Digital Bang: The 2010 Sub Pop Sampler

FREE Sub Pop Sampler is a post from: wax&wires

Sticking with the new shorter format, I give a quick rundown of what iTunes LP brings to the table, what works and what doesn’t. Can it resurrect album sales in a digital market?

I like iTunes LP for the most part. They need to make it more easily accessible from a permanent link on the home page of the iTunes store. I want to be able to see every ITLP album on a single page quickly and easily, which right now there’s not a lot. Second, they need to transfer the experience to the iPhone so that you can have the full album, including bonus content, on the go.

You can check out iTunes LP, and all 12 albums available with it, here.

What do you think?

wax&wires tv – Episode 006: iTunes LP Review is a post from: wax&wires

There were rumors flying around about Yorke having contributed a song for the upcoming Twilight sequel, New Moon. The film comes out October 20th, so I would not be surprised if one of these tracks made its way into the movie.

The artwork is said to be stellar for the 12″, though I’ll have to wait and see if I can get our hands on one to check out.

Thom Yorke To Release Surprise New Album is a post from: wax&wires

WAXandWIRES TV – EPISODE 5

In this episode:
The state of The Album V Singles
Apple Cocktail album format
Muse gets creative with releasing their new single

I’m trying out a new format. Rather than full, crazy long episodes covering the gamut, I’ll put out shorter videos of just one topic at a time. Not as much fancy lighting, production quality, motion graphics, credit rolls, etc. Hopefully it will let me get the content out more timely though, and give you a chance to watch without getting bored or having to reschedule your day! The content ought to be driving the show more than the production anyway, so let me know what you think!

In this episode, the big topic is how to create an experience behind your music. Like it or not, your songs are free (somewhere) on the net. You can fight that all you want, but what you ought to do is accept that the songs are given away. Count money you make off of song sales as bonus. From there you need to figure out how to create added incentive to get listeners to buy into an EXPERIENCE around those songs; whether it be exclusive behind the scenes content, concert tickets, t-shirts, whatever. Muse did a great job with that on their latest release, creating an entire interactive experience and geo-tagging hunt for their fans. Apple is doing this in an official way with “Cocktail,” but bands have been independently up to it for a while.

Remember back when CDs first came out and they would have “secret tracks?” That’s totally played out now, and went through a period of almost being expected on every album. We need a resurgence of that mindset in a fresh way though, artists who will put a little something special in the album in order to create excitement around picking it up. All the little hidden treasures that add a personal and original touch to the album, thus helping it find a home in your memory.

What are you doing to bring an experience along with your songs?

Email me with any questions or comments. I welcome them all. Thanks!

tim@waxandwires.com

wax&wires tv – Episode 005: Music is more than songs is a post from: wax&wires

Do you think the App will replace the Album in the near future? Has it already happened?

[via Eliot Van Buskirk @ wired]

The iTunes music store sells single songs at approximately the same price, with artist presented in more or less the same way.

Apple’s app store, however, is still somewhat like the wild west (at least as far as music goes), where the rules are being made up in real time. Artists and labels can sell music alongside other digital offerings through the app store at any price from zero to $999.99.

As we suggested last summer, this creates an opportunity for artists and labels to distribute a new type of product, especially because the app store concept is spreading to other mobile phone platforms.

On Monday, six of the 20 most recently submitted music apps to appear in the App Store featured a single artist: Jason Carver, Jessica Harp, Jimmy Cliff, John Butler Trio, Kadence, or The Cribs. Each showcases music videos, photos, news, photo-jumble games, concert listings, and/or community features that let fans share photos with each other. And all of them were made with iLike’s iPhone app toolkit — as was Ingrid Michaelson’s app, pictured to the right.

Since iLike launched the service in May, about 250 of the over 300,000 artists with access to iLike’s dashboard feature have launched customized iPhone apps through the system.

