Music Biz Academy Digest - Issue #24 - December 10th, 2001
An update from http://www.musicbizacademy.com.

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THE MUSIC BIZ ACADEMY
http://www.musicbizacademy.com

FEATURING:
Musician's Online Directory:
http://www.musicbizacademy.com/directory

The Academy (Articles and Tips)
http://www.musicbizacademy.com/articles

The Bookstore
http://www.musicbizacademy.com/bookstore

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Welcome, subscribers to the December 10th edition of the Music
Biz Academy Digest!

IT'S ALL THE RAGE....
Well, it's finally here. RealNetworks launched its
much-anticipated subscription service for online music, known as
RealOne Music. RealOne, pushed heavily by Real Networks
(http://www.real.com) and the major record labels, is the first
pay-for-listen music subscription service to hit the net. For a
price of $9.95 a month, the service lets you download and stream
up to 100 music tracks a month from the catalog of MusicNet, a
shared venture of three of the big music labels.

RealOne Music is already meeting with mixed reviews, receiving
flack on everything from non-functionality to poor technical
support for it's users.

So, the question being asked again and again is, will music fans
pay to listen to music online? In our view, so long as free
options remain available (MP3.com, Live365.com, MusicCity.com) it
seems unlikely that the pay-for-listen service will find a very
loyal user-base. If the record labels want listeners to pay for
music, they need to offer much more than a 100 song per month
selection.

Listen up music labels! If you want our music dollar, give us
something we can't live without - our own, instantly accessible,
searchable music library with vaults so deep we can never exhaust
it. We want unlimited access, the ability to categorize our own
music, create playlists, and to access new music without
restriction. You say Green Day has a new album out? Let us know
the moment it's available and let us preview the music right now.
Then give us an instant buy option to purchase, download and burn
our own CD if we choose. That's what we want. Oh, and we want the
tool to be fast, reliable and simple to use.

We don't ask for much, do we?

See also...

MUSICNET LAUNCHES - BUGS, WARTS AND ALL
http://www.newsbytes.com/news/01/172704.html

REALONE HITS A FLAT NOTE
http://www.pcworld.com/news/article/0,aid,74543,00.asp


SUPPORT YOUR HOST!
MusicBizAcademy.com is brought to you by your host, David Nevue,
pianist (http://www.mp3.com/davidnevue), and author of 'How to
Promote Your Music Successfully on the Internet'
(http://www.musicbizacademy.com/bookstore/htpromotemusic.htm).

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THE MUSICIAN'S ATLAS - 2002 Edition
http://www.musicbizacademy.com/bookstore/musiciansatlas.htm
Created by The Music Resource Group, this 368-page volume
provides access to over 15,000 music businesses and key industry
contacts in more than 25 categories. Current names, phone and fax
numbers, e-mail and web site addresses, detailed submission
policies and the styles of music preferred is just some of the
information you'll find on every page of The Atlas. Available in
hard copy for only $24.95!


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Recent Additions/Updates to the Musician's Directory....
http://www.musicbizacademy.com/directory
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GUITAR NINE RECORDS
http://www.guitar9.com/
Guitar 9 Records is a hosting service/online store/monthly ezine
for independent artists/bands that feature the guitar as their
dominant instrument. If you're not already familiar with Guitar
9, we urge you (particularly if you're a guitarist with a CD to
market) to take a look at Guitar 9's fine site. Guitar 9 Records
has been around for years, and they have consistently stayed true
to their purpose - promoting independent guitar music on the
Internet. Some of the finest undiscovered guitar players in the
world can be found here.


INSIDESESSIONS
http://www.insidesessions.com/
Brought to you by the Universal Music Group, the largest record
company in the world, MusicSessions is an Internet-based program
that teaches you everything you need to know to transform your
passion for music into a successful career as a recording artist
or industry professional. The online 10 session course, which
runs from $69.95-$119 depending on the options you choose,
features instruction from artists Sting, Sheryl Crow & Nelly,
record executives Jimmy Iovine and Russell Simmons, producer Glen
Ballard and many others. Once you sign up, Universal guarantees
their A&R executives will listen to your demo, and even provide
you written feedback if you select that option.


RADIO AND RETAIL PROMOTIONS
http://www.flanaganpromotions.com/index.vs
Radio and Retail Promotions is run by Jon Flanagan, an
experienced music promotion specialist who has in the past worked
on promotions of such acts as RadioHead and Mary's Danish with
labels such as Capitol, EMI, A&M and Columbia Records. Jon's team
spends a great deal of time with your project, creating marketing
strategies custom designed for each release. They'll set up radio
interviews, CD reviews, in-store play, and use creative
strategies to establish name recognition through college &
commercial radio airplay, retail promotions, and distribution
deals. Fees start at $1,000 for a national campaign and go to
$10,000 for their 'deluxe' package. They can also focus on
regional play, if that is your preference.


