“MP3 Musicgrams” Free Online Music Service for New Artists and Music Fans of Downloadable Music Reaches over 1400 Songs in Database and Growing…

“MP3 Musicgrams” Free Online Music Service for New Artists and Music Fans of Downloadable Music Reaches over 1400 Songs in Database and Growing…

Featured MP3 Artist of the Week: Saxophonist Plunky Branch with “Drop”

For Immediate Release:

Delta, B.C. – June 13, 2007, www.MP3Musicgrams.com, a free MP3 music promotion site for indie artists and labels, adds to the growing data base of indie artists and labels and currently has a database of over 1400 songs for online users to choose from and send to friends and music fans.

MP3 Musicgrams offer artists and bands in all musical genres from blues to rock, rap or country an opportunity to upload their song, photo or image, band or artist description and a link to their web site. Bands and artists can also submit their info to the directory at: http://www.rockandrolldream.com/artist_submit.aspx.

The site also selects “Featured MP3”, currently at the site’s discretion. The current featured MP3 Musicgram is Saxophonist Plunky Branch with "Drop". Previously featured MP3 Musicgrams have included Ayla Brown, well known American Idol 5 Contestant, with "Forward", Double Deal Brand Records. The site archives all featured MP3 artists of the week for music fans to browse and select from.

“Our Musicgrams are really just a preview to the artist’s work, so MP3 Musicgrams encourage fans to buy or download the music in a manner that benefits the artist or label directly. Fans can also buy CD’s at http://www.mp3musicgrams.com/BuyCD.aspx," noted website designer Jeremy Green.

Fans can select an MP3 Musicgram by artist, song, genre or label and download the music, an image of choice or the artist’s image, add in a personal message and send out to other music fans. Fans now also have the added option of uploading their own photo/image into the MP3musicgram, making it more personal!

About MP3Musicgrams.com
http://www.mp3musicgrams.com/about_Us.aspx

MP3Musicgrams.com is a new unique free online music promotion service designed to let artists and record labels promote their music in an immediate preview format featuring their MP3, image, and band description that can be sent in a viral format, similar to a greeting card. Music fans can preview and send music without effectively downloading the MP3 and have the ability to forward the Musicgram to other friends and fans once received and opened up.
MP3 Musicgrams is owned by Munch Music Inc.

music business will total $26.5 billion in 2011

eMarketer reports on the growth potential and ongoing changes in music industry-
According to the report -"CD sales will continue to decline sharply, the music industry as a whole is healthy, and growth in many other areas will more than make up for the shortfall.
Growth will come from online and mobile music, the live concert industry and the licensing of music for public performance, commercials, TV shows, films and video games, according to eMarketer's report Global Music: Tuning in to New Opportunities.
...
In North America, the music business will total $26.5 billion in 2011, growing at an average annual rate of 2.8% from $23.1 billion in 2006. Recorded music revenues will remain flat as declining CD sales cancel out the sharp gains in digital sales. Music publishing and live music, however, will grow."

I have said many times- nothing compares to a live concert - and as a fan I see I am paying more and more each time - so the industry must be cashing in !

100 Million ...No its Not Dr. Evil - Apple sold its100 millionth iPod.

News out that Apple announced the sale of its 100 millionth iPod- sinces its launch in 2001 has everyone talking in the music industry. 100 Million...
Followed by more impressive stats that iTunes has sold 2.5 billion songs, 50 million TV shows and over 1.3 million movies

Music to Apple, Inc. (AAPL) investor ears that have seen a 52 week range of 52wk Range: 50.16 - 97.80

Technorati Profile

The Police, The Who, The Stones, Genesis, Clapton, Dylan Tours remind us of Decades of Great Music

Ah, the times they are a changin’ - or are they just coming back? If you grew up in the 60's and 70's and 80's and loved some of the greats - and missed them you get one of those rare gifts in life called a second chance. The tours in the past year and coming year of The Who, The Stones, The Police, Clapton, Genesis is music to my ears . The only thing that would make me happier is if Bruce Springsteen did a tour with his band again and sang "Glory Days" for me. Not that I didn’t love his acoustic performance tour- I did – I just want to rock with him before I am too old to care.