“We’re encouraged by the positive response our create-your-own-app platform has generated, and this is only the beginning,” said iLike CEO Ali Partovi. (The company also announced a new version of its Local Concerts app on Tuesday, with concert listings based on your music library, push notification for shows, maps to venues, and concert information sharing.)

These artist-specific apps, which labels also develop in-house, place a constantly-updating tattoo on fans’ phones. It’s like having a music subscription, but in the sense of a fan club, rather than in the sense of subscribing to music in general as one would with Rhapsody.

Many of iLike’s music apps are free and promotional. Other apps contain full songs, and cost money.

Dave Dederer, former singer and guitarist for the Presidents of the United States of America and current Melodeo business development vice president, released one of the first of these, which charged $3 for four albums plus exclusive material. His company sells another $3 app containing streaming versions of top 100 hip hop songs in the iTunes store (iTunes link).

The app store broke the rules for selling music through iTunes, and the ramifications of that are beginning to be felt. Now that iLike has allowed app creation to scale across hundreds of thousands of bands, and other mobile platforms are emulating Apple’s modular app concept, the artist-specific app could — in addition to being the new MySpace page — become a formidable music format in its own right.

If that happens, the idea of buying a bundle of music won’t die with the album — it will survive with the app.

The Album Is Dead, Long Live the App is a post from: wax&wires

Read the press release below:

Earlier today, the free download of Coldplay’s new live album, LeftRightLeftRightLeft, was made available – click here to download your free copy from Coldplay.com now. Today is also the day of the band’s first North American tour date, in West Palm Beach, where the first copies of the LRLRL CD will be given away.

The CD will then be handed out to all fans at every remaining Coldplay live shows in 2009 (apart from Festival shows). The free download will also be available from Coldplay.com until the band play their final 2009 show. We hope you like it.

The tracklisting is comprised of classics and new editions:
1. Glass of Water
2. Clocks
3. 42
4. Strawberry Swing
5. Hardest Part/Postcards from far Away
6. Viva La Vida
7. Death Will Never Conquer
8. Fix You
9. Death And All His Friends

Coldplay Free Live Album Out Now is a post from: wax&wires

Good morning. We’re pleased to announce that Coldplay will be giving away a live CD, LeftRightLeftRightLeft, at every remaining live show in 2009 (apart from festival shows). Starting with the band’s first North American tour date, at West Palm Beach in Florida on May 15th, every fan attending a show will be given a free copy of the nine-track CD, which won’t be available elsewhere. Also on May 15th, LeftRightLeftRightLeft will be made available as a free download right here at Coldplay.com, for all fans (and for the same time period).

According to the band, the give-away is meant as a recession-busting mark of gratitude to everyone who’s supported them: “Playing live is what we love. This album is a thank you to our fans – the people who give us a reason to do it and make it happen.”

The album was recorded over the past year in various cities around the world on the Viva La Vida tour. Its tracklisting is as follows:

1. Glass of Water
2. 42
3. Clocks
4. Strawberry Swing
5. The Hardest Part/Postcards From Far Away
6. Viva La Vida
7. Death Will Never Conquer
8. Fix You
9. Death And All His Friends

As I stated before, I’m not sure how “recession-busting” the album would be, unless recipients were to hock the albums on ebay. Now that the band intends to release it as a free download from their site anyway, even that proves a bit bust. Either way, it’s a cool gift to fans, and you shouldn’t need an excuse to show some gratitude.

Free Coldplay Live Album is a post from: wax&wires

Here’s some details regarding Paper Route’s tour. I would highly recommend you check them out if they’re anywhere near you. I’ve had the new album on rotation for a little while now, and am still not sick of it. All the textures are perfect, the melodies and lyrics are haunting, and everything about it is spot on. Here’s a peek at a song off the album, though not my personal favorite from it.

Check out “Be Healed” for a great Kings Of Leon meets The Verve vibe. Hands down, the winner on the album in my book, though it’s packed with great songs.

