NBC Slept On Video’s Digital Rights
THE latest skit-turned-video-cult-classic from “Saturday Night Live” is Andy Samberg’s “I Ran So Far,” and it’s burning up the Internet, bringing well-earned attention to the comedic talent – but it is also leaving NBC’s legal eagles a bit red-faced.
Sampling has always been the de facto beat-creation process for hip-hop producers, but as the music has exploded in popularity, copyright laws have been enforced more regularly and the stakesâ€â€and moneyâ€â€involved in the sampling business have risen accordingly.
No Free Sample Credits (New York Post)
Kanye West may seem like the big winner in this week’s hip-hop battle royal with 50 Cent – but the real victor is likely ’70s group Steely Dan.
Look in your basement. You could have a treasure trove sitting in a damp cardboard box. Once the preferred medium of aging rockers and Luddite dinosaurs, records are now hip – and valuable. “Rock music can be an extremely cheap genre to collect, but if you’re interested in more obscure psychedelia, tiny local bands, and sub-genres like that, then the cost can be astronomical,” says Rick Wojcik of www.dustygroove.com. In fact, according to Jim Dawson and Steve Propes’ book “45 RPM”, the most expensive 45 single will run you about $23,000. That’s about $8,000 per minute of music.
Vinyl wasn’t always this hot, as your dusty records will probably attest. Invented by Leo Baekeland and Union Carbide in 1930, vinyl mapped out the earliest jazz and blues recordings, ushered in rock ‘n’ roll and gave us disco beats. However, an ’80s disco backlash as well as a new technology called the cassette tape threatened to bury the record permanently. A generation later, hip-hop DJs, jazz purists and hipsters musicians respect vinyl not only for its classic, sensual aesthetics, but the quality of the sound. The soft, malleable grooves of a record still capture sound better than digital music from your iPod.
Aside from the coolness factor, records are an affordable way to bone up on your music. “[Collecting records] can still be one of the cheapest ways to acquire music,” Wojcik says. “Both classic albums and rare treasures can be found cheaply.”
Most major cities have used record stores. eBay and the Internet, while a great way to browse, should only be used if it is from a reputable source. Finding quality records is a lot like purchasing fruit: you want the record to be shiny, with no marks, scratches or flaws. Also, because records are flexible, check for heat warps.
Collectors say it’s a worthy hobby, even if you don’t find that hidden treasure. “The important thing in collecting is to find music that you like and collect that,” says Rick Morey of www.thelaughingpapillon.com. “If you don’t get the return you are expecting, you still have a great collection that you like.”
SIDEBAR:
Getting a record player, or turntable in modern terms, isn’t as intimidating as it sounds. A brand-new record player will run you between $100 and $200. Popular brands include Gemini, Numark and Technics. There are basically two models: belt drive and direct drive. The cheaper belt drive is fine, that is unless you plan on scratching records like a hip-hop DJ. Make sure it also comes with at least one stylus (the record needle) and cartridge (record needle holder).
Used record players are also good – if you go to a reputable place. Try asking your local record store owner for suggestions. “Here in Chicago, we routinely send customers to a few of these outlets because they’ll get a great turntable for a good price, usually all refurbished and repaired,” says Rick Wojcik of www.dustygroove.com. And you might want to ditch the “classic” player you have in the attic. “Unless it’s a real gem, the ‘in the door’ cost of repairs to turntables are often as much as buying something new.”
Sony Plans PSP Phone
Embattled Sony is making a move to reverse extremely disappointing sales of its PSP game system. The electronics giant has filed for a patent to add a cellphone to the next generation of PSPs.
Due later this month, the AT&T-exclusive iPhone has Verizon and the other major carriers going through the stages of grief.
Fans are checking when their current cellphone deals run out – and many are opting for Cingular to be eligible for the iPhone.
Apple CEO Steve Jobs gambles brand rep with iPhone 2.0.
