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Audible Enters UK Market, Bolsters European Presence
Audible.com is proving that there’s a lot more to spoken word than just talk. The opening of Audible UK (audible.co.uk) on Wednesday was just the latest in a string of initiatives announced earlier this year by the digital audiobook powerhouse. "With digital music taking the UK by storm and a deep cultural appreciation for the spoken word, we wholeheartedly believe that spoken word downloads will be the next big thing for MP3 users," said Audible CEO and chairman, Donald Katz. Audible has good reason to be optimistic: so far this year they have inked a deal with XM Satellite Radio, started wireless delivery and increased their customer base by 115 percent. The UK site joins existing German and French sites, both launched in late 2004. As an incentive, new customers signing up for a year subscription will receive a free digital audio device.
Audible is well positioned in the growing spoken word market and is being energized by podcasting, which offers user control and portability not seen before in radio. Savvy partners like XM Satellite Radio—who will deliver Audible downloads though next-generation receivers, and Apple—who will soon support podcasting in its new iTunes release, see the link between spoken word and time-shifted radio. And by adding wireless delivery, Audible is ready to make the jump to cell phones and wireless-enabled MP3 devices. The revolution may not be televised, but it’s coming through, loud and clear.
Story by news analyst Michael Bloom.
3 Group Sees Increased Mobile Music Interest
Mobile operator 3 has hit a new milestone, most recently pointing to its 30 millionth music-related transaction. The figure covers a wide range of products, including streaming music videos, downloadable songs, master ringtones and ringbacks. 3 is steadily broadening its global imprint, with the company pulling the data from services across Australia, Austria, Denmark, Hong Kong, Israel, Italy, Sweden, Thailand and the UK. The 3G-focused company has content deals with all four majors, along with a long list of independents. 3 Hong Kong pointed to 2 million transactions, with the company spinning several pre-release exclusives, terrestrial radio promotions, and broadcasts of concerts and awards shows.
Never has never will!
The technologies we're testing have matured to the point where consumers can play, rip, burn and in some cases share their music with others while still protecting the intellectual property of EMI's artists," wrote Richard Cottrell, the label's head of anti-piracy in an instant message.
RoxinCa, Do you know what company has this kind of technology?
AMX
Kenco,I didn't you could!
lol
AMX
By DAWN C. CHMIELEWSKI
Knight Ridder Newspapers
The record labels are in pursuit of a new class of music pirates -- not the millions who download bootlegged songs over the Internet but those who copy music CDs for their friends.
The music industry considers the seemingly innocuous act of duplicating a music CD for someone else "casual piracy," a practice that surpasses Internet file-sharing as the single largest source of unauthorized music distribution. After fits and starts, the industry's largest players are taking measures to place curbs on copying.
Sony BMG Music Entertainment, home to some of the music industry's biggest acts, including Bruce Springsteen, System of a Down and Shakira, plans to copy-protect all music CDs sold in the United States by the end of the year. Another major label, EMI, whose artist roster includes Coldplay and Norah Jones, will introduce copy-protected CDs in its two largest markets -- the U.S. and the United Kingdom -- in the coming weeks.
For consumers, it signals an abrupt change to the rip, mix, burn mania embodied by the 2001 Apple Computer ad campaign promoting the first iMac computer with a CD-burner and software for creating custom music CDs. These new copy-protected disks limit the number of times people can create copies of music CDs or add individual songs to music mixes.
"You can do with the CD you bought what you do with it if you're within the realm of personal use," said Thomas Hesse, Sony BMG's president of global digital business. "You can burn a copy that you play in your car or a copy that your son plays in his bedroom or make a personal mix. That's fine. That's the way people listen to music these days. If you attempt to burn 20 copies and distribute them to the kids who come to your son's birthday party, that's not possible."
Copy protection raises an even bigger problem for the millions of people who own Apple's iPod digital music player and use its iTunes software to organize their music and create custom CDs. Apple has refused to license its FairPlay rights-management software -- even to the labels. That means certain copy-protected CDs won't work with iTunes or the iPod without employing time-consuming workarounds.