Exclusive Stream: “Tiger Teeth”
http://umrg.edgeboss.net/qtime/umrg/938-paper_route/token/tigerteeth.mov
http://umrg.edgeboss.net/wmedia/umrg/938-paper_route/token/tigerteeth.wax

Video: 7 Minutes Documentary Trailer
http://video.umrg.com/paperroute/trailer/quicktime.asp

Nashville based Paper Route is gearing up for the release of its debut album Absence on April 28th via Universal Motown. In anticipation, the band has released a stream of the track “Tiger Teeth”- the perfect example of the electronic driven pop-rock which earned the band early praise from Paste as a band to watch. The strong songwriting echoes the music scene in Nashville, and with the incorporation of a drummer instead of only computer beats, they have created a unique balance of the electronic and organic.

Absence is currently available for a special pre-order through the bands MySpace page- www.myspace.com/paperroute. It includes a bonus documentary titled 7 Minutes that was shot by the band & photographer Bob Miller & edited by Olivier Groulx (Arcade Fire’s “Black Mirror” video, Human Highway’s “The Sound” video). The footage is from the December 2008 UK tour and album recording in Tennessee. The trailer for 7 Minutes can be streamed here: http://video.umrg.com/paperroute/trailer/quicktime.asp. Paper Route also worked with Groulx on the upcoming video for the single “Carousel” which is set to premiere soon.

Paper Route is on the road with Copeland through the end of the month. After a record release show in Nashville, they head out with Young Love. Catch Paper Route in the following cities:

April
15 – Columbus, OH – The Basement *
16 – Toronto, ON – Opera House *
17 – Purchase, NY – Purchase College *
18 – Millville, PA – Mr. Smalls *
20 – Brooklyn, NY – Southpaw *
21 – Allentown, PA – Crocodile Rock *
22 – Farmingdale, NY – The Crazy Donkey *
24 – Washington, DC – The Rock and Roll Hotel *
25 – Raleigh, NC – The Brewery *
26 – Virginia Beach, VA – The Jewish Mother *
28 – Greensboro, NC – Greene Street *
29 – Jacksonville, FL – Free Bird Café *

May
2 – Nashville, TN – Exit/In (Record Release show)
8 – Anaheim, CA – Chain Reaction #
10 – San Francisco, CA – Bottom of The Hill #
12 – Portland, OR – Berbati’s Pan #
13 – Seattle, WA – Nectar Lounge #
15 – Salt Lake City, UT – Kilby Court #
16 – Las Vegas, NV – Beauty Bar #
18 – San Antonio, TX – White Rabbit #
19 – Houston, TX – Walter’s On Washington #
20 – Austin, TX – Mohawk #
22 – Miami, FL – The Vagabond #
23 – Tampa, FL – Orpheum #
24 – Orlando, FL – The Social #
27 – Washington, DC – DC9 #
30 – Philadelphia, PA – North Star Bar #
31 – Cambridge, MA – Middle East Upstairs #

June
2 – New York, NY – Bowery Ballroom #
4 – Cleveland, OH – Grog Shop #
5 – Detroit, MI – The Shelter #
6 – Chicago, IL – Beat Kitchen #

* w/ Copeland
# w/ Young Love

PAPER ROUTE Delivers Absence On April 28th is a post from: wax&wires

With a lot of pressure to follow up her 2006 LP “Back to Black,” label execs aren’t taking chances with a new sound. Why should they? Amy’s vintage soul sound was a smash hit, setting the bar for all other artists riding the trend to be compared to, including Duffy, Adele, etc.

Rumor has it that the lyrics on Amy’s new album are also much darker than her 2006 hit. Sources told welt.de:

The lyrics are very dark indeed. While she’s known for her conversational style and has been very successful with it, many of the tracks are near the knuckle. In the past, she’s written frequently about broken hearts and boyfriends, but this time round she’s delving into harrowing terrain.

