BLOGMAGOG

Dot Music Domain Debate Is About Control, Not Opposition | Billboard.biz

noreply@blogger.com (Bran) — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 23:11:00 +0000

.Music Domain Debate Is About Control, Not Opposition | Billboard.biz

This is an interesting thing going on at the moment, a new TLD [Top Level Domain] "dot" Music is being debated as it comes up for registration. The representatives of the "music industry" are wanting a hand in controlling who is allowed to register a name.

One of the provisions being sought is preventing:

anyone offering unlicensed music for free to gain a .music stamp.

Which in the case of illegal downloading of Copyright material is understandable - but does this provision then also apply to Independent Artists allowing free access to their own music?

I think that is a reasonable question - What do you think?

Conceptionary

noreply@blogger.com (Bran) — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 19:59:00 +0000

Conceptionary - was something I kind of thought about today. It relates broadly to what I feel I am doing. Which is very conceptionary actually, connecting things in broad general terms. So let's look closer.

The term as used with regards to 'dictionary'.

A Conceptionary is defined in a University of Calgary (Dr Hill 1978) paper as an encyclopaedic & dictionary like collection of broad terms and connections within the framework of a subject. Mapping the keywords, concepts and related fields.

HTML to Wikipedia

With the possibilities that HTML has brought about we see this in practice within the Wikipedia site - allowing rapid searching of broad subject matter with endless arrays of possible outward connections. With the translation aspect and the inclusive participation in terms of content provision - it must indeed be the beginnings of (if not already considered to be) One of 'man's' greatest acheivements.

Conceptionary Industries
I will further suggest that the term should also be coined for the new sector of industry that has been slowly coming to fruition over the last few decades. I would propose that it include the processes where there is application of time, energy and/or cost employed to develop a "concept". That although this is often seen as a Tertiary or Quaternary activity, it should be seen and audited in a separate but related way.

Computer Effect
If we look at many internet and computer based industries, even those involved in manufacture, we see a separate field of "birthing-ideas" emerging. Whereby individuals, teams or large networks, work on an idea to the beta level. Ideas for manufacturing and design may be done remotely from the actual primary, secondary and tertiary processes, yet drawing the physical (and quaternary) resources to render the final products or services. It has become a fact that many established 'manufacturing' companies no longer make their products, choosing instead to outsource suppliers. They slowly move from secondary to tertiary industries ( and conceptionary too)

Distinct area
The reason I see this as a quite distinct skill area is that increasingly this is how services and products are developed through to the point-of-sale or monetization stage. This has been the case with many Large scale websites, which were funded through the 'conceptionary' stage with venture capital, to the point of being sold on to new companies as viable businesses. Or in some cases launched on as Alpha products to paying consumers. Many of these companies began as very small initial ideas and have grown to become valued by the billion dollars in terms of stock. (Although the process has obviously been in existence [even pre-Industrial Revolution] - it was formally part of the overall 'industry' - whereas now it is fast becoming more outsourced and separate).

Growing Trend
The reason I see this as a growing trend is that we are at point where all the previous forms of industry are able to provide an abundance of possibilities and resources and all that is required is the conception of the idea to provide the future products and services. We also see the gradual decline in employment numbers within all the other sectors - certainly in the Western Developed Nations.

Although there has been one tendency for large corporations to control production from start to finish through conglomeration, there has also been specific specialization buy-outs within many industries. So that if we examine many business sectors there are now fewer players with a much larger share of the overall market. Think of the Electronics, Music, Motor-Car, Pharmaceutical and Aeronautical Industries over the last fifty years.

Emerging economies and markets
However if you look over the last ten years, due to the growth of emerging Far East manufacturing (China, Taiwan, Korea, India) many of the largest corporations are finding new competition from many smaller newer and more flexible companies. Companies with a high in-house "Conceptionary" skill base such as Apple have been able to rapidly expand into new territory.

Conceptionary activities on-line
On-line services such as Google, Facebook, Bandcamp, Microsoft and Soundcloud seem also to be strongly based around Conceptionary processes. To a degree the main service provision is output via databases and software interfaces. The main public interaction is not direct or (at present) revenue based - financial profits are gained via other means (advertising / information) or via Venture Capital.

Each encourages third party input to further the process - which is itself a conceptionary idea: widgets, APIs, uploads and subscription etc.

Apple is a prime example
Apple could be considered a very good (if not the best) example of a "Conceptionary Company" building ideas is a predominant part of their success. Much of the manufacturing of components maybe under third party contract.

