MusicGiants Floats High-Rez Files without DRM
Scott Bahneman, CEO of MusicGiants, called earlier this week to announce what he called big news. "Actually," Bahneman said, "we're not going to issue an official press release—yet—but MusicGiants is going to offer Windows Media Audio (WMA) lossless music downloads without DRM.
MusicGiants Offers CD-Quality Downloads
In a press conference held September 28 at Sony Music Studios on West 54th Street, MusicGiants —see Wes">http://www.stereophile.com/news/051605musicgiants">Wes Phillips' earlier story on this company—announced the launch of a new music download service that offers CD-resolution digital recordings from the major artists on the major music labels, EMI, Sony/BMG, Universal, and Warner.
MusicGiants: "First Company to Offer High-Fidelity Downloads"
We Get Letters Department: Stereophile editor John Atkinson recently received the following email from Tony Fisch, the director of corporate development at MusicGiants: "MusicGiants (www.musicgiants.com) will be the first company to offer high-fidelity downloads from all record labels. MusicGiants uses Microsoft WMA 'lossless' codec (450kbps) to preserve 100% of the music. The result is music that sounds just like the artist intended. Finally, real music downloads up to 1100kbps. MusicGiants' downloads will be $1.29 per track, and $15.29 per album.
Musicians vs. Labels
Most aspiring musicians dream of the day they will sign a contract with a major record label. Too often, the dreams become nightmares from which they can escape only much later in life.
Musicians Win Web Royalties
Thanks to an agreement reached in October, musicians, rather than their record labels, will receive royalty payments for the use of recordings distributed over the Internet or broadcast over cable and satellite systems. Royalty collection agency SoundExchangehttp://www.soundexchange.com">SoundExchange; will distribute payments directly to performers, regardless of their contracts with the record companies, according to a statement issued the second week of November.
Musicians' Site Signs Beatles Producer George Martin
The man who signed the Beatles to their first recording contract has joined garageband.comhttp://www.garageband.com/">garageband.com;, an online venture for musicians. On October 21, the San Francisco-based website announced that Sir George Martin has assumed the position of chairman of its advisory board. The board's membership includes some of the music industry's best-known professional and creative talent, according to garageband.com co-founders Tom Zito and Jerry Harrison.
Musicland Stores Take Retailing Online
Wednesday, June 23, was an auspicious day for Musicland">http://www.musicland.com/">Musicland Stores Corporation. That day the Minneapolis, Minnesota-based music and video retailer took its sales online. Four websites, each mirroring one of Musicland's four divisions, went live simultaneously with a promotional contest offering customers the chance to win daily and weekly prizes and a $10,000 grand prize---including a Sony home entertainment system. Participants can also win a trip for two to the World">http://www.wwf.com/">World Wrestling Federation Summer Slam in Minneapolis on August 22.
MusicNet, Pressplay Tunes Won't Travel
While audiophiles obsess about extracting another iota of resolution from our already high-rez systems and recordings, the rest of the world is going crazy for portable music.
MusicNow Launches
No one knows what online music services may ultimately look like, but new models continue to pop up for consumers to test-drive.
Must-Hear Music TV: Country Music and Now Hear This
Under the category of "abundance of musical riches," there are two fantastic series about music airing on PBS right now. You probably already know about one of them, but another, which many readers will like even better, is getting far less press.