Perhaps he meant heroin terrain, as Winehouse has developped a tragic public image as an un-remorseful addict. That persona is also cause for alarm from the label regarding Amy wanting to pursue a reggae sound. The source added:

It is crucial Amy’s return is handled properly. If she puts out a record that is in any way half-baked, that could severely damage her long-term prospects, so everyone’s focus at the minute is getting it right, even if that means telling Amy some things she probably won’t want to hear.

So what can we learn from all this?

Lesson #1: Find out what you do best, and do it. It’s one thing to pursue artistic integrity, but another to shoot yourself in the foot and sabotage your career. I’ve always struggled with balancing the music I want to play with the music I’m best at playing. My advice would be to play whatever genre will give you the biggest platform, keeping your passion as a hobby. From that platform, you can gain new resources (financial and personnel) to develop the genre you’re more passionate about.

Lesson #2: Don’t do drugs. Seriously though. Don’t do it.

Amy Winehouse’s New Album Rejected is a post from: wax&wires

Just finished watching these guys on the Late Show, a little band you might have heard of… and a little media blitz you’ve definitely heard of.

I suspected that this would be the Tuesday deal of the day, and sure enough, here it is.

U2′s new album, No Line On The Horizon for $3.99.

U2 – No Line On The Horizon

Wax Pick: U2 – No Line On The Horizon is a post from: wax&wires

Either way, I like the move by Coldplay to create further incentive to see them live in an economy that is all too ready to cut out entertainment in favor of mortgage payments, gas and groceries. So ulterior motives tallied up, it seems like a win-win.

Read the full story.

Free Coldplay Album To Concert Goers? is a post from: wax&wires

Offered in association with Q magazine, ‘We Play Endlessly’ features nine tracks taken from three of their critically acclaimed albums, including the hugely popular Hoppípolla and Sæglópur.

FREE EXCLUSIVE SIGUR RÓS CD is a post from: wax&wires

image: Danny Clinch

“I thought, ‘No, I haven’t done that since my first two records came out in the same year,’ ” Springsteen says. “Usually, I don’t write that quickly. But I went back to my hotel in Atlanta, and over the next week, I wrote several songs that formed the beginning of the new album (Working on a Dream). I found there was more than enough fuel for the fire to keep going.”

Working on a Dream, streaming now on NPR Music — a week before its official release date — is Springsteen’s 24th album. It was recorded with the E Street Band during breaks from the group’s 2007 tour.

“I hope Working on a Dream has caught the energy of the band, fresh off the road from some of the most exciting shows we’ve ever done,” Springsteen says. “All the songs were written quickly. We usually used one of our first few takes, and we all had a blast making this one from beginning to end.”

Working on a Dream contains 12 new Springsteen songs and one bonus track, “The Wrestler,” which is featured over the closing credits of Darren Aronofsky’s 2008 film of the same name. The track also won a Golden Globe for Best Original Song.

[via NPR.org]

You can listen to the album here.

Exclusive First Listen: Bruce Springsteen is a post from: wax&wires

From U2.com:

No Line On The Horizon will be available in five formats;

– LP vinyl – limited edition with 2 black vinyl discs, gatefold sleeve, and a 16 page booklet.

Here’s the track listing:

1. No Line On The Horizon
2. Magnificent
3. Moment of Surrender
4. Unknown Caller
5. I’ll Go Crazy If I Don’t Go Crazy Tonight
6. Get On Your Boots
7. Stand Up Comedy
8. Fez – Being Born
9. White As Snow
10. Breathe
11. Cedars Of Lebanon

You can support wax&wires if you pre-order the album for $9.99 here, the Box Set (CD/Poster/Book/DVD) for $66.49 here, or the 2 LP Vinyl for $17.98 here.

Details On U2′s New Album Release is a post from: wax&wires

U2 Releases First Single From “No Line On The Horizon” is a post from: wax&wires