| REPOST: Our Scene | |||
| 07:02pm 09/01/2008 | |||
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From: Mr. F. Wood Date: Jan 8, 2008 10:00 PM Subject: ALL BANDS SHOULD READ THIS AND LIVE IT! Body: Hey ALL, I AGREE, BIG TIME with this REPOST! I sometimes wonder whether anyone reads these things. Especially after a show when it looks like if they did read this, they don't comprehend what it is I'm trying to say. Apparently some people have read it and I thank all for reposting. So I will continue to repost this in the hope that some people will get a clue. You know who you are (or, then again, DO YOU?). ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Ok, I'm going to vent a little bit here on some things that I consistently see going wrong with the original music scene..... 1. - If you're band is playing a show, get there early and stay late to support all the bands on the bill. If you guys don't support each other, then how can you expect anyone else to? DON'Tsit in your van until it's time to play your set, then race out with your gear immediately after. 2. - If your band only draws 3 people paid on the door....don't ask for a guest list. As much as we're in this for the right reasons...we still have to consider this is a business. Usually the sound person is paid off of the door split, so you can't think everyone can come in for free. The more people you want to come in for free, the more money that has to come out of the venue's pocket. When a venue consistently loses money on shows....THE SHOWS STOP! 3. - PROMOTE THE SHOWS and get people out to see your band. It's difficult as a promoter to convince people to come out and listen to local original music. We're in a day and age where people are more content to listen to cover bands because its music they know. The best person to promote your band is you, first and foremost. As a promoter, we push your music, we convince bars to allow you to play your music, and we get the bar to run drink specials to help bring in people. That's all we can do...the rest is up to you to spread the word, make some friends, and get a good crowd for yourself. 4. - You need to bring people out for your shows...friends, family, people you don't even really like. It doesn't matter. There are very few places that allow original musicians to play. It's hard enough to convince a bar owner to allow original bands to play. The only way it can continue is to show the bar that it's working and the bands are bringing people out for it. All a bar owner sees is if this is making them money in order to stay in business. If they don't make money, then they close their doors, and another venue closes for good. This is their livelyhood and the way they feed their family. If original music isn't working...they're not gonna continue it. 5. - If your band doesn't have a show scheduled one night, but a couple bands you know of are playing.....come out and support them!! Bands need to come out when they're not playing and support other musicians who are playing. Bring copies of your band's cd, talk it up with the bands playing that night, trade shows with them, and just market your band in general to people who are there at the show. The guys in Local Demise have been really good about this lately. It's awesome to see a band who is trying that hard to build their fan base up. 6. - The scene can only exist if you create it. You can't go to a bar and just expect it to be packed with people eagerly awaiting to listen to new music. People are skeptical and chances are they already think you suck before you go on. So you gotta get up there and play and change their minds. Talk to them and pass out burned copies of your cd's for them to take with them. Get their email address from them and build up an email list to announce your shows. Not everyone is on myspace, although it's a great tool to use, not everyone checks their bulletins regularly. 7 - One of the biggest reasons people do enjoy local music is because they can get to know the band individually. They can attach themselves to this smaller band and make it their own. They know they can go to their shows, enjoy some drinks with them, and build up a relationship with them. That's what starts a scene and that's what needs to exist in order for original music to survive. 8. - Don't sit back and say "Why aren't people coming to our shows". Chances are people don't know who the hell you are. Spread the word. a 100 pack of CD-R's are cheap enough. Burn copies of them and pass them out. Even if it's only a 3 song sampler. Give a copy to the kid working the drive thru at Wendy's or pumping your gas at BP. Sure, everyone wants to press some legit cd's and look professional, but that costs money and then you need to sell them to make the money back. Then you're asking people to buy your cd when they don't even know you. If you hand them a simple burned copy, chances are they will throw it in their cd player in the car and check you out. 9. - DON'T BITCH ABOUT THE SET ORDER! If you're given a show and it's the first time playing a venue, chances are that you will be an opener or a closer. Suck it up, play with a good attitude, and I guarantee you'll be invited back to play on a better spot or better show. Especially if you prove you can bring out some people. If your band brings 2 people with them, you can't expect to get the best spot on the lineup. Every promoter keeps track of this shit. We know who drew well on a show and who bitched and cried because they had to play first or last. This business is very much a "give and take" thing. If you can prove to a club that you're serious and you bring out people, we remember that and we make note of it. We have blacklists of bands who don't think this applies to them....and guess what, we