Video game makers are launching an all-out assault on the beleaguered music business by signing the musicians behind their original video game soundtracks to deals on newly minted labels.
The annual Consumer Electronics Show brings more than 100,000 geeks to Sin City (the overlapping Adult Entertainment Expo helps, too). Here’s the music tech you should be bumping this year. – Damon Brown
*iPhone (June, $499 for 4 GB and $599 for 8 GB) – Apple blew away the show (as usual) with its tiny smartphone. The device is all screen: 3.5” of full-color touchscreen goodness, complete iPod compatibility and Blackberry-like keyboard functionality. The Safari web browser keeps you online, while Visual Voicemail allows message organization without listening to every saved voicemail. The quad-band GSM format provides extensive coverage worldwide. The 2 megapixel camera flows into iPhoto. At press time Cingular was the only provider. We suggest you get in line now.
*Boynq Vase USB Speaker (Available now, $29 and up) – Don’t give your compact laptop some clunky speakers. Try the Boynq line of sleek sounds, the best looking being the curvy vase design. It’s USB powered, so no AC plug is required, and emits a pink or amber glow when on.
*Altec Lansing inMotion iMV712 (Available now, $349.95) – Video iPods are great, but suck battery life quicker than an episode of Scrubs. The iMotion station has an 8.5” high resolution LCD panel, neodymium (e.g. powerful) speakers and a built-in subwoofer. The small size fits easily into any crib.
*Altec Lansing PT7031 (Available now, $599.95) – If these speakers are any indication, regular surround sound is officially old-school. One slim wireless bar, carrying the left, right and center speakers, fits on your TV. The other bar goes behind your head. The whole package is clean, efficient and powerful.
*Repose Wireless Sound Seat (Available now, $599) – Entertainment seats come a dime a dozen, but this one supports your music and your video games. Five 2.1 surround sound speakers, including a subwoofer below, and a USB and iPod connector come standard. The velvety cover and cup holders complete the laziness.
*Atlantic EGO Waterproof iPod Case (Available now, $199.99) – Take your iPod to the beach or in the shower with this fully self-contained package. Batteries keep the four embedded speakers running for about 30 hours. And the sturdy case is actually made of bulletproof glass, which might help if you get shot at.
*MOTOMING (Availability and price TBD) – Looks like the iPhone has a little competition. This thin bad boy is all touch-screen operated – no keys – and sports FM radio, Real Player and multiple music format support. A removable microSD memory card makes storing additional tunes easy.
*Coby PMP-4330 (Available now, price TBD) – The PMP should be renamed the P.I.M.P. The small device plays almost any media, including text documents and FM radio, connects to home theater systems and packs a 30 GB hard drive. The 4.3” widescreen LCD doesn’t hurt, either, and data management is a snap.
*Sonos Digital Music System (Available now, $999.00 and up) – Pump your favorite Internet, PC or Mac music throughout the house without drilling holes or running wires. Mix and match the ZonePlayer 80 and ZonePlayer 100 speakers, wirelessly connect them throughout and control it all via remote.
*Delphi SkyFi 3 XM Satellite Radio (Available now, $220) – Miss your favorite XM program? The portable SkyFi 3 TiVos your satellite radio shows as you listen and can rewind them up to 30 minutes. It also holds up to 600 songs on its microSD card – the first satellite radio to pack removable memory.
Damon Brown writes about sex, technology, music and video games for Playboy, New York Post and Family Circle, and is the tech columnist for AARP Online and PlanetOut. He is the author of several books, most recently Porn & Pong: How Grand Theft Auto, Tomb Raider and Other Sexy Games Changed Our Culture.
Damon has a Masters in Magazine Publishing from Chicago’s Northwestern University and a degree in Journalism and Computing from Detroit’s Oakland University. The Jersey native considers New Orleans, Chicago and Lansing (Michigan) his hometowns, but recently established his secret headquarters in Southern Northern California. Reach him at damon at damonbrown dot net.