Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: I'm marking Youth Week by being down with the kids

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  • Simon Grigg,

    Is this a measure of actual, active popularity, or more the flippancy over over-accessibility?

    all of the above in various mixes, depending on the song and the artist.

    In the same way that a burnt CD is not a lost sale, a downloaded copy of a track does not necessarily mean a person would now no longer buy the record, and If I get a track off the net that I like I always buy a copy (although I tend to sample off mp3 sites rather than p2p). Its hard to measure but the obvious other side to online piracy is also a bonus to the artist in that the online buzz (read: "piracy") is a huge factor in that act's profile. The electronic musical forms have know that for a long time, as has hip hop.

    But asking them to publish them as official charts is a wee bit of a stretch just yet, I think ...

    of course, but to mix metaphors terribly, year zero is already here and the horse has truly bolted. The sooner they come to terms with that the better. P2p is not going away, and there is only so much effort that should be put into fine tuning the past in the vague hope that it will return. At some stage the recognition has to come that the control no longer lies with record companies. The web always threatened that, but now it's delivering.

    Trent Reznor speaks

    Just another klong... • Since Nov 2006 • 3284 posts Report Reply

  • Richard C.,

    D'you think they sat him in front of the Orwell on purpose? David?

    To say nothing of Dostoevsky...

    Waiheke Island • Since Nov 2006 • 5 posts Report Reply

  • 3410,

    Speaking of music, Jim Mora's featured album of the day is Barbra Streisand's 1980 LP, 'Guilty'. Sounds like us? Is Jim the only man in NZ impressed by the phrase "Grammy Award-winning"?

    Anyway... Hardly surprising that record companies aren't interested in counting P2P downloads. For a start, the charts are not a public service set up to accurately measure popularity, they're a promotional device. Moreover such a move would only give the practice perceived legitimacy, which is the last thing they want.

    Auckland • Since Jan 2007 • 2618 posts Report Reply

  • Simon Grigg,

    Moreover such a move would only give the practice perceived legitimacy, which is the last thing they want.

    yes but that perceived legitimacy already exists with the customer base, ignoring that won't make it go away. It's all becoming slowly little more than academic, as the EMI deal shows, anyway.

    There was a time when everybody under 30 knew what the number one was, now virtually nobody does. God, in the UK, almost everybody under 50 knew, Top of The Pops was a religion

    Just another klong... • Since Nov 2006 • 3284 posts Report Reply

  • Don Christie,

    To say nothing of Dostoevsky...

    The Idiot?

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1645 posts Report Reply

  • David Haywood,

    Ben Wilson wrote:

    I love how David's bookshelves make bloggers look so cerebral ...

    Bookshelves definitely are a fashion statement, rather like gym equipment. Whether they actually get used is another matter....

    Hey, they definitely get used, especially the Orwell! Actually, it's difficult not to film me against such a backdrop in our house -- as every bit of wall space is taken up with book shelves. My motto is: you never know when you might want to re-read something. I think it freaks people out a little. Visitors often ask if we own a second-hand bookshop.

    Emma Hart wrote:

    D'you think they sat him in front of the Orwell on purpose? David?

    I think my head obscures a pile of Robert Heinlein novels (recommended by you, unless I'm mistaken). There's also some John D MacDonald books. So it's just chance that Orwell is more visible -- and that my reputation for cerebralness isn't in tatters.

    My preference was for a body-double to do the interview on my behalf, so I'm glad if the Orwell made me look slightly less gormless.

    Dunsandel • Since Nov 2006 • 1156 posts Report Reply

  • Emma Hart,

    I think my head obscures a pile of Robert Heinlein novels (recommended by you, unless I'm mistaken).

    Oh sure, trash MY credibility instead. Those were very specific Heinlein novels I recommended, not Heinlein in general.

    It actually reminded me of my friend Susan's house. Though her husband does actually manage a second-hand bookshop (Arty Bees in Manners St).

    </plug>

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2006 • 4651 posts Report Reply

  • jon_knox,

    A friend of a friend worked for many years at HMV, ECM or whatever it was back in the 90's. He advised that the favourite weekly tasks/games of store managers was to see which one of them could have the biggest impact on the NZ Singles chart.

    Belgium • Since Nov 2006 • 464 posts Report Reply

  • jon_knox,

    the biggest impact on the NZ Singles chart.

    As a point of clarification the single chart is not the same NZ Dating singles chart that Damian blogs about.

    Belgium • Since Nov 2006 • 464 posts Report Reply

  • Peter Darlington,

    Trent Reznor speaks

    Interesting interview. The fact he downloads illegally himself while knowing better than most how this hurts artists sums up the dilemma rather nicely.

    If more artists can come off record company contracts and start releasing new material at a fraction of the cost of their company owned back catalogue that could start to create some nice pressure on the online stores and record companies to drop the price.

    It would be highly interesting to see how $4 high-bitrate new release albums would sell alongside hardcopies and illegal copies. How about $2 albums? Or make a donation and it's yours... Radical stuff.

    Nelson • Since Nov 2006 • 949 posts Report Reply

  • Leigh Kennaway,

    As a point of clarification the single chart is not the same NZ Dating singles chart that Damian blogs about.

