In Dave Kusek and Gerd Leonards book, The Future of Music, the authors practically warn music companies that if they don’t embrace customers and respect artists, they will be steamrolled into the digital landfill.

This story in Forbes, about Tower Records indicates that some companies have got the message. It is a podcast service called TowerPod.com that allows listeners to create podcasts  and audio shows using music from the site.

The company will pick up revenue from advertising it will slot into the podcasts –and share the revenue with those who created the podcasts! Marketing folk will obviously see an opening here to (a) buy these advertising slots, and (b) create their own podcasts since it opens a new distribution channel with strong brand recognition –alongside iTunes, of course.

The book’s main thesis, ‘music like water’ talks of music returning to a service once again, after being trapped in the productized format, the CD, tape and vinyl. I can see podcasting as just the tip of the spear of content distribution and sponsored communication. It will leap into newer formats when mobile phones (our future MP3 players) become the interface for such music services.

Continue reading →

While Google is clearly moving into Microsoft territory with an Office replacement, the Amazon Vs Apple competition is equally worth watching.

All these ‘publishers’ are on a collision course. This MSNBC story highlights the Amazon move. There could be unexpected communications windfalls for independant musicians, podcasters and anyone who has been trying to pierce Big media.

The two billionaires, Apple and Amazon, are all pumped up. The former has sold one billion downloads on iTunes, and the latter just reported $1 billion in quarterly sales. Amazon’s Fishbowl, which began earlier this year is one step into Apple’s territory.  Will Apple reciprocate with, say, a business around downloadable books? Like I mentioned before, everyone’s a publisher. Of course, with iTunes, anything is possible. I recently downloaded 5 chapters of ‘The Future of Music’ via iTunes. The book is all about why content providers and musicians must embrace non-linear media, so marketing it via iTunes is a great way to demonstrate the power of these new publishers.

Sidebar: Found on Amazon:
Apple, The inside story of Intrigue, Egomania and Business Blunders.

:–)

Continue reading →

The survey of iPod users, cited in an Advertising Age MediaWorks newsletter, shows that people who download or are planning to download Tv programs from iTunes for $1.99 a pop, would view an ad –if the advertiser paid for the download.

This brings an interesting idea to play, one that has always been contentious: Advertising is not such a bad thing, in the right circumstance. People do understand that content is subsidized by advertisers. Of course, in the old mass marketing model, people would do anything to sidestep advertising because the ads were not exactly targeted.

But with channels like iTunes, and dozens of other ways for people to select their own information or entertainment (HBO, for instance is selling segments of The Sopranos, and MTV plans to sell VHI, MTV, and Comedy Central programs optimized for viewing on mobile phones) the problem of ‘bombardment’ is going away.

The study cited, only talks of the findings in terms of attitudes toward iTunes. But as more video-capable mobile devices and phones show up this year, it will open a window for all marketers to bond with content providers. Consumers will rush to the digital faucets for paid and free content. There will soon be many ways to make advertising make much of what flows through them seem like free.

Continue reading →