Page 3100 – That Eric Alper

1% of recording artists earn 77% of recorded music revenue

Music

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Nov 20, 2014

1% of recording artists earn 77% of recorded music revenue

Because the most-popular songs now stay on the charts for months, the relative value of a hit has exploded. The top 1 percent of bands and solo artists now earn 77 percent of all revenue from recorded music, media researchers report. And even though the amount of digital music sold has surged, the 10 best-selling tracks command 82 percent more of the market than they did a decade ago. The advent of do-it-yourself artists in the digital age may have grown music’s long tail, but its fat head keeps getting fatter.

Radio stations, meanwhile, are pushing the boundaries of repetitiveness to new levels. According to a subsidiary of iHeartMedia, Top 40 stations last year played the 10 biggest songs almost twice as much as they did a decade ago. Robin Thicke’s “Blurred Lines,” the most played song of 2013, aired 70 percent more than the most played song from 2003, “When I’m Gone,” by 3 Doors Down. Even the fifth-most-played song of 2013, “Ho Hey,” by the Lumineers, was on the radio 30 percent more than any song from 10 years prior.

How music education influenced Google CEO Larry Page

Music

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Nov 20, 2014

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How music education influenced Google CEO Larry Page

From Fortune:

As Google CEO Larry Page looks backward, he’s realizing how much his musical education inspired critical elements of Google—especially his impatience and obsession with speed.

“In some sense I feel like music training lead to the high-speed legacy of Google for me,” Page said during a recent interview with Fortune. “In music you’re very cognizant of time. Time is like the primary thing.”

Page, who grew up in Michigan, played saxophone and studied music composition while growing up. During college at the University of Michigan, he developed a business plan for a company that would use software to build a music synthesizer. That project, which required the software to work in real time, opened his eyes to a what he saw as a flaw in the software that powers most computers.
“It’s amazing to the extent I think that modern operating systems are terrible at being real-time,” Page said. “If you think about it from a music point of view, if you’re a percussionist, you hit something, it’s got to happen in milliseconds, fractions of a second.”

“I do think there is an important artistic component in what we do,” he said. “As a technology company I’ve tried to really stress that.” Page says he learned to appreciate that “artistic component,” in part through music.

Twitter now lets you search for any tweet in history

Music

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Nov 20, 2014

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Twitter now lets you search for any tweet in history

From Wired:

This morning, Twitter began rolling out a search service that lets you search for any tweet in its archive.

Outside services have long offered ways of searching old tweets, including tools like Topsy (now owned by Apple) and Tweet Machine, and such services are still the best way to find tweets that have been deleted from Twitter proper. But Twitter’s new search engine fills a conspicuous hole in its own micro-messaging service, and shows how internet search services continue to evolve, providing ever faster access to an ever growing corpus of online information.

Though the new Twitter search engine is limited to rather rudimentary keyword searches today, the company plans to expand into more complex queries in the months and years to come. And the foundational search infrastructure laid down by the company will help drive other Twitter tools as well. “It lets us power a lot more things down the road—not just search,” says Gilad Mishne, the Twitter engineering director who helped oversee the project.

Kate Bush, Stevie Wonder, David Bowie, Leif Garrett On This Thing Called “Punk”

Music

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Nov 19, 2014

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Kate Bush, Stevie Wonder, David Bowie, Cliff Richard, Peter Gabriel, Paul Cook, John Lydon, Meatloaf, and ummm…Leif Garrett putting in their two cents on the topic of “Punk.”

Questlove gives some of the best advice for bands you’ll ever hear

Music

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Nov 19, 2014

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Wait until the 40 second mark for some great advice for bands from Questlove.

Infographic: Make your next Facebook contest explode

Music

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Nov 19, 2014

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One of the best way to gain new fans is through a Facebook contest, as long as you narrow down the true fans, rather than those who just enter contests for a living. While a quick check through the feeds can help you with the latter, Shortstack created an infographic to guide Facebook marketers and page admins through this process.

