Posted by Ingrid Riley on May 10th, 2010
The debate at the British Music Experience did not bode well – eleven speakers on a panel – more of a soccer team than a debate. But the presence of a member of the Pirate Bay team added an interesting dimension. Inevitably the debate itself was rather superficial. The moderator struggled manfully to keep the discussion on-theme and tried rather unsuccessfully to avoid the whole thing circling round the Pirate.
I didn’t manage to say it very well last night, but while we all lined up to land a rhetorical punch on the visiting Pirate, the ongoing phenomenon of piracy as a globally, technologically enabled catalyst for change is really the key thing to remember.
Considering that he has a criminal conviction hanging over his head, he didn’t seem so bad, the Pirate, even though we all condemn what he was part of. He didn’t seem like a malicious human being out to subvert the very moral framework of our lives. He seems like a nice, well-educated middle class tecchy, with some impish delight and without much sympathy for an industry so fragile that he could deflate its balloon with his tiny needle.
The anarchic tendency of file-sharers is a social phenomenon empowered by the technology. It is derived from both great technological facility and basic human greed. From a successful artist’s perspective, file-sharing fans may look like ”greedy thieves” but then from the perspective of the developing world that may also be how European and North American consumers appear. A developing artist may see it that way too. More here
Popularity: 5% [?]
Posted by simone harris on May 10th, 2010
by Simone Harris 
New media does not depend on the traditional means of communication; rather, it includes the use of the Internet, mobile devices, electronic games, RSS feeds, social networks, blogs and podcasting. While traditional media is still utilized, statistical reports on the growth of new media usage reflects an astounding increase in popularity and preference. New media has introduced affordability, simplicity, convenience and availability, attributes that drive consumer demand in today’s music industry.
Popularity: 5% [?]
Posted by Ingrid Riley on May 5th, 2010
I read this article “Another music store closes as piracy booms” in the Jamaica Observer this Wednesday morning. It was about how Mobile Music, the CD selling store in Liguanea Kingston is closing down and how supposedly piracy has been the reason for Mobile Music and other such CD stores has been affected by it. It was such a false premise and read sorta more like a PR piece to announce Mobile Music closing down sale.
So I posted it on my Facebook Profile and made the following comment. “The CD died years ago! Piracy didn’t kill the music store…technology, the power shift to those who owned those technologies and changed consumer culture did. ” I loved what followed…a wicked sweet discussion.
Popularity: 7% [?]
Posted by Ingrid Riley on October 28th, 2009
Posted by simone harris on September 22nd, 2009
If you are a music lover like I am, I’m sure you’ve heard of iTunes™, Spotify, LaLa, Pandora, Jango and eMusic but you may not have heard about PUKSHOP, the newest addition to the list of software based online digital media stores.
PUKSHOP, “a Caribbean rhythmic website for music lovers” (according to the website) went live on September 11, 2009 and is being described as a one-stop-shop that streams videos, podcasts, live events and music via its download site or jukebox application while allowing music fans (using either Mac, PC, mobile handsets and IPTV) to:
• search for and legally download songs either as singles or entire albums;
• purchase CDs
• download ringtones;
• store downloaded songs on their computer hard drives;
• purchase event e-tickets
• purchase Caribbean and Latin American carnival costumes and merchandise
• Caribbean-themed books
Popularity: 4% [?]
Posted by Ingrid Riley on September 14th, 2009
I live in Jamaica, so that makes me an online leper it seems…many, many videos are blocked from us on Youtube and then horror of horrors, I went to mtv.com to go catch the video highlights of the Kayne West madness my peeps were tweeting about and I got this denial of viewing notice again. So sick of it!
Popularity: 2% [?]
Posted by Ingrid Riley on August 28th, 2009
With a delay of 4 days to taking their site like, PukShop.com offers a sweetener to buy your patience. Their place holder reads ” In recognition of your interest in our website, we encourage you to sign up to receive an early bird PUKSHOP.com evoucher with the value of 50% off which can be redeemed once within 1 month against any download price from PUKSHOP.com after August 31st 2009.”
I wrote about PukShop.com a little over a week ago.” PUKSHOP.com describes themselves as “the newest software based online digital media store. PUKSHOP lets music fans search for and legally download thousands of songs either as singles or entire albums; download ringtones; store the songs on their computer hard drives; and stream videos, live events and music via the download site or jukebox application before downloading it : all accessible wherever an internet connection is available. For both Mac , PC, mobile handsets and IPTV users. Event e-tickets will also be available to be purchased on this site.”
Popularity: 1% [?]
Posted by simone harris on July 13th, 2009
Music 2.0 has resulted in a burgeoning class of musicians around the world who are now being referred to as the ‘Musical Middle class’ – artists who now have the power to create and distribute their product across various niche markets that were previously largely controlled by media corporations and record labels. These artists are able to produce music without the help of a major record label.
Popularity: 2% [?]
Posted by Ingrid Riley on July 7th, 2009
Michael Jackson most popular person on Facebook. According to a CNN LONDON, England report. It said “Michael Jackson has officially become the most popular person on Facebook, with more than 7 million fans on the social networking site.The Michael Jackson Facebook page is now the most popular on the social networking site. Previously, the most popular person on Facebook, with just over 6 million fans, was U.S. President Obama.Over the past week, Jackson’s page has grown from 80,000 fans to just over 7 million, generating the largest response on a Facebook page, the social networking site says.” More
Popularity: 2% [?]
Posted by Ingrid Riley on July 7th, 2009
Do what you love and push yourself to be the very best. Do not let others define you. Fuck off with so called limits. Get up and keep going every single time u get knocked down.Challenge the status quo, always.Be yourself regardless of whether you are accepted and understood.Be Fearless.
Popularity: 3% [?]