Although Apple began as a DIY computer and Software system company - they have through the Vision of (CEO & Founder) Steve Jobs moved into Music Sales (iTunes) and Telecoms (iPhone) and set the future touch-paper for Education and Publishing (iPAD). Moreover the brand's awareness is itself a result of the same conceptionary process creating a strong product-family identification. Apple had from fairly on (the Newton logo excepted) a very strong 'core' (intentional pun) concept of it's corporate identity - logos and typefaces. Apple enjoys a fanatical loyalty from it's customers and has remained one of the top US companies.

Conceptionary Businesses
Although there are overlaps with other industry sectors - I would say these professions and businesses rank as conceptionary:

Design
Writing (not journalistic in general)
New Software Development
Technology & Product Innovation
Music composition
Film Storyboarding /Scriptwriting
Architecture
Creative Arts (Graphics Photography Electronic)
Research (may bound quaternary activities)

This is not an exhaustive list there maybe others areas missed here. There maybe many of the above which in certain circumstances may belong to parts of other sectors particularly Secondary and Tertiary Industries - where they are part of large developments & in-house projects or contracts.

Roles
The Conceptionary roles maybe carried out by a few main characters, supported by Tertiary staff. The main players may enlist the help of many others with an interest or expertise in related fields, to reach the beta and alpha phases of a project. In many instances a single individual may fulfill most of the function - perhaps bringing in help as the project in question reaches particular points of development.

Creative Commons
CreativeCommons activity may also constitute conceptionary in that the works manifested may be done for altruistic reasons - or as part of a long term conceptual idea. Much of the work is creative and experimental. Although it does not necessarily qualify as an "industrial" activity in our conventional notion of industry - the sheer volume makes it considerable for comment. It maybe that it does indeed represent some unforeseen future activity that will easily qualify as part of industry.

GNU/GPL
In the broad view of CC one must also mention individuals/companies/foundations/institutes that release GNU/GPL and other forms of open software - releasing free versions to the public & non-profit organizations. Allowing companies to use it under the license for a fee. Usually the real 'meat' of these activities is Conceptionary with tertiary activities as a secondary but necessary addition.

Footnotes
This contains my own thoughts and ideas - I will come back to read comments and add further links. I cannot claim to have created the term - I chose it as the closest to "birth/idea" with an 'ary' ending - to fit with the other Industrial Sectors (Primary/Secondary/Tertiary/Quaternary) - (fifth place/wave/column) that simple. The earliest useage - I found through a Google word search was from Dr. Hill (University of Calgary) - which is great for Audio Terms by the way. I just wanted a new way of thinking about what many of us are doing separately on an Industrial Scale.

Why did I think and write this? Because I like to try and think outside the box.

The Office

noreply@blogger.com (Bran) — Tue, 30 Nov 2010 16:36:00 +0000

Something I work on ... a long standing project for Music and Multimedia
Link

If any of you are writers, musicians or making great videos and want to collaborate during 2011, please have a look - there is a contact form and a Network. All the best

MinionTV

noreply@blogger.com (Bran) — Fri, 05 Nov 2010 19:56:00 +0000

Sometimes things speak for themselves ... "When Skyways are Highways" by MinionTV - Liverpool based soundscape artists ... Video by Red&Black Productions. Enough Said.

It Aint Easy

noreply@blogger.com (Bran) — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 04:43:00 +0000

Well into the third year now I can tell you it is not getting any easier to run sites or even keep up with the changes.

It is like organizing a snowball fight in the middle of an avalanche.

It was great to hear Evan Williams (co-founder of Blogger & Twitter) on BBC World Service this morning (5.00 am GMT) talking about failure and success. Knowing that big successful services have been through highs and lows gives me a little more hope.

The Downside

We are about to see one of our Networks on NING get the switch off ( 6th Spetember) whilst we are still trying to get a new Network on WALL.FM. up and running. It has revealed to me the quest to find a defining mission. Knowing musicians as I do they tend to be free spirits and often the least likely to be communicative. So yes getting interaction and particpiation unless there is an obvious outcome is fairly hard to acheive. Plus there is all the hype out there already about Social Networking which has some truth to it granted. But I see it as a tool for connecting and to be honest most musicians tend to be a little like a bull in a China shop as regards dropping links to their own material. Some do it very well and are inspirational to me and our little project.

