Damien Hirst has designed the latest record cover for band Red Hot Chili Peppers, ‘I’m With You’. The record, which releases August 30th, 2011, features his signature pharmaceutical theme, using a pill.
If dominating the music streaming business in UK isn’t enough, it looks like Spotify has its eyes set on the music download market as well. No longer is Spotify going to be a companion to iTunes – it’s going to be a competitor. Today, Spotify is launching a new music downloads store which puts the company head to head against Apple’s own iTunes music download store. Seeing how Apple is rumored to launch its own cloud music storage/streaming service – it makes sense that Spotify has to step up its game in this industry.
The music download store is aimed at users of the free version of Spotify – ever since Spotify placed restrictions on their free services, free users haven’t been able to listen to the same song more than 5 times, and only get 10 hours of streaming a month. By being able to purchase tracks, users won’t have to face such restrictions on their favorite tunes.
In addition to enabling music downloads, users will also be able to sync their tracks with iPods, making sure that one of the most popular music players in the world can be used to listen to Spotify-downloaded music. Spotify also wants its desktop client to be the default music player for its 9 million+ users. iOS and Android devices will also be sync-able with the updated Spotify desktop client – previously the feature was limited to premium subscribers. Some features like streaming directly from Spotify’s catalogue will remain a premium feature.
Songs will be sold in bundles – 10 tracks cost £7.99, 15 tracks cost £9.99, 40 tracks cost £25 and 100 tracks cost £50. All songs that are available for streaming will be available for purchase at launch. It’s too early to tell how well Spotify can hold its own against the behemoth that is iTunes, but it’ll be interesting to see how it develops. How many of you Spotify Free users will be purchasing music from their download store?
Deodato on his best!
Released on April 12th this album features Al Jarreau, Londonbeat, Paco Sery, Airto Moreira, Billy Cobham, John Tropea & Novecento. Great listening and a real recommendation!!
Great news for fans of Pandora who are thinking or purchasing a BMW this year for your next car – the German car manufacturer has announced that all their 2011 and 2012 models will be able be able to support the Pandora Internet radio iPhone app. Starting today, all MY 2011 and 2012 BMW vehicles that have the BMW Apps option will be able to stream Pandora internet radio through the iPhone app. All users have to do is connect the iPhone to the vehicle, and the app can be seamlessly controlled via the vehicle’s existing controls.
It looks like BMW drivers can bring their personal radio stations with them wherever they go. Though the integration with the vehicle’s controls is a nice feature to have, it isn’t really essential to have. In fact, if your phone can already stream Pandora, and you have an AUX-input in your car’s stereo system, you should have no problem letting your music play through the car as well – the only thing missing is the integrated controls with your vehicle. Just make sure you keep your phone juiced with a cable to the power outlet. Anyway, if you have a BMW with BMW Apps enabled head over to the App Store to download the Pandora app for free now.
The Sound Cube Audio System is designed to fill your space with sound. Refining the hi-fi audio system to its most essential parts, the Sound Cube is a movable and sharable centerpiece for out-loud expressions of personality. This audio system’s compact, sleek frame belies both its powerful sound, and its advanced capabilities. As a showpiece, the Sound Cube is as visually arresting as it is sonically impressive, with sound ports on each of its four sides delivering 360 degrees of sound. With its tailored handle and lightweight and solid frame, the Sound Cube begs to be seen and shared with the world.
Has the addition of the Beatles catalog to iTunes spawned a new Beatlemania? Accessories maker Acme Studio has inked a new deal with Apple Records and The Beatles. The brand has already created pens, mirrors, business card cases and more that capture the style of Frank Lloyd Wright, Karim Rashid, Keith Haring, Shepard Fairey and Sue Wong. The new line will include pens, watches, business card cases and eyeglass cases. The first designs will be released in May 2011 with year pens evocative of each year the band was together (1962-1970) and 13 limited edition pen and business card case sets for all of their UK album covers. The priciests set is a set of four pens for four Beatles, consisting of interchangeable rollerball, felt tip, fountain pen, and ballpoint pens. This item is limited to 600 produced and sells at UnicaHome for $450.
Deadheads, prepare your wallets. Fans of the legendary band have been known to spend a lot for things connected to the group. Rolling Stone reports that a massive box set of more than 60 CDs dedicated to the band’s legendary European tour in 1972 is going on sale. That summer the band played 22 concerts around Euope. The trip was first documented that year on a triple-LP set, Europe ’72. The new set will include recordings mixed and mastered from the original 16-track tapes. The project is currently in production and is available by pre-order from the Dead’s website for $450.
There will be a maximum of 7,200 boxes produced. As a special bonus, the first 3,000 orders will receive a personalized copy. The set will also include liner notes by Grateful Dead historians and attendees of the concerts as well as many never-before-seen photos; a coffee-table book and other memorabilia and ephemera from the tour. The website says that due to the manufacturing costs they need to hit 3,000 sales before production. If they don’t reach 3,000 by April 1st, the boxed set won’t be able to happen.
“We were hot and having a lot of fun,” said guitarist Bob Weir to Rolling Stone about the tour. “We had a pretty plump repertoire by that time. So you’re gonna go several nights before you hear a repeat. And if you hear one, it’s going to be pretty different.” Weir and bassist Phil Lesh, currently tour as Furthur and still draw a devoted following.
Amy Winehouse is back and how. The R&B and soul singer is being flown to the Russian capital by private jet to perform at a billionaire oligarch on New Year’s Eve party. For which the Richie Rich is paying her a clean one million pound (almost $1.5 million). This is her first private gig since 2008, when billionaire Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich paid the rehab singer a whopping £1.5million to sing at the launch of his girlfriend’s Moscow Art Gallery. The stage, according to sources, will also be used by the singer to prepare for her upcoming six gigs in Brazil in January that will get her a windfall of around £300,000. Ahh rehab pays!!!!
Serious about your music? Then grab yourself a pair of equally serious cans, like the Grado RS1i Reference Series Headphones ($700). These high-end personal speakers features handcrafted Mahogany earpieces, upgraded dynamic transducers and a new 8 conductor cable design that offers more lively sound than the RS1, an open-backed cup configuration, and an astronomical price.
The Rolling Stones have been a double-bladed sword from the very beginning. There are fans, secret admirers and some just listen to them inattentively and accidentally in the radio, however there’s one thing all have to agree: the phalanx of the rock ‘n’ roll, the Rolling Stones are truly living legends that deserve to be honored. That being said, this premium box set is stuffed with collect-worthy content of the Stones’ most intriguing decade, the 1970s. The set boasts seven albums encased in a custom hardbound CD book paired with the illustrated 360-page According to the Rolling Stones hardcover insider’s compendium in a special union jack edition.