all talk to each other. We have friends who promote for other venues and we share that info. 10. - DON'T DROP OFF OF SHOWS WITHOUT AN INSANELY GOOD REASON FOR DOING SO!!! If you have a cold, suck it up and play. Dropping on a show with most venues will almost guarantee you'll never play there again. Also...we all talk to each other. If a band drops on me or worse yet just doesn't show up for it...I'm spreading the word about them to several other venues and promoters in the area so they don't have the same thing happen to them. So, when you think you just bailed on a show and might have ticked off some "small time" promoter, you never know who they are affiliated with. Dropping off of one show could get you blacklisted from 5 other venues without even knowing it. 11. - EARLY, IS ON TIME ! ON TIME, IS LATE ! Be at the venue when you're supposed to be, READY TO PLAY! We work hard at this, just as you work hard at being a band and making music. There's no one person who works harder than anyone else involved in this scene. Everyone plays some type of crucial part. The kid who goes out and flyers, the bands who create music, the promoters who pull it together, the venues who thankfully still allow this to go on....they're all equal. This doesn't work without everyone pulling together to make this something that people want to be a part of. If we're putting on great shows and spreading the word out to people who might not have an interest in listening to original music, it may change their minds. IT's ALL ABOUT THE MUSIC...and it's about being a family that rallies around the support of that music! ***If you agree with this, please repost it*** Thanks, Terry www.myspace.com/deadsceneproductions ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I FULLY AGREE with TERRY on this, and oh yeah, we talk to each other ALL THE TIME! WOOD www.mrfwood.com ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Bands and other believers in independent and original music scenes worldwide.. Read and Digest and spread the gospel. Cosmo Ohms TOBACCO ROAD Miami, Fla. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ All I gotta say is its getting harder and harder to convince quality clubs to give a chance to unknown bands. And I can't really blame them. Frank Wood posted this and I can't agree more WE ALL NEED TO SUPPORT LIVE MUSIC. Kipp rocknrollscene.com ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ We're reposting this because we agree with Terry. If you agree, repost it. Who know maybe someone will see the light. One comment about point no. 7, for the so called 'fans' : It's true, you can get to know the bands. But at the same time, respect their the boundaries. Just because you celebrate their entire catalog, doesn't automatically make you "totallee bestest friend". Yes that lead singer is totally hot, but show some respect. And don't go into a tantrum because you weren't invited to dinner with the band, you're just gonna make a scene and then next time you'll be that jerk everyone avoids. PLEASE be cool KARATERICE ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ADDENDUM: If you're playing a show at a club that has no backline, or a crappy backline, and you're too lazy or cheap to hump your own gear -- DON'T put another musician from another band you've never ever met on the spot, and assume it's cool use their gear. It's not. Don't cop an attitude when they refuse. It is YOUR responsibility to KNOW or research what the venue has to offer you in way of equipment, to own, maintain and transport your own gear to and from clubs, and/or make arrangements with the other bands on the bill to share gear -- IN ADVANCE! CHRIS GRANDE ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ (FUCKIN A-RIGHT!) FUCKIN 1000% TRUTH!!! This is a repost of a bulletin of some basic truths about playing live I've bee saying for YEARS!!!!.. READ...LEARN...LIVE! DJ MOJO ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I totally agree with you guys. JOHNNY PSU HARD AND SPIN PRODUCTIONS ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I totally agree, Terry, you'r a man after my own heart as the saying goes. Now, I understand that in Leicester, England the local bands all coooperate and share the door equally and generally help each other out. That's the way forward. And I especially agree with no shows. I'm sick of hearing bands bitch bout the bad treatment they get and yet don't turn up without batting an eyelid about it. I'm gonna copy this and pass it on. Frank aka Old Man Frank aka The Legendary Frank UNITED KINGDOM ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ hey... here's a repost that i agree withy... it's for All Bands, musicians, fans, etc. i have a few of my own to add to this list too... ....(and we're guilty of this too) . quick setup and breakdown is crucial to keeping the multi-billed shows moving along smoothly.... set up fast, jam your set and break down fast... making room and time for the next band to do their thing....i see too many instances where the band does a good set and gets the congrats from friends, 'great show' 'you rock' handshakes, shots, hugs, the works..... break your stuff down, then take the victory drink!!! and...... dammit, if you've got a 40 minute set, time the set and stick to it! nobody wants to have to tell you 'time's up!' JOE WOOD NYC ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ You ask City Link to support YOUR local scene. It's only fair to ask the same from YOURSELF. CITY LINK BEERFEST Fort Lauderdale, Florida ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ AMEN! THE SUBLIMINATOR Atlanta, Georgia ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ absolutely... ppl need to read this. there's too many peacocks who think they're famous out of the