Overall I guess we do have a problem with the domain name (yes it is long), We have also issues of communicating what we are about in simple terms and gaining peoples' faith that we can deliver something of benefit. Especially when they are being constantly barraged with content and requests elsewhere.

The Upside

Over many years I have in many different industries , gone through this whole phase with an idea. You have the initial vision and as you go to put it in to place a whole whirlwind of problems unfold. People come along who for one reason or another decide they will drag their feet or voice objections. Others stand on the sidelines waiting to see what will happen. Once it takes off every one suddenly wants a peice of the action. But when the going is really tough and there are no big rewards it usually comes down to one or two key players, who for altruistic purposes keep the thing afloat through the choppy waters. We are not the only site or group of people going through this. I have been there so yes I kow there is a light there at the end of the tunnel.

The upside is knowing that there are at least a few people who we have managed to benefit and feedback to. Looking at the way things have moved forward we can at least take a little credit for being there and providing support. We can also be reassured that it is all being done on next to no budget, so there is little to worry about. We have no one to let down or interfere with our approach. So yes we are able to completely change direction overnight should we decide to.

Having gone through the back-slide of 2009, where visitor numbers began to go backwards, things have rapidly improved. That was brought about through deciding to negate Facebook for the foreseeable future. Sounds funny but we do not have the time to use the site correctly, so it would be a complete waste of our energy and time. Deciding to concentrate on our own areas and Networks has actually made for a ten fold increase in traffic.

The next stage is to take advantage of that increase, for our own benefit but more importantly for our Members. We need to retain our visitors attention by providing useful and entertaining content that they will feel worthy of sharing elsewhere. We need to build in more relevency and increase the feedback through our blogs. Here it is not so important, this is a means to an end.

and finally:

if were easy, would there be any point ?

Wake Me Up ( When It's All Over )

noreply@blogger.com (Bran) — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 17:02:00 +0000

Bran dropped this one a few days ago - during a quick studio visit to "Projects". We were quite surprised by the departure from his recent works ( we have heard the desk-mixes of MAD/Metaphoria Collections due for release later this year.) and return to a much ealier output.

Bran: Yeah I guess I have been getting back to my roots - where it all started for me as a kid listening to John Peel way back was like something big for me. I was a really crap guitarist ( I mean really crap ) some of the bands had that sort of rough edge that I could relate to - it was inspiring to hear energy and anarchy unleashed, over-coming any technical ability. Early on I liked: The Fall, Wire and Gang of Four. I went through a Gothy sort of phase loving The Cure and Souxie and the Banshees. I kept away from mainstream music, most of the time - there are always good somgs out there but Radio seemed to play the same things all the time all day long - which put me off. So yes the past has been there - returning to the crap I guess.

"Wake Me Up" is a genuine ad lib - which started out as a "Drum n Bass" idea - which may happen as well - I just smacked some guitar over the top - the lyrics were just worked out by doing several takes - it took two hours to record in total - some video was shot while I did that. It expresses quite a few frustrations that are present - so it is heart said - it is a critical look at how we are abusing the technology and resources that we have - how complacency and selective attention have become the norm - to the point where " sleeping through seems preferable to living through " - I am sure someone will find all sorts of possible meanings - but that's what I was trying to say. I don't see we can blame anyone person or group - so yes a mess - for which I can't see any easy solutions - I am just observing. Albeit angry and frustrated - but saying it does release it somehow.

Next One ? Who knows - I have got a few already up and running - hope to put them together under the working title "No Apollo . . . Geez". We will see.

HAPPY ft Sherry Lee with "LikeQuicksand"

noreply@blogger.com (Bran) — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 01:17:00 +0000

This is something else - posted on YouTube 10th January by Sherry Lee of Canadian Band "Happy" - Like Quicksand a really cute song with a hidden bite - backed by a Dave Luxton (Dlux Films) Video which uses every neat wide-screen cinema trick in the book to make this a top dollar production - that's only my opinion - watch it and see - just press play. Support Happy and buy their excellent Happy EP fron CDBaby Listen to the other tracks - Link below

Dave Luxton
HAPPY EP on CD Baby
MYSPACE

Promo Video

noreply@blogger.com (Bran) — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 23:54:00 +0000

"Congrats Gary, your video has received the CMB Award for Achievement in Performance, and is in the running for 2010 Official CMB Video Awards"
Country Music Broadcasting Dec 2009

Encouraging words for UK singer-songwriter Gary Tipping - whose ballads and acoustic love songs have been receiving much praise from many quarters. Favourably compared to the likes of Paul Simon and John Lennon in their composition - it is the often gentle emotional delivery which is both honest and refreshing. He has proved that dedication and commitment to traditional craftsmanship does eventually reap rewards. Good Luck Gary - Looks like 2010 is going to be a good one for you.