A second chance to see the greats of music that wrote lyrics and played music that will be a part of us forever. Maybe I am wrong or maybe I am just a rock music lover to the core- but I just can't see that happening with some of the music created in the past few years by rap or hip hop artists.

With all the debate over the fate and destiny of music its ironic that a die hard Police fan can't get tickets because they are sold out immediately. I was lucky to see the Who, the Stones, Bruce Springsteen and may have to travel to see Genesis- if I can get tickets . I'm old , by teenage standards, barely know how to use the camera on my cell phone, still look with awe at old record album covers and still love The Who as much today as I did when I was 17. And yes- I bought their latest CD. I buy CD’s at music stores, online occasionally and yes- at Starbucks. I have caught myself grabbing the odd Blues or Jazz CD with my coffee just because music and a good cup of coffee do “blend”…

I finally figured out how to use iTunes, but use it mostly for business Podcasts

So the times they are a changin’- but not so much that we have lost site of what is at the heart of the industry- great music with longevity whether its an undiscovered indie band that writes great lyrics that touch you or an old rocker that lives and rocks on!

music and the environment - something to ponder

as issues of environment and global warming are fast becoming a major part of a company's and investors consideration - a few things to think about in this interesting article on digital music and the environment and what is better - CD's or digital music


stay tuned for some insight -
" The advent of digital music and other forms of entertainment downloaded over the Internet has staggering repercussions for not only the music industry and the consumer experience, but also for the environment. "
read the full article

http://environment.about.com/od/earthtalkcolumns/a/digitalmusic.htm

Music stock for the technical traders

How about a music stock to check out based on stricly technical charts

Guitar Center, Inc. (GTRC) http://www.guitarcenter.com

Bullish 50/200-day MA Crossovers (NASDAQ) at www.stockcharts.com

Guitar Center, Inc., through its subsidiaries, operates as a retailer of guitars, amplifiers, percussion instruments, keyboards, and pro-audio and recording equipment in the United States.

Changing music industry online and mobile

Reading through the industry headlines in the past few days- a few articles show the trends and changing face of the music industry and where it will have to adapt to succeed-

Mobile phones set to propel music industry into online age
by Audrey Stuart Wed Jan 24, 2007
CANNES, FRANCE (AFP) - Mobile phones are proving the saviour of the struggling music industry and could be the vital springboard needed to propel the business finally into digital sales, industry experts have said.
"I believe a lot of the new revenues for the music industry will definitely come through mobile phones," said Dominque Leguern, director of MIDEM, the premier trade fair for the world's music industry that closes its doors on Thursday.
With the number of cellphone users predicted to hit the three billion mark in 2007, and 90 percent of the world's population expected to have mobile access by 2010, this could prove a powerful shot in the arm for the music industry.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070125/bs_afp/afpentertainmentmusicmidemfrance_070125021110

here is another one worth reading-

Music Industry Eyes Digital Age With Growing Optimism
Consumers and sellers mingle with the movers and shakers at Midem 2007 in Cannes At the 2007 Midem music fair in Cannes, artists and executives from the music and media industries come to discuss and promote the latest fads and trends. One forum tackled the digital age with much optimism.
All the talk at the Midem international music market's Net Forum in Cannes on Monday was of the digital age and whether artists were getting what they deserved in terms of money and exposure. Most of the participants in the discussion agreed that the advances in technology had done much to secure theirs and music's future.
http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,2322771,00.html?maca=en-rss-en-all-1573-rdf

MP3Musicgrams.com - “Say I Love You with Music” with New Valentines Music Ecards

MP3Musicgrams.com - “Say I Love You with Music” with New Valentines Music Ecards

Artists can Upload Music and Fans can choose an MP3, Valentines Graphics or Upload their own Photo and Send out to that Special Someone

MP3Musicgrams.com, a free music MP3 site featuring music uploads, graphics and Musicgrams, presents new Valentines ideas to encourage music fans to spread the love, and of course music, online. Music fans can choose an MP3 of any artist, band or label and select a new Valentines graphic or upload a Valentines photo of their own, add it to the MP3 audio file and send it out to 10 friends at once. This new user friendly Musicgram ecard makes music sharing the ideal way to send that special someone personalized and customized messages from the heart. What better way to say I love you than with music?