box. MACK Bronx, NY ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ We wholeheartedly agree with all of this, and you can ask ANYONE that knows us...London Egg is one of the most cooperative, supportive and professionally behaved NY bands out there! Not to pat ourselves on the back, but we've had promoters tell us there's not enough bands out there that handle things as promptly we do. Cheers, Egg LONDON EGG NYC ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I am a Fan and I agree, I travelled 10 hours from Cincinnati with a ban. The conditions were terrible. I was stuffed inside of this van with 5 stinky people and band equipment. First, I think you all have a responsibility to each other. If you don't have respect for each other, why would you expect your fans too have respect for you? Second, If you go through all this effort to perform give 100%. It is not all about you! What comes around goes around and that is a fact. If you don't care keep doing what you do. Lastly, the bands who care stand out and they are noticed:) LISA A Cincinnati Fan ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ standing ovation! this is exactly what i have been saying for years man! HOWIE FBR NYC ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I agree. I think it's rude when other musicians don't go out to support their friends bands. And last year at my birthday party one of my bands didn't come in until right before they played, complained about something with the sound ((that i didn't even notice)) and then just left. blah! but then the down to earth musicians who know their shit stinks too, that take time for their fans and are friendly and don't give the bookers (me) or the venues crap... have fans and support for life. plus can get rebooked! lol. TWINKIE Philadelphia ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ My name is Oski, I host theRock all original music night every Thursday at Tobacco Road. I love my job. I host this night with Cosmo Ohmz, together we showcase the new and fresh live music. I can not tell you how good a band sounds or how great the show was... you have to go see it...see it live... Please to all the artist, promote your art. If you open a store and you do not promote the store it will go out of business. Art is the same way. I have told bands in the past this as an example, If you can not convince 4 chicks to come see your 4 piece rock band...how the hell are you going to convince a lable or the spot that gave you a chance to be heard to give you that chance again. I love this young band, the music is great, but they can not get nobody out to see them not even 4 chicks. THINK ABOUT IT. OSKI GONZALEZ TOBACCO ROAD 626 So. Miami Ave Miami Florida 33130 305.303.3976 (anytime) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I couldn't have said this better myself! RACHEL MARTINEZ All Over Booking NYC ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ This is right on!!!!!! You gotta be in it to win it!!!! Now go read my blog about what every band should know!! DAVE BROOKS HONOR AMONG THIEVES - drummer NYC Sound Engineer ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ |
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| i was just thinking... | ||||
| 05:30am 06/11/2007 | ||||
or maybe Hillary will win... and somewhere within everything i mentioned above... people try to pigeonhole her into being the first outed lesbian/bisexually-curious/whatever-big-p*ssy-chowin-dyke to be president of the united states. she makes gay marriage legal but for the cost of ridiculously higher property, state & federal taxes and interest rates combined. the economy totally crashes and we enter a depression that we will take nearly 20+ years to exit. during the depression... Viacom & Google merge (more like Google hypnotises & convinces Viacom to surrender themselves to the all powerful Google empire!). Nintendo tries to buy a piece of Apple, but settles for Atari instead. Microsoft and Sony merge. Fox is still Fox. owww! wooo wooo woooo! owwww! |
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contemplative| Dusty Springfield - White Heat [REVIEW] | |||
| 02:56am 16/08/2007 | |||
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Just picked up the '82 released Dusty Springfield album "White Heat" - found at my local Virgin Megastore (ha!) - I got into Dusty Springfield heavily through listening to her on Pandora. (check it out, www.pandora.com, it's pretty neat for finding music related to what you may like) More importantly, after hearing the track titled "Sooner Or Later" I was absolutely hooked on that song, with its sound so specific to its time. [...early 80s, when synths were more accessible, therefore popularized, and so widely used, you heard them in just about every pop hit during those years; and because it was the early 80s, you can still hear strong influences of disco in the guitar riffs n drumbeats.] Through Pandora, I also heard "Don't Call It Love" which opens with a bittersweet tinged synth & guitar sequence, welcoming Dusty's really soft [signature] vocals. I think this track probably sounds the most like the Dusty that people remember, accompanied by music of the 80s sound. This definitely is a worthy listen for classic Dusty fans who venture into her later works for the first time. A lot of the other tracks on White Heat really exemplify what the mainstream music of the 80s really sounded like. "White Heat" has the soft ballads of the girl that suffers from unrequited love and somehow finds the strength to accept this fate and move on to something better "Time And Time Again"... The more rock heavy jam "Blind Sheep" and groovy "I Am Curious" are tongue in cheek songs poking at a glimpse of the real Dusty, and who she really is as a person. "Gotta