Editorial October 2010
This first release of fall semester, 2010 marks the beginning of a very big year for the Music Business Journal. It’s our fifth anniversary, and with thirty-eight issues and over four hundred articles of content, the MBJ is growing faster than ever. Our team is larger and more diverse than it’s ever been, and our commitment to delivering quality material is at an all time high.
In the beginning of next month, on November 9th, the Music Business Journal will be hosting its first sponsored event ever to celebrate five vibrant years, and to honor those that have helped make the Journal a reality. If you are able, come join us at 7 Haviland St. in Boston, from 6-8pm, as we kick off the new school year–or visit our facebook page for updates and pictures of the event!
In the meantime, this latest issue is sure to capture your attention. Most excitingly, and courtesy of long-time contributor Michael King (BerkleeMusic), the MBJ has been granted the right to publish an exclusive interview with Gail Zappa (wife of Frank Zappa). Mrs. Zappa spares no detail in describing her role as the sole owner of the Frank Zappa catalogue and her plans for its future–a must read for anyone interested in the possibility of hearing some previously unreleased Zappa tracks.
It seems that online cloud-based music libraries are the wave of the future for consumers. Nick Susi provides us with a very informative report on both RDIO and Spotify, and Spotify’s attempts to seize the American market. Alternatively, Jamie Anderson shares, an up-to-date (quite literally) piece on Spotify’s largest competitor, iTunes Ping. Both articles point to possible directions of digital music’s future.
Media futurist, Gerd Leonhard has graced us with an original piece entitled, “The Price of Free,” which examines the inevitable gains that spawn from distributing music for free. Leonhard discusses the concept of “Freemium,” and explains his view that revenues are beginning to lose their direct relationship with actual music, forcing profit sources to be generated elsewhere.
The summer touring season ended falling noticeably short; Kerry Fee has provided us with an informative follow-up report. Luiz Silva, a Brazilian lawyer/ Berklee student, has contributed a rare insider’s view to new copyright laws in Brazil. Hunt Hearin was able to sit down with Jim Odom, co-founder/ CEO of home-recording equipment pioneer, PreSonus. Odom shares company history as well as his aspirations for the future. Lastly, I’ve contributed a piece on independent publisher, Primary Wave, and their innovative new model that is reshaping the publishing industry.
It gives me great pleasure to introduce this first issue of the MBJ’s 5th year. My hope is that you will find it both interesting and informative.
Thanks so much for reading,
Evan Kramer