Thoughts for 2010

noreply@blogger.com (Bran) — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 03:04:00 +0000

BlogMagog
Some thoughts for 2010

I would like to see if I can put more of a journalistic angle on things, up the ante - I guess. There are so many things I see, that are catching my attention, that it is hard to focus sometimes. And that is the real challenge for me, a concerted effort.

I would like to restyle things I guess
- sex up my dossier -
yeah !

So those are things to work for 2010. There is a chance that I will try and root content here in other ways . . . I am still looking at the best methods. The blog is connected in at other places - headline animators on Myspace but I do not get many readers and very few comments - so I have to be rational and see where my time is best spent.

The blog is a great way to update stuff but - if you are on a social network - nothing beats personal mail. They will say I am mad but my experience has taught me you have to deal one-to-one with people. Newsletters have always been ridiculed and thrown in the bin - you always find a few people read it. Most people see it as lazy - efficient but lazy. Parents particularly hate them. And seeing the amount of School spam that is created, I understand. So in the end the Blog has to serve a purpose or remain a personal thing - a Diary.

The problem is the time conflict - if you are sorting stuff out - you have not got time to waste on Diaries or Tweets ! If you have you, are definitely under-worked. I spend a few hours a day checking around - so it is hard to do that and keep a nice looking blog.

Anyway we will see if I can turn it around.

Wanna be Here ?

noreply@blogger.com (Bran) — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 21:30:00 +0000

So you are making music or multimedia . . . ?

Want another avenue to get your latest thing out there get noticed ?

Contact me here somehow . . . details at end.

Let me make a little write up - Twitter it or do whatever you want and it is out there.

"You can lead the horse to water ....... "

Twitter
MySpace
NING
YouTube

The rest is up to you.

"You Rhyme With Me" Lynn Harrison

noreply@blogger.com (Bran) — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 23:53:00 +0000

Canadian Singer-Songwriter Lynn Harrison performing one of her many wonderful home-spun compositions live.

I believe her talents deserve a wider audience. At the time of writing this - this video has been posted for three months and only 17 persons on the entire planet had had this pleasure. Please take the time and check out her channel youtube/lharrison77 and please feedback on this song.

Reflective labyrint

noreply@blogger.com (Bran) — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 03:01:00 +0000

Ton Haring from the Netherlands - produced the music and video graphics for this. Watch - very watchable and enjoyable. We gave it Five Stars.

bang the walls - original music by Dudean Walker

noreply@blogger.com (Bran) — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 17:09:00 +0000

Not for the faint hearted a powerful audio visual explosion. A punching sound track with high velocity video montage. Please rate this one. Check out the Channel if you dare. dudeanwalker

Rena by Ray Turner

noreply@blogger.com (Bran) — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 10:03:00 +0000

Deep and Sweet - sub bass - check LondonPenda on YouTube - free MP3 download Link - Love it Ray !

Dif Juz - Love Insane

noreply@blogger.com (Bran) — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 14:25:00 +0000

A beautiful blast from the past, DifJUZ with Liz Frazer (Cocteau Twins ) on vocals. Back then in 1985 4AD were a small Independent record company assisting some new acts to get their music out in to the big wide world. Those acts such as Cocteau Twins, Wolfgang Press and Dif JUZ shaped new genre in the post punk-new wave era.

The Love Art Collective

noreply@blogger.com (Bran) — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 12:08:00 +0000

It's on - so Tune in - join in the Fun for this Summer of Love 2009. It's begun the rest is up to YOU !

Tailcast Collaborate - Prints

noreply@blogger.com (Bran) — Sat, 30 May 2009 22:05:00 +0000

Very Proud to have Bran's Forgiven Track used as part of a TAILCAST Collaboration Project. TAILCAST is a wonderful community of ARTISTS, WRITERS and VIDEOMAKERS, networking and sharing ideas. This was posted in Sept 2008 - but still looks good to me.

I´m a Fish looking for Mascarpone Cheese

noreply@blogger.com (Bran) — Fri, 29 May 2009 20:07:00 +0000

Although Menchu calls this an unfinished work, it fits my mood exactly. We are small-fish in an Ocean of big fish. Moreover the predictions are the continuance of the big fishes swallowing more of the other fishes. I need not name any of the recent take-overs. But there are ramifications for the smaller fish.