RECORD LABELS ON THE WEB
http://www.rlabels.com/
An excellent, no frills, searchable database of record labels on
the web. Contains over 5000+ links, searchable by location or
category.


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Contests & Competitions
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101 ONLINE MUSIC PR SOURCES - FREE TO TWO WINNERS EVERY MONTH
http://www.bob-baker.com/buzz/onlinepr.html
Bob Baker is giving away copies of his new music publicity
resource. "Some professionals hide their secrets, but not Bob,"
says Jeffrey P. Fisher, author of Ruthless Self-Promotion in the
Music Industry. Fisher is referring to Bob Baker's "Online Music
PR Hot List," a new downloadable book that reveals 101 places to
submit press releases, get reviewed, uncover PR connections and
promote your music on the Internet. Every month, Baker will give
away two copies of this new online music PR directory.


NATIONAL 'INDIE BAND SEARCH 2002'
http://www.indiebandsearch.com/
ModMusic Records is proud to announce the Indie Band Search 2002.
The Indie Band Search is a national contest that gives
independent musicians, artists, songwriters, and bands a chance
to be heard by entertainment industry professionals and compete
for prizes worth over $10,000. *Deadline for entries is February
14, 2002.


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Articles From Around The Net....
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PRESSPLAY, MUSICNET: LEGAL MUSIC, BUT NOT FOR MP3 PLAYERS
http://www.zdnet.com/anchordesk/stories/story/0,10738,2827177,00.html
You know those "legal" Napster sites the music industry is
creating? Well, throw away your MP3 player, because it won't work
with them. Are these people nuts? Commentary by David Coursey,
ZDNet News.


SELLING MORE CDS AT GIGS: A CASE STUDY
http://bardscrier.com/articles/20011123.shtml
A surprisingly easy tactic for selling more CDs at live gigs.


INTERNET USE LEVELS OUT OVER THE LAST 12 MONTHS
http://mi2n.com/press.php3?press_nb=29680
The proportion of all adults who are online at work, at home or
from any other location such as school, library or cyber café has
remained virtually unchanged at 64% for the last 12 months. This
translates into approximately 127 million adults aged 18 and
over, up from 121 million in the previous year. What is
remarkable about these results is that this is the first time
since the rapid growth of Internet use began in 1994 that we have
not seen sizeable increases in Internet penetration over a twelve
month period.


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Featured Music Industry News
http://www.musicbizacademy.com
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MTV FACES SECOND THREAT TO CROWN
http://media.guardian.co.uk/broadcast/story/0,7493,614644,00.html
MTV's long-standing dominance of music television came under
renewed threat today when EMAP agreed a deal with NTL for
carriage of all six of its music channels. The deal will give
Emap channels, including The Box, Smash Hits, Kiss TV and QTV,
access to a potential 1.3m digital households from early in the
new year. It follows a similar recent agreement with Telewest.
The growing popularity of Emap music channels is placing pressure
on the market share of MTV's own channels which have spent most
of their existence without any real competition.


FTC VIOLENCE REPORTS FAULTS MUSIC INDUSTRY
http://www.adage.com/news.cms?newsId=33572
The Federal Trade Commission today issued the expected update to
last year's report on the marketing of violent movies, video
games and music and praised the Hollywood and the video-game
industry for "commendable progress," while chastising the music
industry for not doing enough.


REALNETWORKS: GET READY TO PAY FOR MUSIC
http://www.zdnet.com/zdnn/stories/news/0,4586,5100259,00.html?chkpt=zdnn_nbs_hl
RealNetworks is scheduled to launch its much-anticipated
subscription service for online music Tuesday, offering a major
test of consumer demand for paid content on the Web.
The service, known as RealOne Music, comes amid a flurry of
similar announcements--and a chorus of skepticism over the
prospects of paid subscriptions in the face of free songs
available on file-swapping services popularized by Napster.


U.S. IS SAID TO CRITICIZE MUSIC INDUSTRY ON MARKETING
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/04/politics/04LYRI.html?ex=1008133200&en=9b240378\
231e6a44&ei=5040&partner=MOREOVER
Recording companies have not done enough to promote warnings and
curb advertising of inappropriate material in magazines and on
television shows intended for young audiences, according to a
Federal Trade Commission study to be released this week, industry
executives and Congressional aides said today.


MUSICNET OPENS MAJOR MUSIC CATALOGS
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/technology/AP-MusicNet-Launch.html?ex=1008133200\
&en=1ad7852e12c3d3b9&ei=5040&partner=MOREOVER
Stepping into the post-Napster era of online music, three major
record labels and RealNetworks Inc.on Tuesday will launch the
pay-for-play MusicNet service. For a monthly fee, starting at
$9.95, RealOne Music users can stream or download tunes from the
libraries of AOL Time Warner (news/quote), Bertelsmann and EMI
Group. Songs are then played over a personal computer. RealOne is
the software downloaded by users.


