Music Biz Academy Digest - Issue #53 - March 11th, 2003
An update from http://www.musicbizacademy.com.

This is a subscriber only newsletter. If for any reason you wish
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THE MUSIC BIZ ACADEMY
http://www.musicbizacademy.com

The 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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Hello subscribers, and welcome to the March 11th edition of the
Music Biz Academy Digest!

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT....
There's a lot to tell you about this issue. First and foremost,
the 2003 edition of my book, 'How to Promote Your Music
Successfully on the Internet' has been released. For those of you
who purchased the Summer 2002 edition, you should have already
received your free PDF update.

For those of you who don't know, this book essentially documents
my own journey marketing and selling music on the Internet. I've
been doing this since 1995, and in November of 2001, I was
finally able to quit my day job. The book essentially details
my music marketing strategies - how I got from there (practically
no online income) to here (supporting my family and the continued
development of my art) using the Internet.

I'm not going to include a big sales pitch here. I figure by now
most of you are familiar with the book. If you have any questions
about it, you can email me at dnevue@... . Details on
the book can be found at http://www.promoteyourmusic.com .

There's been a lot of other news that I should pass on to y'all.
I don't think I'm going to spend too much time on all of this,
but here are the highlights:

A new online music subscription service has entered the playing
field. It's called StreamWaves.com, and while it doesn't have all
the features of Listen.com, MusicNet, PressPlay and others, it's
still pretty cool. In fact, I like the layout more than some of
its competitors....

AN INTERNET MUSIC SERVICE WITH A DIFFERENCE: IT'S LEGAL
http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/business/5325623.htm
http://www.streamwaves.com

And since I'm on this topic, I have somewhat of a confession: I
finally took the plunge and subscribed to Listen.com's Rhapsody
service. I have to say I absolutely love it. I feel like I'm
getting quite a deal - for $9.95/month I can listen to most any
CD I want. I don't even have to get out of my chair to pick a CD
out of my collection anymore. Best of all, I can try out pretty
much any new CD on the market for free (well, there's that $10 a
month fee), but I've been really enjoying the ability to try out
new music to my heart's content. It's been a long time since I've
enjoyed listening to music this much.

OK, moving on, I ran across an article this month that I think
every struggling musician should read. It's a music industry case
study. While the information in it is generally common knowledge,
if you are still waiting to have your music 'discovered' so you
can be rich beyond your wildest dreams, this article is a
must-read:

A MUSIC INDUSTRY CASE STUDY
http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/story/60991p-57008c.html

The music biz is harsh, and not near as financially lucrative, as
most people think.

In other news, Napster is coming back. The company that purchased
Napster (Roxio), intends to relaunch Napster as a
pay-for-download service before the end of 2003. Roxio has even
brought in Shawn Fanning, the creator of Napster, as a consultant
on the project. Roxio is pursuing licensing deals with all the
major record labels so that when it goes 'live', it has a
complete catalog from the get-go.

NAPSTER RISES FROM THE GRAVE... AGAIN
http://media.guardian.co.uk/dotcoms/story/0,7521,900540,00.html

In other major news, which I won't delve into detail on,
RealNetworks has invested money in Listen.com, giving the
Rhapsody service a much needed financial boost; AOL signed a deal
with MusicNet and is now offering the music download service to
its 27 million subscribers; File sharing, CD burning, and
Internet listening rates all continue to rise on the Internet (no
surprise there); and the industry is developing a digital ID tag
for music files called the "Global Release Identifier" (GRid) to
track music distributed electronically via the web.

For more news, see the detailed stories below in the featured
news and articles sections....

Until next time,

David Nevue
Editor, The Music Biz Academy
http://www.musicbizacademy.com
http://www.promoteyourmusic.com
http://www.mp3.com/davidnevue


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THE MUSICIAN'S ATLAS - 2003 Edition! - DISCOUNTED!
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 to Music Biz Academy visitors for only $26.95!


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Latest Additions To The Academy
http://musicbizacademy.com/articles/
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HOW YOUR RECORD LABEL KEEPS YOU BUSY WHILE YOU TOUR
http://www.musicbizacademy.com/knab/articles/busy.htm
This is what a professional major label Marketing Itinerary looks
like for an Urban act who is doing a two week tour of the U.S. As
you can see they have the act doing a lot more than just
performing at clubs. They keep the act busy while on the road
visiting radio stations, doing press interviews, and in-store
visits. Hey, who ever said it was going to be easy? Article by
Chris Knab.


RADIO AIRPLAY 101: REPORTING VS. CHARTING
http://www.musicbizacademy.com/articles/radio/reporting.htm
As you start doing more radio, you'll get more opportunity to
choose between "reporting" and "non-reporting" stations, and also
between "charting" and "non-charting" campaigns. Should you pick
one over the other? Article by Brian Farrish.


