It's the same problem they have with DVD. Their (record companies) entire marketing strategies are based around zoning the world. So they can release a DVD in the US, then months later release it in Australia under a different company. Or Sony can control the releasing rights of Savage Garden in the US, and Warner in Aus.
This obviously doesn't work in the digital / internet world. Their marketing plans are all screwed. This is why record companies have fought for so long against MP3 etc. and why they are only now trying out digital sales. They really never wanted digital music sales to work, because the change of direction would hurt them too much.
But now they all realise they have no choice. If only DVD sellers could see the same thing and kill off the zoning idea all together.
Artists chat about Napster
ZDNet has a recent article on artists and their ideas on Napster. Lots of positives and negatives. Interesting for me is the idea that Napster can hurt artists who already have a strong net presence by cutting the connection between fans and artists. Personally I'd rather people went to my artist homepage to get music rather than Napster.
Pre_Shrunk @ Falls Festival
Pre_Shrunk, along with sonicanimation, silverchair, Honeysmack, Superjesus, 28 Days, Skulker and more will be playing at the Falls Festival, an annual New Years concert in Victoria, Australia.
Final chat on Radiohead's Kid A
A reader (massive Radiohead fan) suggested to me that Kid A is not actually a 'take you over in headphones mode' album, but just an album that has to be heard in context. Like watching a movie with friends while drunk compaired to in the theatre, in the dark.
Fair enough I suppose, but I've listened to this album all week and all the fuss over it is massively over rated. Sure, be a little weirded out because it doesn't sound like their last two albums, but they're not doing anything new on this album. A lot of it reminds me of Bjork, some of it to Primal Scream... I was played a dance artist yesterday and you could tell they were trying to 'do' that sound. They even said recently that they made this album because they were jealous of Massive Attack.
Enjoy it or don't, otherwise get over it. Radiohead's record company must be so happy about the media blitz that's for sure.