Subject URL: Minipops

hehe cool. Pop icons depicted as oldskool minimum pixel characters from 'Space Quest'eque games. Very very cool.

Subject URL: Bjork Bootlegs

I nearly bought a CD bootleg at the record fair of Bjork's Unplugged performance but didn't because I figured I could just get it all off Napster. Except I can't find anything but 'Hyperballard', 'Venus As A Boy' and 'Atlantic'. So I want the CD linked above. Now. Not only for Unplugged but also for the fantastic performance of 'Army Of Me' with Skunk Anansie.

After a few test searches I can only assume that the rest of the songs are on the Napster filter list. A search for Bjork Army Of Me comes up with nothing... and quickly at that. Time to jump on GoNutella.

All of the major record companies are now planning on releasing their music for sale/streaming/whatever on the net. But they're all going to be releasing the wrong content. At least as far as I'm concerned.

I think I may be talking for only the few people that think like I do but hey, why not.

For new music, I would like a subscription service for $X a month to allow me to hear any released music at any time. I don't care if it's not downloadable but I'd much prefer it. Buy links can be included to online CD Shops if required but I'm more likely to just choose my own. I would like this service to hear new music and decide on CDs to purchase.

I'd also like a service where the more unusual material is available. B-Sides, Demos, Live shows etc. This is the stuff I'd be willing to pay for to download and keep. Stuff that isn't released, or used to be and is now deleted. Stuff that would cost far to much to release but the band would still like fans to hear it.

For example, Ben Harper recently released a 2CD live CD. I'd put a fair wager on the fact he has hundreds of songs on the cutting room floor he'd have loved to have put on that CD, but it would be too expensive... Rumour has is they've been recording every show since 1997. I'm sure this is the sort of stuff Ben Harper fans would kill for.

How about a service that let bands put this material on the web. A service just like MP3, but with a payment involved. Say, US$0.50? Could not Ben Harper put up every track he wanted to and make a bit of money from it too? Same goes for B-Sides. Most of the time singles are deleted for economic purposes. But people still want to hear the material? Stick each track on the web for a $1. Links from official site, the whole deal.

A large chunk of Napster traffic is this sort of material.

But even then... would people pay. If I knew that every Faith No More b-side was available online at www.fnm.com for 50c each I may well go there instead of spending weeks finding them all on Napster.

But attach a price to something and people want to try before they buy. So they go to Napster first.... and once you already have a copy why bother buying it? Especially so when you're just buying MP3 all over again. Maybe if the quality was better? Most people don't care. Guess why EMusic.com (MP3 sales) died... I'd put money on the fact their already crap sales figures dropped a lot more when Napster came around. And Universal just bought them to hack the service for their 'Duet' music sales service.

Thoughts....