This has GOT to be a publicity stunt – there’s really no other explanation for California-based BlueBeat telling Apple Corps + EMI + The Beatles to get bent.
And NO – they don’t have any legal right to do so (whatsoever). They don’t have any agreement with the band – nor with the publisher, EMI. In fact, EMI filed a lawsuit against them on Tuesday and they didn’t even bother to reply (that I’m aware of), let alone stop. They never tried to hide what they were doing – their sale of the songs for dirt cheap has been in every music / news blog I’ve seen this week. This is full-on poking the bear.
The only possible explanation is that they expect the publicity from this stunt (and the staggering flood of traffic to the site for the cheap files) will result in future profits that will (more than) cover the cost of the judgment that EMI will undoubtedly (and rightfully) be awarded. Not to mention the other lawsuits that are bound to follow *yoko*
this seems so common sense / smart to me that it makes me wonder WTH is wrong with us.. while our voting machine manufacturers disallow any sort of outside testing (and we struggle with accusations of tampering with these same machines each major election year) Brazil seems to have jumped on the obvious / best solution:
“Brazil opened up a ‘challenge’ allowing security experts and other hackers to request to take part in a big hack attempt on e-voting equipment. Not only that, but the government is going to give $5,000 to whoever successfully hacks into one of the e-voting systems. This seems like a much smarter way to check the security on these machines than the previous method of very basic gov’t oversight and the e-voting firms issuing a big ‘trust us’ answer to every question.” - SOURCE: TECHDIRT
Audio LINK ♥ after a flurry of obituaries for Chuck Biscuits on Thursday, we find an equal number of stories announcing that the death of the drummer (D.O.A. / Danzig / Run D.M.C.) was actually a hoax..
LINK ♥ Relevant Magazine warns the Music Industry to “Innovate or Die. Seriously.”
Visual LINK ♥ this absolutely brilliant digital graffiti interface allows people to “virtually” paint on walls.. no idea what they cost to rent but this would make ANY promotional event a guaranteed hit..
LINK ♥ pretty much everyone on the planet will need to prep something for print at some point – band/business logo, post/business cards, posters, etc.. so Smashing Mag’s 10 Pre-Press Tips For Perfect Print Publishing is a great bookmark..
Geek LINK ♥ every Minnesotan needs a reminder to put together a winter car emergency kit – LifeHacker provides a checklist..
LINK ♥ a German book company pulls off a great stunt at a book fair – attaching little banners to (actual) flies and then releasing them on the crowd.. crazy. [video]
WTF? LINK ♥ Pat Robertson’s Christian Broadcasting Network warns us against ‘demonic’ Halloween candy.. saying, “most of the candy sold during this season has been dedicated and prayed over by witches” hmm.. really!?!
LINK ♥ shortly after 62 year old MN man pimped out his la-z-boy, he drove it down to the local bar, downed “8 or 9 beers” and got a DWI on the way home (oh man I would have loved to have been in that cruiser).. now the cops have put the la-z-boy (complete with 8-horsepower lawnmower engine, stereo, headlights, cup holder and a “Hell yeah it’s fast” sticker on the back) on ebay..
LINK ♥ yeah Keanu Reeves is hot.. but is he immortal? some guy made a video which concludes that “it’s only logical to conclude that (he) is either a vampire or immortal“.. well of course it is.
They claim it’s “the world’s first wearable magazine” .. hmm, maybe it is that.. however, it definitely is a brilliant / unique marketing strategy for something I’ve not heard of before – a subscription-based clothing line model.
“T-post is a t-shirt magazine. And just like your favorite paper magazine, our subscribers don’t know what the story is about or who’s designed until they get it. It’s like getting a surprise birthday present in the mail every month.” – T-post.se
The following is taken directly from the SooVac website. Yeah this is long – but it sounded so damn interesting that the entire thing had to be included (schedule @ the bottom):
On October 22nd through 25th, SooVAC will host a conceptual tour de force seldom seen outside the two coasts.
SooVAC explodes into its neighboring space for this extravaganza. The main gallery will feature a major retrospective of two hometown Minneapolis heroes of the international flatstock design and printing world: Burlesque of North America and Aesthetic Apparatus.
NO ADVANCE TICKETS-Tickets available at the door each night.
The side gallery will present a bizarre opening of local artist and alternative music mogul, HAZE XXL. A multi-media onslaught, the exhibition consists of 100 individually hand-made art CD sleeves, each containing original art and individual Polaroids, along with HAZE XXL created objects d’art featured in numerous national shows including the Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh. The show marks the first and only release of the Halo Of Flies/Gay Witch Abortion collaboration album. Just 100 CD’s produced, and that’s it forevermore but not surprising coming from the former head of Amphetamine Reptile Records who initiated his label by originating the whole “limited edition thing in music” back in the 1980′s.