Get Used To You" has got that urgency in its dance beats that make you wanna sing along with a hairbrush in your hand. Carole Pope of the Canadian group Rough Trade, as well as Sting, Elvis Costello, and Elton John made writing contributions to help make "White Heat" one of the best Dusty Springfield albums [that was TERRIBLY underestimated & ultimately overlooked by Casablanca Records]. "White Heat" proves yet again Dusty's talent to be versatile in her singing abilities... helping her to crack at the pop-star-turned-caberet-has-been-mold made by the public & media... much like what "Broken English" was to do for Marianne Faithful. For fun... if you close your eyes and listen closely, you may be able to imagine that artists like Deborah Harry or even Melissa Manchester could've been singing this album. But of course, Dusty still has a very distinct vocal that is truly her own! |
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| Life After S.M.U.T. | |||
| 07:02pm 26/07/2007 | |||
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Life After S.M.U.T. As many of you may know. I play rhythm guitar for the band S.M.U.T.. S.M.U.T. began in Connecticut and after various lineups, the band broke up and relocated to New York City. For nearly 3 years, I have played rhythm guitar for S.M.U.T. as part of the original NYC lineup. I have throughly enjoyed hanging out, writing, and rockin' numerous venues with S.M.U.T... I have forged many new friendships and I am grateful for all the wonderful memories that S.M.U.T. has blessed me with! I was overwhelmed with joy by all the positive feedback we garnered after reuniting and performing for the George Tabb Benefit at Knitting Factory, June 24th, 2007. We were previously on hiatus for 6 months. Unsure of how things would turn out, we decided to just take things slow, and we agreed to continue future plans of playing shows, and working on our long-awaited debut album (still in the works). With newfound dedication to my school studies, my supportive job, and my 2 most recent musical endeavors [Beer Drinking Fools, Trauma Team] ...It saddens me to say that I can no longer be an active member of S.M.U.T.. It is my wish to see that my departure does not impede on any progress S.M.U.T. is currently making. I will hold to commitments I have already made (Buffalo show 7/29, and possible BKLYN show 9/1/07); however it behooves me to prevent myself becoming unavailable (therefore unreliable) and causing S.M.U.T. to miss out on opportunities that may be beneficial to moving the band forward. With that said... I love you all, dearest S.M.U.T. fans & supporters, you have all helped make our shows a real blast! Thank you to Status Quo No Show, No Place To Piss, NYC Punk, Val, Rabia, Blackout Shopper,s for supporting us from the very beginning! Thank you to Erinn (aka Cutie Calamity), XTENE, Dave (Rabia), Noodle, Gene, Jay, Patrick, Patric, Skott, Rachel Rotten, Remenitia, Felipe, Distraction, Yo!Scunt, The Bullys, Lady Unluck, Manitobas, Continental, CBGB, Joe Simko, Frank & Step 2 Far, Otto's Shrunken Head!, Vanessa Daughter of Satan, George Tabb, Frank Wood, She Wolves, NY Waste, and Al & Eyes of Hate. ...those not mentioned, you ARE in my heart! I love you all! Keep Rockin and a Rollin! -Ripley :) |
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| "10 Million Miles" - A REVIEW | |||
| 01:26pm 13/07/2007 | |||
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10 Million Miles Opened 14 Jun 2007 at Atlantic Theater 346 West 20th Street Photo by Monique Carboni  Irene Molloy and Matthew Morrison Book by: Keith Bunin Music & lyrics by: Patty Griffin Directed by: Michael Mayer Cast: Irene Molloy, Matthew Morrison, Skipp Sudduth and Mare Winningham. Synopsis: Follows the story of Duane and Molly's road trip in a beat-up Chevy pick-up truck from the southern tip of Florida to the northwest corner of New York, with plenty of unexpected detours along the way. Despite the mediocre reviews, I actually enjoyed it. Well, I'd say I enjoyed it all minus the almost predictable storyline! The actors were very controlled in the fast-moving storyline; jumping from song to song, full of emotion and physical action, all without overacting! I was impressed by their acting skills as well as their harmonies sung over the excellent musical compositions. In agreeance with some of the critics, I don't think the play was long enough to provide more depth for the characters in the storyline. However, the storyline was written well enough to keep the audience from yawning, [even being shorter than a modern day box-office film.] Noteworthy performance by Mare Winningham, who played all the extra female characters with such believeable accuracy! CITE: "10 Million Miles - Off Broadway." New York Theatre Guide. June 2007. [http://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/reviews/10millionmiles07.htm]. |
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| late nite browsin... | |||
| 02:06am 05/07/2007 | |||
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http://www.freewilliamsburg.com/archives/2005/05/an_interview_wi_2.html nice interview for Stereolab fans. |
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| something cosmic has gone f*n awry! | |||
| 01:23pm 26/04/2007 | |||
| I can't even begin to describe how the cosmos are just fucking with everybody's mood this week! | |||
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| Trauma Team gets bloody in Brooklyn! | |||
| 09:06am 25/04/2007 | |||