Spelling it out, the fewer the big fish, the more of a monoculture will exist on the net. We have already seen the effects. The disregard for the smaller players particularly the individual. The sudden upgrades and hence denial to any who can not afford the latest system - where once w3ORG rules of accessibility were carefully adhered to. Now corporate interests come first and we are forced in some cases to bend.

There is also the danger that the two tier bandwidthing of sites or users will slow down sites who are not under the big banner. So that it will totally favour the mainstream. Which goes against the original ethos of equality that was bound to the Internet.

So I continue my search for Mascapone Cheese. Thanks Menchu and thank you ZENER.

Maneli Jamal - Lucid Drawl - Guitar Idol Final Heat

noreply@blogger.com (Bran) — Sun, 24 May 2009 08:59:00 +0000

A truly talented guitarist (acoustic) combining Eastern and Western musical styles - Maneli Jamal - I am positive you will enjoy this wonderful opus.

Fix This Right Now - The HappyLife Theatre

noreply@blogger.com (Bran) — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 03:19:00 +0000

Despite apologies for "destroying" the audio quality on the video. . . "Fix this Right Now" comes across as a really banging track. Reminds me of the best days of "Talking Heads" so it gets my thumbs up. Check out The HappyLife Theatre on YouTube and the creators website JustinWaterman. Play it and see!

Happy Valentines Day

noreply@blogger.com (Bran) — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 03:06:00 +0000

Please share this video with others . Happy Valentines Day . . . .
Why say it with a card when you can say it with Music Images and Poetry?

Dif-Juz. The Last Song 1985

noreply@blogger.com (Bran) — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 15:09:00 +0000

As far a Independent music goes, Dif Juz shown here live (filmed by Simon Raymond/Remastered Paul woods 2008) are a great example of why small record companies are essential. Although later dropped from the 4AD stable, this small band from West London were able to explore new sounds - and collaborate with artists like Liz Fraser of the Cocteau Twins. Although they never made the "big-time" they were able to leave behind a small collection of Albums and singles and provide an influence for many later musicians, in what is now termed "Shoegazer".

Thank You !

noreply@blogger.com (Bran) — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 04:07:00 +0000

It is always easy to follow the herd to where the numbers are. It is a brave person who seeks out the unexplored and will help others to acheive a joint goal. That is why I know I have already found true friends who see something in what I have started. And I hope it inspires others to work together to change things.

This is about Music but it is also about more than that. It is through networks like this that the world will change. Even if the Internet suddenly ceased, it has already made a new vision for us. We can sense now a true global humanity, sense the common values which we all share despite belief or geographical distance. Despite language and politics we find the similarities and bonds.

My personal goal is to create with your help a way of using people's talents in an interesting, mutually benefical way. Some of our projects may be just two people sharing some ideas say music and visuals. Others may be more long term and involve the whole network. I would also like to reach out to the other Ning Networks and see if our creative ideas could be of use to other Communities. So many things ahead.

So a big thank you to you. More invites going out soon.

Really want to thank all the Members on our New Network. We opened on 1st January ( a slight hang-over ) and quickly we have collected together great music, a great selection of videos and some really nice photos. But more importantly a bunch of really nice people. Greatly Appreciate all your input - I know you are all busy !

Pino Forastiere "Wild Parking"

noreply@blogger.com (Bran) — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 12:40:00 +0000

A plethora of guitar techniques - a great virtuosa let loose from CD "Rag Tap Boom" available from Amazon.Com (Candyrat.com) and upcoming DVD release for February. Check this out. Bran:)

Friend our MySpace

noreply@blogger.com (Bran) — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 15:00:00 +0000

We have now joined MYSPACE

So why are we telling you now? Well if you read this and would like to help out - we need friends 'just like everybody else does' . We are hoping to build a small prescence on the social networking site as another way to let people know what we are up to.

So if you are already signed up on MySpace and can spare the few seconds to push the Friend Request button, Please do! We will not send spam or adverts. We will make positive comments and links to your space if you request us to.

So it is up to you.

Events about to unravel in the world will undoubtedly prove that we are right to call for us all to stick together and work in a unified way. If you are thinking you will be okay working on your own without sharing or co-operating - you are very much part of Yesterdays' News.

Go right now to MYSPACE.COM/PROJECTSWEBHOPORG and make a friend.
+
A massive thank you to all the people who have friended us over the past few weeks.