Culture and Society

This forum got a very good reaction last year. It’s kind of expensive, but if you are in the biz, it could be well worth your while. If any of the Big Questions get answered, let me know. 4th Annual DIGITAL MUSIC FORUM March 1, 2004 New York City ABOUT …

We’ve been waiting for a comprehensive plan to replace the current business model with regards to music and other content over the Internet. Check out this one from Harvard University Professor Terry Fisher, as discussed in the Register: Fisher actually lays his philosophical armory down for us to inspect at …

This is an interesting dilemma: Apple’s iTunes leads the legitimate music download biz, and with nominal margins and profits in the per-song approach, Apple head Steve Jobs has made it clear that he’s in it to drive iPod and computer sales. So if he’s selling music to drive iPod sales, …

How did we ever live without called ID? Although we haven’t bothered to sign up for the federal “do not call” list because we are lazy and indolent, we get a similar effect by simply ignoring any call when the little box reads “caller unknown.” But that way we sometimes …

Weatherbug meteorologist Ryan Towell is blogging his journey to Punxsutawney, Penn in pursuit of Bill Murray’s furry friend. Here is today’s entry: The History of Groundhog Day An important part of preparing for our trek to Punxsutawney involved doing some background research on the whole Groundhog Day tradition. Groundhog Day …

BusinessWeek, as mainstream and pro-business a publication as you are likely to find, says the RIAA’s continued reign of legal terror is stupid and counterproductive: The music file-swapping masses got a fresh jolt of fear on Jan. 21 when the Recording Industry Association of America filed 532 lawsuits against alleged …

We mentioned the other day that Pepsi is airing an ad on the Superbowl telecast that features teens sued by the RIAA for file sharing in order to promote their two-month offer of up to 100 million free – and legal – downloads from Apple’s iTunes. The RIAA said it …

The MPAA is looking for someone with the technical skills of Shawn Fanning and the investigative wherewithal of the assembled Law and Orders and CSIs, but they aren’t willing to pay very much for it – $60-75K in LA? You can commute from Moreno Valley: Internet Enforcement Manager Position Type: …

I feel a little bit bad about kicking a caterwauling buffalo when he’s down, but I was never going to vote for Howard Dean in the first place. His remaining fans and supporters are the ones who really need to hear this very important reporting by CNET’s Declan McCullagh: After …

With that force-of-nature rock ‘n’ roll bellow, Bob Seger sounds like no one else. Though I am less inclined toward his later ballad hits, his basic canon is indelible and crucial – I’m very glad he is being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame this year. The …