Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Anyone Got $3 Million They Can Give Me?
Following up on a story we posted 6 months ago, the World's Largest Record Collection is still unsold.
Paul Mawhinney was born and raised in Pittsburgh, PA. Over the years he has amassed what has become the world's largest record collection. Due to health issues and a struggling record industry Paul is being forced to sell his collection.
This is the story of a man and his records.
Filmmaker Sean Dunne put together a heartfelt short film on Paul Mawhinney's collection and the fact that this collection is worth over $50 Million and he can't find someone to buy it for $3 Million. C'mon folks. Surely someone has a spare $3 Mill they can donate to me.
Check it out. Paul shows you the very first flat record.
I hope you enjoy it.
www.thegreatestmusiccollection.com
Monday, August 18, 2008
Happy Birthday to the Compact Disc (if anyone even cares)
On August 17, 1982, Sony and Philips Consumer Electronics released the first CDs to the German public, forever changing the way music would be distributed, marketed, consumed and appreciated.
CDs were smaller, faster and digital, the perfect product for a new era of hyperconsumption and hyperspeed. But that era has come to an end, now that digital music is around and that vinyl sales are increasing.
Standard CDs have a diameter of 120 mm and can hold up to 80 minutes of audio. There is also the Mini CD, with diameters ranging from 60 to 80 mm; they are sometimes used for CD singles, storing up to 24 minutes of audio.
The compact disc is a successful spin-off of the much less successful Laserdisc technology. In 1979, Sony and Philips Consumer Electronics set up a joint task force of engineers to design a new digital audio disc. The task force, led by prominent members Kees Schouhamer Immink and Toshitada Doi (土井利忠), progressed the research into laser technology and optical discs that had been started by Philips in 1977.
After a year of experimentation and discussion, the taskforce produced the Red Book, the Compact Disc standard. Philips contributed the general manufacturing process, based on video Laserdisc technology. Philips also contributed Eight-to-Fourteen Modulation (EFM), which offers both a long playing time and a high resilience against disc defects such as scratches and fingerprints, while Sony contributed the error-correction method, CIRC. The Compact Disc Story, told by a former member of the taskforce, gives background information on the many technical decisions made, including the choice of the sampling frequency, playing time, and disc diameter. According to Philips, the Compact Disc was thus "invented collectively by a large group of people working as a team."
The first CD that was pressed in Hanover was a recording of Herbert von Karajan conducting the Alpine Symphony by Richard Strauss. In August 1982 the real pressing was ready to begin in the new factory, not far from the place where Emil Berliner had produced his first gramophone record 93 years earlier. (Deutsche Grammophon, Berliner’s company, had by now become a part of PolyGram.) CDs and Sony's CD player CDP-101 reached the market on October 1, 1982 in Japan, and early the following year in the United States and other markets. This event is often seen as the "Big Bang" of the digital audio revolution. The new audio disc was enthusiastically received, especially in the early-adopting classical music and audiophile communities and its handling quality received particular praise. As the price of players sank rapidly, the CD began to gain popularity in the larger popular and rock music markets. The first artist to sell a million copies on CD was Dire Straits, with their 1985 album Brothers in Arms. In 1986 Queen became the first artist to have their entire catalogue converted to the format.
The CD was originally thought of as an evolution of the gramophone record, rather than primarily as a data storage medium. Only later did the concept of an "audio file" arise, and the generalising of this to any data file. From its origins as a music format, Compact Disc has grown to encompass other applications. In June 1985, the CD-ROM (read-only memory) and, in 1990, CD-Recordable were introduced, also developed by Sony and Philips.
Vinyl records make a return
Music on discs, the big, old-time kind, is popular again. Baby boomers and even kids seek it out. The industry responds.
When the doorbell rings at Monti Olson's Glendale home in the middle of the night, it can mean only one thing: Jeff Bowers, his partner in Original Recordings Group, has brought new album artwork for him to inspect. "I'll come out in my pajamas and look it over," Olson said. "He drives home, and I'll go back to bed."