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a Nite of Blood, Sex, Violence & Rage! -Ghoulish Glam Horror Rock n Roll Debauchery!- Saturday 4/28/2007 10:00 PM - The Charleston in Williamsburg NYC - 174 Bedford Ave. @ N7th Street Cost: $5 - 21+ w/ID Right across the street from the L train at the Bedford stop. I mean literally 50 feet from the train exit! Appearing w/The Scared Stiffs, Demon's Alley and Serpenteens! One KICKASS night of glamhorrorrockandroll! All times are SHARP! 10:45 - Trauma Team http://myspace.com/traumateam666 11:30 - The Scared Stiffs http://myspace.com/thescaredstiffs 12:15 - Serpenteens http://myspace.com/serpenteens 1:00 - Demon's Alley http://myspace.com/demonsalley  |
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| best St.Patty's on record!!! 3/17/07 | ||||
| 03:48pm 25/03/2007 | ||||
That was THE most FUN I've ever had on St.Patrick's Day! The vibe was soo INTENSE!!! Thank you to the bands: Blackout Shoppers, Ray Gradys (from philly!), World War IX, Animale (AMAZING!!!), and my beloved Beer Drinking Fools! so glad i can help make drinking FUN!!! and thank you to all you party animals that celebrated St.Patty's with us!!! Cheers & many more Beers! -Ripley! ...oh wait i gotta tell you about my other band, TRAUMA TEAM's next show, which will be at Otto's Shrunken Head w/ The Epik: Tuesday, March 27th, 9pm Otto's Shrunken Head 538 East 14th Street East Village, NY FREE, 21+ w/ ID  Beer Drinking Fools at Otto's Shrunken Head 3.17.07 - I Hate Pearl Jam Cover Bands - Donneybrook At Diceys |
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happy| How You Can Help George Tabb Help Others | |||
| 05:28pm 06/03/2007 | |||
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Repost and spread the word. Knowledge should be CONTAGIOUS not shunned! ----------------- Bulletin Message ----------------- From: Blackout Matt Date: Mar 6, 2007 12:53 PM From: Help George Tabb Date: Mar 6, 2007 12:47 PM Is there any truth in government anymore? Please Repost...
George Tabb vs. The EPA on MSNBC with Brian WIlliams. In these clips you'll see the LAST time Christine Todd Whitman was interviewed "live". I was asked to be on the show and told only to talk about the asbestos. I did not know until I went on the air that Christine Todd Whitman, the head of the EPA, wanted to counter my remarks. What a surprise! Turns out she was afraid of what I was gonna say. So I figured, "fuck just talking about one poison, let's talk about more". Boy, was she pissed. But Brian WIlliams seemed to love it. See the head of the EPA lie and spin facts. See this Bush appointed person help kill people. Wonderful! See them pass the buck! Fuckers!!!! Please pass them around and spread the word!!!! |
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| MISFITS TRIBUTE NIGHT 3/2/07 | |||
| 04:08pm 03/03/2007 | |||
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This past Friday was a very special night... While having our usual rehearsal, we got a phone call from our friend XTENE, telling us that 2 bands cancelled and asked if we could play in their place. "Why not?" we said... Chastity put on her hepatitis-free shoes, SuCasa & Rippers packed up, and we made a mad dash for Siberia in Bloody Mary's Rockmobile! We get there in true superstar fashion, arriving in less than 15 minutes from the phone call, stormin in ready rock, heading straight for the stage! All of the needed equipment was already there setup, just waiting for us to abuse the audience with! but wait! We can't perform in our work clothes!?! Can we? Luckily, Ripper Cunt just happened to have had some laceration in a bottle in her purse, and we got bloodied up in the bathroom... She also had a whole other outfit in her magicial Rock n Roll purse which she gave to Chastity; braving the stage in her bare nylons. (what's a proper Rock n Roll performance w/o pants?) *Let's just say for the record that SuCasa & Bloody Mary are always appropriately dressed for rockin out! We went through our entire set, which included about 4 new unheard songs. The crowd was awesome! Laughing along with us and dancing inbetween choruses! They happily accepted our loving abuse & let us hump them after the set! We had an amazing time raging the pit with the bands that followed: Green Hell (members of Blackout Shoppers) & Chesty Malone & The Slice-Em Ups! Both of whom we adore! Thank you again for inviting us to play... even though we had already planned on comin down to support anyway! Please check out Chesty Malone & The Slice-Em Ups if you haven't already... They will not disappoint! http://myspace.com/chestymaloneandthesliceemups Trauma Team's next show: Tuesday, March 27th, 2007, 9pm, Otto's Shrunken Head, East 14th Street between Ave A & B, with The Epik! http://myspace.com/traumateam666 |
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| Steve Jobs of Apple's statement on music {REPOST from apple.com} | ||||
| 12:28am 12/02/2007 | ||||
February 6, 2007 With the stunning global success of Apple’s iPod music player and iTunes online music store, some have called for Apple to “open” the digital rights management (DRM) system that Apple uses to protect its music against theft, so that music purchased from iTunes can be played on digital devices purchased from other companies, and protected music purchased from other online music stores can play on iPods. Let’s examine the current situation and how we got here, then look at three possible alternatives for the future. To begin, it is useful to remember that all iPods play music that is free of any DRM and encoded in “open” licensable formats such as MP3 and AAC. iPod users can and do acquire their music from many sources, including CDs they own. Music on CDs can be easily imported into the freely-downloadable iTunes jukebox software which runs on both Macs and Windows PCs, and is automatically encoded into the open AAC or MP3 formats without any DRM. This music can be played on iPods or any other music players that play these open formats. The rub comes from the music