Gizmodo 
Enter your username and password.
-
more about #rhapsody Nick: i think the real lesson here is how Too Much Joy can quickly turn sour as time marches on. aka old people are grouches. i will now depart your lawn... more » whiteflea: Amazing article. I read it from start to finish, including footnotes. more » techpops001: How about this for an idea for a morally right web app but probably legally wrong. The service would offer various types of links to music, from torr... more » collectiveego: Very inciteful and interesting as my first album is releasing in a few weeks. I'll have to scrutinize every invoice. ..the next person to use the wo... more » ellismatt: Isn't the theory of "the band makes zero dollars until they're recouped" a bit misleading. They've already pocketed the advance. It's another debate ... more » PotteryBarnClearanceSale: Here's my theory: It's a database and logic problem in the accounting code. The completely missing album royalties are because there is not a unique ... more » corsair130: Reading the entire article I kept wondering, is there any way that this guy could contact I-tunes directly to find out exactly how many of his band's ... more » gumwrapper: Now it all makes sense after reading the informed comments. There was a really popular band (I don't remember who) that made an album and allowed you ... more » jimmyrizzo: Forgetting for just a mement that labels tend to screw just about every artist in their stable ... with shoddy and/or possibly criminal accounting pra... more » SlinkyDink: TMJ was not "punk" anything. They were on a major for christsakes. more » B3ND3R: Without getting too far into it... (ha!) Major record label contracts are exceedingly complex by design. The major label has the knowledge, the know... more » njdevil: I apparently don't understand how the music industry works as well as I thought I did. If so few bands are 'Recouped', How do labels make money? more » Kaiser-Machead: The title's a bit misleading. Isn't cooking the books illegal, due to the fact it involves deceiving people into believing that there are earnings tha... more » AndPreciousLittleofThat: Mr. Quirk, you've uncovered a maxim in the customer service world. The people who are the easiest to reach, and thus the easiest to curse out, aren't... more » Panzer23: I have never been a big fan of record labels, but I mean seriously, we have been taught in every other aspect of life to be meticulous, backup data t... more » Ryan_Long: For the past 6 years I've worked off and on for a San Francisco avant garde band that some no of, most do not, and the stories of the music industry a... more » dry-roasted-peanuts: "There's a theory that labels and publishers deliberately avoid creating the transparent accounting systems today's technology enables. Because accura... more » Oyabun: Can I get a list of unrecouped artists so that I can focus on pirating their music? Its not like the artists are gonna get paid for it anyway. more » AmphetamineCrown: This doesn't seem to me like "cooking the books." Cooking the books implies a certain level of effort to mask the truth. As opposed to just not tell... more » Dancing Milkcarton: What a interesting, information filled post. Please, more like this. more » -
#digitaldownloads
My $62.47 Royalty Statement: How Major Labels Cook the Books with Digital Downloads
Tim Quirk was the singer of punk-pop outfit Too Much Joy, signed by Warner Bros. in 1990. Now he's an executive at an online music service, giving him insight on digital sales data and just how labels fudge their numbers. More » -
#data
It's Almost 2010 and CDs Are Not Dead Yet?
I've started to buy vinyl records again. It's not because of the sound. It's the touch and the pretty pictures. Obviously, vinyl is not why CDs are dying. Zoom-zoom in, digital boys and girls. More » -
#google
Google Music Search Turns Your Results Pages Into Personal Radios
As rumored, Google Music Search (aka Onebox) is a music search feature that appears inside Google search that will give you not a little 30-second clip, but a full song play. More » -
#music
Rhapsody Approved for iPhone and iPod Touch, Now Streaming 8 Million Tracks
Though it can't cache songs like the recently-approved Spotify, Rhapsody's app is available in the U.S., and lets $15-a-month Rhapsody To Go subscribers stream unlimited tracks over Wi-Fi, 3G or Edge. It's also free to try for a week. More » -
#music
Rhapsody Music Streaming Headed to iPhone and iPod Touch, But Will It Be Approved?