MP3 Musicgrams offer artists and bands and labels in all musical genres from blues to rock, rap or country, an opportunity to upload their song, photo or image, band or artist description and a link to their web site. Both the artist and their fans can send out and share the Music in the form of a personalized “Musicgram”.

Fans can choose an MP3 of their favorite artist, select an image or add one of their own and then add in a message and send out to ten friends at once.
The site profiles MP3 Musicgrams for music fans to review as most recent downloads, most downloaded and featured MP3 of the week. The featured MP3’s are then archived on file for online visitors to see and hear some of the best musical uploads.
About MP3Musicgrams.com
http://www.mp3musicgrams.com/about_Us.aspx
MP3Musicgrams.com is a new unique free online music promotion service designed to let artists and record labels promote their music in an immediate preview format featuring their MP3, image, and band description that can be sent in a viral format, similar to a greeting card.

music industry numbers 2006- Digital Track Sales Increase 65%

so where did the music industry numbers land for 2006 in the midst of change?
here is the report from Nielsen SoundScan released January 4th -
2006 U.S. Music Purchases Exceed 1 Billion Sales


Growth In Overall Music Sales Exceeds 19%, Digital Track Sales Increase 65% from 2005
Nielsen Music 2006 Year-End Music Industry Report


Nielsen SoundScan, the entertainment industry's data information system that tracks point-of-purchase sales of recorded music product, Nielsen BDS, the music industry's leading music performance monitoring service, and Nielsen RingScan, which tracks mobile ringtone purchases, have announced their 2006 U.S. year-end sales and airplay monitoring data for the 52-week period January 2 through December 31, 2006. OVERALL MUSIC SALES (01/02/06 - 12/31/06)
(ALBUMS, SINGLES, MUSIC VIDEO, DIGITAL TRACKS - IN MILLIONS)
UNITS SOLD 2006 2005 % Chg.
1,198 1,003 19.4%
TOTAL ALBUM SALES (01/02/06 - 12/31/06)
(INCLUDES CD, CS, LP, DIGITAL ALBUMS - IN MILLIONS)
UNITS SOLD 2006 2005 % Chg.
588.2 618.9 -4.9%
DIGITAL TRACK SALES
(01/02/2006 - 12/31/2006 - SALES IN MILLIONS)
UNITS SOLD 2006 2005 % Chg.
581.9 352.7 65%
OVERALL ALBUM SALES (01/02/06 - 12/31/06)
(INCLUDES ALL ALBUMS & TRACK EQUIVALENT ALBUMS - IN MILLIONS)
UNITS SOLD 2006 2005 % Chg.
646.4 654.1 -1.2%
INTERNET ALBUM SALES (01/02/06 - 12/31/06)
(Physical album purchases via e-commerce sites, In Millions)
UNITS SOLD 2006 2005 % Chg.
29.4 24.7 19.0%
DIGITAL ALBUM SALES
(01/02/2006 - 12/31/2006 - IN MILLIONS)
UNITS SOLD 2006 2005 % CHG.
32.6 16.2 101%
2006 GENRE ALBUM SALES REPORT
(01/02/06-12/31/06)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Genre 2006 2005 % Chg.
------------------------------ ---------- ---------- --------
Alternative 109,672 120,797 -9.2%
Christian/Gospel 39,715 39,211 1.3%
Classical 19,447 15,875 22.5%
Country 74,886 75,327 -0.5%
Jazz 15,720 17,139 -8.3%
Latin 37,774 35,907 5.2%
Metal 61,557 64,473 -4.5%
New Age 3,412 4,412 -22.7%
R&B 117,005 143,392 -18.4%
Rap 59,534 75,062 -20.7%
Rock(a) 170,726 NA
Soundtrack 27,177 22,849 18.9%
(Note: Titles may appear in more than one genre.)
(a) Rock was a new genre in 2006.
CURRENT VS. CATALOG ALBUM SALES
(Sales In Millions: 01/02/06-12/31/06)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Overall Albums 2006 2005 % Chg.
------------------------------------ ------------ ---------- ---------
Current 363.9 389.4 -6.5%
Catalog 224.2 229.5 -2.3%
Deep Catalog 158.2 157.5 0.4%
Physical Albums: 2006 2005 % Chg.
------------------------------------ ------------ ---------- ---------
Current 345.3 379.8 -9.1%
Catalog 210.2 222.8 -8.1%
Deep Catalog 148.4 152.7 -2.8%
Digital Albums: 2006 2005 % Chg.
------------------------------------ ------------ ---------- ---------
Current 18.6 9.6 93.7%
Catalog 14.0 6.7 108.9%
Deep Catalog 9.8 4.8 104.2%

to see album and song results - take a look at the full release -
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/070104/20070104005813.html?.v=1