Apple sells on its online iTunes Store. Since Apple does not own or control any music itself, it must license the rights to distribute music from others, primarily the “big four” music companies: Universal, Sony BMG, Warner and EMI. These four companies control the distribution of over 70% of the world’s music. When Apple approached these companies to license their music to distribute legally over the Internet, they were extremely cautious and required Apple to protect their music from being illegally copied. The solution was to create a DRM system, which envelopes each song purchased from the iTunes store in special and secret software so that it cannot be played on unauthorized devices. Apple was able to negotiate landmark usage rights at the time, which include allowing users to play their DRM protected music on up to 5 computers and on an unlimited number of iPods. Obtaining such rights from the music companies was unprecedented at the time, and even today is unmatched by most other digital music services. However, a key provision of our agreements with the music companies is that if our DRM system is compromised and their music becomes playable on unauthorized devices, we have only a small number of weeks to fix the problem or they can withdraw their entire music catalog from our iTunes store. To prevent illegal copies, DRM systems must allow only authorized devices to play the protected music. If a copy of a DRM protected song is posted on the Internet, it should not be able to play on a downloader’s computer or portable music device. To achieve this, a DRM system employs secrets. There is no theory of protecting content other than keeping secrets. In other words, even if one uses the most sophisticated cryptographic locks to protect the actual music, one must still “hide” the keys which unlock the music on the user’s computer or portable music player. No one has ever implemented a DRM system that does not depend on such secrets for its operation. The problem, of course, is that there are many smart people in the world, some with a lot of time on their hands, who love to discover such secrets and publish a way for everyone to get free (and stolen) music. They are often successful in doing just that, so any company trying to protect content using a DRM must frequently update it with new and harder to discover secrets. It is a cat-and-mouse game. Apple’s DRM system is called FairPlay. While we have had a few breaches in FairPlay, we have been able to successfully repair them through updating the iTunes store software, the iTunes jukebox software and software in the iPods themselves. So far we have met our commitments to the music companies to protect their music, and we have given users the most liberal usage rights available in the industry for legally downloaded music. With this background, let’s now explore three different alternatives for the future. The first alternative is to continue on the current course, with each manufacturer competing freely with their own “top to bottom” proprietary systems for selling, playing and protecting music. It is a very competitive market, with major global companies making large investments to develop new music players and online music stores. Apple, Microsoft and Sony all compete with proprietary systems. Music purchased from Microsoft’s Zune store will only play on Zune players; music purchased from Sony’s Connect store will only play on Sony’s players; and music purchased from Apple’s iTunes store will only play on iPods. This is the current state of affairs in the industry, and customers are being well served with a continuing stream of innovative products and a wide variety of choices. Some have argued that once a consumer purchases a body of music from one of the proprietary music stores, they are forever locked into only using music players from that one company. Or, if they buy a specific player, they are locked into buying music only from that company’s music store. Is this true? Let’s look at the data for iPods and the iTunes store – they are the industry’s most popular products and we have accurate data for them. Through the end of 2006, customers purchased a total of 90 million iPods and 2 billion songs from the iTunes store. On average, that’s 22 songs purchased from the iTunes store for each iPod ever sold. Today’s most popular iPod holds 1000 songs, and research tells us that the average iPod is nearly full. This means that only 22 out of 1000 songs, or under 3% of the music on the average iPod, is purchased from the iTunes store and protected with a DRM. The remaining 97% of the music is unprotected and playable on any player that can play the open formats. It’s hard to believe that just 3% of the music on the average iPod is enough to lock users into buying only iPods in the future. And since 97% of the music on the average iPod was not purchased from the iTunes store, iPod users are clearly not locked into the iTunes store to acquire their music. The second alternative is for Apple to license its FairPlay DRM technology to current and future competitors with the goal of achieving interoperability between different company’s players and music stores. On the surface, this seems like a good idea since it might offer customers increased choice now and in the future. And Apple might benefit by charging a small licensing fee for its FairPlay DRM. However, when we look a bit deeper, problems begin to emerge. The most serious problem is that licensing a DRM involves disclosing some of its secrets to many people in many companies, and history tells us that inevitably these secrets will leak. The Internet has made such leaks far more damaging, since a single leak can be spread worldwide in less than a minute. Such leaks can rapidly result in software