Friday 10 July 2015

What we're listening to this week. Springsteen 'Darkness on the edge of town'.


Although everyone talks about 'Born to Run' (the Album just before this), there's little doubt that 'Darkness' is the Album that made Springsteen.

His fourth Album from 1978 it features classics like 'Racing in the Street', 'Candy's Room', 'Darkness', 'Factory' and at the time, he discarded a lot of material which didn't go on the Album. One being, 'Because the Night' which was recorded by Patti Smith

It's very blue collar and his pic on the cover reflects that. But it's a classic and also brought the E Street Band to greater prominence. Clarence Clemons is here and Steve Van Zandt was crucial to the production and credited as such.

There's a 2010 excellent documentary too about the making of the Album but again, it's a "must have" in any rightful music collection. And it's a great introduction to Springsteen. Here's the stand out track for us anyway - 'we only run for the money, got no strings attached"........





Wednesday 8 July 2015

Facebook April 2015. 4 Billion video views A DAY. You need to get a Video Ad!


Very short blog, very interesting numbers.

Facebook, for April 2015, have now 4 Billion Video views A DAY. 
And that's an increase of their 1 Billion video views a day only last September.
And an increase on their 3 Billion video views a day only last January.

So it's staggering growth and as they role out more video opportunities, that can only grow. But shows how video is well viewed.

It further highlights the need for Clients to get Video Ads and to utilise Facebook targeting. And Yes, we can help.

Monday 6 July 2015

IMusic? Stunningly Magnificent.

And this Ladies and Gentlemen, is about as stunning as you get.

Apple IMusic simply has just turned the music business on its head to the benefit of listeners. 

It is superb.

Does it allow you to listen to any Album? Yes it does
Can you add to that to your music collection (my music) as if you own it? You can, unlimited
Can you buy the Album directly through Itunes? Yep although we're not sure why you would
Can you "follow" artists as in a Social Media way? Sure
Can you form playlists or listen to curated playlists by artists? Indeed, like the one Joni Mitchell just made
Is it easy and beautiful to navigate? It is, although like a new Fax machine, takes a day to get around it
Is there anything wrong with it? Not a bit

All for under 10 euro a month with a free 3 month trial which presumably, is designed to attract in those Spotify or Pandora users whom, quite frankly, it's hard to see why they'd move back.

If you have an Apple product it's there by now and you should simply sign up. 

That's objective recommendation too, because we have nothing to do with Apple but just thought it was something very cool.

What it will do is of course, lose revenue to Apple (and the artists) from downloads and replace that revenue with streaming subscriptions. Which probably, will mean less for everyone in the business. 

Although, the user benefits with every possible Album for a low cost.

On the other hand, it also democratises music, allowing you access to free new Albums that you'd never had bought you thought, but can now listen to and might stream. So it's great for new bands.

But it's a Wow. Really. Did you get that? A total, complete WOW.