"They do not play on iPods simply because Apple has this proprietary approach," said Hesse of Sony BMG's copy-protected CDs. "We would be willing and able to put FairPlay on CDs in an instant if Steve Jobs would flick the switch and allow us to do that."
Apple refused to comment. However, well-placed sources within the music industry said the computer maker is still in active discussions with the labels to find a solution.
"We're working with all the major digital portable music players out there and our goal this year is to make them 100 percent compatible, so that when you put your disk into your computer, what opens up is your standard portable player interface," said Peter Jacobs, president and chief executive of SunnComm International, whose technology protects Sony BMG discs.
The music labels have been experimenting with various forms of copy protection since 2001. But early attempts yielded embarrassing results: the CDs didn't play in all stereos or computers.
The labels say such technical glitches are a thing of the past. EMI has distributed more than 127 million copy-protected disks in 48 countries with few customer complaints.
"The technologies we're testing have matured to the point where consumers can play, rip, burn and in some cases share their music with others while still protecting the intellectual property of EMI's artists," wrote Richard Cottrell, the label's head of anti-piracy in an instant message.
The industry has been emboldened by Sony BMG's success with the first copy-protected release from a major act. Velvet Revolver's June 2004 release of "Contraband" topped the Billboard charts and ended up selling more than 7 million copies worldwide. It suggested consumers were willing to accept copying curbs that mirrored those of the digital download stores.
Now, half of Sony BMG's new releases -- including the Dave Matthews Band's million-selling "Stand Up" -- are protected. All new CDs will be copy-protected by year's end.
EMI will test various copy-protection technologies in different parts of the world, starting with trials in the U.K. that began this week.
The copy protection technologies from SunnComm, Macrovision and Sony DADC differ in subtle ways. There are, however, some similarities. Many come with two sets of recorded music -- songs in the unprotected format that plays whenever the disc is inserted into a CD or DVD player, and a separate "session" of compressed, copy-protected files that open when the disc is inserted into a computer.
SunnComm's newest technology doesn't require two recording sessions on a disc. It adds the copy protection to the music on the fly, in whatever format the labels choose: Windows Media or Sony's ATRAC. SunnComm discs will also play on Macs. That's not true for the Macrovision technology behind EMI's copy protection.
On the PC, a message appears that asks the buyer for permission to install a piece of software on the desktop. Answer no, and the disc is ejected. It won't play. Once installed, the software regulates how often people can rip a full copy of the CD to the computer, burn individual tracks or make full copies of each album. EMI, for example, will permit the consumer to upload an album once per computer, burn individual tracks seven times and make up to three full copies of each CD.
This not only prevents people from making endless dubs of CDs for friends, it potentially dries up the leading source of unprotected MP3s music files that feed the Internet file-sharing networks.
The move to embrace copy protection could boost Apple's online music rivals, such as Napster or Yahoo Music, which are based on Microsoft's technology, according to Paul-Jon McNealy, an analyst with American Technology Research in San Francisco.
Apple has three choices: do nothing and gamble that consumers will be so annoyed with copy protection, they'll stop buying music CDs; license its FairPlay technology; or embrace the technology of its longstanding rival, Microsoft, said McNealy.
http://www.montereyherald.com/mld/montereyherald/living/11919371.htm
Corey and RoxinCa, Nice find! Looks like MediaMax is coming into market big time!
AMX
I agree! Thanks RoxinCa! keep up the good work we all need people like you helping investors too make the right choice.
AMX
TiVo, Microsoft team on mobile video
TiVoToGo service now available on pocket computers, cell phones that run Microsoft software.
June 8, 2005: 8:04 AM EDT
NEW YORK (Reuters) - TiVo Inc. said Wednesday it extended its TiVoToGo portable video service to pocket computers and mobile phones that run Microsoft software as the television-recording company beefed up its offerings in an effort to differentiate itself from its rivals.
TiVo (down $0.22 to $6.98, Research) shares were up more than 7 percent in premarket electronic trading from their closing price of $6.98 on the Nasdaq.
