Recent articles in music (page 1 of 2)
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Oct 6, 2007
Going DRM-Free Digital
Having one too many dusty CDs taking up shelf space, I’ve decided not to buy music in physical form any more. I don’t care how many exclusive, special edition DVDs and fancy-pants packaging they dangle out there—it’s time to move past the physical disc.
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Jul 12, 2006
Getting All Barenaked
I'm a big fan of Barenaked Ladies. Not only do they make music I dig, but they've got an enlightened approach to user rights, and there is a geeky vein through all of the work they do (I refer you to their blog and podcast).
But with the pending release of their new album, Barenaked Ladies Are Me, they have slipped up a little. It seems they have produced so much new music for this album, that they are going to make different subsets available through different methods of distribution.
From the announcement email:
Order before Aug 22nd and receive as a bonus the "BNL: All New Revue (Live from the Glenn Gould Theatre)" disc FREE, which is a live acoustic version of the new album. [The album's 13 tracks] will also be available digitally with a bonus of two tracks for purchase of the entire album. In addition, a 25 song package called Barenaked Ladies Are Me: Deluxe Edition, will be available digitally (album only). With the purchase of the Deluxe Edition, fans will be have the opportunity to obtain either two bonus tracks OR four bonus tracks for pre-ordering. Details on the digital pre-order to follow. In addtion, a USB stick featuring 29 songs plus other special content will be released Sept 12.
Confused yet? This is more complicated than picking an edition of Windows Vista! As a loyal fan, I want to know one thing: how do I get all the Barenaked goodness that I can without paying for most of it twice (or three times!)? -
May 4, 2006
Canadian Musician's Voluntary Payment Scheme
Jane Siberry profits by making paying for her music optional.
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May 4, 2006
Music Copyright Laid Bare
Appearing in Monday's National Post, A Barenaked guide to music copyright reform is a statement by Barenaked Ladies frontman Steven Page on behalf of the the newly-formed Canadian Music Creators Coalition.
Including Canadian artists such as Avril Lavigne, Sarah McLachlan, Chantal Kreviazuk, Sum 41, Broken Social Scene, Stars, Raine Maida of Our Lady Peace, Dave Bidini of Rheostatics, Billy Talent, John K. Sampson of Weakerthans, Sloan, Andrew Cash, Bob Wiseman, a co-founder of Blue Rodeo, and of course the Barenaked Ladies, the CMCC aims to promote changes to music copyright law that will "protect artists and consumers, not restrictive technologies."
I'm actually surprised this didn't happen sooner. It's great to finally see some artists from major labels speaking out against prosecution of MP3 file sharers and the tightening of controls over media that threatens to drive away paying fans.
As a great fan of the Barenaked Ladies, Sarah McLachlan, Chantal Kreviazuk, Our Lady Peace and Blue Rodeo, it's especially heartening to see so many of my favourite artists working to free their music so that I can continue to support them and enjoy their work a paying fan for years to come.
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Feb 22, 2006
The Amen Break
This video reproduction of Nate Harrison's installation, Can I Get An Amen? is a fascinating listen if you're at all interested in music, copyright or the cultural aspects of creativity. The project charts the life so far of a six-second drum beat known as the Amen Break, which originated in the 1969 soul song Amen Brother by The Winstons, and has gone on to be used as a sample in hundreds of musical reincarnations, from the early UK dance scene to present day car ads.