An RIAA spokesperson, quoted by Billboard reporter Erik Gruenwedel on November 1, said his organization doubts the AFA's chances of passage in the current economic and political climate. The spokesperson dismissed the possibility of NY lawmakers doing "…
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The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) has gone on record opposing the Artistic Freedom Act, introduced for consideration by the New York State Assembly on October 28 by Speaker Sheldon Silver. The bill would free artists from long-term contracts—now sometimes as long as 25 years—and would give them "free agency" status.
Branding was once reserved for cowhide and breakfast cereals, but changes in the retailing landscape have fostered new approaches for everything from running shoes (Niketown) to cartoon-character merchandise (Disney and Warner Bros. stores) to clothes (Gap, etc.). In the audio market, Bose stores are now common sites in shopping malls, but few higher-ticket companies have taken the brand-store plunge.
Recently, Bang & Olufsen announced that it will now focus on developing B&O-licensed "branded stores" throughout the world; there are currently more than 250 stores worldwide. B…
On January 17, we reported a new service by MP3.com in which it would store, on its site, digital copies of tunes purchased by music lovers for them to access from any location. Beverly Hills attorney Ken Hertz, who sometimes consults with MP3.com, said he would be "surprised if the recording industry didn't sue," despite glowing statements from MP3.com chief Michael Robertson about all the benefits and new sales the recording industry would enjoy from his venture into uncharted waters.
Mr. Hertz might have enjoyed a quick windfall by betting on his own hunch. Only a few days later, the…
Burmester: Burmester Audio Systems has a new distributor, Soundquest LLC, which has been distributing Audio Physic for some time. Tel: (212) 731-0729. Fax: (212) 731-0730.
Nola Speakers: Nola Speakers has named Elite Audio Video Distribution its US distributor. Inquiries should go to Scot Markwell. Tel: (323) 466-9694, extension 22. Email: scot.markwell@eliteavdist.com.
Sonics By Joachim Gerhard: Sonics By Joachim Gerhard, which, as the name implies, is a line of speakers designed by Joachim Gerhard, best known for founding Audio Physic, is distributed in the US by Immedia. Immedia'…
In mid-April, Texas Instruments and Intel announced developments likely to improve the experience for many music fans in the near future. TI announced the industry's highest performance four-channel audio digital–analog converter (DAC), and Intel released the final v1.0 specification for "Intel High Definition Audio."
TI's new PCM4104 is designed for professional audio applications, such as digital mixing consoles, digital effects processors, multi-track recorders, and broadcast studio equipment, as well as high-end surround sound processors and high-end A/V receivers. The 24-bit DAC from…
The first hybrid SACDs produced and recorded in Russia have made their way to North America. The new Russian company responsible for the recordings, Essential Music, issues them on the Caro Mitis label, whose name is Latin for "succulent fruit." All are recorded in multichannel DSD and released as hybrid SACD/CDs. Caro Mitis releases are imported by Todd Garfinkle of M•A Recordings. Garfinkle himself has been responsible for some of the most enjoyable audiophile recordings of unusual performers and repertoire in the catalog.
Most Caro Mitis recordings are made in Moscow, in the studios of…
February 20---Fernando Henrique Cardoso, Brazil's president, has signed into law two bills intended to rein in that nation's widespread abuse of intellectual properties and bring Brazil into compliance with worldwide copyright law. One covers software piracy; the other, authorship rights.
Brazil has a long tradition of pirating recorded music and computer software, and is widely believed to be the world's second-largest wholesale pirate. China, which enjoys most-favored-nation trading status with the United States, is number one in the illegal copying and selling of copyrighted material…
As almost all audiophiles have discovered, headphone cables just don't reach far enough. You want to lie on the sofa for a late night listen, but you find out the cable is about two feet short. You can rearrange your room, buy a cable extender—or go wireless. That's what Grado is inviting you to do with the FreeSystems Grado Digital Headphone System.
Designed in collaboration with Singapore-based FreeSystems, a technology company specializing in audio processing and wireless communications, Grado has incorporated its RA-1 headphone amplifier into a wireless receiver designed by…
It won't be long before the Net-connected music lover will be able to sample and hold the tunes of his choice without having to visit Tower Records. High-speed transmission, high-density storage, and CD-quality music online---the three parts of the downloading puzzle---all fell into place the week of November 10.
On that day Microsoft announced a deal with Liquid Audio, a leading developer of encrypted digital music-delivery systems, to provide online music and music-marketing services. The announcement came in the wake of a similar announcement by Microsoft and ATT (see related story).…
Congress has blocked a controversial plan that might have launched approximately 1000 low-power community radio stations. On Thursday, April 14, the US House of Representatives voted 274-110 in favor of a bill that would effectively kill development of about 80% of the stations. The vote was a blow to Federal Communications Commission chairman William Kennard, who has been a staunch supporter of the community radio movement, and a gift to the National Association of Broadcasters, which has long opposed low-power radio.
"Special interests triumphed over community interests today," Kennard…