This week’s major news story in the digital music realm comes from the UK. Anti-piracy efforts that a number of ISPs have come up with include consideration of an ISP fee that would monetize music downloading from peer-to-peer networks. Yesterday’s Daily Chord linked to two articles: an overview from the BBC and analysis from The Independent. The Independent’s analysis notes that this license fee is easily perceived as a tax, and suggests that this initiative will not be easy to enact.

The issue of how to monetize distribution of music via peer-to-peer networks has vexed many. The reasons behind these efforts were discussed at a 2008 SXSW panel Mobility, Ubiquity and Monetizing Music. Watch a clip where Jim Griffin lays out the premises which have led to the current controversy. Griffin’s current work on behalf of Warner Music to create similar licensing structures in the US is still in a preliminary stage, and will doubtlessly be informed by the outcome of the issue in England.

Original post by andy

Posted: July 25th, 2008 under Andy, Panels, Conference.
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I’m back with mix #2 from SXSW 2008 showcasing artists, this time featuring artists who played on Thursday March 13. It’s just a taste of the variety of sounds heard emanating from various stages in lovely downtown Austin. Norwegian hip-hop, Quebecois lazer-bass, Swedish songcraft, weirdos from Athens GA, and much more await your ears, dive in. These mixes were made via www.muxtape.com, and you can post your own mix, too.

Last week I posted one of these for Wednesday. Any guesses what’s up next?

SXSW 08 Thursday Mix

Original post by andy

Posted: July 23rd, 2008 under Andy, Panels, Conference.
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Imagine my surprise when I commanded my Video Recording Apparatus (VRA) to replay the Neil Young interview on Charlie Rose that I blogged about last week, and learned that Charlie re-scheduled the airing. I was crushed, and didn’t catch it when it aired the next evening. Luckily, Charlie archives his shows online, and you can watch the interview here. The genesis of 2006’s “Living With War” and the subsequent tour with CSNY is covered, events which came right after his 2006 SXSW keynote.

This photo, shot by Gary Miller, captures the moment I met Neil as he made his way down the service corridor of the convention center before the keynote. That’s Jonathan Demme in front, with me to his left and Neil to his right. I can’t remember what I said, but I’m pretty sure it was dorky. Most of my brushes with greatness have happened in this service corridor.

Original post by andy

Posted: July 22nd, 2008 under Andy, Panels, Conference.
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SXSW ‘08 Keynoter Lou Reed is in the news as Julian Schnabel’s film ‘Lou Reed’s Berlin’ has opened in theaters in New York and Los Angeles. The NY Times gave a positive review here. The film has its own website, and fans should also have Lou’s home page bookmarked.

Relive highlights of the SXSW keyote via the SXSW 2008 Player. Scroll down to select the Lou footage, or download/watch directly here.

Original post by andy

Posted: July 21st, 2008 under Andy, Panels, Conference, Latest News.
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A few recent stories from The Daily Chord have brought the issue of music in games to the forefront. Today’s report from the E3 conference notes the popularity and growth of music games, along with new initiatives from the Wii people. The placement of a new Guns N’ Roses track on the upcoming ‘Rock Band 2′ drew the attention of the NY Times. Apparently Axl remains savvy enough to get his long-delayed tunes to the ears of his fans in today’s popular format, traditional CD releases be damned. The Financial Times reported on Activision Blizzard’s plans to develop a retail platform around their Guitar Hero franchise.

As you ponder the implications of this trend, take a minute to check out an excerpt from the SXSW Music Conference in March. Steve Schnur, Worldwide Executive of Music & Marketing for Electronic Arts describes the unique ways in which music and games inform and enhance each other. Watch the clip via the SXSW Coverage Player. Scroll down to the “Music Placement in Video Games” clip. You can also download the clip here. It turns out that playing games is a serious matter.

Original post by andy

Posted: July 17th, 2008 under Andy, Panels, Latest News.
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Nick Hornby’s ‘High Fidelity’ nailed an entire generation of music loving guys who attempted seduction via the mixtape. The whole process of picking and recording songs to a cassette has been updated for the wired generation by a new site, muxtape.com.

For your listening pleasure, here is a mix of MP3s from SXSW showcasing artists from 3/12. It kicks off with 03 keynoter Daniel Lanois’ title track from his excellent “Here Is What Is” and ends with a piece from SOLI Chamber Ensemble, who performed at our Steve Reich night.

I hope you like it. Maybe we could go see a show sometime.