Barry Manilow announces he’ll hit the road One Last Time

Music

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Nov 19, 2014

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Barry Manilow announces he’ll hit the road One Last Time

Barry Manilow announced today that he is going to “hit the road” and perform concerts across North America ONE LAST TIME! The music legend will launch his multiple-city ONE LAST TIME! Tour beginning in Omaha, NE on Feb. 11, 2015, and travel to Boston, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Pittsburgh, Chicago, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, Seattle and more before performing for the first time at Barclays Center in his native Brooklyn on the superstar’s June 17th birthday.

With his band of 13 musicians and singers, Manilow said, “We’re having a great time putting the show together. We hope to take everyone on an emotional roller coaster. I can’t wait to see everyone dancing in the aisles.”

After performing more than 400 concerts at the Las Vegas Hilton and Paris Las Vegas from 2005 through 2011, Manilow has limited his concert appearances. The ONE LAST TIME! Tour is a major undertaking and as Manilow said, “is my way of thanking everyone for their years of support…one last time!”

The GRAMMY, TONY, and EMMY Award-winning musician’s career skyrocketed to superstardom when his mega hit song, “Mandy,” topped the charts in 1975. In the spirit of that special year, tickets will be priced to tie into that year and will start at $19.75. According to concert promoter AEG Live, Manilow insisted that the average ticket price remain low and that a greater range of ticket prices be available.

American Express Card Members can purchase tickets before the general public beginning Wednesday, Nov. 19 at noon (local) in most markets.

Tickets for most markets go on sale to the public beginning Monday, Nov. 24 at 10 a.m. at www.aeglive.com and www.ticketmaster.com. General information about the ONE LAST TIME! Tour is available at www.manilow.com.

Exclusive VIP Packages will be available. In addition to great seats, VIP packages include limited edition memorabilia, VIP parking and much more!

Manilow released his latest album, MY DREAM DUETS, on Oct. 27. The album debuted at #4 and is Manilow’s 15th Top 10 album. Modern technology has given Manilow the opportunity to record his “dream” duets with his own musical heroes on his latest album. From cherished idols like Judy Garland and Louis Armstrong to contemporary icons like Whitney Houston and John Denver, they have all joined Barry in his “virtual recording studio.” MY DREAM DUETS is in stores now.

Barry Manilow’s ONE LAST TIME! Tour Dates:

Date City Venue On-Sale

Feb. 11 Omaha, NE CenturyLink Center Nov. 24

Feb. 12 Kansas City, MO Sprint Center Nov. 24

Feb. 14 Chicago, IL United Center Nov. 24

Feb. 15 Auburn Hills, MI The Palace of Auburn Hills Dec. 5

Feb. 24 Milwaukee, WI BMO Harris Bradley Center Nov. 24

Feb. 26 Cleveland, OH Wolstein Center Nov. 24

Feb. 27 Washington, D.C. Verizon Center Nov. 24

Mar. 1 Columbus, OH Nationwide Arena Nov. 24

Mar. 26 Pittsburgh, PA CONSOL Energy Center Nov. 24

Mar. 28 Mashantucket, CT The Grand Theater at Foxwoods Nov. 24

Apr. 8 Glendale, AZ Gila River Arena Dec. 5

Apr. 10 Las Vegas, NV MGM Grand Garden Arena Dec. 5

Apr. 11 San Diego, CA Valley View Casino Center Nov. 24

Apr. 14 Los Angeles, CA STAPLES Center Nov. 24

Apr. 17 Sacramento, CA Sleep Train Arena Nov. 24

Apr. 18 San Jose, CA SAP Center at San Jose Nov. 24

Apr. 20 West Valley City, UT Maverik Center Nov. 24

May 26 Vancouver, B.C. Pepsi Live at Rogers Arena Nov. 28

May 27 Seattle, WA KeyArena at Seattle Center Dec. 5 at Noon

May 28 Portland, OR Moda Center Nov. 24

June 4 Duluth, GA The Arena at Gwinnett Center Nov. 24

June 5 Louisville, KY KFC Yum! Center Nov. 24

June 6 Charlotte, NC Time Warner Cable Arena Nov. 24

June 13 Philadelphia, PA The Wells Fargo Center Nov. 24

June 14 Newark, NJ Prudential Center TBD

June 16 Boston, MA TD Garden Nov. 24

June 17 Brooklyn, NY Barclays Center TBD

Canada’s Country Music Stars come together for the CCMA Holiday Special

Music

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Nov 19, 2014

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Canada’s Country Music Stars come together for the CCMA Holiday Special