Q&A: SENDING CDS ACROSS THE BORDER
http://www.musicbizacademy.com/comment/kloveqa5.htm
"We recently sent our CD out to a Canadian station, but it was
returned. When we contacted the station, the MD informed us that
the postal service had told them that the CD was valued at $100,
and that in order to receive it, the station would need to pay an
$18 fee. Weird, don't you think?" Answer by Kenny Love.


NURTURE YOUR FANS!
http://www.musicbizacademy.com/articles/nuturefans.htm
"I have learned many things over the years in this business of
music, but it has taken me a majority of those years to come to
terms with what I feel is the most important aspect of being an
artist....the fans. Fans are precious. Article by Chris
Standring.


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Popular Archives From The Academy
http://musicbizacademy.com/articles/
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HOW TO IMPROVE YOUR PRESS KIT
http://www.musicbizacademy.com/knab/articles/presskits.htm

PERFORMANCE CONTRACTS
http://www.musicbizacademy.com/articles/perfcontracts.htm

INSIDE RECORD LABELS: ORGANIZING THINGS
http://www.musicbizacademy.com/knab/articles/insidelabels.htm


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THE GALARIS MUSICIANS DIRECTORY: 2003 Edition
DISCOUNTED 10% for MUSIC BIZ DIGEST subscribers!
http://www.musicbizacademy.com/gmd.htm
The ultimate tool for the connected musician. Booking Agents,
Clubs, Disc Manufacturers, Legal Services, Magazines, Retailers,
Photographers, Promoters, Publicists, Radio Stations, Record
Labels, Music Schools, Studios, Producers, Engineers, and much
much more!


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Recent Additions/Updates to the Musician's Directory....
http://www.musicbizacademy.com/directory
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AMPCAST
http://www.ampcast.com/artists/
Ampcast is one of the Internet's better-known hosting sites for
independent musicians looking for ways to promote and distribute
their music online. At Ampcast, you get unlimited storage space
for your MP3 files and graphics, detailed album pages to promote
each or your CDs, the ability to customize the HTML of your
'artist page', and you can sell both digital singles and CDs from
your Ampcast page. Ampcast has a reputation for taking a vested
interest in supporting it's members.


THE HARRY FOX AGENCY, INC.
http://www.nmpa.org/hfa.html
Want to use a copyright protected song but you're confused about
who to contact and how to go about it? The HFA licenses the
largest percentage of music in the United States for CDs and
digital services. The HFA's easy to use licensing system takes
you step by step through the process of licensing songs for use
in recording, performance, film, or media and tells you exactly
what you need to do and what it will cost you.


NEGATIVELAND: INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY ISSUES
http://www.negativland.com/intprop.html
This music copyright resource provided by industry-rogue
Negativland is interesting to say the least, with articles
covering both copyright and anti-copyright issues. You'll find
essays and suggested links to information on copyright, fair use,
trademarking, and intellectual property. Fascinating reading.


PUBLIC DOMAIN MUSIC
http://www.pdinfo.com/
Need to find out if a song you want to perform or record is in
the public domain? Then check out this public domain information
project. You'll find numerous articles on public domain works and
copyright information as well as public domain song lists,
research resources, tips, and a well documented FAQ.


PUBLICITY INSIDER
http://www.publicityinsider.com/
Bill Stoller's Publicity Insider newsletter is designed for
people who are - well - wanting to generate a lot of publicity.
Mr. Stoller has worked with some notable clients, including
Coca-Cola, Hasbro, and Colgate-Palmolive. His public relations
firm, Stoller & Bard Communications, has helped make some great
products very famous, including Pictionary, which as you know has
become a household name (or is it 'household game?'). At
PublicityInsider.com, Mr. Stoller is selling subscriptions to his
magazine, 'Free Publicity', which offers a regular dose of hot
opportunities, 'insider' information, Internet publicity tips and
more. But aside from that, there's lots worth parusing at the web
site, including 'Killer Publicity Resources,' frequently asked PR
questions, and a free Publicity Insiders e-zine which you can
subscribe to. Also, don't miss the free reports available at the
web site. Well worth visiting.