The Rolling Stones Live

It was the best of times, the worse of times Saturday night as the snow fell and made driving conditions frightening as we white knuckled our way into Vancouver to see what may be the last time the Rolling Stones play live on tour in our area or anywhere….
It was worth the cost of hiring someone else to drive as I turned back and admitted my lack of skill in the driving category

For those of us who grew up to great rock, it is one of the few things we can genuinely share and bond with our teenagers. The stadium was full of other parents also having that rare experience of true bonding with a teenage child.

As I have said many times- I hear my son speak the same thoughts ‘nothing is better than a great live performance… it makes you want to go buy the music”... Music to the industry’s ears. SO once again – it’s not about CD’s vs. MP3’s – it’s about the artist compelling you to listen and buy their music – in whatever format your generation chooses. I will find my way to a CD store and still talk about my record collection I gave away to an old boyfriend and my son will use his ipod and talk MP3 code.
But both generations love the music and will always remember that snowy evening we made it in to see the Stones!

The future of Myspace

With The News Corporation (NWS), purchase MYspace.com - maybe the $$ numbers of the transaction and the recent purchase of YouTube invites the interest of the wrong kind of fan.
Myspace has had recent hacker’s attacks with emails directing users to login pages not associated wit Myspace to gain access to user’s login and passwords. Feedback from users - site frozen, pages not working, "friends dropped to zero" and so on...
Then recent headlines like the WSJ- Myspace- Byespace talking about market saturation and users leaving the heavily populated community makes you wonder about - 1. The direction of online community- the security of online community and where will the online music industry shift and move to?

Service and security will be issues...

MP3Musicgrams.com Announces Contest Winner for Week Oct 16 - Oct 22 Hip Hop Artist Spotrusha, with MP3 “Mary Warner”

MP3Musicgrams.com Announces Contest Winner for Week Oct 16 - Oct 22 Hip Hop Artist Spotrusha, with MP3 “Mary Warner”

Featured MP3Musicgram this week: Alternative Rock Artist, Gentry Morris with “Rene”

For Immediate Release:

Delta, and B.C. – October 25, 2006, www.MP3Musicgrams.com, a free music promotion site featuring free MP3 music uploads and Musicgrams, announces the artist winner for the most sent MP3Musicgrams for the week of Oct 16 - Oct 22, hip hop singer Spotrusha, with song “Mary Warner “.

The MP3Musicgrams.com Music Fan and Artist contest officially started October 16, 2006 and runs through to December 11, 2006. Artists and bands in all musical genres from rock to country to hip hop can upload a promo MP3, image, artist description and add their website link to direct users back to their site. The contest will feature monthly prizes for the most sent MP3 Musicgrams by artists, with a grand prize of an electric or acoustic guitar to be awarded at the end. More importantly, artists and bands that upload their music get a chance to be heard by new fans and have their MP3 spread virally for global exposure.

Contest page: http://www.mp3musicgrams.com/contest.aspx

music can change the world...buy an iPod nano (PRODUCT) RED™

music is an international language and now Apple has joined Bono and his new venture to raise money for drugs in Africa as one of the products for sale -iPod nano as part of the (PRODUCT) RED™ branding . Apple contributes $10 from the purchase price to the Global Fund, to help fight HIV/AIDS in Africa.

From the GAP to iPods t Motorola red cell phones - you can buy what you were going to buy anyway- but in "red"
http://www.joinred.com/products.asp

The Who Tour 2006- they still rock

Being a Who fan my entire adult life, if that starts at 16, I was amazed to see the two 60 year old standing members Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey perform for hours with the endurance of young men when they first broke into the music scene, but the performance polish of true rock stars.
In my opinion, one of the best rock bands of all time, they did not disappoint me last night as I sat in the audience at GM Place and screamed until I lost my voice, while they still sang and played effortlessly.