The Canadian Country Music Association is pleased to present the CCMA Holiday Special, airing on CBC-TV on Monday, December 15 at 9 p.m./9:30 p.m. NT and on CMT Canada on Thursday, December 18 at 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. ET. Hosted by multi CCMA Award winner, Terri Clark, the CCMA Holiday Special features a collection of memorable and unique performances by some of Canada’s most recognizable and beloved country artists.

Joining Terri on stage for one-of-a-kind collaborations and performances: Gord Bamford, Jason Blaine, Dean Brody, Chad Brownlee, Lindsay Ell, Tim Hicks, High Valley, Kira Isabella, Brett Kissel, Beverley Mahood, One More Girl, Lindi Ortega, Deric Ruttan, Tebey and The Stellas with their daughters, Lennon & Maisy.

“It thrills me to be able to host the CCMA Holiday Special this year, and celebrate the season with so many talented artists and friends,” said Terri Clark. “Christmas has always been my favourite time of the year. I completely throw myself into cookie-making and decorating, and I just love the feeling the season brings. I hope this Special brings some holiday spirit to our country music fans.”

“I am proud to add the CCMA Holiday Special to our repertoire of national programming with our broadcast partners,” said Don Green, President of the CCMA. “The CCMA, and the Canadian country music industry, really does feel like a big, extended family, making the CCMA Holiday Special all the more special to us. I know Canadian audiences will enjoy it.”

Produced by Corkscrew Media, the CCMA Holiday Special was filmed at Rexall Place in Edmonton, Alberta this past September. A portion of all tickets from the CCMA Holiday Special filming has gone towards MusiCounts.

In addition to its airdates on December 15 and 18, the audio of the CCMA Holiday Special will broadcast on CBC Radio One, Canada Live on Friday, December 19 at 2 p.m./2:30 p.m. NT and CBC Radio 2, Canada Live on Monday, December 22 at 7 p.m./7:30 p.m. NT; it will also re-air on CMT on December 25 at 1 a.m. ET.

Famed Celtic Fiddlers Natalie MacMaster & Donnell Leahy Present “A Celtic Family Christmas”

Music

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Nov 19, 2014

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Famed Celtic Fiddlers Natalie MacMaster & Donnell Leahy Present “A Celtic Family Christmas”

With decades of musical experience, tremendously successful solo careers recognized around the world and over 10 years of marriage and six beautiful children, Natalie MacMaster and Donnell Leahy have set their sights on combining their musical talents and home lives; welcoming audiences into their festive holiday celebrations with “A Celtic Family Christmas”. Alongside beautiful seasonal music that audiences know and love, fans will enjoy riveting pieces, traditional Cape Breton tunes, step-dancing, story-telling and a joie-de-vive that will thrust them headlong into the Christmas spirit. Joined by their children and Leahy brothers Doug and Angus, Natalie and Donnell kick off “A Celtic Family Christmas” on November 26th in Brampton, ON and will make multiple stops across the province, wrapping up in Oakville on December 21st.

After receiving her first fiddle at the age of nine, Natalie MacMaster knew that music was ingrained in her soul. Little did she know when releasing her first recording at the young age of 16 that her career would go on to span over 30 years, garnering her numerous awards across Canada and the US and recognition for both her musical talents and contribution to Cape Breton’s fiddling tradition. Renowned for her elegance with the bow, intricate technique and stylistic diversity, MacMaster is as captivating as they come, both on and off stage.

Natalie appears on “Merry Christmas Caledonia” and “Go Tell It On The Mountain” featured on Johnny Reid’s “A Christmas Gift To You” Platinum release. The video for “Go Tell It On The Mountain” was recently shot in Cape Breton and will premiere on CMT this December.

