Dragged kicking and screaming into the 21st century, the music industry may finally be settling into an uneasy acceptance that its market and business model have changed. Only two months after the successful launch of Apple's iTunes Music Store, <A HREF="http://www.billboard.com"><I>Billboard</I></A> magazine announced that it would begin accounting for downloads in its weekly music rankings.
Last October, US Senate Commerce Committee chairman and former presidential hopeful John McCain hosted NBC's long-running comedy show <I>Saturday Night Live</I>. In a spoof of the political talk show <I>Hardball</I>, McCain did a devastating impression of US Attorney General John Ashcroft, a fellow Republican. Speaking of homeland security, the <I>faux</I> Ashcroft intoned, "This country won't be safe until every American is in jail."
The numbers are up for <A HREF="http://www.siriusradio.com">Sirius Satellite Radio</A>. On June 23, the New York–based digital broadcaster announced that it had exceeded 100,000 subscribers for its 100-channel music/news/entertainment service. Sirius offers 60 channels of commercial-free music and 40 channels of news, sports, talk shows, comedy, and other programming.
Retailers accused of selling pirated compact discs are feeling legal heat from the <A HREF="http://www.riaa.com">Recording Industry Association of America</A> (RIAA). In May, the organization launched copyright infringement suits against 18 retail businesses in Texas, Florida, and New York—primarily convenience stores, gas stations, grocery stores, and small independent music stores.
Anyone who's been shopping recently won't be surprised to learn that China is now the biggest supplier of electronics to the US. Within the past three years, the massive Asian nation has surpassed Japan, Mexico, and Korea to claim the top spot. During the same period, US exports of high technology have dropped 25%, according to figures released June 19 by the American Electronics Association, now known as "AeA."
There may be hope for the most common type of hearing loss. Researchers at the University of Michigan have succeeded in growing new hair cells in the inner ears of laboratory animals, the first time that such cells have been regenerated in mammals.
The music world is mourning the passing of British record producer Mickie Most, who died of lung cancer in London on May 30. He was 64.
With Apple Computer's iTunes music service not even one month old, the price wars have already begun.
<A HREF="http://www.siriusradio.com">Sirius Satellite Radio</A> may be positioned to make the next great leap forward. In mid-May, <A HREF="http://www.kenwoodusa.com">Kenwood</A> and <A HREF="http://www.audiovox.com">Audiovox</A> announced the first transportable receivers, which will let Sirius listeners enjoy the service wherever they go—home, office, boat, beach, <I>etc</I>—not only in the comfort of their cars.