p2pnet - rss feed: Bill Evans to Sony
p2pnet.net News:- Was Fiona Apple’s remote Net experience actually an example of a new, underhand corporate practice where various concerns utilize the power of the p2p networks without admitting it, or giving them credit?
Ms Apple’s Extraordinary Machine album was released by Sony a couple of years back, only to sink like a stone.
Then suddenly, and inexplicably, it re-appeared online. And now it’s being feted.
A 45-minute episode of the new Dr Who series mysteriously showed up on the Net three weeks in advance of its official airing.
But, it may have been, “intentionally leaked onto file-sharing networks to generate buzz,” a source who instructed the network on viral advertising told Wired News.
Wired also states, “To one advertising consultant, the leak is clear evidence the BBC is taking advantage of some recently learned lessons on the power of viral advertising it got from a collection of hired guns known as the Broadcast Assassins.”
Broadcast Assassins?
“I went to a BBC conference centre yesterday and met with a variety of BBC middle management to advise them of the impact of New media, specifically file sharing,” says alfie in a moblog slugged Broadcast assassin day.
“It was fun, and afterwards I was asked to go on the radio and talk to the guy who is rolling out BT broadbands strategy for their new offering. I cut him down with whip like certainty on five live - although most of the audience probably didnt know what the fuck we were talking about. Im there again today and will moblog like buggery!”
We won’t mention Apple’s attempts to sue three websites which gave it priceless advanced PR by leaking news of products in advance of their release as another example.
Even Apple couldn’t sink that low.
In the meanwhile, Boycott-RIAA founder Bill Evans (top right) who is, sadly, no longer involved with the anti-RIAA site, has another example.
“This harkens back to the Lillywhite Sessions of the Dave Matthews Band,” he writes.
Read on >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
If you recall RCA didn’t like what the band had done with the recordings of Everyday, they got rid of Steve Lillywhite, (who had produced the previous 3 albums for DMB and was pretty much responsible for the sound of DMB) and brought in Glen Ballard and made it perkier (more commercial)
Then a few weeks after the release of Everyday, the Lillywhite sessions appeared on Napster.
Most of the diehard DMB fans liked that better.
Then later, the Lillywhite sessions were released as another CD (enhanced) called Busted Stuff (produced by Steve Harris ).
Busted stuff was rated by a large percentage of DMB fans as better than Everyday, and Entertainment Weekly agreed.
The question was never answered (publicly anyway) as to who released it.
No one was ever sued, imprisoned or otherwise over it. But the bottom line is that it had to be someone close to the band who had access.
Was it a marketing gimmick? Was it outright piracy and theft?
Inquiring minds want to know.
Same with the Fiona Apple tracks. It’s not available as digital master (CD) to the public.
I challenge Fiona’s label to investigate and come up with an answer.
And let it be known.
And for pete’s sake release the damned album. You’ve got fans wanting to buy the CD why won’t you release it?
Is this what you call artist development?
Afraid she might actually recoup?
Afraid you might actually have to pay some royalties?
Afraid she might just fill the terms of her contract?
Something you think we should know? tips[at]p2pnet.net
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See:-
Extraordinary Machine - The unsad tale of Fiona Apple, p2pnet, March 17, 2005
mysteriously showed up - New Doctor Who online, p2pnet, March 7, 2005
Wired News - New Dr. Who Leaked on Purpose?, March 16, 2005
March 18th, 2005 at 7:14 pm
I’d rewrite my comment that was under this post before (under the previous Fiona Apple story), but I forget what it was.
except “well said and written.”
TT
March 18th, 2005 at 7:23 pm
maybe they didnt release her music before because she sucks - the album is nothing remarkable, and as for dr who talk about corny!
March 19th, 2005 at 2:23 am
“maybe they didnt release her music before because she sucks - the album is nothing remarkable, and as for dr who talk about corny!”
*sigh*
There are enough people who appreciate Fiona’s style of music to send both of her previous records to platinum. That should say something.