MISSING LINK MUSIC: YOUR ROYALTY RESCUE UNIT
http://www.missinglinkmusic.com/index.html
Ever get the feeling your songs are being used without your
permission, or without your getting paid for their use? Missing
Link Music is a royalities research, negotiation, and
investigation firm, who will research the copyright and licensing
status of your songs abroad, negotiate with companies who have
recorded your songs, and enter into licensing agreements on your
behalf. Missing Link Music also licenses songs on a worldwide
basis for use on CDs, cassettes, LPs, DVD, home videos, video
games, as well as music used in commercial movies. Missing Link's
clients include songwriters, producers and artists who have
written for: Boyz II Men, James Brown, Mighty Mighty Bosstones,
Public Enemy, Ce Ce Winans, Warren G, Joe, and many more.

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MUSICDISTRIBUTION.COM
http://www.musicdistribution.com/
MusicDistribution.com aims to help you find the best places to
promote, sell, and distribute your music on the Internet.
Includes our top 10 list, music promotion tips, and
recommended resources.


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Contests, Competitions, and Opportunities
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The Music Biz Academy has no affiliation with the below contests
or opportunies. They simply looked interesting to us, so we
thought they'd be interesting to you. Participate at your own
risk.


UNISONG INT'L SONGWRITING CONTEST
http://www.unisong.com/
Over $50,000 in cash and prizes for songs in 10 categories, plus
win a trip to L.A., N.Y., Nashville or London to write with the
pros. Past UNISONG Grand Prize winners have had the opportunity
to write with the likes of Burt Bacharach, Peter Buck, Jimmy
Buffet, Gary Burr, Beth Nielsen Chapman, Stewart Copeland, Rodney
Crowell, Lamont Dozier, Mick Fleetwood, Peter Frampton, Indigo
Girls, Montell Jordan, Gladys Knight, Lisa Loeb, Me'Shell
Ndegeocello, Joan Osborne, Lee Roy Parnell, Bonnie Raitt, Brenda
Russell, Andy Summers, David Was, Don Was, and many others.
Entries must by postmarked on or before April 30, 2003. $25 Entry
fee.


THE 2003 USA SONGWRITING COMPETITION
http://www.songwriting.net/
It's back! Entries for the 2003 USA Songwriting Competition are
now being accepted. Overall Grand Prize winner will receive
$50,000 worth of cash, merchandise and services. Overall 2nd
Prize winner will receive $7,000 worth of cash and merchandise,
Overall 3rd Prize winner will receive $5,800 worth of cash and
merchandise. First 1,000 entries will each receive a FREE
subscription from Singer magazine. Entries must be postmarked by
May 30th, 2003.


THE 2003 WINDRIFT MUSIC SONGWRITING COMPETITION
http://www.windriftmusic.com/2003/index.htm?mba
Over $25,000 in cash and prizes to be won!!! Fabulous Sponsors
and Industry Professional Judges. Open now till July 31st, 2003
deadline. $20US/$30CDN entry fee. FREE e-Book, & Music Industry
Discounts with every entry! Monthly spot-prizes, Early Bird
Bonuses & FREE entries available! Enter online or by mail.


SHOWCASE ON TV IN NASHVILLE
http://www.nashvilleconnection.com/countrytalentsearch1.html
Talent Search TV (TSTV), a monthly competition, is giving artists
a chance for much needed exposure in Music City. The last weekend
of each month, starting March 29, TSTV will begin the first of
eight competitions that will run through October. Contestants
will compete for the $100 monthly winner position and advance to
the Grand Finals in November. The Grand Prize includes $1000
cash; a two song recording session; a music video to be aired on
Travlin' Music Television's American Music Showcase shown to
536,000 homes; A photo shoot; an Epiphone acoustic guitar; a
showcase at THE TRAP & Nashville's Legendary Hall of Fame Lounge
and Hotel accommodations in Nashville For 4 nights on Music Row.

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GET YOUR MUSIC HEARD!
http://www.rainmusic.com/tonos.htm
Our friends at Tonos have blown the door of opportunity open for
more than a few musicians and songwriters. Founded by legendary
music makers Carole Bayer Sager, David Foster and Kenneth
"Babyface" Edmonds (all three Grammy winners), Tonos gives many
artists the chance to get their music into the hands of the A&R
folks that matter. On a regular basis, record labels,
film/television music supervisors, producers, managers, and other
music industry entities contact Tonos when they're looking for
specific musical talents. For example, Steve Lillywhite, producer
of albums by U2, Dave Matthews and the Rolling Stones, used Tonos
to find the first artist he signed for his new record label. And
he's not alone. On a constant basis, there are new opportunites
listed. Click link above to view current listings.