Olson's doorbell is chiming more frequently these days. Since starting vinyl-only label ORG in December 2006 in Olson's kitchen, the label is bursting at the seams. "By the end of the year, we will have gone from making zero money to projecting that we will gross over $1 million," said Olson, who nevertheless has kept his day job as senior vice president of A&R at Universal Music Publishing Group.
The label, which primarily licenses material from Universal Music Group, will release 10 vinyl albums in 2008 and expects to put out twice that number in 2009. But ORG isn't the only one reaping the rewards. Many Southern California companies -- large and small -- are benefiting from this sonic boom.
According to the Recording Industry Assn., shipments of vinyl soared 36.6% from 2006 to 2007. That amounts to 1.3 million units nationwide. While the numbers are minuscule compared to CD shipments of 511 million for 2007, the news is much-welcomed by a faltering music industry.
"This is a little bright star," said Jane Ventom, vice president for Hollywood-based EMI Music Marketing. Next month, Capitol/EMI will launch "From the Capitol Vaults," with the release of 13 titles on vinyl, including Radiohead's "OK Computer" and Steve Miller Band's "Greatest Hits 1974-1978."
Baby boomers, many of whom had long tucked away their turntables, began to feel nostalgic for their youth and the warm sound of vinyl. Concurrently, a younger generation, raised on CDs and tinny, compressed MP3 files, traded in their earbuds for a less isolated music experience.
Long the provenance of indie record stores, vinyl can now be found at such mass marketers as Best Buy and Costco.
"I have family friends whose 10-year-olds are asking for turntables," said Tom "Grover" Biery, Warner Bros. Records' executive vice president of promotion and the Burbank-based label's vinyl guru.
Olson and Bowers knew they were on to something when they sold 4,000 copies -- their entire vinyl inventory -- of rock band TV on the Radio's "Return to Cookie Mountain" in 24 hours. "We thought we'd sell 100 a month, and the day the solicitation went out, they were gone," said Bowers.
Biery's light bulb moment came three years ago when Neil Young came to Warner Bros. to play his greatest hits album for the staff. "At the end of it," Biery recalled, "he did a whole speech about how sound matters and someone needs to stand up for sound."
Inspired, Biery went to his boss about Warner Bros. releasing vinyl made with loving care, "from mastering to pressing to the jacket," he says. In the three years since the initiative started, Biery said Warner Bros. has gone from pressing 2,000 vinyl copies of a title to up to 15,000 copies. "Vinyl is still really a niche thing, but it's a bigger niche to the point where the accounting department is actually asking me about projections now," he said.
Similarly, Warner's sister label, Rhino, has ramped up with Rhino Vinyl. In the last quarter of 2007, Burbank-based Rhino released five titles. For the same period this year, the tally will be more than 30 -- many in conjunction with Warner Bros.' 50th anniversary. "Vinyl is no longer an afterthought," said Rhino's Cheryl Pawelski.
Like many labels, when Rhino releases a new title such as the "Juno" soundtrack on vinyl, the company either includes a CD version or a code to digitally download the songs.
The resurgence is having a snowball effect. At Record Technology Inc., a once-beleaguered pressing plant in Camarillo, owner Don MacInnis said that "business is the best it's been in 20 years."
When vinyl started its rebirth, RTI operated on banker's hours -- five days a week, eight hours a day. Now, "we're running 16 hours a day, six days a week," MacInnis said. And he's turning away clients. RTI's average pressing per title over the last few years has doubled to 3,000 units, with orders frequently topping 10,000 copies.
While labels expect to make money -- or at least break even -- producing vinyl is, for many, a labor of love. The production cost is easily four times that of pressing a CD and can soar higher when a heavier vinyl weight is used. (A traditional LP is pressed on 120-gram weight vinyl, whereas many labels produce special packages using 180-gram vinyl, which gives a fuller, richer sound.)