Well, then again, I suppose with that argument one could say Ms. Spears or Blink 182 were talented musicians because they went platinum. Touche.
I think it says that Sony is staffed by idiots. They’ve gone through all the tough bits when it comes to making a CD. They’ve recorded it, mixed it, mastered it. They just have to duplicate it. She’s gone platinum twice. How can this not atleast break even?
Maybe it is a devious plan layed out by Sony two years ago to test the impact of viral marketing. The press this is receiving is gold. I just doubt that Sony is that crafty. I can see it coming from BBC, those are some technologically with-it cats. Sony has given up on innovation and new ideas. Well, the music division has atleast.
Personally, I think it’s a fantastic album and that should count for something coming from one who normally sticks to Tool, Fear Factory, NiN and Lamb Of God. Fiona’s voice has matured greatly and increased significantly in range. Musically it’s quirky and is fun to listen to.
– Tinfoil
March 19th, 2005 at 2:57 am
Let’s look at it another way. Fiona’s album is a bit of a departure for her, but not a big one. It’s certainly Fiona. However, Sony is afraid of that departure.
Let’s look at one big album that stands out as a HUGE departure: American Idiot. That album, while it certainly sounds like Green Day, it a huge change from the typical punk and nu-punk music released. Personally, I’ve not heard anything like it since NoFX’s ‘The Decline’. Imagine what would have happened if GD’s label had not released it because it was a departure, been afraid to launch it because it was different? We’d have missed out on one of the best albums of the year. Yet, they released it if for no other reason than there are vast numbers of GD fans that would buy it simply because it is Green Day.
Now, Fiona may not have quite as many fans, but this CD isn’t as huge a departure for her. I would expect some 90% of her fans would be pleased as hell with the disc. I know I was.
Like I said in my previous rant, there is very little risk left to be taken in releasing the CD. They’ve already paid the lion’s share of the costs involved in making a disc. They may as well pay the rest to release it and, at the very worst, break even.
–Tinfoil
March 19th, 2005 at 5:33 am
If the labels had a real online channel they should just release everything that’s ever been recorded and mastered online.
Just one more stupid aspect of the obssession with holding onto the existing model, star system and process.
March 20th, 2005 at 5:03 pm
“There are many new ways to deliver content to users without having to bar them from access to content or entertainment. That generally stifles growth, it doesn’t assist it.”
- from http://p2pnet.net/story/4101
Thats the problem, the record companies only want one way to exist for delivery and/or promotion and one entity to control it…there can be no competition in distribution or promotion, otherwise they’ll lose their obscene profits….
Monopolies tend to fight tooth and nail from opening up their markets to competition, and their allocative efficiency is horrendous when compared to competitive markets, price discrimination can also exist, which for the consumer is terrible (ie Apple charges UK customers more than N American customers for a tune)
Now that the barriers of entry into the distribution and promotion of music, movies etc are quickly vanishing, the entertainment industry is scambling to erect legal barriers through underhanded spin-doctoring, buying politicians, and outright deception and fear-mongering.
Lets hope they don’t succeed.
TT
April 13th, 2005 at 9:49 pm
If Fiona Apple’s “Extraordinary Machine” was indeed released some years ago as you say, then I assume you can produce pictures of the cover art of the released album? Or some sort of evidence to back your case?
I also find it very strange that no Fiona fans (and there are quite a few) have surfaced to tell of the earlier release, or to proudly display their rare copies. Even more strange would be that an event like the release of a new Fiona Apple album, even if it’s marketing was completely botched up, could have eluded apparently every single Apple fan I’ve encountered, on-line or elsewhere.
I think that this story is just using Fiona Apple’s plight spiced up with a little spiteful fiction to bolster it’s point.
As for the album, it is highly original, with clever lyrics, enjoyable and fascinating - daring to experiment, while still remaining thoroughly accessible. It’s just not for the unfortunately many whose musical tastes never stretch beyond the current, unimaginative mainstream fads. In my view, “Extraordinary Machine” is the best material Apple has come up with so far.