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Articles From Around The Net....
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NET PIRATES OUTSMART RECORD LABELS
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/2826111.stm
Slowly but surely the music industry seems to be losing its grip
on its most precious asset as illegitimate online services
continue to attract millions of its consumers. New generation of
music lovers get it for free Music is now not just a packaged
commodity to be bought with well-earned pocket money on a
Saturday morning, but a 24-hour service, available free from
hundreds of online sources at the touch of a mouse, albeit
illegally. And when a self-confessed "accused, international
internet pirate," such as Wayne Rosso, head of file-sharing firm
Grokster is invited to a conference hosted by the Financial
Times, then it would seem the music industry's greatest bete
noire has definitely gone mainstream.


GROKSTER: LEGAL BATTLE 'GOOD FOR BUSINESS'
http://www.europemedia.net/shownews.asp?ArticleID=15267
The head of peer-to-peer file-sharing service Grokster has said
that the lawsuit filed against his company by major music labels
and Hollywood studios has actually been good for business.
Speaking at an industry conference, Grokster president Wayne
Rosso told delegates that "Every time they attack file-sharing
software in any way, users rush to download the program, just to
see what's going on, and become hooked. As a result, we prosper
and revenues grow.”


ONLINE MARKET FOR MUSIC EXISTS, CLAIMS RESEARCH
http://tinyurl.com/7a6r
"Little progress" was made in the online music market last year
but a "clear demand" for content paid for online exists among
consumers, according to new research. The study by Jupiter
Research will encourage the record industry, which is grappling
with how to make money from the web, by claiming that some 37% of
European digital music fans are ready and willing to pay for
online music services. But the group said operators of digital
music services need to differentiate between distinct consumer
groups if they are to attract subscribers and offset the impact
of "illegal" file-sharing networks such as Kazaa.


AN INTERNET MUSIC SERVICE WITH A DIFFERENCE: IT'S LEGAL
http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/business/5325623.htm
Three doors down from the Gypsy Tea Room, Jeff Tribble is
hatching his plot for world domination. Inside a former furniture
showroom, the chief executive officer of Streamwaves.com stands
in front of a giant mural of American recording artists. "This
will be a focal point of the music scene," Tribble, 39, says,
sweeping his hand above a vacant expanse of concrete floor. He is
not talking about the local grunge and rave halls that line the
Deep Ellum section of Dallas. Tribble has crafted a business that
he hopes will become a leading supplier of popular music streamed
over the Internet.


BUSINESS MODELS EMERGE IN WORLD OF ONLINE MUSIC
http://www.europemedia.net/shownews.asp?ArticleID=15242
Business models are beginning to emerge as the music industry
begins to seriously engage with the phenomenon of online music
services, according to a new report. Almost all licensed
distributors of digital audio tracks have settled on a rate of
99-cents to download and copy a song onto CD. In addition, paid
music services overwhelmingly charge between USD9 and USD10 a
month for customers to listen to a pool of around 250,000 songs
online using streaming audio technology. Figures in the music
industry still dispute whether allowing individual online
downloads or providing access to full music catalogues will
dominate. However, with music distributors more willing to
license their catalogues, a growing realism is beginning to
undercut the shrill rhetoric still being screeched by bodies such
as the Recording Industry Association of Americia (RIAA).


WHATEVER SOME SAY, THE INTERNET WILL DEVALUE MUSIC
http://tinyurl.com/7a6v
Given the music industry's current woes, it is no wonder so many
artists are beating the drums of peace these days. In the same
way that aspiring missile-sharers believe that the best way to
"liberate" Iraq is to thoroughly destroy it, millions of music
fans believe that unauthorised file sharing is actually helping
miserable label-slaves break the bonds of oppression that have
kept them in mansions, cocaine, and fancy cars for much of the
past century. Of course, with Iraq, apocalypse is only one of
many possible outcomes, and thus, for the likes of Sheryl Crow,
Ms Dynamite and the many other artists who have expressed
anti-war sentiments, it offers a more viable outlet for optimism
than their own situation. Indeed, the music industry apocalypse
is already well under way, the casualties are mounting, and the
carnage is not about to end any time soon.


WHAT NAPSTER HAS SPAWNED
http://tinyurl.com/7a6w
It's been nearly two years since Napster was sued to death. But
if you think free music from the Internet went the way of dial
telephones and eight-track tape decks, think again. The new
Napsters have names like Qtraxmax, iMesh, Morpheus and KaZaA.
They are helping people download more music than Napster ever
moved. People are still not paying for it, either. But all that
free music comes at a price...


IS IT CLOSING TIME FOR THE MUSIC INDUSTRY?
http://tinyurl.com/7a6y
When the head honchos of Canadian music gather this week in
Toronto to discuss their industry's outlook, there won't be many
big smiles. Thanks in part to the Internet, CD sales are in free
fall, and record-company revenues along with them. Many analysts
are predicting the current companies will be replaced by a new
industry within five years. At the current rate, within 18 months
there will be virtually no stores selling only CDs. But if you're
a music lover or musician, life looks fantastic. Thanks to that
same Internet, consumers have unprecedented access to a treasure
trove of tunes.