The company said TiVoToGo is now available on Microsoft Corp.'s (up $0.14 to $25.51, Research) Windows Mobile-based Portable Media Centers -- paperback-sized devices that can play digital music and videos -- as well as on certain Windows Mobile-based Smartphones and PocketPCs handheld computers.
The move improves on TiVo's TiVoToGo initiative, announced earlier this year, that allows users to shift recorded TV programs to a personal computer in the same home.
The new feature lets users travel with those shows and watch them on devices made by companies such as iRiver, Samsung Electronics, Hewlett-Packard Co. (down $0.07 to $22.51, Research) and Dell Inc. (down $0.29 to $40.39, Research)
TiVo signed a key digital video recorder (DVR) distribution deal with cable provider Comcast (down $0.09 to $31.74, Research) earlier this year, quelling investors fears about its plans to grow subscribers to its fee-based service. But it still faces competition from cable and satellite TV providers, as well as consumer electronics makers.
TiVo executive Matt Wisk said services like its powerful on-screen program guide and TiVoToGo, which is free to monthly-fee-paying subscribers, offers consumers a premium service to generic DVRs that only record and play back shows.
"(We are) trying to create a continual upgrading of the (users) experience," he said. "Our business model is pretty sound, but our challenge is how to raise the bar of what that $12.95 a month delivers to people.
Microsoft said this feature could spark demand in the portable digital video market, whose growth has been slack compared with the explosive expansion of the portable audio market, which is fueled by Apple Computer Inc.'s (down $1.38 to $36.54, Research) iPod. Video phones could also benefit.
"In-Stat (a research firm) said that video-on-mobile-phones will become a $5.4 billion market by 2009," said John Pollard, of Microsoft's Windows Mobile Applications and Services Marketing group. "This is fantastic piece to build momentum."
MediaMax who else? lol
EMI the latest to introduce new CD usage restrictions. In next few weeks, EMI releases across the United States and United Kingdom.
I guess will all know then who they are talking about.
since we too are working with that label and have recently shipped completed projects to them.
Nice to hear that!
It sure does!!
AMX
Resnikoff's Parting Shot: Napster/Ericsson and the Mobile Music Pie
The recent tie-up between Ericsson and Napster is a shrewd one, with the
pair likely to avoid the pitfalls faced by Apple and Motorola. While a top
Motorola executive promised the release of the iTunes phone "shortly," Steve
Jobs is clearly frustrated with the power of carriers, frustratingly
referring to the "five orifices" at a recent conference. Meanwhile, the
iTunes phone is gathering dust, with carriers seeing little upside from the
device. From a carrier perspective, passing the mobile music cake over to
iTunes-generated downloads is counter-intuitive, especially with billions in
network sunk costs in the rearview mirror. For carriers like Cingular,
Verizon and Sprint, PC-to-mobile transfers of a previously purchased track
simply rub the wrong way.
But the Napster/Ericsson partnership could play the political field with a
bit more savvy. While a release is still about a year away, the service will
be designed with both over-the-air downloads and PC-based collections in
mind, straddling both environments. Napster and Ericsson promised
"coordinated wireless and PC downloading of digital music in both
subscription and a la carte models," an approach that cuts carriers into the
action. Mobile-based streaming videos and radio stations, a growing area,
also allow carriers to charge their customers. While big mobile operators
like Vodafone are still very interested in building direct relationships
with labels, an over-the-air component from Napster and Ericsson could help
to avoid a show-stopping roadblock.
Everyone wants their piece of the pie, but the typical music consumer
toggles between the PC and mobile device. While many Asian mobile users
wouldn't even notice if their computers blew up tomorrow, European and
especially American consumers would. The computer, especially in the States,
is an incredibly important aspect of the digital music experience, and any
service that leaves that out is missing a big part of the picture. Of
course, iTunes dominates the computer-based arena, and Motorola is kind of
along for the ride. But Napster and Ericsson hope to straddle both worlds,
populating music collections in multiple environments. That is not only more
in tune with today's music consumer, it also stands a chance of making
carriers happy.