Original post by andy

Posted: July 16th, 2008 under Andy, Panels.
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Panelist update: Kudos to music supervisor and two-time SXSW panelist Alexandra Patsavas for her work on “Mad Men,” my new favorite TV show. I’m late to the praise party here, but the way all the elements of acting, storytelling, design and music work together to evoke NYC in 1960 is remarkable. I can’t wait for the second season to start on July 27. More info is available at the show site.

Kudos also go out to Sub Pop Records on the occasion of their twentieth anniversary party last weekend. By the report from writer/SXSW pal Jason Cohen, a fine time was had by all. The first time that Jonathan Poneman was on one of my SXSW panels, he showed up 15 minutes late, tripped and fell as he took the stage, and proceeded to take over the panel, offering great stories and insight.

Thanks for clicking your way here, don’t forget The Daily Chord, and see you tomorrow. I nicked the title “Monday Moanin’” from the late Detroit Free Press writer Bob Talbert, columnist of my youth. - Andy

Original post by andy

Posted: July 14th, 2008 under Andy, Panels, Latest News.
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Hi music blog readers, Andy Flynn here, you may know me from The Daily Chord, a web page that has been on sxsw.com since the dawn of the interwebs. Actually it was May 1999 that we started posting a handful of music news stories each day. That’s right, we’ve been in the game way longer than any other music news aggregators that we know. A good chunk of people subscribe to our email version which lists the stories and fiendishly links to our web page so you can surf to your heart’s content from our home base. Please check out the Chord, it will help you make sense of a music business which is still in the midst of convulsive change.

The origin of The Daily Chord was in our work on the SXSW Music Conference, the panels, speeches, interviews, and workshops that we present every March. As we trudge through the dog days of July, we’re going to post about the coverage we have of our events from this past March, among other things.

First up - a video from our first speech of 2008, Martin Atkins’ presentation. Martin, the drummer from Pigface and other bands that your mother should have warned you about, has written a great book for aspiring musicians titled “Tour Smart.” The book, and Martin’s live presentation are highly recommended for a comprehensive, provocative, and entertaining guide to life on the road these days. To check out a bit of Martin’s SXSW presentation, open our 2008 Player and click on the Tour Smart link. Alternately, you can download the clip here. If this piques your interest, by all means check out Martin’s site and/or buy the book.

Martin’s SXSW presentation drew a lively crowd and anchored the Wednesday series of panels which are designed to give the straight poop on the art and business of music. Martin dropped us a note this week to let us know about a recent ‘All Things Considered’ piece and to throw his hat in the ring for a 2009 appearance. We hope that happens.

That’s all for today. It’s time to ponder whether to use the royal “we” in my posts from here on out. Check out today’s Chord for a number of summer festival-related stories. Feel free to email me. Bye for now. - Andy

Original post by andy

Posted: July 10th, 2008 under Andy, Panels, Conference.
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Yesterday Idolator reported that this year’s SXSW keynote, Lou Reed, got hitched to longtime paramour Laurie Anderson.

I wonder if they have a relationship as interesting as their personalities would suggest or if they sit around in sweats watching Survivor?

Now, I’m not saying sitting around in sweats watching Survivor makes you dull. I mean, I was wearing sweatpants when Tom proposed to me and we’re totally fascinating!

Anyway, congrats to Mr. Reed and Ms. Anderson.

You can watch some of Reed’s Keynote interview with Hal Wilner here (click on music coverage).

Original post by LP

Posted: April 24th, 2008 under Panels, Linda Park, Latest News.
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I have many post-fest type things planned for you lovelies, but in the meantime, please enjoy this photo I took of Ice Cube. OMG, he was so cuddly! I mean, I did not cuddle with him, but as I walked behind him to his interview, he looked damn huggable. And what perfect hair. I heard his show was “off the hook” or whatever it is you young kids say.

There were many times during the festival when I felt like it was Halloween. The skinny jean/unfortunate hat combo is really taking off, and I am super baffled. My friend Louie tells me all the girls in LA love this sort of thing. I guess I got out just in time, right?

I saw nearly every band I planned to (which, admittedly, wasn’t that many), but in the aftermath I’ve heard about loads of acts I’m sorry I missed. It seemed like a good year for something fresh-ish.

I will return soon with the afore-mentioned Pick Three Wrap-Ups and my own reviews of a few things.

In the meantime, here is a fun fact about SXSW 2008… the number of acts who applied that have the word “tiger” in their name: 16. I never knew tiger-themed bands were so popular, and I’m a bit curious as to what “Tiger Cried Beef” means.

Who were the best bands you saw? Let me know at musicblog@sxsw.com. Until tomorrow, lp

Original post by LP

Posted: March 18th, 2008 under Panels, Linda Park, Music Festival, Latest News.
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