    Talking of which, and reflecting on an earlier RB blog, isn't it amazing how many young men on NZD feature pics of their cars in profiles... even the gayboys are doing it now.... the times they are a changing. I wonder if it does have pulling-power?!?!

    Western Bays • Since Feb 2007 • 79 posts Report Reply

  • Chaos Buddha,

    isn't it amazing how many young men on NZD feature pics of their cars in profiles...

    . . . well then stay thee away from NZPersonalsdotcom, you'd be surprised as to what some of those young men 'feature' in pictures of their profiles.

    My flatmate* joined/perused the site for a while, and he was somewhat amused at the number of women's profiles that made it a point to state that they weren't interested in would-be suitors who sent pictures of their knobs to prospective paramours.



    (*names/referenced may have been changed to protect the identity of those involved . . . )

    Nirvana • Since May 2007 • 27 posts Report Reply

  • Peter Darlington,

    the number of women's profiles that made it a point to state that they weren't interested in would-be suitors who sent pictures of their knobs to prospective paramours.

    And they say romance is dead...

    Nelson • Since Nov 2006 • 949 posts Report Reply

  • jon_knox,

    they weren't interested in would-be suitors who sent pictures of their knobs to prospective paramours.

    Crickey!...guess that means people will just have to impress the lay-dees by telling them their nicknames for their appendages. Which reminds me of a site good for finding interesting links, that I'll blame Stephen Judd for peaking my curiousity about, being Metafilter (I'll second Stephen's recommendation about it being a good way to pass time online!).

    The following link is unlikely to be NSFW mainly because of the reactions, rather than any images (well none I found, but then again I had to stop reading after a few letters). It's a site about someone pretending to want some biker/outlaw penpals.

    Belgium • Since Nov 2006 • 464 posts Report Reply

  • Judi Lapsley Miller,

    Emma said:

    Oh sure, trash MY credibility instead. Those were very specific Heinlein novels I recommended, not Heinlein in general.

    If its any consolation Emma, my opinion of David went up highly when I saw his Heinlein collection...

    I'm not sure what that says about any of us... but it can't be good...

    Judi

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 106 posts Report Reply

  • Karl Smith,

    As to kids paying for downloads... why not a simple pre-paid card you can buy at the dairy? Too easy perhaps? A lot of kids can get their hands on $10 cash, but using credit cards and phone accounts may be a bit too much hassle...

    Melbourne • Since May 2007 • 3 posts Report Reply

  • Finn Higgins,

    I can't say any more on the subject due to pieces of paper I signed, but believe me there are a number of different people in NZ working on that.

    Wellington • Since Apr 2007 • 209 posts Report Reply

  • Che Tibby,

    ps... did i mention that finn did the music on our 48 hours film here in wellington?

    my recommendation?

    someone hire him.

    immediately.

    the back of an envelope • Since Nov 2006 • 2042 posts Report Reply

  • JP Hansen,

    RipIt.co.nz has pre-paid cards at Dick Smith stores. Cards are coming this year for digirama.co.nz and iTunes NZ. txttunes.com (still in beta) pays by billing your mobile phone account, vodaphone & telecom's music stores do the same.

    I understand digirama and Amplifier both also have account systems that you can top up using internet banking to make purchases without a credit card.

    Waitakere • Since Nov 2006 • 206 posts Report Reply

  • Emma Hart,

    If its any consolation Emma, my opinion of David went up highly when I saw his Heinlein collection...

    As long as we're talking The Moon is a Harsh Mistress and not Number of the Breast...

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2006 • 4651 posts Report Reply

  • Finn Higgins,

    But Che, you're forgetting: Public Address is a hotbed of unemployed/unemployable leftists who wouldn't know a thing about creating jobs if it came along and bit them in the bum. With its large and non-metaphorical teeth. If I wanted to get a job from Real Productive People I'd obviously be hanging out on Kiwiblog...

    Also, I figured I was just going to pick up your job after you got hired as a professor based on that stunning performance of yours.

    (as an aside, I'm only slightly unemployed - in the sense that I'm temping since moving down from evil Auckland in March. You can tell when I have something on because... uh... I don't post here all day)

    Wellington • Since Apr 2007 • 209 posts Report Reply

  • Che Tibby,

    well... i figured you didn't work within easy reach of the interweb, anyhow.

    and, on the final draft of a play. might talk to you and the significant other about a musical score.

    the back of an envelope • Since Nov 2006 • 2042 posts Report Reply

  • Hadyn Green,

    Yeah Che, you could tell Finn must do something when he showed up at the heat in (dum dum duuuum)* a suit!

    *which is the reason why we needed Finn.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 2090 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson,

    Finn, I'd hire you. Just for someone to argue with :-). If I hired a kiwiblogger it wouldn't be for a sparring partner, it would be for a punching bag.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • Don Christie,

    Conchord - if that flies in the US I might start watching TV again. I though comedy there had to be

    set -up...gag...ad...
    rinse, repeat.

    I love the way you can hardly hear the punch lines:

    "I think what I really wanted was an Australian"...was sung over.

    Go you good things.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1645 posts Report Reply

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