DOT DOT DOT COM
ONE MILLION BMG FANS CAN'T BE WRONG
BMG Music Service, the music membership from BMG Direct, recruited more than one million new members in its last fiscal year, ending June 2000. Online enrollments grew more than 114% over the previous year. More than 10% of the company's members come through its Web site. BMG Direct now boasts more than 10 million members. How do they tape a penny to the Web page?
LOOKING FOR THE NEW BEATLES IN NEW BEETLES
Jimmy and Doug's Farmclub.com has paired with Volkswagen of America, sending five customized New Beetles to search for unsigned bands. The cars are equipped with cameras and microphones that stream everything that goes on inside and outside. The pair of drivers in each car will function as A&R reps for the television/Web site/record label while on the road. Bands will be expected to perform in the backseat, if you know what we mean.
GIVE US A BREAK
Soundbreak.com says that it's on pace to register 250,000 users a month. The site offers live, DJ-programmed music with one-click purchase ability and the option to have streaming music delivered right into the cerebral cortex, for a nominal charge.
AIN'T NO PARTY LIKE A PORTABLE AUDIO DEVICE PARTY
Nothing says "high-tech" like "Snoop Dogg." Need proof? The PSA Play 120, a portable audio device co-developed by Nike and S3's Rio division, will come pre-loaded with four songs from TVT artists Sevendust, Pills, XTC and Snoop Dogg and Tha Eastsidaz. Tha audio playa will be available in Crip Blue and Blood Red.
LOCK, STOCK AND BARREL
LockStream Corporation, a secure online and wireless distribution technology company, has inked deals with New Line Cinema, Spitfire Records, Artemis Records, GrooveTone.com and the Web site for "the popular 1980's [sic] music group DEVO." Nowhere in the press release is the word "Napster" used. Oh, wait. Here it is: "Content secured using LockStream's technology is unrecognizable to Napster-like software." This is ideal if you don't want anybody to know about your content.
CAN WE GET A REVIEW COPY?
ZapStation Universal Media Players are now available for pre-order. The $599 device features an MP3 player, streaming audio/video player, CD/DVD player and storage capacity for up to 10,000 songs or 20 hours of digital video. It plugs into TVs, stereos and the Internet, making music and video management possible without getting your butt off the couch. No word on when they'll be available, but hopefully before Napster gets shut down again.