With classics like My Generation and Teenage Wasteland bringing down the house , with a room full of all generations , it made the event one of my top musical experiences to finally see them and hear them live.

I have said a few times in this Blog, as the music industry undergoes massive change with MP3's and online availability, there is no replacement for seeing a good band or artist perform live.

The Who sang new material from their new album set to be released October 13

I am sold- I am a buyer - and I will buy the CD to play in my car and in my home. I think I owe it to them ...

Apple sings ...to the tune of Starbucks

I'll have a coffee with my apple, no I will have an apple with my coffee, nope I will have...

The Starbucks Hear Music catalog will now be available in the iTunes music store under an agreement with iTunes owner Apple Computer Inc.
from the news:
Starbucks (SBUX ) and Apple (AAPL) announced the availability of the Starbucks Hear Music catalog on the iTunes® Store (www.itunes.com), giving iTunes users the ability to preview, buy and download a wide variety of Starbucks popular Hear Music titles. Hear Music produces a wide range of albums showcasing new and classic artists including the well-known Artist's Choice(TM) series, Opus Collections, Debut Series releases by emerging artists, as well as new works from major artists. Starbucks Hear Music offerings will be available in a special new Starbucks Entertainment area within the iTunes Store and will include a wide variety of popular content as well as playlists created specifically

The rush of finding a new unsigned band -meet "Oswald"

Sometimes on this Blog I talk about stocks or new technology - today it’s just the excitement of finding a new unsigned band from Glasgow Scotland. That is the magic of the online music industry- you get to discover great unsigned talent all over the world.

"Oswald” has a sound similar to U2, but is no copy cat version. They are original and their lyrics and vocals are memorable. They have released free MP3's of their songs
Love, Nothing Left to Win, Home and Tumbling Down. I would recommend them to anyone that likes this genre of music .
check them out at : Artist : Oswald

http://www.mp3musicgrams.com/createGram.aspx

music resources online

I have spent the last few weeks building lists of resources for online music and have to say that I am amazed by the bottomless supply of sites to submit and post news to. At Investorideas.com we follow a lot of sectors - and I have built a lot of industry sector lists- but nothing has come close to what I have found in music. The online music industry is full of small independent sites trying to get a piece of the action - trying to be the online destination of choice- providing multiple services to artists-
From uploading their music, to directories of artists and bands, to profiling, to message boards to submitting and posting press releases.

I am impressed, but have to wonder where this is all going to land and how some of the smaller sites are going to make money

Comments and ideas appreciated-

Canada's first online commercial music service

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, - After establishing MPE security technology as the industry standard for digitally delivering new music releases over the Internet to radio broadcasters ( http://www.promoonlympe.com/ ), Destiny Media Technologies (OTC Bulletin Board: DSNY.OB) and partner Promo Only, today launched Canada's first online commercial music service, Promo Only Digital Download Service ( http://www.podds.ca/ ).
This is the first and only commercial online music service to be approved by the Canadian Audio-Video Licensing Agency (AVLA), which represents virtually every Canadian record label including Universal Music Canada, Warner Music Canada and EMI Music Canada. PODDS will include rare remixes, extended mixes and other hard-to-find content from major and independent labels that is often required for commercial and industry professionals.

more info- Web site: http://www.dsny.com/

Famous Van Zants in music

Its great to have a music blog and be fortunate enough to have a name linked to some of the greats -

http://www.vanzantmusic.com/

http://www.thevanzants.com/

http://skynyrd.com/

Steve Van Zandt http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005523/

http://www.townesvanzandt.com/- Townes Van Zandt

music stocks -follow the money in music

With small cap stocks going thru a complacent if not quiet period this past few months, as commodity stocks lost luster, it was interesting, but not surprising to me to see a few music industry stocks showing some momentum. With all the buzz in the industry with acquisitions and new market entry in the online music industry - the music stocks sector is an interesting watch.
To check out some of the small and large players in the sector –

http://www.musicindustrystocks.com/MIS/Stock_List.asp

a couple of small/micro caps I was looking at today- EDGETECH INTL INC (Other OTC:EGIL.PK) and FREEHAND SYS INTL (Other OTC:FSYI.PK)- both up today at time of posting

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