programs available as free downloads on the Internet which will disable the DRM protection so that formerly protected songs can be played on unauthorized players. An equally serious problem is how to quickly repair the damage caused by such a leak. A successful repair will likely involve enhancing the music store software, the music jukebox software, and the software in the players with new secrets, then transferring this updated software into the tens (or hundreds) of millions of Macs, Windows PCs and players already in use. This must all be done quickly and in a very coordinated way. Such an undertaking is very difficult when just one company controls all of the pieces. It is near impossible if multiple companies control separate pieces of the puzzle, and all of them must quickly act in concert to repair the damage from a leak. Apple has concluded that if it licenses FairPlay to others, it can no longer guarantee to protect the music it licenses from the big four music companies. Perhaps this same conclusion contributed to Microsoft’s recent decision to switch their emphasis from an “open” model of licensing their DRM to others to a “closed” model of offering a proprietary music store, proprietary jukebox software and proprietary players. The third alternative is to abolish DRMs entirely. Imagine a world where every online store sells DRM-free music encoded in open licensable formats. In such a world, any player can play music purchased from any store, and any store can sell music which is playable on all players. This is clearly the best alternative for consumers, and Apple would embrace it in a heartbeat. If the big four music companies would license Apple their music without the requirement that it be protected with a DRM, we would switch to selling only DRM-free music on our iTunes store. Every iPod ever made will play this DRM-free music. Why would the big four music companies agree to let Apple and others distribute their music without using DRM systems to protect it? The simplest answer is because DRMs haven’t worked, and may never work, to halt music piracy. Though the big four music companies require that all their music sold online be protected with DRMs, these same music companies continue to sell billions of CDs a year which contain completely unprotected music. That’s right! No DRM system was ever developed for the CD, so all the music distributed on CDs can be easily uploaded to the Internet, then (illegally) downloaded and played on any computer or player. In 2006, under 2 billion DRM-protected songs were sold worldwide by online stores, while over 20 billion songs were sold completely DRM-free and unprotected on CDs by the music companies themselves. The music companies sell the vast majority of their music DRM-free, and show no signs of changing this behavior, since the overwhelming majority of their revenues depend on selling CDs which must play in CD players that support no DRM system. So if the music companies are selling over 90 percent of their music DRM-free, what benefits do they get from selling the remaining small percentage of their music encumbered with a DRM system? There appear to be none. If anything, the technical expertise and overhead required to create, operate and update a DRM system has limited the number of participants selling DRM protected music. If such requirements were removed, the music industry might experience an influx of new companies willing to invest in innovative new stores and players. This can only be seen as a positive by the music companies. Much of the concern over DRM systems has arisen in European countries. Perhaps those unhappy with the current situation should redirect their energies towards persuading the music companies to sell their music DRM-free. For Europeans, two and a half of the big four music companies are located right in their backyard. The largest, Universal, is 100% owned by Vivendi, a French company. EMI is a British company, and Sony BMG is 50% owned by Bertelsmann, a German company. Convincing them to license their music to Apple and others DRM-free will create a truly interoperable music marketplace. Apple will embrace this wholeheartedly. |
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| I absolutely love! | |||
| 01:03pm 06/02/2007 | |||
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taking the day off from work... staying in bed til past noon... watching and enjoying the movie "Network" Life is grand! come see me rock the fuck out this Friday with: Moxie, DJ BeJay Rose, Andy Barber & Jake the Barber, Kyle The Bootblack, The BUZZCOCK gang of regulars & friends... as well as musical BLOODY stylings of TRAUMA TEAM 666!!! The Eagle is located at 554 West 28th St. btwn 10th and 11th Ave in Manhattan. Cover is $10 but only $5 if you RSVP at TraumaTeam666@gmail.com This is THE last Trauma Team show for BUZZCOCK so I suggest you get off yer sweet buns *wink* and celebrate with us a night of rock n roll fun & debauchery! Who knows... some of yous may get lucky... it's a mixed crowd of punks... we promise! and delivery... ALWAYS!!! -Love, Ripley & Trauma Team! |
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| MOVIE: Suddenly, Last Summer | ||||
| 04:36am 29/01/2007 | ||||