BILLBOARD LICENSES CHARTS TO PRESSPLAY
http://www.billboard.com/billboard/daily/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1118\
291
Billboard has licensed its chart archives to online music service
pressplay. Under the deal, the subscription service will feature
Billboard charts in 11 categories, dating back to 1955. It's the
first time Billboard has licensed its archival charts for use
online.


LISTEN.COM TO TUNE IN NEW MUSIC SERVICE
http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1005-200-8034507.html?tag=ch_mh
Music service provider Listen.com is set to flip the switch on
its new music subscription service Monday, connecting consumers
to legal, digital versions of tunes ahead of long-awaited efforts
from the major labels. Listen.com said its new digital music
service, dubbed Rhapsody, will offer music fans features such as
unlimited streams of music, access to more than 50
commercial-free Net radio stations, and a playlist-sharing
program that lets people create mixes and send them to friends.


HITWISE REPORTS PEOPLESOUND.COM #1 UK MUSIC WEB SITE
http://mi2n.com/press.php3?press_nb=30245
Peoplesound, Europe’s leading platform for new and emerging
artists, has beaten the likes of Robbiewilliams.com, the MTV
website and Dotmusic to take the top spot as UK’s leading music
website - according to data released by Hitwise, the global
provider of real-time competitive intelligence. The results show
that almost a third of Internet users who are interested in music
make peoplesound.com their destination of choice.


KAZAA ORDERED TO CEASE INFRINGING COPYRIGHT
http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/6/23107.html
Music sharing system KaZaA has been given two weeks by a Dutch
court to cease infringing recording artists' copyrights.
If the company fails to comply with the order, it faces a penalty
of 100,000 guilders ($40,317) a day, the Judge warned.
The ruling concludes a copyright violation case brought by the
Dutch wing of the International Federation of the Phonographic
Industry against the Netherlands-based file-sharing operation.


POLICE SEIZE ILLEGAL ONLINE MUSIC DISTRIBUTOR
http://mi2n.com/press.php3?press_nb=30095
The Italian Fiscal Police and the FPM have raided an important
national ISP in Asti, North West of Italy. The provider was
offering a massive download of MP3s through the site
www.mp3gas.com, hosted on the company servers.


ANTI-PIRACY FEUD BODES ILL FOR WEB MUSIC
http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1005-200-7943556.html?tag=cd_mh
A high-powered new generation of digital music players is heading
for Christmas stockings. Almost simultaneously, the major record
labels are releasing their catalogs online after years of
stalling. Unfortunately, the two campaigns might as well be
happening on different planets. People using hot new music
devices such as Apple Computer's iPod or Compaq Computer's iPaq
will not be able to play music from the Pressplay and MusicNet
subscription services, which for the first time will make songs
legally available online.


POP GOES THE MUSIC INDUSTRY’S PROFIT
http://www.msnbc.com/news/661412.asp
When EMI reported steep first-half losses this week, the British
music giant downplayed digital piracy as the source of its
slumping sales. But even as financially troubled EMI hopes for a
rebound in the critical Christmas season with hot releases from
Garth Brooks and Lenny Kravitz, the growing popularity of
CD-burning, video games and Napster clones threatens to
accelerate the music industry’s global sales slowdown, analysts
say.


NAPSTER CLONES UNDER ATTACK BY NMPA
http://www.zdnet.com.au/newstech/ebusiness/story/0,2000024981,20261971,00.htm
A group representing music publishers and songwriters on Tuesday
filed a federal suit against some makers of file-swapping
software, marking the latest in a string of legal tangles over
copyright infringement on the Internet. The National Music
Publisher's Association (NMPA), which represents the owners of
most songs published in the United States, said it filed suit in
Los Angeles federal court against the parent companies of
file-swapping services MusicCity, Grokster and Kazaa.


BUYERS FUME OVER COPY-PROTECTED CD
http://www.zdnet.com/zdnn/stories/news/0,4586,5099805,00.html?chkpt=zdnnp1tp02
Complaints about anti-copying technology have forced a record
label to issue CD replacements for angry consumers--another
setback for the music industry's stuttering campaign against
record piracy. BMG Entertainment confirmed Monday that it has set
up a hotline for consumers in the United Kingdom who are having
trouble playing Natalie Imbruglia's latest CD in some CD and DVD
players. The disc will be replaced by retailers or by the label
itself, a company representative said.