IS PAY-FOR-PLAY FINALLY FINISHED?
http://tinyurl.com/67iv
Amid a flurry of topics covered at the Senate Commerce
Committee's recent hearing on radio consolidation and the rise of
industry behemoth Clear Channel Communications, one issue in
particular seemed to pique the interest of several senators:
"pay-for-play." This refers to what some critics have called a
modern-day payola scandal, the murky system by which record
companies pay influential independent promoters to get songs on
commercial radio. It seems Congress is sending a bipartisan
message about pay-for-play: Clean up the funny business.


A MUSIC INDUSTRY CASE STUDY
http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/story/60991p-57008c.html
A look at a mythical rock band's earnings, with actual figures
compiled from industry sources: New York City's hottest new band
is Grunthead, a four-piece hard rock group from Maspeth. Because
they've got buzz, the band gets a 15% royalty rate, a few points
above the usual amount for a new artist. Its debut, "Gruntastic,"
goes gold – only 128 of more than 30,000 records reached that
level in 2002. The Gold Record Gross: 500,000 albums sell at
$16.98 = $8,490,000 The Grunts' royalty is 15% of retail. That's
$1,273,500. Is the band rich? Nope....


WHY IS THE MUSIC INDUSTRY IN SUCHDIRE STRAITS?
http://tinyurl.com/7a73
Tonight is the British music industry's official party night.
Dozens of strutting artists accompanied by perma-tanned record
company bosses will attend the one-night festival of corporate
backslapping that is the Brit Awards. Or at least, that is how it
used to be. Hiding behind the on-stage pyrotechnics, slick dance
routines and fixed grins of the winners will be an industry
facing its worst loss of confidence – and income – for more than
20 years.


PERSPECTIVE: THE NEW JAILBIRD JINGLE
http://news.com.com/2010-1071-982121.html?tag=fd_nc_1
If you've ever used a peer-to-peer network and swapped
copyrighted files, chances are pretty good you're guilty of a
federal felony. It doesn't matter if you've forsworn Napster,
uninstalled Kazaa and now are eagerly padding the record
industry's bottom line by snapping up $15.99 CDs by the cartload.
Be warned--you're what prosecutors like to think of as an
unindicted federal felon. I'm not joking. A obscure law called
the No Electronic Theft (NET) Act that former U.S. President Bill
Clinton signed in 1997 makes peer-to-peer (P2P) pirates liable
for $250,000 in fines and subject to prison terms of up to three
years. (You may want to read it, since you'll likely be hearing
more about it soon.)


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Featured Music Industry News
http://www.musicbizacademy.com
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VERIZON, RIAA TO SPAR ON APRIL FOOLS DAY
http://zdnet.com.com/2110-1105-991899.html
Verizon Communications and the major record labels will face off
again before a federal judge on April 1. That's when U.S.
District Judge John Bates will hear arguments over a second
subpoena the Recording Industry Association of America sent to
Verizon under the controversial Digital Millennium Copyright Act.
Bates ruled the first subpoena seeking the identity of a Kazaa
user was valid, but Verizon has appealed. The case pits the reach
of copyright law against Internet users' right to privacy.


RIAA WEBSITE ON THE MOVE AGAIN
http://techfocus.org/modules/news/article.php?storyid=3018
The RIAA's travelling "Hide The Website" gameshow rolled into
Virginia this week, with a new hosting company given the
privilege (or curse) of looking after one of the world's most
reviled web destinations. But this strange story gets even
stranger. A few minutes after we reported on Monday that the
RIAA's website had flickered back to life, it was down again. The
RIAA had given the job to a first-time hoster, a 'Small
Disadvantaged Business' whose owner was maintaining the site from
his home in Rockville, Maryland. The following day a new company
was given the responsibility of Hiding The Website.


VIVENDI RUMOURED TO KEEP HOLD OF MUSIC BUSINESS
http://www.europemedia.net/shownews.asp?ArticleID=15220
Vivendi Universal might not be about to dispose of its music
business after all, according to widespread rumours that have
circulated in the press over the last few days. Directors of the
media group are said now to favour a reorganisation of assets
that would enable it to keep hold of its largest music company,
Universal Music. Though Vivendi had been contemplating oil tycoon
Marvin Davis’ E20bn offer for all of its entertainment assets –
including Universal Studios and theme parks – it is now thought
the company seek to retain its music business whilst
collaborating with alternative investment partners for its other
entertainment assets.


