This is the piece I’ve been working on the last couple weeks. It’s assessing the state of the loudness war in 2011 and concludes that artists are starting to push back. I got to interview two of my favorite mastering engineers (I know!) as well as Derek from Sleigh Bells, who talks a little about the direction of the new album, if that’s the kind of thing you’re interested in.
It’s called Sound Supply, and it it’s like groupon-style flash sale of bundles of digital albums. Basically, you have 10 days to buy 10 handpicked album in digital format for $15. The first batch is a triumph of indie pop bonanza, featuring one of my favorite record of 2010: “Davvy” by Coconut Records (worth $15 by itself, for sure!).
A couple of major labels tried the bundle sale model for physical albums by “old goldies” like Aerosmith, but the experiment was a failure. I’m looking forward if the curation part here will make a difference (I don’t think the bundle per se makes you purchase something), although 10 albums look too much to me. Few people will listen to all of them in 10 days, reducing the need to purchase the next batch. Repeat customers will be essential for Sound Supply, so I hope they’ll be smart enough to retarget their offer according to what happens in the pilot sale.
I’d love to learn how the revenues are distributed to artist and labels, and who’s behind the venture. Definitely a on my watch list.
Best GIF ever
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Photo http://bit.ly/Al3i95
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What a soul-funk-disco galore
The Magnetic Fields’ will be releasing ‘Andrew In Drag’ the first single from their forthcoming album Love at the Bottom of the Sea on Monday the 27th of February. The album will be released by Domino on March 5. The band’s tenth full-length album is their first release of new material for Domino, who have previously reissued some of their classic period albums and Stephin Merritt’s recent Obscurities collection. The Magnetic Fields will be celebrating the release of Love at the Bottom of the Sea with an appearance at All Tomorrow’s Parties UK on 11 March, a performance at The Royal Festival Hall in London on the 25th of April, and a short tour of the UK and Ireland to follow.
‘Andrew in Drag’ is a poignant, irresistibly catchy pop song which demonstrates all the variants of gender and sexuality - a man falls in love with a woman who is embodied by a man. Our protagonist is straight, as is the other guy, so it is a fleeting glimpse of true love that can never be. ‘A celebration of impossible love. Not at all autobiographical in any way’ says Stephin Merritt.
‘Andrew In Drag’ will be available on 7” (RUG452) and digitally (RUG452D). The single features an exclusive new b-side entitled ‘When Next In Love I Fall’. Listen to ‘Andrew In Drag’