This summer, ORG will release a four-vinyl-LP, 10th-anniversary edition of Beck's "Odelay." The original CD booklet will be re-created for the 180-gram special package, which will carry a suggested retail list price of $60.
Most major labels are releasing a mix of new and vintage titles, but at West Los Angeles retailer Record Surplus, which sells used vinyl, CDs and DVDs, the classics never go out of vogue. "Led Zeppelin doesn't stay for more than two days," said store co-manager Neil Canter, adding that sales of rock vinyl have doubled in the last few years. "Pink Floyd -- as soon as I put it out, it sells."
Amoeba Music in Hollywood sells about 2,000 vinyl LPs a day, up as much as 15% compared to a year ago, said store marketing executive Ilene Barg, adding that turntable sales there have risen 10% to 15% compared to last year.
Many of those sales are to an audience experiencing vinyl for the first time. "I'm seeing actual young, attractive people at Record Surplus," joked David Gorman, co-owner of L.A. indie label HackTone Records, which will issue its first vinyl release, "Ready for the Flood," from former Jayhawks Mark Olson and Gary Louris this fall.
[LA Times]
The Banana Splits are back !!
The Banana Splits are coming back... and vamped
Everyone knows that The Banana Splits were the most psychedelic thing to hit a kid-retina. Fleegle, Drooper, Bingo and Snorky looked like they'd just dropped out of an acid casualties mind and rampaged around their really weird pad to tell rubbish jokes and play some great tunes (like the fuzz bass 'I'm Gonna Find A Cave' which has been a staple in my DJ sets for years now). Well, the gang are back... and they've been... duh-d'duuuuh- updated.
This new show is gon' return on the Cartoon Network and Boomerang channels, starting Tuesday, September 2... and they'll be on TV, releasing albums and, get this, giggin'.
"Everything that made The Banana Splits hugely popular in the '60s is back, including the group's terrific humour and hit music," said Jordan Sollitto, Executive Vice President of New Business Initiatives and International Licensing, Warner Bros. Consumer Products. (What a dumb title that is) "We take great pride in having carefully updated the look and feel of the original show for today's kids while retaining all of the elements that made the original Banana Splits such a hit."
The producers are making as many as 130 shows which, from what we can gather, will be like the original format of shows that run in at a couple of hours, spliced up with various cartoon shows and sketches.
New Music from The Banana Splits will be available from Ver Splitz, with 13 new pop'n'rock tracks. "The songs made famous by the original Banana Splits hold a special place in music history and were ahead of their time for young audiences," said Doug Morris, Chairman and CEO, Universal Music Group. "Universal is excited to debut the new Banana Splits kids' album and help introduce them to a whole new generation of music fans."
Thing is... I've just been to the new website (which you can do by clicking here) and the first thing you hear is the updated 'Tra La La Song', which ain't so hot... and Snork'... man, Snork's tassles have gone, replaced by something... fuzzy. You can only assume that this is for ease of reproduction in the merch' stakes. Either way, I ain't gettin' to worked up about it... if they're making it as weird as the original, then a bit of oddballery in kids' heads is a good thing in my book. Now here's a coupla killers from the Banana Split back cat!
[Electric Roulette]
Sunday, August 17, 2008
William Morris Agency Teams Up With DJ Pete Tong to Form Electronic Division
The William Morris Agency will expand its electronic music roster through a new joint venture with British DJ Pete Tong. New York-based booking agent Joel Zimmerman will head up the new division, dubbed William Morris Electronic. 
Under the new division, Tong will collaborate with the Los Angeles-based talent agency in signing, developing and representing electronic acts, as well as creating and programming electronic music programs. Along with being a renowned DJ, Tong has also been featured on BBC Radio 1's Friday night Essential Selection and Essential Mix radio shows.
As part of the expansion, Zimmerman will oversee William Morris Electronic. As the founder of electronic music-focused booking firm Division One, Zimmerman has booked artists in the genre for the past eight years. During the past two-and-a-half years, Zimmerman has worked in conjunction with William Morris Agency to book such acts as Fatboy Slim, Groove Armada, Pendulum, the Crystal Method, LCD Soundsystem and Basement Jaxx.
