Like everything, times change what we do and how we do it. Fortunately, for the most part, technology has been helpful in this process and allows us to put our own spin on what it means to be apart of a certain industry. Although my focus for most of my career has been fashion, I came to NY working as a social media publicist for indie artists (back then it was new media as was the title of my major). I was fortunate to use various emerging tools to get my artists spins and to ensure that they were as competitive as those that were known. It didn't hurt that a portion of my passion for music derived as the great niece to the late jazz tenor saxophonist, Joe Henderson who was on such labels as Blue Note, Verve, etc. In addition, my sister launched her own digital label and was a singer songwriter as well. I was able to see how a label comes together and what an artist needs to do to become known.

Digital decreases the vibe and provides choice. It also allows us to merge ideas together that we may not have thought were alike and for a new vantage point to be taken when it comes to being an artist. In the world of the DJ (not that I am an expert in this area at all), digital has created a new platform. Above, DJ Eloy, is the premier video/music mash up guy! He is known for blending various artists together, maintaining the flow and wrapping it up with video. I remember listening to him at 49 Grove and hearing two artists in completely different genres being mixed (all while he pulled music off his Mac or downloaded it to continue into the next mix)! Adding the video is another layer that shows how much digital enhances what we listen to and how it is delivered.

My focus within this blog is to not necessarily focus on the technology side of the industry in terms of equipment, but what social movements and aspects of digital are being made in order to push music to another level. Enjoy the video above which brings Kanye, Jaz-Z and Oasis together in Wonderwall!

2005: the year analog died Digital Music - The Future

Digital MP3 player sales surpassed analog CD players in 2005. While digital music media sales are a tiny fraction of CD sales, the changeover in technology and format makes it clear that the future is digital. Other items of note from the article: "The Computer Electronics Assn. estimates that MP3 player revenue increased 200% to more than $3 billion in 2005. ... Apple claims to have sold more than 30 [...] Read More


2005: record year for digital music Digital Music - The Future

2005 was a record year for digital music. At the same time P2P use continues to grow. Christmas was a fabulous week. 20 million Tracks were sold in the last week of the year, three times the previous year. This is compared to P2P where 250 songs are downloaded in a week. Accordingly to the article: "If the market can retain volume gain as it did last year, the numbers [...] Read More


The Night The DJ Died Digital Music - The Future

Dell discontinued its oddly-named DJ Ditty after poor sales. Dell will continue to sell mp3 players from other manufacturers, including Sandisk, Samsung, Creative Technology, and IRiver. A year and half ago Dell CEO Kevin Rollins attacked Apple. Today Steve Jobs is the one still standing. And raking in the money. "It's interesting the iPod has been out for three years and it's only this past year it's become a raging success. Well, [...] Read More


US Cable Companies To Support Analog TVs Until 2012 The Gadgets Weblog

As much as I like technology, my television is about as old school as it gets. An old RCA 19 inch from the late 1980s. The buttons are falling off, but damn it, it works, and I see no reason to replace it. Given the Federal Communications Commission's decision to require analog broadcasters to vacate certain frequencies in February 2009, it was looking like I was going to have to replace [...] Read More


Consumers Go Green and Recycle Analog Televisions and Components The Digital TV Weblog

Norman A large number of consumers are prepared to upgrade their televisions from analog to HDTV in anticipation of the Digital Transaction Act. They're also prepared to upgrade their television components in order to experience the true advantages of high definition television. Many consumers are choosing to recycle and/or giveaway their old analog televisions and outdated components. The Consumer Electronics Association has setup a website called MyGreenElectronics in order for [...] Read More

Las Vagas is an electric capital of the world; a city built in the middle of the desert, entirely reliant on electricity and digital communications to enable those that live there to survive and prosper. As such, it's become a centre for entertainment as well, and digital music is no exception, with many companies specializing in Las Vegas Property Management aiding budding performers to live in the region without hassle.

If you actually look into the history of a lot of pop music you'll see that quite a few artists started performing in pubs and clubs on the vegas strip, so perhaps it's for you?

Alicia Keys has always been one of those artists who defied the norms of the RnB mould, instead of carrying on with the standard boring repetitive beats, she moved into releasing material she always wanted to release, while also embracing the digital age we all know and love. Her unplugged album is an absolute masterpeice, something one rarely expects from an RnB artist; most of them tend to not actually have the real raw talent to release a live, reletively unmastered release.

Alicia Keys comes back to Ireland and the UK for a series of live shows.


* 19 May, Birmingham
* 21 May, Dublin
* 23 May, Glasgow
* 25 May, London
* 26 May, London
* 29 May, Manchester


If you want to go to Alicia Keys concert, you should save yourself a ticket.

She will be in other countries as well:

* 02 May, Verona
* 08 May, Arnhem
* 09 May, Frankfurt
* 12 May, Hamburg
* 13 May, Oberhausen
* 17 May, Zurich
* 31 May, Paris
* 02 Jun, Barcelona
* 04 Jun, Lyon

Half of US digital music downloaders have paid Digital Music - The Future

The good news: Research company Ipsos Insight reported that over half of US digital music downloaders have paid for the music. About 25 million downloaders have paid, 11 million in the past month. The bad news: Despite this penetration, authorized services represent a tiny fraction of total downloading. The major labels and online retailers have a long way to go to sell the public on the value of paid offerings [...] Read More


Paid Downloads Cool Down Digital Music - The Future

According to Nielsen Soundscan, there were 581 million downloads in 2006 for a growth rate of 54 percent over last year, less than the previous year's growth rate of 163 percent. Market share leader Apple has sold two billion downloads in four years. We covered this a year ago when weekly year to year growth rates were lower than the previous year. The year end numbers confirm this trend. We wrote [...] Read More


Digital music doldrums - Long-term change Digital Music - The Future

This article is one in a series examining the Pali Capital report that showed paid music download growth is slowing. Long-term change The long-term message is that the industry's problems can no longer be obscured by digital. Does this spell doom for music? It depends on your definition of music. Independent artists are thriving through the Internet and P2P. Big music though is another story. While the industry falsely blames others [...] Read More


Good news/bad news: Half of US digital music downloaders have paid P2P File Sharing

The good news: Research company Ipsos Insight reported that over half of US digital music downloaders have paid for the music. About 25 million downloaders have paid, 11 million in the past month. The bad news: Despite this penetration, authorized services represent a tiny fraction of total downloading. The major labels and online retailers have a long way to go to sell the public on the value of paid offerings [...] Read More


Paid Downloads Cool Down P2P File Sharing

According to Nielsen Soundscan, there were 581 million downloads in 2006 for a growth rate of 54 percent over last year, less than the previous year's growth rate of 163 percent. Market share leader Apple has sold two billion downloads in four years. We covered this a year ago when weekly year to year growth rates were lower than the previous year. The year end numbers confirm this trend. We wrote [...] Read More