Growing up with a fiddle-playing father and a step-dancing mother, Donnell Leahy’s musicality and love for the arts was inevitable. A fiddle in his hands was a constant, and Leahy spent years crafting his signature style – at the same time raucous and polished. As the musical leader and front man for Leahy, he was celebrated for his mesmerizingly strident, exultant and high-energy performances – characteristics he continues to explore in his latest musical pursuits.

“A Celtic Family Christmas” promises to deliver the exceptional music talents and obvious joy of playing together that fans have come to expect from this husband and wife duo. Incorporating family into performances and travel, the couple has found a way to maintain a healthy work-life balance while nurturing the gift of music in their children and sharing the Celtic traditionalism they both grew up with. A remarkable night of endless entertainment and dynamic performances, this show is sure to both enthrall old fans and garner new ones.

A Celtic Family Christmas Dates:

November 26, 2014 – Brampton, ON
December 7, 2014 – North Bay, ON
December 8, 2014 – Huntsville, ON
December 9, 2014 – Toronto, ON
December 10, 2014 – Toronto, ON
December 11, 2014 – St. Catharine’s, ON
December 12, 2014 – St. Catharine’s, ON
December 13, 2014 – Belleville, ON
December 14, 2014 – Brockville, ON
December 18, 2014 – Peterborough, ON
December 19, 2014 – Peterborough, ON
December 20, 2014 – Markham, ON
December, 21, 2014 – Oakville, ON

Taylor Swift and American Express Brings Fans First-Of-Its-Kind Experience For “Blank Space” Music Video

Music

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Nov 19, 2014

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Taylor Swift and American Express Brings Fans First-Of-Its-Kind Experience For “Blank Space” Music Video

There’s been a lot of talk about Taylor Swift recently, and let’s just do a quick recap. This morning, Time magazine editor Nancy Gibbs went on the Today show to reveal the shortlist of people currently being considered for Time’s 2014 Person of the Year title. Swift is on there, and rightfully so. Over the course of her career, she’s charted 60 entries on the Billboard Hot 100 — the most of any female artist since her debut in 2006. Swift is a seven-time Grammy winner, and is the best-selling digital music artist of all time. Her fifth album, 1989, debuted at #1 on the US Billboard 200, selling 1,287,000 copies. In doing so the album became the highest sales week since 2002, and made Swift the first artist to have three albums sell a million or more copies in a week as well as becoming the best-selling album released in 2014. It sold more copies in its opening week than any album in the previous twelve years,thanks to “Shake It Off” and “Blank Space” both reaching #1 on the Billboard Hot 100.

And now, Swift has teamed up with American Express for one of the coolest apps I’ve seen. Now, you can step inside a cinematic interactive musical experience starring the biggest-selling artist of the year (and next). Fans can choose where you go, who you follow and what you explore in a stunning house filled with characters, objects and scenes.

Shot with groundbreaking 360° cameras and scored with a rich audio soundtrack based on Taylor’s single ‘Blank Space’ from her new album 1989, the experience is an immersive journey with intertwined storylines, multiple rooms and dozens of hidden interactive features waiting to be unlocked and explored.

You can also explore exclusive behind the scenes footage from the Taylor Swift shoot, as well as the archive of Amex UNSTAGED live events and films with other top artists.

A New Point of View

Turn your device to look around — you control the 360º camera. Explore wherever and however you choose.

Explore the Mansion

Tap on doors to move freely between rooms. Tap on objects to delve deeper into Taylor’s world.

You can download it at the App Store or Google Play now.

This project marks the next evolution in the American Express UNSTAGED platform and the music video category overall. The collaboration should give fair warning to all artists out there that perhaps music videos just aren’t enough, anymore. Kudos to Swift and director Joseph Kahn for making the relationship between fans and artists that much more fun.

What should be noted about Swift’s relationship with American Express is that the credit card company isn’t new to music – for years, they have partnered with the music industry and artists to deliver experiences for fans. From collaborative programs like their digital live-streaming UNSTAGED concert series featuring artists like Tim McGraw to their Early-On-Sale program, the company is truly helping connect fans in new ways with their Front Of The Line access, providing Canadian Cardmembers advanced access to shows.