LISTEN.COM BUYS TIME WITH REAL DEAL
http://www.siliconvalley.com/mld/siliconvalley/news/5274717.htm
Struggling independent online music service Listen.com received
an infusion of cash Wednesday from streaming-media giant
RealNetworks to sustain it as it waits for paid services to take
hold. One of the few surviving Internet music firms in San
Francisco's once-crowded Audio Alley, Listen.com earlier this
month laid off one-third of its staff, surrendered most of its
trendy, post-industrial office space and confirmed it was
actively seeking outside investors.


AOL OFFERS ONLINE MUSIC TO ITS BIGGEST AUDIENCE YET
http://www.msnbc.com/news/877605.asp?0cv=BA00
It may be a baby step, but perhaps an important one in the
transition from piracy to legit downloading services online.
America Online Tuesday said it would offer MusicNet to its 27
million U.S. subscribers, the broadest appeal yet to a mainstream
audience by an online commercial music service. The service
allows AOL’s subscribers to listen and even download music from
the Internet legally, ad free, virus free, and with parental
controls.


NAPSTER RISES FROM THE GRAVE... AGAIN
http://media.guardian.co.uk/dotcoms/story/0,7521,900540,00.html
Controversial song swapping site Napster, the former nemesis of
the music industry, is set to relaunch before the end of the year
with whizzkid founder Shawn Fanning back on board. Roxio, the US
software company that bought the Napster brand in a fire sale
late last year, has revealed it plans to relaunch the site as a
paid-for download service before the end of the year. Confirming
the plans, Elliot Carpenter, the chief financial officer of
Roxio, said that the company, which specialises in CD copying
software, was in advanced negotiations with major record labels.


MUSIC INDUSTRY FACES NEW THREATS ON WEB
http://sg.biz.yahoo.com/030221/72/382au.html
Pieter Plass, and others like him may pose a serious threat to
big record labels and other entertainment companies. Mr. Plass is
about to go into business as an enabler of Internet peer-to-peer
services. He wants to provide software, legal advice and other
help to anyone who wants to start up the next Morpheus or Kazaa,
the renegade online bazaars where users can swap copyrighted
songs and movies for free. The twist is that his clients would
launch their companies in the Netherlands, where a court ruling
last March appears to provide legal protection for such
operations.


FILE-SHARING AND CD BURNING REMAIN STEADY IN 2002
http://mi2n.com/press.php3?press_nb=48020
Americans continued their file-sharing and CD burning activities
last year, and teens continued to download music from
file-sharing networks in record numbers, according to Ipsos, the
global marketing research firm. Despite ongoing efforts to curb
unauthorized peer-to-peer (P2P) file-sharing and further declines
in the sales of pre-recorded CDs, half of all teens and one-fifth
of all Americans age 12 and older report having downloaded a
music or MP3 file from a file-sharing service.


INTERNET BROADCAST AUDIENCE SURPASSES 100 MILLION
http://mi2n.com/press.php3?press_nb=48025
An estimated 103 million Americans age 12 and older have used
Internet audio or video broadcasts, according to a new study by
Arbitron Inc. and Edison Media Research. The new study, "Internet
& Multimedia 10: The Emerging Digital Consumer," reveals that the
percentage of all Americans who currently use Internet audio or
video (44 percent) is nearly twice the size of what it was three
years ago (24 percent).


BERTELSMANN SUED OVER NAPSTER
http://news.zdnet.co.uk/story/0,,t269-s2130872,00.html
Music publishers behind hits like "Jailhouse Rock" and "Unchained
Melody" have slapped Bertelsmann with a $17 billion lawsuit,
alleging the giant German media firm played a part in pirating
their songs by funding Napster. In a new twist to the legal
battles against now-defunct Napster, the one-time cult
song-swapping service, songwriters and publishers in the
complaint filed on Wednesday in a Manhattan federal court alleged
that by investing in Napster, Bertelsmann perpetuated the Web
site used by millions of fans to swap songs for free.


MPAA, RIAA AGAIN TARGET FORTUNE 1000 FIRMS
http://siliconvalley.internet.com/news/article.php/1584081
The major trade associations representing the motion picture and
recording industries plan to distribute a brochure to Fortune
1000 companies warning them of the potential legal liabilities of
employees using company computers and networks to download
copyrighted music and movies. The brochure says research has
shown that numerous corporate computer systems are presently
hosting databases of music, film and other unauthorized copies of
copyright material, or transmitting copyright material on
peer-to-peer services.


