Cool new internet resources for musicians

I just found this article over at Reuters that lists several new web-based services aimed at helping independent musicians. The best part? They're all free. Free is such a nice price.

Fanbridge is another cool (and free) service not listed in the article that musicians might want to know about. It basically brings mailing list management for your fan base into the Internet era.

Good stuff abounds.

Internet Radio Royalty Rate Due Date Pushed Back

FMQB posts that the Copyright Royalty Board has delayed the deadline for royalty payments from web-based radio broadcasters. The date has been moved from May 15 to July 15, giving Internet radio stations and other interested parties (like, maybe the 57 million weekly listeners) an extra 45 days to get their act together and appeal this despicable thing. NPR already has their appeal in the works, and will reportedly be filed soon.

Just as crucial is the need to contact your Congressional Representative to show your support for the Internet Radio Equality Act. You can easily find out who your representative is by going to the Act Now page on the SaveNetRadio.org website and clicking on "Call your members of Congress" link. Enter your zip code, then just dial the phone number and follow the instructions provided on the page. Just think of it as one more way of sticking it to the man. In this case, the man happens to be an 18-member board of trustees formed by the RIAA and instructed to crush Internet radio: SoundExchange.

And if you're feeling especially generous with your time, drop an email to Representatives Jay Inslee and Donald Manzullo to say, "Thanks," for their effort in introducing this important piece of bipartisan legislation.

Can you save Internet radio?

Internet radio has had a stake driven through its young heart by the U.S. Copyright Royalty Board. To make a long story short, the Royalty Board—spurred on by hacks and lawyers at SoundExchange (an RIAA front)—decided to raise the royalty rates Internet broadcasters must pay to broadcast music. While the rate raise is only pennies per song, it adds up to a nearly 150% increase in fees. That's a lot. Increase your rent by 150% and see how quickly you have to move.

To make it worse the fees are retroactive, meaning a lot of Internet broadcasters will have to immediately shell out a lump sum payment for music they've already played. I'm not going to sugarcoat it: things look bad. An appeal of the decision has already been denied.

SaveNetRadio.org is a website that's trying to spread the word and also offers fans of Internet radio a chance to contact their representatives and have them ask for a Congressional appeal of the decision. Take a few minutes, click over to SaveNetRadio.org and use their extremely easy to use website to contact your Congressional representative(s) and ask them to help save Internet radio.

Pro-quality FireWire audio interface for $200

Yeah, that's the stuff right there. Sweet gear on the cheap. In case you've missed it, Musician's Friend is blowing out the Mackie Onyx Satellite.

The Satellite is a very rugged 2x6 computer audio interface that gives you eight separate inputs and six line outs, has two clean-and-clear-sounding Onyx preamps, and high-quality 24-bit/96kHz audio converters. It also ships with a full version of Tracktion for recording, processing, and mixing audio on your PC or Mac. But the coolest part of the Satellite is its totally unique two-piece form factor made up of the Pod and the Base Station. It allows you to easily take your recording interface wherever you go without having to unhook all the wiring and cabling you have it connected to at home. It's a fresh, functional idea that works exceptionally well. All this for $200.

But WAIT, there's MORE!

Forgive me—I've always wanted to do that. Not only is the Satellite only 200 clams, but for a limited time (through the end of April) when you buy a Mackie Satellite from Musician's Friend you're also eligible for a rebate that gets you a free padded carrying bag for the Satellite and a FireWire cable kit. Huzzah! Free stuff!

DRM-free downloads from EMI and iTunes

EMI and Apple have struck a deal to distribute high-quality, DRM-free music through the iTunes Music Store. The 256kbps AAC files will cost 30 cents more per track and you can still download the 128kbps version for the regular 99 cent price.

The wall hasn't fallen, but I think I see a hole.

eMedia for education

For years eMedia has made it easier for computer-savvy individuals to learn to play music with their award-winning multimedia music method software. I've checked out a few of their titles and I have some friends who've used it to learn guitar and drums. It moves at a nice pace and is affordable, with a single title being comparable to a round of lessons with a professional instructor.

Now eMedia has gone and gotten all charitable while furthering the cause of rock 'n' roll at the same time, which in my book deserves some kudos. The company donated a bunch of music software, namely their Guitar Method, Rock Guitar Method, Bass Method and the super-easy-to-use Band in a Box music software app to the Seattle-area Rock School. Rock School is a non-profit school with several locations around Seattle that gives its students a chance to learn about music and creativity. And thanks to eMedia, their curriculum just got a little more high tech. If you're betwen ages 12 to 21, live in Seattle, and are ready to get in touch with your inner Angus Young, then there's a school just for you.

Warner Loves Last.fm

Punknews.org is reporting that Last.fm has signed a deal with Warner Music that will allow users to listen to the label's entire music catalog online.

The music will be fed through a stream (no downloading, you naughty kids) and Last.fm account holders will be able to use the site's cool search tools to discover new music in the Warner catalog. Could be a win-win.

DRM Free Europe

This article has been causing quite a stir on the 'net and even sparked a few lively debates within our office. In it Steve Jobs airs his thoughts on Digital Rights Management (DRM), the iTunes store, the iPod, and music. He makes some good points and it's definitely worth a read.

I like the article because it abolishes the popular misconception that somehow Apple is the prime mover behind the iPod and iTunes store being a closed system. Using a DRM—in this case FairPlay—was simply the only way Apple could convince the major record labels to let them license their music for sale through the iTunes store.

I was shocked to discover that if Apple's FairPlay DRM encoding is hacked, Apple only has a short amount of time to fix it or the labels can pull out of the iTunes store without any recompense. Yikes.

Another point which Steve Jobs did not address is that the iTunes store and the music it sells don't make Apple any money. The music sold through iTunes is a loss leader for Apple, something they carry simply so they can sell iPods while avoiding the record label's wrath.

This excellent article by the esteemed Eliot Van Buskirk puts forth the proposition that soon all music will go DRM-free MP3 anyway. It's only a matter of time.

iTunes issues for early Vista adopters

Some early reports indicate that Windows users upgrading to Vista may experience some clashing between iTunes and the minty-fresh OS. It seems music, movies, and television shows purchased from iTunes can't be authorized on a Vista PC.

The Secret Diary of Steve Jobs has a particularly funny take on the situation.

Thankfully Apple just released the fix. Good luck to all the iTunes and Vista people out there.