Each night of the four-day event, performance art takes on a literal meaning with live music sequestered in yet another gallery within the gallery. The musicians will be performing behind large screened windows facing the main gallery, harshly backlit so that the audience sees only silhouetted shadows and movement. Four security cameras inside the room will broadcast those performances live onto screens in the main gallery, playing with perceptions of time and space and lessening even further our distinctions between reality and the alternate broadcast reality which is far to often blurred.
The Opening Event will also offer an additional layer of altered perception, featuring the short films of renowned artist Chris Mars. Primarily known for his deeply surreal oil and pastel images, he has taken to animationand film with all the intensity and incredible detail of his oil paintings.
ART SHOWS
Aesthetic Apparatus • Burlesque Design – Retrospective/Installation
HAZE XXL -100 Disciples Art Show
HOF/Gay Witch Abortion CD Release
LIVE SHOWS Oct 22• CHRIS MARS Short Films
Live improvisational accompaniment by
Grant Hart • HAZE XXL • Shannon Selberg
Oct 23• GAY WITCH ABORTION Live performance in security cam vision Oct 24 • H•O•F Live performance in security cam vision Oct 25 • THE MELVINS Live performance in security cam vision
N.C.P.D.C.C.W.
4 days of multi media splooge brought to you by the Workers Sensory Stimulation Committee
WTH did this week go? I could swear yesterday was Monday.. anyway – some links:
audio
WIRED: Topspin Media CEO Ian Rogers gives advice on how to survive in the new music business – a def must-see for anyone in the industry. LINK
THOM YORKE: New single “Hearing Damage” Listen on MFR. LINK
VISUAL
SOOVAC: Stopped into the Soo today on the way to Bob’s and took in the current show – The main gallery is full of new works by Greg Gossel & the sideroom has a bunch of Amy Rice’s work – very cool. LINK
WTF: Samuri Sword Demonstration Gone Wrong (WARNING: these images are not for the weak). LINK
GEEK
TED: The robots featured in this short #TED talk have facial expressions so real it’s completely unnerving – very freaky and def worth a look. LINK
Congressional Reps Rewrite AT&T’s Google Voice Complaint, And Send It To The FCC LINK
Yeah Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize today (Go Obama!) but on a lighter note, this is HILARIOUS – Slim Thug talks about how the recession is effecting the rap industry on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart: 60% less video hos, diamond-encrusted glock sales are down and weed doesn’t really count as health care..
“Big news music fans!!! Legendary Washington DC rock band Jawbox will be reuniting and performing right here on Late Night!! What the what??!!!??
Jawbox was the one of the big three bands in the 1990s DC hardcore scene beside Fugazi and Shudder To Think. All three bands started out on Dischord records and Jawbox was the first to make a move to a major label, moving to Atlantic Records 1993. Their performance on Late Night will be their first performance OF ANY KIND in 12 YEARS. TWELVE. That’s two presidents ago everbody. So save the date for December 8th when Jawbox plays Late Night!”
The Star Wars Uncut site proclaims “You and 472 other people have the chance to recreate Star Wars: A New Hope!”. Yeah that’s right – sign up for your 15 seconds, film it & upload it back to the site to become part of the collective.. too cool.
Skwerl (Antiquiet) recently sat down with Josh Homme and talked about how the Them Crooked Vultures line-up was formed and plans for an upcoming release.. looks like we can expect something before the end of the year.
If you watch Fallon tonight you’ll get to see the original Sunny Day Real Estate members playing “Seven” from their ’94 debut record “Diary” (my fav SDR album) ..
Contagious will feature new artwork by Tara Costello, Jennifer Davis & Amy Rice
If you come here often you know that I’m a huge fan of Davis’ work – I only have a couple of her prints but I’m determined to own at least one of her paintings, at some point… I haven’t seen Amy’s work in person yet – but it looks sweet (reminds me of old vintage illustrations) and Tara is a well-known abstract painter – if you’re in Minneapolis you’ve certainly seen her work.
With these 3 popular / much-loved local art chicas, I expect that this show will be packed. Looking forward to heading down there Saturday night..
First Avenue tweets that Doug Martsch (Built To Spill) is doing a DJ gig @ Grumpy’s tomorrow night (Thursday 9/24).. this after-party special appearance is free (21+)