SKY THREATENS TO PULL PLUG ON MTV
http://media.guardian.co.uk/broadcast/story/0,7493,895681,00.html
BSkyB chief Tony Ball has threatened to throw US giants MTV and
Paramount off the network if they refuse to agree to massive cuts
in the fees they charge the satellite network to provide their
channels. The broadcaster is in the process of renegotiating its
contracts with Viacom channels MTV, Nickelodeon and Paramount
Comedy and AOL Time Warner children's channel Cartoon Network. If
carried out, the move could prove disastrous for MTV which is one
of the oldest satellite broadcasters in the UK. Not only would it
lose out on the estimated £20m a year it receives from Sky to
broadcast, but it would also lose advertising revenues.


VERIZON, RIAA TRADE CLAIMS OF HARM
http://boston.internet.com/news/article.php/1583621
U.S. District Judge John D. Bates heard arguments Thursday
morning on Verizon's latest legal maneuver to avoid complying
with a Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) subpoena
requesting the name of a Verizon Internet subscriber who
allegedly downloaded more than 600 copyrighted music files in a
single day. Citing provisions in the Digital Millennium Copyright
Act (DMCA), Bates last month ruled Verizon had to turn over the
name to the RIAA, a decision Verizon immediately appealed.
Verizon also asked Bates to to stay the ruling in hopes of
maintaining the status quo until the appeal process is resolved.
The RIAA, however, is insisting Verizon immediately comply with
the court order regardless of the appeal process.


MUSIC INDUSTRY TARGETS WORKPLACE DOWNLOADERS
http://tinyurl.com/7a77
The recording industry directed its anti-piracy campaign at large
companies in the United States, Europe and Asia on Thursday,
warning them that employees are illegally downloading music on
company time. The International Federation of the Phonographic
Industry (IFPI), a global trade group representing the major
music labels, said it had begun issuing brochures to thousands of
companies spelling out the legal and technological dangers of
giving employees access to online file-sharing networks.


DISCLIVE AIMS TO SELL POST-CONCERT LIVE CDS
http://tinyurl.com/7a7a
Seeking to create a new revenue source for artists and labels
from live performances, the new company DiscLive says it will
soon begin selling CDs of just-completed concerts at the venue,
Billboard Bulletin reports. New York-based DiscLive says it will
send technicians to concerts to record them; some discs may come
in special editions with autographs, backstage passes, or other
material. The CDs will be sold at kiosks in the venues for an
undisclosed price, according to a spokesperson. Concertgoers will
also be able to pre-order the discs online.


RECORD INDUSTRY TO TRACK MUSIC ONLINE
http://tinyurl.com/7a7c
The music industry today launched its latest bid to legitimise
downloading from the web with new identity tags to keep track of
content distributed online. The Global Release Identifier (GRid),
launched today by the trade body the International Federation of
the Phonographic Industry (IFPI), is the music sector's new
standard for identifying singles, albums, groups of tracks and
multimedia releases that are distributed electronically. The
system is effectively an online version of the Universal Product
Code (UPC) that is assigned to all CDs that are sold in shops.


PRESSPLAY EXPANDS MUSIC LIBRARY
http://tinyurl.com/7a7d
Online subscription music service pressplay says it has reached
agreements with a number of independent record labels that will
add artists like Frank Zappa, Nirvana and Nelly Furtado to its
catalog. Pressplay, a joint venture of the music arms of Japan's
Sony and France's Vivendi Universal, said it signed deals with
DreamWorks, Palm, Ubiquity, Rykodisc/Ryko Label Group and Sub
Pop, bringing its total of available songs to about 250,000.
The company also said that, starting with the February 14 launch
of version 2.5 of its service, it will offer an interactive radio
service and 47 years' worth of music chart data from industry
magazine Billboard.


SENATE HEARS RADIO CRITICS
http://tinyurl.com/7a7f
Consolidation in the radio business kills local voices, harms
consumers and musicians, and it needs to be stopped, activists
told a Senate committee Thursday. Activists including musician
Don Henley pointed to radio monolith Clear Channel Communications
as the worst offender in an industry now dominated by four large
companies. The hearing came as federal regulators consider
relaxing the rules governing media ownership. The Federal
Communications Commission is reviewing six rules, including one
that bars radio owners from also owning TV and newspaper
companies, and one that limits radio ownership to eight stations
in one market.


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Recommended Resources
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HOW TO PROMOTE YOUR MUSIC SUCCESSFULLY ON THE INTERNET
2003 Edition!
http://www.musicbizacademy.com/bookstore/htpromotemusic.htm
Learn the marketing and promotion methods that one musician uses
to bring in over $5000 a month in income from the Internet! There
are no 'pipe dreams' sold here. The author details step-by-step
how he finally said good-bye to his day job and starting spending
more time on his music. Download Version available for only
$16.95! Includes one free PDF update!