My Own Review: The movie is slow and hard to follow in the beginning... by means of being near-boring... However, I must say that Elizabeth Taylor steals the show with her unbreakable performance. Katherine Hepburn is equally talented in delivering the assumption of her character’s truly hidden dementia. Elizabeth makes you want to believe in her character’s amnesia-ridden story. Even empathize with her loneliness and despair as she tightly embraces the doctor throughout the film. Also Adding: Elizabeth Taylor’s character, Catherine, is much smarter than she let’s on. Distraught by the heavy realization that her own mother and brother wish to sign away her rights to undergo a lobotomy against her will, all for money; she lashes out the truth before dashing out of her temporary quarters to hide. She so easily escapes being seen, all by remaining calm. Carefully pacing through the hall in her expensive dress suit from Paris. ----- MOVIE DETAILS: Suddenly, Last Summer Director: Joseph L. Mankiewicz Cast: Katharine Hepburn Elizabeth Taylor Montgomery Clift Mercedes McCambridge Genres: Classics, Drama Awards: 1960 Academy Award®: Best Actress nominee: Katharine Hepburn 1960 Academy Award®: Best Actress nominee: Elizabeth Taylor 1960 Academy Award®: Best Art Direction Black and White nominee Original Release Date: 1959 113 minutes |
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enthralled| Keith Olberman's Special Statement | |||
| 09:09am 24/01/2007 | |||
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Reposted from SASQUATCH and the SICK-A-BILLYS Myspace Bulletin ----------------- Bulletin Message ----------------- From: SASQUATCH and the SICK-A-BILLYS Date: Jan 24, 2007 1:15 AM Thanks you all that have re-posted and have responded! I have over 15 pages of emails from you... and only 2 were mean and ignorant! Give me a few days to reply to all of you, please. 15 cowards that don't realize that what makes this country great is the fact that I and you can voice our opinions freely... I MUST say: Posting a bulletin on MySpace is NOT stuffing my opinion down your throat. If you don't like it, delete us or voice YOUR opinion WITH calm intelligence. Posting this shit will not change the problem. BUT, it WILL spread awareness. it's a start! I am not a right or left wing nut job. I'm not a liberal or a hippie or a conspiracy psycho... well, a little bit. You have to keep all possibilities open. You never know... I love you all. Thanks again, Sasquatch PS: I am NOT a Keith Olberman follower or fan. I am just amazed that he said what is on alot of our minds. I serve no master except the one in the sky... and his/her/ it's name is TRUTH. -------------------------> YOU and I will RE-POST this EVERY day until JUSTICE is served. If this pisses you off... then, we are already fucked. THIS is too IMPORTANT. You will not see this repeated over and over again on TV like the Golden Globes wardrobe awards and shit like that. SO, it is OUR duty to spread the word on here. HERE is a place tha they all have put us together into a social (??) herd and IT IS TIME to utilize it for something more important than crap that has "OMG" and "LOL" in mindless giggles. Dig? I hope so. God help us, EVERYONE. "Mr Bush's Ass, Meet Keith Olberman's Foot..." |
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| Upcoming Ripley Shows | |||
| 02:16pm 20/01/2007 | |||
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Hey Gang! gimmie your email so i can email yall... and also gimmie your number so i can harrass you on the phone as well! Currently playing with 2 bands: Trauma Team 666 (Blood, Gore, and Rock n Roll: rip=bass); Beer Drinking Fools (Punk n Roll: rip=drums). Visit us on myspace or just come see us live! Trauma Team TONITE 1/20/07 January, 20 2007 at Bowery Poetry Club BadAss Burlesque Show somewhere directly across the street from where CBGB was New York , New York, Cost : $15.00 BadAss! Burlesque! presented by Velocity of Vulgaras! That's right! twelve sexy,wrong, pastied bitches open for the wrongest, bloodiest NYC band, Trauma Team (666)! If you miss this, than You are a Douchebag! Trauma Team February, 9 2007 at Eagle Club - BUZZCOCK party 26th Street between 10 + 11th Aves... closer to 11th New York , New York, Cost : $10.00, $5 w/ RSVP Whether or not you're a tossed salad faggot, you're going to enjoy the lovely vibe of NYC's finest gay skinheads at Eagle Club. Put together by Moxie, Chris and DJ Bejay Rose... you're guaranteed a goodtime! Lube recommended! Beer Drinking Fools February, 19 2007 at Manitobas 99 Avenue B, New York, Cost : FREE! Beer Drinking Fools and the Wheezing Stumblers start your week off right with loud rock and tons of booze at Handsome Dick's place. If you love Rock, if you love beer, or even if you just love Dick, this is the place to be on a Monday night! Beer Drinking Fools March, 17 2007 at Otto's Shrunken Head 14th Street near 1st Ave., New York, New York Cost : FREE St. Patrick's Day show with WWIX, Blackout Shoppers, Ray Gradys and Animale. Help us get drunk on the best day of the year for making new friends! So there ya go... hope to see yall there... if not... see ya around town! Cheers, Ripley :) |
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| Fokin Fantastik! | ||||
| 10:59am 06/01/2007 | ||||
If anyone has pics for me to post, send em; and if anyone knows this 1st Friday of the month party @ Beauty Bar (NYC) post a comment! Cheers & more Beers! |
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bouncy| Myspace Bulletin Repost - Guliani Hates Pitbulls | |||
| 11:28am 19/11/2006 | |||
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I was glad when Guiliani finally left NYC... but running for president? fuck no! ( Read more... ) |
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| Myspace Bulletin Repost - Girls Learn To Ride | ||||
| 11:22am 19/11/2006 | ||||
-ripley ( Read more... ) |
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| TRAUMA TEAM 666 DEBUT AT UNDERSCORE 11/11/06 | ||||
| 10:13am 12/11/2006 | ||||
( Read more... )   http://myspace.com/traumateam666 |
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mischievous|
ripley |
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Friends Info Calendar Ripley on Myspace |
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