Photo by Jason Persse
MUSICREDEF PICKS
Amy Winehouse, U2, Run the Jewels, Kid Rock, Mixtapes, Dr. Dre...
Matty Karas, curator August 7, 2015
QUOTABLES!
quote of the day
With everything that is happening with free, downloadable music and everyone tuning in through headphones, music can be a solitary experience. In the wake of that, live performance is thriving. People recognize that it's a way of creating a temporary community. People come together to see something in the same space and time.
music
rant n' rave
rantnrave://

If you were a pop music legend releasing your first album in 16 years, would you want it to be as widely available as possible, or would you want it in a single store with really good marketing? The latter is the route DR. DRE is taking today with "COMPTON: A SOUNDTRACK BY DR. DRE." APPLE MUSIC, which has been in business only five weeks, has an impressive 11 million trial members in 100 countries. Of course, that also means there are billions of people in those same countries who aren't members, and who have no way to stream "COMPTON." They have the option to buy it at ITUNES, but only at ITUNES. Will the hardcore exclusivity (there's been no indication when, if ever, the album will be available anywhere else) turn away potential listeners and buyers, perhaps forever? Will it deliver millions of new members to APPLE? Is it a sign of a NETFLIX/HULU/AMAZON-like splintering of music libraries to come, which nobody wants? Is it smart, hyper-focused marketing? And is the album better than "CHINESE DEMOCRACY"?... Today also brings new music from LUKE BRYAN, MAC DEMARCO, HEALTH, THE MYNABIRDS, GANGRENE, FEAR FACTORY, CHELSEA WOLFE, IRIS DEMENT, CHEVY WOODS and LA LUZ... And in "FIVE FOR A FRIDAY," PIOTR ORLOV goes deep on ROBYN, VINCE STAPLES, DJ LINDSEY and more.

Matty Karas, curator

August 7, 2015