Paul Resnikoff, Editor
Universal Music, EMI Music Publishing Create Licensing Pact
Universal Music and EMI Music Publishing have recently inked a licensing
partnership, with the pair focused on several new delivery formats. That
includes the licensing of videos for both on-demand and downloadable
consumption, along with DualDisc releases. Audio downloads and mobile music
content are also included in the agreement. The partnership follows a
similar arrangement between EMI Music Publishing and Sony BMG, with the
massive publishing group interested in maximizing royalties on new delivery
technologies. With most artists signing separate label and publishing deals,
that sort of alliance helps to avoid complicated and time-consuming rights
clearance processes.
EMI Steps Into CD Protection, Joins Sony BMG
The record industry crackdown on "casual piracy" continues, with EMI the
latest to introduce new CD usage restrictions. In next few weeks, EMI
releases across the United States and United Kingdom will contain
restrictions against ripping and burning, limiting copies for fair use only.
In other words, it will be a bit more difficult to burn your favorite CD for
your friends, with EMI hoping to put an end to an unfettered "rip, mix,
burn" mentality among consumers. That follows a similar move from Sony BMG,
which formally introduced its "secure burning" initiative in late May. Sony
has already run copy protection on a few CDs, including Velvet Relvolver’s
latest album, Contraband. That album sold 7 million copies worldwide without
a consumer backlash, giving the industry confidence to move forward with new
CD protection technologies.
The move towards increased CD protection raises big compatibility issues.
The Sony BMG initiative is based on Windows technology, and the protected
tracks are not transferable to an iPod. That could offer a boost for rivals
such as Yahoo and Napster, while posing potential problems for Apple. But
Apple is far from the victim here, with the company so far refusing to
license its FairPlay rights-management technology. That will certainly
create usability headaches ahead, with many consumers in for a big surprise.
Whether that leads to decreased CD purchases remains to be seen, though
consumers may think twice after experiencing a compatibility problem.
Meanwhile, the pressure on both Sony BMG and EMI to reconcile the new CD
protection technology with the existing popularity of the iPod, while the
impasse will certainly deepen the incompatibility rift between Apple and
Microsoft.
Story by news analyst Adam Shahbaz.
In a message dated 6/16/2005 4:34:42 A.M. Mountain Daylight Time, news@digitalmusicnews.com writes:
Makes sense Macrovision would have been all over it!
Berg111, You have done such a fine job upto now why stop? lol
AMX
I agree!!
Nope! When you get to 5000 you may stop! lol
AMX
SunnGramm@sunncomm.com
Another Great Article From Europe!
EMI targets the 'mix-tape' with 'secure CD'
15/06/2005 by Leigh Phillips
DM Europe -- Digital Media News for Europe
Is this the end of the mix-tape, or rather these days, the mix-CD?
UK record label EMI announced yesterday it plans to introduce anti-piracy technology to its CDs that will restrict consumers' ability to burn tracks to blank CDs. The technology, from Phoenix-based DRM solutions firm SunnComm, will allow CD owners to copy only three full copies of a CD's songs, and the burned discs themselves cannot be copied.
At the same time, fellow record label Sony BMG, which has already introduced similar technology to about half of its albums released in the US, announced that it is to extend the security to all of its American releases by the end of the year.
The technology also prevents CDs from being transferred to an iPod.
ABOUT SUNNCOMM:
In just five years, SunnComm International Inc. (OTC: SCMI) has become the leader in digital content enhancement and security technology for audio compact disc media. MediaMax(TM) can be found on many Gold, Platinum and Double-Platinum selling Albums including Dave Matthews newly release and soon-to-be-platinum, Stand Up. Other releases which include MediaMax are Anthony Hamilton’s platinum CD, “Comin’ From Where I’m From”, J-Kwon’s Gold “Hood Hop,” and Velvet Revolver’s “Contraband” which reached the #1 spot on Billboard's Top 200 Album Chart and achieved Double-Platinum status by selling more than 2 million units. Additionally, SunnComm’s MediaMax technology has appeared on many other best-selling albums, totaling over 100 commercially released CD titles across 30 record labels.
