Yeesh.
SAN FRANCISCO — Google plans to introduce its long-awaited service to allow people to upload and store their music collections on the Web and listen to their songs on Android phones or tablets and on computers.
The announcement of the new service, a so-called cloud-based music player, will be made on Tuesday at Google I/O, the company’s developers conference here, which will run through Wednesday.
The service, to be called Music Beta by Google, is similar to one introduced by Amazon in March, although it will store considerably more music. And like Amazon, Google does not have the cooperation of music labels, which means that users cannot do certain things that would legally require licenses, like sharing songs with friends and buying songs from Google.
The divisive hip-hop contrarians just got major-label backing, via RED Distribution/Sony, for their own Odd Future Records. Explains manager Chris Clancy:
It’s based on getting the distribution deal we’ve always envisioned that allows the group to ‘sign themselves’ to their own company and keep their masters. They will have 100% creative control of all aspects of their music, art, and release schedule with no 3rd party participation in outside business. Freedom and ownership was the whole point. Red and Sony know that its in everyone’s best interest to maintain the group’s authenticity and control. They built it, they deserve it. There’s no cheesy hooks or fluorescent liquor product placements in the works. It’s about to be fun. and different.
The next drama series coming to AMC could be about the struggling music industry. AMC is developing Man with the Golden Ears, a drama series about a former superstar record executive who attempts to stave off his own irrelevance dealing with a new boss, fading clients and three rebellious daughters, all while searching for the next big star. Based on an acclaimed Danish TV series, the project is from Fox TV Studios and has Scott Rosenberg (Life on Mars, October Road, High Fidelity) as showrunner.
As if he weren’t busy enough as the CEO of Live Nation Entertainment and the personal manager of superstars like REO Speedwagon and David Archuleta, ever-delightful blowhard Irving Azoff has also joined Twitter. He’s only been tweeting for a little over a day, but he’s already pretty much mastered the form. He set off a small firestorm with his second-ever dispatch Tuesday night (“so if you want ticket prices to go down stop stealing music”) and since he’s just telling people where to stick it. Including: AEG Live CEO Randy Phillips (Azoff basically called him a liar), Perez Hilton (“shame on you for your fair weather fandom”), and Billboard columnist Glenn Peoples (“u r a jerk”). When The Wall Street Journal’s Ethan Smith contacted the CEO’s spokesman for a comment, Azoff tweeted it: “Ethan. Oh clueless Ethan. I’m not angry at all. I think I’m hilarious.” We knew weliked this guy.Irving Azoff [Twitter]Live Nation Entertainment’s Irving Azoff Tweets Up a Storm [Speakeasy/WSJ]