VIVENDI PUTS EGGS INTO ONLINE BASKET
http://www.dmusic.com/news/news.php?id=5941
Vivendi Universal, owner of Universal film studios and record
giant Universal Music Group, has said it will combine its Web
properties under one unit in an effort to get its traditional
media units to work more closely with its Web businesses.
The new move creates the formation of U.S. based Vivendi
Universal Net USA Group, Inc., a new business unit reporting to
the company's Paris-based Internet division. The company's
charter is to consolidate Vivendi Universal's music, games, and
educational web sites under a single management structure.


AIMSTER FOLLOWS NAPSTER THROUGH THE COURTS
http://www.silicon.com/bin/bladerunner?30REQEVENT=&REQAUTH=21046&14001REQSUB=REQ\
INT1=49284
Music-swapping service Aimster is following its nearly-namesake
Napster into the courts with old adversary of P2P fans the RIAA
leading the list of plaintiffs. The Recording Industry
Association of America is once again complaining about copyright
infringement and joins the Motion Picture Association of America
and various film studios in filing suits against the file-sharing
service that allowed users to swap music and movies via instant
messaging services. However, the biggest bone of contention so
far seems to be how to conduct the trial and where to hold it.


DIGITAL MUSIC PLAYERS TO BLAST OFF BY 2005
http://www.bizreport.com/article.php?art_id=2527&width=1024
Digital music players have gained a solid foothold in the
marketplace and promise to become much more popular in the coming
years, according to a new Cahners In-Stat report.
The research firm is projecting shipments of 9 million of the
units by 2005, up from 2.4 million last year and the more than 3
million projected to be sold this year, according to the report.


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Recommended Resources
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HOW TO PROMOTE YOUR MUSIC SUCCESSFULLY ON THE INTERNET
2002 Edition!
http://www.musicbizacademy.com/bookstore/htpromotemusic.htm
If you want to sell your music on the net in any form, this book
will teach you how to design and market a web site that will SELL
YOUR MUSIC and bring in that extra income you need to boost and
financially support your music career! The author is currently
making over $4000 a month selling music related products and
advertising on the internet. 'How to Promote Your Music
Successfully on the Internet' shows you exactly how he did it,
step by step! Download Version Available for only $14.95!


THE GUERRILLA MUSIC MARKETING HANDBOOK
http://www.musicbizacademy.com/bookstore/guerrillamusic.htm
This guide to independent music success features over 175 ways to
thrive and prosper with your own band or record label. Download
Version Available! The PDF version of this great book is now only
$29.95!


101 MUSIC BUSINESS CONTRACTS
http://www.musicbizacademy.com/bookstore/101contracts.htm
Can’t afford a lawyer? That’s OK. We’re here to help, with 101
Industry Standard Contracts available for instant download, or on
CD, or printed in a binder just for you. All for less than what
you would pay an Entertainment Lawyer for 15 minutes worth of his
time.


THE MUSICIAN'S ATLAS - 2002 Edition
http://www.musicbizacademy.com/bookstore/musiciansatlas.htm
Created by The Music Resource Group, this 368-page volume
provides access to over 15,000 music businesses and key industry
contacts in more than 25 categories. Current names, phone and fax
numbers, e-mail and website addresses, detailed submission
policies and the styles of music preferred is just some of the
information you'll find on every page of The Atlas. Available in
hard copy for only $24.95!


THE INDIE BIBLE
http://www.musicbizacademy.com/bookstore/indiecontactbible.htm
Need to create some BUZZ about your music? Looking for reviewers?
Radio station contacts? Promotion services? Then grab The Indie
Bible. This fantastic new musicians 'black book' contains pages
filled with contacts with publications and radio programmers all
over the world. These are people who actively look for music to
review! Download or Hard Copy Version Available for $24.95!


MUSIC IS YOUR BUSINESS
http://www.musicbizacademy.com/bookstore/musiciyb.htm
Used as the official textbook for the Art Institute of Seattle's
Audio program, this invaluable book is filled with insights into
the music business and tactics for marketing your music. It
includes examples of industry marketing documents, a sample of an
artist bio and fact sheet, and checklists for starting your
career and running your own record label. Available in hard copy
for $24.95!


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ALSO FROM MIDNIGHT RAIN PRODUCTIONS

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THE FREE SHEET MUSIC GUIDE
http://www.freesheetmusicguide.com

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http://www.sheetmusicaddict.com

WHISPERINGS: SOLO PIANO RADIO
http://www.mp3.com/stations/whisperings

Thanks for your continued support of The Music Biz Academy!

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The Music Biz Academy Digest is brought to you by The Music
Biz Academy (http://www.musicbizacademy.com) . It is a resource
designed for musicians promoting or selling music on the
internet. Each week we feature news, articles, and reviews
related to the art of online music promotion and music related
product sales.

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