Since I consider SF to be the hub of digital music, why not do a weekly roundup? Got a tip? Feed me. Corey@sfappeal.com
iTunes Announces Beatles Catalog
The Beatles were the single biggest holdout from iTunes and other online music services. Read more of my thoughts about the impact of today’s announcement here .
Rdio Releases Rdio For Windows Phone 7
Rdio released their the Rdio for Windows Phone 7 app, announcing the news on the Rdio Blog. In the race for cloud power between the variety of smartphones now available for easy public consumption, Windows 7 joins the ongoing list of devices running Rdio mobile. Like Rdio for iPhone, Blackberry and Android, Rdio for Windows Phone 7 gives owners of that phone who subscribe to Rdio unlimited access to a massive and deep music catalog, including music from all the major labels as well as licensing deals with aggregators IODA, The Orchard, INgrooves, IRIS, CD Baby and others. I’ve made no bones that I really enjoy Rdio’s cloud music service – on my iPhone. Windows 7 people, how’s it working?
Ticketfly Partners With Austin City Limits & Our Very Own Independent
On November 5, San Francisco’s favorite Ticketmaster killer Ticketfly announced on their blog that local venue The Independent has joined the Ticketfly family of participating venues. The Independent’s recent remodel has attracted new attention for the venue, which has, in my opinion, some of the best sound in San Francisco.
Now when you buy tickets, the process is powered by our very own Ticketfly. Ticketfly continues to grow, announcing just this morning (once again by way of their blog) that their 100th customer is Austin City Limits. Hey, Ticketfly, you guys are really kicking ass over there. Not sure if you noticed while you working so hard, but Ticketmaster’s Irving Azoff has not tweeted since Oct 26, despite the recent cancellation of Live Nation and Ticketmaster affiliation programs rivaled only by the ongoing decline of their stock.
Musicians Join 2000 other Independent Merchants Thanks To Storenvy
SF startup Storenvy announced new growth of more than 2000 stores as they continue to prove their model and scale. Storenvy is designed for the independent merchant, which is what you are if you are an independent musician. Bands like Cavashawn have already utilized Storenvy for pre-release and EP sales, providing a pleasant consumer experience through the Storenvy platform. Go ahead, sell your records along with your merch. Who needs Soundscan anymore when it costs thousands of dollars to access and Nielsen won’t even report digital retail streams? Sell your record at Storenvy and you may just connect with other complimentary projects from over 2,000 other independent artists across multiple genres. Because of its built-in social and community components, you might even find the next person to make your merchandise.
iTunes Ping + Twitter: Some Like It Not
Whether you love it, hate it, or don’t care & didn’t notice, Twitter integrated iTunes Ping links into its repertoire of media with which you can interact in your #NewTwitter sidebar. If you use #NewTwitter, which is not mandatory for users of the almost ubiquitous product, the integration is simple; when someone you follow on Twitter is purchasing or listening to music in iTunes, and they choose the “twitter” option in iTunes, the link will be tweeted. If you use #NewTwitter, that link will also display a play button and the iTunes listing on the right hand side. These play buttons will only play 30-90 second clips of the music your friend is sharing, just like in the iTunes store. It’s likely digital music sales enthusiasts are watching to see if the integration will lead to greater sales interest in the iTunes store, or possibly even Ping.
Spotify Report
Music streaming and sharing service Spotify did not launch in the USA this week. It’s a cliched joke, but I can’t resist.
Fake Bob Lefsetz Tweet Of The Week
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