With his move to William Morris Electronic, Zimmerman brings along electronic artists Steve Lawler, James Zabiela, Booka Shade, Erol Alkan, Deadmau5, Lee Burridge, M.A.N.D.Y., Dieselboy, and Hercules and Love Affair, among others. William Morris Electronic's full roster can be viewed at wma.com/wme.
In addition to Tong and Zimmerman, William Morris Electronic will comprise existing William Morris Agency booking agents David Levy in London, Sam Kirby in New York and Marc Geiger in Beverly Hills, Calif.
[Billboard]
50 Fascinating Facts About Madonna
Happy birthday MADONNA! The Material Girl has hit the big 5-0 and we thought we'd celebrate by searching through cyberspace, books and articles to find 50 fascinating facts you may or may not know about Mrs. Ritchie.
From her personal statistics, Italian roots and early successes to her all-conquering pop landmarks and the crazy things that have been named after her, feast your eyes on this treasure of trivia:
- MADONNA once drummed for New York pop group the BREAKFAST CLUB. A later member of the band was AMERICAN IDOL judge RANDY JACKSON. Ex-boyfriends DAN GILROY and STEPHEN BRAY were also members of the Breakfast Club.
- MADONNA beat out acting greats GLENN CLOSE, FRANCES MCDORMAND, DEBBIE REYNOLDS and BARBRA STREISAND to grab a Best Actress Golden Globe Award in 1997 for her role in EVITA.
- MADONNA has acted in 22 films.
- The Recording Industry Association of America has named MADONNA the best-selling female rock artist of the 20th century. She's also the second top-selling female artist in the United States with 63 million certified albums.
- The Guinness World Records list MADONNA as the world's most successful female recording artist of all time; she has sold over 200 million records worldwide.
- MADONNA is one of six children born to SILVIO CICCONE and MADONNA LOUISE CICCONE (nee FORTIN). She was named after her mother.
- She also has a stepbrother and stepsister from her father's second marriage to his former housekeeper JOAN GUSTAFSON.
- Born in Bay City, Michigan, MADONNA's roots stretch back to Pacentro in Italy, where her grandparents came from. In 1988, town officials in Pacentro began to construct a 13-foot (4 meter) statue of Madonna.
- MADONNA was a member of the cheerleading team at Rochester Adams High School.
- MADONNA worked in a New York City Dunkin' Donuts while she was struggling to make it as a dancer in the Big Apple. She was reportedly fired after squirting jam in a customer's face.
- MADONNA's first single, EVERYBODY, was released on 24 April, 1982.
- MADONNA's hit album LIKE A VIRGIN is among the Definitive 200 Albums of All Time, according to the Rock + Roll Hall of Fame, which inducted the pop star earlier this year (08).
- As well as starring alongside SEAN PENN in SHANGHAI SURPRISE, MADONNA also joined her then-husband onstage in her theatrical debut GOOSE + TOM TOM in 1986.
- MADONNA and SEAN PENN separated on New Year's Eve (31Dec) 1988.
- MADONNA's Confessions Tour is the highest grossing concert tour by a female artist.
- MADONNA is the most successful female in her adopted U.K.'s pop charts and has more number one singles than any other female solo artist.
- MADONNA has a new species of tardigrade named after her. The anthropod-type animals, also known as water bears, are often found living on mosses. They can survive in extreme conditions that would kill most other living species.
- MADONNA'S father, TONY CICCONE, recently decided to advance his winery business by releasing Madonna Wine, which is available in five varieties: Pinot Grigio, Pinot Noir, Gewurztraminer, Cabernet Franc and Chardonnay. Prices range from $25 (GBP12.50) to $40 (GBP20) per bottle.
- Celebrity Cellars also produced a line of collectible wine, called Madonna - Confessions on a Dance Floor.
- MADONNA made her London West End stage debut in 2002 in Up for Grabs.
