Google finally launched its Music platform in the US last week. The web giant’s answer to Apple’s iCloud offers music downloads a la iTunes as well as a cloud-based web locker in which each user can host up to 20,000 songs in their accounts and stream those songs via various devices (Android-only for now) and the web browser from Google Music.
From the off, the store was offering a claimed 13 million tracks including songs from majors Sony, Universal and EMI as well as independent distributors including Tunecore, Beggars Group, Merlin, Merge and Warp. In a shrewd move, Google’s Artist Hub allows independent artists to sell the music they own the rights to, at the price they choose, for a one-time fee of $25. They keep 70% of sales and can allow users to listen to their songs for free if they desire.
Of course, it all ties in with Google’s other recent high profile platform Google +. You can share listens of songs purchased with your friends on the social network, much like Facebook’s much touted music sharing of songs on Spotify, Rdio, MOG and more ( which has racked up 1.5 billion shares in the first two months).
Back in Europe, Spotify launched in Belgium, Switzerland and Austria (still no sign of Ireland) in the same week that 234 independent niche dance music labels represented by STHoldings withdrew their songs from Spotify, Napster (it still exists!) and other US streaming services. Their decision was prompted by a review of their accounts which showed that 82% of listens came through streaming services but accounted for just 2.6% of its revenue and a study which concluded that streaming services are discouraging to music purchasing.
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The 100 Greatest Dance Records
Starting at 1965, DJ History compiles a century of songs that are the finest examples of making people move comprising of artists like Shirley Ellis, James Brown, Donna Summer, The Clash, Model 500, Underworld and Major Lazer. There’s also a Spotify playlist.
http://www.djhistory.com/features/100-greatest-dance-records
Kool Thing
From Sydney and Dublin via Berlin comes Julie Chance and Jon Dark armed with synthesizers, guitar and an art-dance ethos. Listen to The Sign and wait for it to kick in. Gratifying.
bit.ly/koolthing
First Rate People
Someone Else Can Make A Work Of Art is a gentle and catchy dance-rocking tune from Canadians First Rate People. The technical term is an earworm. The whole EP is also a free download from Bandcamp and it includes the uplifting autotune-assisted Summer Job.
firstratepeople.bandcamp.com
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The 75 best and 20 worst Life Magazine covers of all-time.
“Staring at crotches should be my only problem.” – Irish pop culture writer Louise Bruton highlights the lack of accessibility in Dublin music venues.
The definition of puppy dog eyes.
A US tourist claims she captured the image of Jesus on the Cliffs of Moher.
The Passion Of The Weiss’ 50 best rap producers of all-time.
Mindblowing footage of the earth pulled together from time lapse sequences of photographs taken by the crew of onboard the International Space Station from August to October this year.
Click HD for full effect:
Earth | Time Lapse View from Space, Fly Over | NASA, ISS from Michael König on Vimeo.
Moustair
“Where men meets moustaches meets hair meets moustaches meets hair meets MOUSTAIR.” Photoshop gold.
moustair.tumblr.com
The Rapboard
The best rapper soundboard you’ll ever see.
therapboard.com
Wines That Rock
Rock ‘n’ roll-themed wines featuring Woodstock, Pink Floyd and “The Rolling Stones Forty Licks Merlot”.
winesthatrock.ie
