately reflect popular albums based on what users are listening to."

The times, they are a changin'

Labels: distribution, producing

: "Kobalt Music Publishing, a company that represents and collects royalties on behalf of music makers in Europe, says its customers brought in an average of 13 percent more revenue from Spotify than iTunes over the first quarter of 2014, reports The Wall Street Journal. "

I think this is significant, but I'm not sure why. Personally, I want 24bit 96 kHz ALAC for all my digital downloads with no copy protection. Or I'm going back to CD.

Labels: apple, audio, distribution

Premiere – Download Michael Forrest’s ‘Infinite Music Machine’ Album-App & Discover The Endless Possibilities | Magnetic Magazine - nu-age ‘album – app’ Infinite Music Machine is a stand-out gizmo that encapsulates live instrumentation as a self-programmed music generator.

Uh-oh, it's future music.

Labels: distribution

Iron Maiden makes millions of dollars by playing live for pirates | The Verge - British company Musicmetric indicated a surge in Iron Maiden piracy from South America. Instead of pursuing legal action, the band toured the continent extensively, making $2.58 million from one sold-out Sao Pãolo show alone, and adding another 5 million fans to its already extensive social media fanbase.

I think this is a very important story for musicians, especially those from the pre-digital era.

Labels: distribution

Napster, the Movie - Peter Kafka - Media - AllThingsD: "Thank you, Techmeme, for pointing out that one of the films debuting at South by Southwest in a couple months is ‘Downloaded’, a documentary on Napster. "

Napster is dead. Long live Napster!

Labels: distribution, napster