- MADONNA'S first children's book, The English Roses, was published in 2003 and she has since published a total of 10 books.
- MADONNA was among the inaugural UK Music Hall of Fame inductees in 2004.
- MADONNA has released a total of 68 official singles to date, according to the singer's own website.
- MADONNA was among People Magazine's '50 Most Beautiful People of 1991' and '25 Most Intriguing People of 2001'.
- In March 2007, MADONNA created a clothing line for the retailer H+M.
- MADONNA is good friends with STING and his actress wife TRUDIE STYLER, who introduced her to director GUY RITCHIE. The couple fell in love and are now husband and wife.
- STING is godfather to MADONNA and GUY RITCHIE's son ROCCO.
- MADONNA is the only artist who performed at the benefit concerts Live Aid (1985), Live 8 (2005), and Live Earth (2007).
- MADONNA suffers from brontophobia - a fear of thunder.
- MADONNA was considered for the role of CATWOMAN/SELINA KYLE in the 1992 film BATMAN RETURNS. She turned the part down and the role went to MICHELLE PFEIFFER. She also fought for the role of GINGER in CASINO, but lost out to SHARON STONE.
- MADONNA turned down leading roles in SHOWGIRLS and THE FABULOUS BAKER BOYS.
- MADONNA is 5 feet, 4 inches (1.64 metres) tall. Her measurements are 34C-23-33.
- MADONNA does not have a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. She was selected for the honour in 1990 but she showed no interest and the invitation has now expired. Walk of Fame spokeswoman Ana Martinez-Holler states that, in order to receive a star, Madonna would have to be "resubmitted for a nomination," adding, "since she is not interested, I highly doubt that she will give a nominator the permission to do so."
- MADONNA was paid $5 million (GBP2.5 million) by Pepsi to film a commercial that never even aired. Pepsi bosses pulled the controversial ad, which was related to her Like A Prayer video and full of religious overtones.
- MADONNA has won nine Razzie Awards: Worst Actress for Shanghai Surprise in 1987, Worst Actress for Who's that Girl in 1988, Worst Actress for Body of Evidence in 1994, Worst Supporting Actress for Four Rooms in 1996, Worst Actress of the Century in 2000, Worst Actress for The Next Best Thing in 2001, Worst Actress and Worst Screen Couple for Swept Away in 2003, and Worst Supporting Actress for Die Another Day in 2003.
- GWEN STEFANI, CELINE DION and MARK WAHLBERG are distant relatives of MADONNA, according to a recent ancestry study.
- MADONNA auditioned for the part of KEVIN COSTNER's high-maintenance love interest in THE BODYGUARD. WHITNEY HOUSTON landed the role.
- MADONNA played a lesbian witch in the 1996 movie FOUR ROOMS.
- MADONNA originally dreamed of becoming a ballet dancer.
- The BEASTIE BOYS supported MADONNA on her very first solo tour.
- MADONNA was ranked Number 1 on VH1's '100 Sexiest Artists' in 2002.
- MADONNA has been nominated for a total of 18 Grammy Awards; she has won five.
- MADONNA has been a vegetarian since she was 15.
- MADONNA hates the colour orange.
- MADONNA was named one of People magazine's worst-dressed, in 1999.
- MADONNA's controversial SEX book, which featured naked photos of the Material Girl, was so popular that a re-print had to be ordered within 48 hours.
- MADONNA dedicated her album TRUE BLUE to then-husband SEAN PENN, who she called "the coolest guy in the universe".
- GWYNETH PALTROW was Maid of Honour at MADONNA's Scottish wedding in 2000.
- FIGHT CLUB director DAVID FINCHER was the man behind the camera on four of MADONNA's videos.
- MADONNA's WHAT IT FEELS LIKE FOR A GIRL and JUSTIFY MY LOVE were banned from MTV.
[Contact Music]
recently leaked unreleased mp3 ...
Madonna - Like An Angel Passing Through My Room
Unreleased ABBA cover - produced by William Orbit during their Ray of Light sessions
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