The Music Format Bill of Rights

Today I have published the latest Music Industry Blog report:  ‘The Music Format Bill Of Rights: A Manifesto for the Next Generation of Music Products’.  The report is currently available free of charge to Music Industry Blog subscribers.  To subscribe to this blog and to receive a copy of the report simply add your email address [...]

The Digital Music Year That Was: 2011 in Review and 2012 Predictions

Following the disappointment of 2010, 2011 was always going to need to pack more punch.  In some ways it did, and other ways it continued to underwhelm. On balance though the stage is set for an exciting 2012. There were certainly lots of twists and turns in 2011, including: disquiet among the artist community regarding digital pay-outs, [...]

Spotify Takes A Step Towards Making Music The API

So somewhat expectedly Spotify announced their app platform.  Spotify’s announcement didn’t happen in isolation though.  We are moving to the next stage of the evolution of the Internet, the age of the App-enabled web.  That doesn’t mean apps are replacing browsers, rather that Apps are complementing and enhancing web experiences.  Sometimes this means instead of [...]

In Conversation With Sonos’ John MacFarlane

I recently had the opportunity to catch up Sonos’s CEO John MacFarlane, the video of our conversation is below. In the video John and I discuss various key issues facing the digital music market, including: what the next generation of music services will need to deliver The role of experience in music products getting digital [...]

Nokia Mix Radio (What Happened After Comes With Music)

In the excitement of Nokia’s announcement of its first Windows phones today, one would be forgiven for missing the announcement of Nokia’s first major move in the music space since Comes With Music: Mix Radio. Nokia’s post-Comes With Music strategy was always going to be a difficult one to get right.  Regular readers will know [...]

Apple’s iCloud and What It Means to the Digital Music Market

Today Apple formally launched iCloud.  Back in June when Apple first announced iCloud I said I considered it a great start but just that.  After today’s announcement I’ll add that there is more meat on the bones but that Apple has still fallen short of its potential here.  Don’t get me wrong, iCloud and iTunes [...]

Waiting For Facebook

As the market collectively holds its breath in anticipation of Facebook’s much (over?) hyped music service launch this coming Thursday, it is instructive to take stock of where we are at the moment to better understand the eager expectation. Digital music is stuck in a rut At the start of the year I made a [...]

BBM Music: First Take

Today Blackberry announced their anticipated BBM Music service, which it transpires is powered by white label cloud music stalwart Omnifone (who also power the likes of Sony and Vodafone). In short the service offers: 50 tracks per month for a £/$ 5.99 fee Is available to Blackberry Messenger (BBM) users Users’ tracks are available for [...]

Agile Music: Music Formats and Artist Creativity In The Age of Media Mass Customization

I have just published a new report entitled ‘Agile Music: Music Formats and Artist Creativity In The Age of Media Mass Customization’.  The report is available free of charge to all subscribers to this blog.  If you want to receive a copy simply click on the email subscription link on the left and you will [...]

A Call For Input Into a Report!

I am currently writing a report that looks at how music fans can be pulled into the creative process and how this dynamic can then be used to transform music release cycles, formats and products. The report will look at how artists can use emerging digital and social tools to deepen engagement with their fans [...]