MediaMax is mastered directly on the audio CD and is accessible using a personal computer. SunnComm was the first company to commercially release a content-protected audio CD co-developing and utililizing an early version of the Microsoft Windows Media Data Session Toolkit, and was the first company in America to commercially release a copy-managed audio CD (www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2003/jan03/01-20SessionToolkitPR.asp). Bonus features include on-board press kits, artist-related promotions, videos, song lyrics, artist bio page, photo gallery, web links and tune-sharing capability through SunnComm’s MusicMail™ functionality. For more detailed information about the company, its vision or philosophy, personnel, partners, and customers, please visit the company's Web site at www.sunncomm.com, or call the Company directly at (602) 267-7500. For additional information or investor relations please contact:
Company contact:
Peter Jacobs
602-267-7500
peter@sunncomm.com Investor contact:
Investor Relations
602-231-0681
press@sunncomm.com
NOTES ABOUT FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This news release contains predictions, projections and other statements about the future that are intended to be "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of l995 (collectively, "forward-looking statements"). Forward-looking statements relate to various aspects of the Company's operations and strategies, including but not limited to the effects of having experienced significant losses in the past and the risk that the Company may incur losses in the future; the Company's limited liquidity and significant indebtedness; its sales forecasts for future periods not being attained and the risk that the Company will not conclude additional revenue-generating license agreements covering its content protection and enhancement technologies; the Company's marketing, product development, acquisition investments, licensing and other strategies not being successful; possible future issuances of debt or equity securities; the possible incurrence of significant patent litigation expenses or adverse legal determinations that find our patents not to be valid; new business development and industry trends; the possible need to raise additional capital in order to meet the Company's obligations and most other statements that are not historical in nature. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements are described in cautionary statements included in this news release. In assessing forward-looking statements, readers are urged to consider carefully these cautionary statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this news release, and the Company disclaims any obligations to update such statements.
RoxinCa, YOU ROCK!!!
Jarvis, Nice to see them lined up to buy the Foo Fighters this morning!
I agree with you Corey no stopping us now!
Music executives say the restricted CDs released so far - like BMG's sale of Velvet Revolver's "Contraband," last year - have resulted in virtually no complaints.
ROTFLMAO!
AMX
RoxinCa, Nice find!
Kenco, Is this why your so busy posting this morning?
Neibolton, Nice find!!
LOL!!!!
Corey, Nice! You have a way of getting great info on new releases.
AMX
If you wanted to know how SCMI/MMXT will unfold
well that's a loaded question.
Bobhouse, Looks to me I left that open to your own interpetation would you?
AMX
Stingray2, I do believe SCMI/MMXT will do just fine, What I see happening in the market is nothing but HUGE for all of us!
AMX
Stingray2, I'm not here to sell either company but here you go! I do think MediaMax will have a major share of the CD market. If you wanted to know how SCMI/MMXT will unfold
well that's a loaded question. They have stated a push for MediaMax Technology to lead the way at the SHM. And it all started here with this news release!
“Our collective goal is to make QuietTiger’s CD copy management technology the best available anywhere. By combining SunnComm and Dark Noise Technologies, QuietTiger expects to produce a level of CD copy protection better than anything found in the marketplace today,” stated William H. Whitmore, Jr., QuietTiger’s president.
http://www.sunncomm.com/press/pressrelease.asp?prid=200402040700
AMX
I like his wording better then mine too!
AMX
Well, We all know if the writer would like to own the rights to the music he would have to spend millions to own it! Then he can do whatever he wants because then he would owns the rights! But for $15.00 you don't own it you have the right to listen too it when you want period! My guess he never read the F.B.I. warning! lol
Posted on Sat, Jun. 11, 2005
Sony Entertainment
Some CDs, such as Amerie’s “Touch,” are equipped with anti-burning programs.
Just what is music worth these days?
By Rafer Guzman
Newsday
When you buy something, you own it, right? It’s a concept that’s been with us for a while. Whether it’s your car, your couch or your computer; if you paid for it, the thing belongs to you and you can do with it as you please.
Except, that is, for music.