THE MUSICIAN'S ATLAS - 2003 Edition! - DISCOUNTED!
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 to Music Biz Academy visitors for only $26.95!


THE INDIE BIBLE - The Fourth Edition!
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 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
This great offering from music biz consultant Christopher Knab is
now available in PDF format! Find out why so many musicians fail
and how you can get the 'edge'. Learn how to attract
distributors, radio play, and how to create a demand for your
music. Music Is Your Business includes excellent flowcharts and
graphs, demonstrating in simple terms how the industry operates.
Sample artist bio, fact sheet, and checklists for jump-starting
your career and/or running your own record label! PDF Edition
only $19.95!


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
$24.95!


THE INDIE MUSICIAN'S PDF POWER PACK!
http://www.musicbizacademy.com/bookstore/index.htm
Get three of our best-selling books for one low price! Set
includes 'How to Promote Your Music Successfully on the
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Services available through the Music Biz Academy!
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These are partnerships we've created though channels and
connections we've established over the years. In other words, we
recommend them because we trust them. If you're looking for help
in any of the following areas, these should be strongly
considered.


CD MANUFACTURING and DUPLICATION
http://www.musicbizacademy.com/cdmanufacturing.htm
MusicBizAcademy.com has teamed up with Northwestern Media to
bring you quality CD manufacturing and duplication at a very
reasonable price. Why NW Media? Because this is the company we
ourselves use. We have partnered with them because we know how
very hard it is to find a good, reasonably priced manufacturer
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have been VERY satisfied with the work NW Media has done for us.
You simply cannot do much better, on quality, service, or price.


GET REPRESENTATION
http://www.musicbizacademy.com/representation.htm
The Music Biz Academy has partnered with NOMA music, a very
well-established song placement and promotion agency, to help you
get your music heard. The mission statement of NOMA Music is
threefold:

1) Placing bands, songwriters, instrumentalists, and solo artists
with established record labels.
2) Placing and licensing songs and music into television, film,
commercials, video, and animation projects.
3) Representing up and coming film and TV composers.

NOMA works with a large network of over 400 production companies.
Recent successes include client song placement in MTV's The
Osbournes, FX's The Shield, three songs in the upcoming film
Employee of the Month starring John Doe from the band X, music in
the upcoming file Paris starring Karen Black. Placements with
Naxos Audio Books, Tokyo Pop Animation Company; Xtremeride Sports
Video, an NHL Hockey video, and others. One of NOMA's World Music
acts recently inked a recording contract with Naxos Records. As
you can see, NOMA provides an aggressive program to get your
music into the right hands.


GET YOUR MUSIC ONLINE!
http://www.musicbizacademy.com/cdstreet.htm
We've partnered with CDStreet to offer one of the best deals on
the net for musicians looking to sell their music via the web.
CDStreet simply takes 20% of your CD price. If you sell a CD for
$12.99, you keep $10.39. If you need to ecommerce enable your web
site (as in, you need a shopping cart), you can use CDStreet to
do that as well. Visitors can rate your music, post reviews, get
news and information and listen to and purchase your music. Very
highly recommended, with lots of buzz on the ‘street’. There is a
one-time $29.95 set up fee, but no recurring or hidden charges. A
fantastic deal on a high-visibility, high-class web site.


MUSIC CAREER CONSULTING
http://www.musicbizacademy.com/consulting.htm
If you'd like some help getting your music career off the ground
or preparing for that next step, contact our expert music
consultant, Christopher Knab. Chris has been called "One of the
Most Influential People in the Northwest Music Industry." by
Seattle's Rocket Magazine. He is owner of FourFront Media and
Music, a consultation service based in Seattle that helps
musicians develop marketing and career plans.


RADIO & RETAIL PROMOTION
http://www.musicbizacademy.com/radiopromo.htm
If you're looking to promote your music either via radio or
through retail, we've teamed up with a radio promoter who has
quarterbacked campaigns for RadioHead (before they were stars),
Lit (Malicious Vinyl), and others. Our contact will help arrange
on-air interviews, CD reviews, and create a custom campaign
custom designed for your music.


ART DESIGN - CDs, Posters, One-Sheets, and Web Sites
http://www.musicbizacademy.com/artdesign/
In this business of music, image means everything! You know it,
we know it, the music industry knows it. Our hand-picked graphic
designers will help you make a powerful statement about your
music! Whether you need art design for your CD package, or just a
quick logo, it's all here. Check out the very cool one-sheet
designs, the perfect item to make your press kit stand out!


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Music123 has a huge selection and they guarantee you the lowest
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ADVERTISE HERE!
Yes, you can advertise your web site or service here at rates
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musicbiz@... for details.


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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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