That's the thinking behind Go-Kart Records' latest plan for getting its music noticed. In what it describes as a first for the music business, the independent music label, based in New York, says it will soon release a double CD packed with…
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The major record labels and the RIAA have invested much time and effort in sabotaging the MP3 file-trading revolution and its supporters. But the appeal of the compressed music format for a large segment of music fans is undeniable, and many critics of the RIAA have suggested that the petite and portable audio files should be embraced, not resisted.
Gunther Frohnhöfer, Acoustic Signature turntable designer and company owner, informed me last week that the business relationship between his company and Ballmann, the manufacturer of the German Behold line of electronics, which includes a headshell-mounted 768kHz/24-bit A/D converter (see my "Analog Corner" column in the forthcoming April 2005 issue of Stereophile), has been severed. Frohnhöfer has relinquished his position as Ballmann's general manager. "Doing both my own product and the Behold electronics line was too much for one person to handle," he told me. Instead, Frohnhöfer will…
On June 23, Burr-Brown Corp. announced the PCM1728 digital-to-analog converter (DAC), designed for consumer and professional audio applications.
According to Burr-Brown, the PCM1728 offers "the industry's best price/performance ratio of any 24-bit audio DAC," and is intended for mid- to high-performance digital audio applications needing 96kHz sampling rates with 24-bit audio data. Such products include DVD players, AV receivers, surround-sound home-theater systems, and CD players. In addition, this DAC can be used for professional audio systems, including digital mixing consoles and…
"Clean Slate" ends: As of early April, the US music industry no longer offers amnesty to confessed downloaders. Begun in September by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), the "Clean Slate" program's intent was to discourage music fans from continuing to gather freebies online by promising exemption from copyright infringement lawsuits if they signed statements that they had removed shared music files from their computers. More than 1100 music fans signed, but Eric Parke of Novato, CA sought an injunction against the program on the grounds that it was a "fraudulent business…
The Home Entertainment 2005 Show is coming to New York City April 28 to May 1, at the New York Hilton hotel. A ticket to the Show not only gives attendees entrée to previews of the latest in home audio, home theater, and convergence products—it also includes free educational seminars on a variety of subjects, moderated by top industry editors.
Home Entertainment 2005 opens April 28, 2005, to members of the trade only.
The Show is open to the public April 29–May 1, 2005.
Educational Seminar Schedule
Friday, April 29
Noon– 1pm. Concepts in Convergence
Moderator:…
For the last several months, the major record labels have been ramping up what some have viewed as a stealth assault on their customers by increasingly deploying technology that restricts the use of audio CDs (see previous). While an increasing number of music fans have been crying foul, one consumer has decided to fight back in court.
Last week, Karen DeLise of California sued Fahrenheit Entertainment and its label, Music City Records, on behalf of the General Public of the State of California, "to enjoin them from selling music compact discs that have been designed, programmed, and…
The best defense is sometimes a good offense. MP3.com has taken that old advice to heart by counter-suing the Recording Industries Association of America for what it calls "unfair business practices." On Monday, February 7, MP3.com filed a complaint against the music-industry organization in San Diego Superior Court, alleging that the RIAA and its president, Hilary Rosen, have conspired to undermine the Internet music company's stock price by promulgating information to stock analysts just prior to suing for copyright infringement.
RIAA officials promptly dismissed the suit as "ridiculous…
Ray Samuels Audio, long well-regarded for its tube-based home audio components, is developing a reputation for its portable designs, too. After reviewing the SR-71, I figured Samuels couldn't make things any smaller.
"Actually," Samuels confided a few weeks ago, "I had an idea about making a simple circuit using the highest quality parts available—and I keep getting comments from people that want to drive high-impedance headphones like the Sennheiser HD600/650, AKG 501, and Beyer DT880. At the same time, I knew that others would be using low-impedance in-ear phones like the Shures,…
Internet audio continues to expand. Last week, at the first WebNoize conference, held in Los Angeles, JamTV/Rolling Stone Network and RealNetworks, Inc. announced the debut of Rolling Stone Radio, a new Internet audio service offering music in several genres. Rock star David Bowie announced that he would serve as a disc jockey for the new venture. Amazon.com has also signed on to participate as a music retailer.
Rolling Stone Radio combines advertising, electronic commerce, and user-interactive features---such as accessing biographical information about favorite artists---by…
Earlier this month, DirecTV announced that it is investing $50 million in XM Satellite Radio in an effort to capitalize on direct satellite-to-receiver broadcasting technology, which is intended to provide listeners in the car and at home with up to 100 channels of music, news, and entertainment available in North America. Additional XM investors include General Motors, Clear Channel Communications, and a private investment group.
XM reports that it has signed more than a dozen programming deals to provide content for the service, and plans more agreements in the future. According to the…