A study released earlier this month by <A HREF="http://www.arbitron.com">The Arbitron Company</A> and <A HREF="http://www.edisonresearch.com">Edison Media Research</A> shows that Internet radio broadcasting continues to be a fast-growing medium. The survey of Arbitron diarykeepers also brings to light both the challenges and opportunities that the Internet presents to radio broadcasters, particularly in the much-talked-about arena of e-commerce.
Last week we posted reviews of the <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com//digitalsourcereviews/86/">Linn Sondek CD12 CD player</A> and the <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com//loudspeakerreviews/85/">Linn AV 51 system</A>. This week we add a review of the <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com//analogsourcereviews/88/">Linn Linto phono preamplifier</A>, as well as John Atkinson's report on the <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com//loudspeakerreviews/89/">Revel Ultima Gem loudspeaker & Ultima Sub-15 subwoofer</A>, and Tom Norton's review of the complete <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com//loudspeakerreviews/90/">Revel Home Theater</A> speaker system.
Because online music retailers like <A HREF="http://www.cdnow.com">CDNow</A> and <A HREF="http://www.Amazon.com">Amazon.com</A> have likely taken a bite out of record-club sales, last week Internet company <A HREF="http://www.aol.com">America Online</A> and direct music marketer <A HREF="http://www.columbiahouse.com">Columbia House</A> announced a marketing agreement for both online and offline advertising and promotions, including product bundling, direct-mail initiatives, and co-marketing and advertising campaigns. Under the multi-year agreement, Columbia House, with more than 13 million members, will promote its music, video, and DVD clubs on AOL's Shopping Channel, as well as on AOL.com, CompuServe, Digital City, and Entertainment Asylum.
Last week, the Analog Option Coalition, a loose-knit umbrella group that sponsored forums on analog recording during the 1997 and 1998 AES conventions, annouced that it has restructured as Analog Options Consulting, a division of Wavelength Communications.
Online readers rejoice: <I>Stereophile</I> is posting the first of what we hope will be many equipment reviews in our Archives database. First up is the <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com//digitalsourcereviews/86/">Linn Sondek CD12 CD player</A> (recently reviewed in <I>Stereophile</I>), along with a review of the <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com//loudspeakerreviews/85/">Linn AV 51 System</A> (from the February 1999 issue of <I>Stereophile Guide to Home Theater</I>).
The West Coast's <A HREF="http://www.goodguys.com/">Good Guys</A> aren't feeling so well. The 79-store chain reported a 31% drop in net earnings for the quarter ending December 31. Gross margins dropped to 23.4% of sales, as compared to 24.7% in the same period the previous year.
One of the benefits of being music editor of <I>Stereophile</I>---after, of course, unimaginable wealth, unquestioned power, and hot and cold running editorial groupies---is that every year in February I get to write about death. That, and the rather odd personality traits of the <I>Stereophile</I> writing staff.
Our first new archive article this week is "<A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com//musicrecordings/82/">Building a Library: The Grateful Dead</A>," in which past AES chairperson Elizabeth Cohen reveals her thoughts about what the band has meant to a musical generation. Also included is a complete Dead discography, lots of lyrics, and a little history.
Last week, <A HREF="http://www.referencerecordings.com">Reference Recordings</A>, of San Francisco, announced that it is planning five new symphonic projects to be recorded by "Prof." Keith Johnson in 88.2kHz, HDCD, 5-channel discrete surround sound. These will be released on standard two-channel CD in the coming year, and eventually on DVD-Audio disc. According to RR, with these ambitious plans, the company hopes to reverse the industry-wide decline in new recordings of classical orchestral music.
Last week, <A HREF="http://www.referencerecordings.com">Reference Recordings</A> of San Francisco announced that it is planning five new symphonic projects to be recorded by "Prof." Keith Johnson in 88.2kHz, HDCDr 5-channel discrete surround sound. These will be released on standard two-channel compact disc in the coming year, and eventually on DVD audio disc. According to RR, with these ambitious plans, the company hopes to reverse the industry-wide decline in new recordings of classical orchestral music