In the past several years, music has become one of the only commodities that doesn’t really belong to you even after you pay for it. Thanks to technology, albums and songs are being sold with so many restrictions and regulations that the buyer has become more like a borrower. This doesn’t apply only to those ephemeral-(lasting a very short time), not-quite-physical downloads you pay for via the Internet. It applies to tangible, hold-in-your-hand CDs as well.
Consider the new Yahoo! Music Unlimited service. On the one hand, it’s a welcome addition to the Internet music market. You can play unlimited songs for as little as $4.99 per month, substantially cheaper than many other services. You can transfer your songs to a portable device. And you can buy a “permanent” download of a song for 79 cents.
But do you really own those downloads? As with most Internet music services, Yahoo! puts restrictions on what you can do with them. If you want to burn them to a CD – to play in your car, say, or to make a mix for a friend – you can do so only a limited number of times.
Many CDs are protected in similar ways. Load the new Amerie disc, for instance, into your PC, and it automatically starts a program that prevents you from copying it. If you’re a creative type, like a DJ who wants to mix the tracks with others, you can’t.
To be sure, the estimated $4.2 billion lost each year to piracy is no small sum. Record labels and artists deserve to be paid for the music they create. But piracy isn’t the only reason CD sales have been suffering lately. By imposing rules and regulations on listeners, the music industry is
http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/journalgazette/living/11872377.htm
RoxinCa, Thanks for sharing this. Nice find! But you will not find it on SunnComm list of CDs! Peter did state not all labels have their CDs listed.
AMX
Sunnyday
I watched the Foo Fighters on the MTV awards last night it was $weet mu$ic to my ears! JMO
AMX
Clear Channel Streams Album Exclusive, Initiates Series
Clear Channel Radio continues to put some sizzle into its online music
initiative, most recently announcing an album exclusive with the Backstreet
Boys. The sneak preview starts today, with the album Never Gone representing
the group's first studio effort in five years. The album stream will beat a
Tuesday in-store, giving fans a critical sampling window over the weekend.
The album preview is part of a new "Sneak Peek" series from Clear Channel
Radio, and builds upon a recent move into exclusive, in-studio performances
on member station websites. While many young fans have since moved on from
the seminal boy band, the group boasts sales of over 30 million discs since
the late 90s. Clear Channel pointed to ten similar previews in the coming
months.
Clear Channel is certainly not the first to position an album preview
online, with AOL Music, MySpace, MTV.com, Rhapsody and a long list of others
trumpeting exclusives. A pre-release peek certainly offers a nice pop for
everyone involved, though to some extent the concept of a firm album release
date has become a bit antiquated. Pre-release leaks on P2P networks are now
commonplace, with Coldplay the latest to experience a sneak preview of
another sort. That situation has become complicated by staggered
international release dates, with Europe often releasing CDs one day prior
to US retail outlets. Still, for big acts that can keep their content off of
P2P networks, a pre-release stream can help to build demand for CD
purchases.
Microsoft Flirts With Music Subscription Service
Microsoft may be moving closer to delivering a music subscription service,
with more sources pointing to an imminent launch. While Microsoft has always
left the door wide open to such a move, a big entrance by Yahoo may be
accelerating the plans. More details on a possible launch are coming to
light, with ZDNet most recently pointing to a meeting in New York earlier
this week to discuss service specifics. Of course, Microsoft has remained
quiet on the issue. The new service will likely be heavily integrated into
the existing MSN Music download store, which has trailed significantly
behind iTunes.
A subscription play would represent a new page for Microsoft. The company
currently directs Windows Media Player users to a list of WMA-compatible
stores, including Napster and MusicMatch (now owned by Yahoo). That strategy
was designed to bolster the WMA codec and DRM, the Windows Media Player, as
well as the ambitious PlaysForSure portable music player network. But uptake
has been mediocre on all of those fronts, possibly prodding Microsoft to
test out some different approaches. A big push by Microsoft into the digital
living room could also be motivating the move, with Microsoft hoping to play
a big role in next-generation entertainment experiences. Meanwhile, the
combination of Microsoft, Yahoo and RealNetworks in the subscription space
will offer the greatest test for the format yet, with the jury still out on
whether consumers want to rent music.
They do that to keep the sales up on a album by given a little extra.