TORONTO – As music lovers approach a new decade in this still-young century, a recording technology once considered old and obsolete — vinyl — has been making a strong comeback.
Sade Adu, the reclusive “quiet storm” soul singer who takes notoriously long breaks between releases, has regrouped with the band that bears her name and is recording her first album of new material since 2000’s Lovers Rock. The group is in the studio through June. Sony has not set a release date but hopes to put the record out by the end of 2009. “She is in the studio and the album will come when it is ready,” according to a source at Sony. “You don’t wait for years for one and then rush it.” Sade’s longtime bandmate Stuart Matthewman… Read more »
NEW YORK — A catalog of the world’s largest archive of popular music – which includes gems like Keith Richards’ old blues records – is going online. The materials at the ARChive of Contemporary Music in Tribeca will be available for public inspection under the agreement with Columbia University announced last week. The ARChive includes more than 2 million recordings, 3 million photographs, books, press kits, videos and memorabilia. Pop music lovers won’t be able to listen to the music online, but the catalog will provide authoritative data about the sound recordings in the collection. The archive includes the world’s… Read more »
Imeem has launched a new version of imeem Mobile, its award-winning social music application for the Android platform. The updated version of imeem Mobile includes MyMusic, a new feature which enables music lovers to access and stream their personal imeem music library through their Android-powered phones. With MyMusic, people can now browse through the music they already own and have uploaded to imeem.com and play these songs wherever and whenever they want. The enhanced version of imeem Mobile is available as a free download starting today through the Android Market. MyMusic builds on imeem Mobile’s existing features, which allow people… Read more »
For those about to rock, AC/DC salutes you. Unless, that is, you want to buy the Australian heavy metal group's newest album, "Black Ice," on iTunes, or anywhere but Wal-Mart when it drops in record stores on October 20. "Maybe I'm just being old-fashioned, but this iTunes, God bless 'em, it's going to kill music if they're not careful," lead singer Brian Johnson, 61, told Reuters. AC/DC, formed by brothers Angus and Malcolm Young in 1973, is among only a handful of musicians to refuse to put their music on the popular download website in a move that Johnson defended… Read more »
Could the return of Phish spark a revitalization of the jam-band scene? After splitting in 2004 with a muddy sendoff at its Coventry, Vermont, festival, Phish will re-school in the spring for a three-night run at one of its favorite venues, the Hampton (Virginia) Coliseum. The prospect of the March 6-8 shows has been greeted with unbridled glee by loyal Phish-heads. According to the band's Web site, there will be additional tour dates for guitarist/vocalist Trey Anastasio, bassist Mike Gordon, keyboardist Page McConnell and drummer Jon Fishman throughout 2009. To what extent the band will tour remains a mystery. Chip… Read more »
David Pakman, CEO of eMusic, will leave the subscription service at the end of the year. Pakman explained his departure on Monday, and yesterday disclosed that his next destination would be VC firm Venrock. Pakman championed DRM-free music, viewing the measures as anti-consumer. This has been a phenomenon, along with his commitment to editorial investment – a stark contrast to Apple’s iTunes music store which one reader after launch called “an airport kiosk without the cigarettes and chewing gum.” Pakman grew the eMusic subscriber base from 10,000 to 400,000 in his four years as boss, turning it into the second… Read more »
Apple today announced that the 100 millionth iPod has been sold, making the iPod the fastest selling music player in history. The first iPod was sold five and a half years ago, in November 2001, and since then Apple has introduced more than 10 new iPod models, including five generations of iPod, two generations of iPod mini, two generations of iPod nano and two generations of iPod shuffle. Along with iTunes and the iTunes online music store, the iPod has transformed how tens of millions of music lovers acquire, manage and listen to their music. “At this historic milestone, we… Read more »
LOS ANGELES, CA – Drive-Thru Records recording artist THE EARLY NOVEMBER has announced that upon completion of the current tour dates, the band will go on an indefinite hiatus. In a statement issued by the band, the reasons for the hiatus are not the result of disparity amongst the band members. Simply, “As we grow older, priorities change. We have to be where we haven’t been in the past six years; with our friends, family, and loved ones.” The band members also extended their enormous gratitude to all the fans and music lovers that have supported them over the years.… Read more »
With the decade fast approaching it’s musical climax, 2006 proved to be a big winner for an industry hit by piracy. The live music scene proved to be the biggest release for most acts, with top grossing tours for some of the world’s biggest bands, and an explosion in music festivals across the globe. Firstly, let’s recap on albums were still waiting on from last year; OutKast’s first studio album since 2004’s “Speakerboxxx/The Love Below” (which was one of the year’s biggest releases) is rumoured now for the spring, and Guns N’ Roses failed to deliver on their promise of… Read more »
