News

Yamaha, Liquid Audio Endorse New RealPlayer G2

Barry Willis May 02, 1998 First Published: May 02, 1998

The next generation of streaming media technology was unveiled last week at RealNetworks' Conference '98 in Burlingame, California. The star of the show? "Bandwidth-friendly" RealPlayer G2, which promises to make noisy audio and glitchy video a part of the Web's past.

News

Online Database Aids Music Search

Barry Willis Apr 26, 1998 First Published: Apr 26, 1998

Questions for music lovers: 1) Have you been racking your brain trying to remember who recorded Ruby Vroom? 2) Do you know how many Tim Hardin recordings are available on CD? 3) Which album featured Head East's "Never Been Any Reason," considered by some connoisseurs the greatest rock song ever?

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Music Playback via PC is Increasing

Stereophile Staff Apr 26, 1998 First Published: Apr 26, 1998

Is it merely the tip of the iceberg, or a temporary diversion? Hard to say just yet, but a recent report from the Consumer">http://www.cema.org">Consumer Electronics Manufacturers Association (CEMA) suggests that increasing numbers of folks are using their PCs in place of, or in addition to, regular audio systems.

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More Audio Statistics Indicate Growing Markets

Barry Willis Apr 26, 1998 First Published: Apr 26, 1998

Specialty audio manufacturers did better than expected in 1997, with factory sales as high as $1.4 billion, as reported last">http://www.stereophile.com/news/10148/">last week. More figures from the Consumer">http://www.cema.org">Consumer Electronics Manufacturers Association indicate that the High End's good fortune is part of a bigger trend.

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Music Business Targeted by California Assemblyman

Barry Willis Apr 25, 1998 First Published: Apr 25, 1998

Do offensive lyrics in pop music contribute to violent behavior and teen suicide? Some lawmakers believe so, and think public investment in the entertainment business is immoral.

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ASCAP and Liquid Audio announce Strategic Alliance

Stereophile Staff Apr 19, 1998 First Published: Apr 19, 1998

On April 15, ASCAPhttp://www.ascap.com/">ASCAP; (American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers), the music performing-rights organization, and Liquid">http://www.liquidaudio.com">Liquid Audio, a developer of secure online music delivery systems, announced a strategic alliance to protect ownership of music on the Internet. According to a Liquid Audio press release, the initiative encourages, streamlines, and simplifies music-rights licensing and reporting, and will benefit website creators as well as music writers, publishers, and composers.

News

New Audio Standard for Personal Computers and the Internet Slated for MPEG-4

Jon Iverson Apr 19, 1998 First Published: Apr 19, 1998

Everyone claims "CD-quality" sound over the Internet these days, but the reality always seems far short of that promise. As a result, work continues to develop an encoding scheme worthy of the CD-quality title. Recently we reportedhttp://www.stereophile.com/news/10133/">reported; on developments at AT&Thttp://www.att.com">AT&T; regarding the a2bhttp://www.a2bmusic.com">a2b; format, and both Liquid">http://www.liquidaudio.com">Liquid Audio and RealNetworkshttp://www.realnetworks.com">RealNetworks; compete on a weekly basis to grab headlines for their audio technology announcements.

News

High End Exceeded $1 Billion in 1997, CEMA Says

Barry Willis Apr 19, 1998 First Published: Apr 19, 1998

One billion dollars in 1997---thatÆs the Consumer">http://www.cema.org">Consumer Electronics Manufacturers Association's first-ever estimate of the high-end industry's factory-sales volume. The number could be as high as $1.4 billion, according to a CEMA projection for the entire industry based on sales data of a representative sample of 32 companies. The results of the survey were published March 23 on CEMA's website.

News

PARA Conference to Emphasize Upscale Retailing

Barry Willis Apr 19, 1998 First Published: Apr 19, 1998

PARA, the Professional">http://www.paralink.org/">Professional Audio-Video Retailers Association, is bringing its annual management conference to the Hyatt Regency in Hilton Head, South Carolina, this week. The five-day event, running April 22-27, will focus on improving retail strategies. Representatives from more than 600 retailers, suppliers, and industry publications are expected.

News

CEMA Sets First Audio Summit for May 29-31, 1998

Stereophile Staff Apr 19, 1998 First Published: Apr 19, 1998

Responding to continued softness in the audio market, the Consumer">http://www.cema.org">Consumer Electronics Manufacturers Association (CEMA) has finalized plans to hold its first annual Audio Industry Summit at the Westin Hotel O'Hare in Chicago, Illinois, May 29-31. CEMA audio company members will congregate in an effort to formulate strategies they believe will lead the category back to long-term prosperity and growth.