Good news Rhapsody fans; an app has finally been submitted to Apple. If approved, it will give iPhone/iPod Touch owners with a $15-a-month Rhapsody To Go account unlimited-streaming over Wi-Fi, 3G and Edge. Here's what it looks like in action: More » -
#listeningtest
Discovering Music in 2009: The New Tools
MTV doesn't play music videos. Magazines are dying. Radio is all about the $$$. It's no secret the old modes of music discovery have been thrown out the window. Thankfully, new music-finders are here: More » -
#dvrs
Moxi Steps To TiVo, Adding Rhapsody Music and PlayOn for Netflix, Hulu and More
Digeo today brings its Moxi HD DVR in range of TiVo with some capabilities it was sorely lacking in a big way, including DLNA 1.0 for home streaming, and PlayOn for grabbing major net video. More » -
#portablemedia
Haier America Rolls Out With New Rhapsody Ibiza MP3 Players
In what may seem like a late start to the iPod race, Haier America is updating their Rhapsody Ibiza line with 2 new MP3 players: the Mini and the Touch. Sound familiar? More » -
-
#music
Lala Unveils iPhone App, Unusual 10-Cent Song Sales
When we last checked in with Lala, the music service promised us access to our local collections from anywhere over the web. Using a unique combination of uploading and matching their collection to yours, you can sync your various libraries and listen to them any place where internet is available. Now they are back with some brand new features, including a vastly expanded catalog, an iPhone app and the unheard of 10-cent song. More » -
#questionoftheday
Question of the Day: Do You Use an All-You-Can-Eat Subscription Music Service?
I've never really understood music subscription services. Despite the conveniences, to date I have never, ever felt the need to lease something that can get imprinted on your heart like only music really can. It needs to be mine. But this week rumors kicked up again regarding an iTunes all-you-can-eat subscription-based model coming as early as September—the same rumors we've heard time and time again. While this time around the whispers are shaky at best, this rumor just won't die, and it's not a complete impossibility that it someday may actually happen. A lifetime iTunes subscription may be the one thing that could change my subscription-hatin' ways (maybe). Is there anyone else with me? Who else doesn't really buy the whole subscription model, and if not, would an all-you-can-eat iTunes change your mind? More » -
#closingtime
Yahoo! Music Store Will Compensate Customers For DRM-ed Music
Yes, Yahoo! Music Store's shutting down their DRM servers, but Big Purple's said that it'll definitely still be taking care of its customers. According to a Yahoo spokesperson, anyone who bought DRM music from the store “will be compensated for whatever they paid.” No word on timetables or what form the compensation will take, but possible options include cash back or an un-DRMed MP3 version of the same track. [Information Week] -
#yahoomusic
Yahoo Music Shutting Down DRM Servers To Finish Transition to Rhapsody
In a continuation of Yahoo Music's move to send their customers over to Rhapsody, YM's shutting down their DRM servers as of September 30. Unlike when MSN's Music servers shut down and then re-opened, it's very unlikely that Yahoo's will do the same, seeing as there's a process to convert your existing Yahoo Music tunes over to Rhapsody. You'll have to transfer the songs before the deadline, or else all you'll be hearing is the sound of yourself weeping over your lost tunes. [LA Times] -
#verizon
Verizon Gets Rhapsody Subscriptions, DRM-Free Downloads
Verizon customers with certain VCAST phones have some new options for buying music, thanks to Rhapsody. First off, the $15 per month, all-the-songs-you-can-guzzle subscription service is offered on LG's Decoy and Dare, Moto's W755 and Samsung's SCH-u550, Glyde, and Juke, and will be available for the Chocolate 3 when it's out. Also, $2 over-the-air download tracks now come with a DRM-free MP3 version that you can snag on your computer with VCAST/Rhapsody software. If you can hold your horses and wait till you're on a PC to download, DRM-free tracks are yours for a buck, which can be sideloaded onto the phone like usual. Press release after the jump. [Verizon] More » -
#music
Rhapsody Opens DRM-Free Music Store, First 100,000 Albums Free
Rhapsody, known for its subscription music service, just opened a DRM-free MP3 store. The MP3s are encoded in 256kpbs CBR, and run $.99 per track and $9.99 per album. Shoppers can preview 25 full-length tracks a month from the standard 5 million song catalog, which is extra sweet if you ask us. To kick things off, the first 100,000 sign-ups to the store until July 4th get one album for free, so give it a try and let us know how it stacks up against the big boys. UPDATE: Both versions of the Rhapsody store are now available on Verizon phones. [Rhapsody] -
#homeentertainment
CNet Gives Logitech Squeezebox Duet the Ol' Editor's Choice Stamp
Logitech has been dying to get into wireless whole-house audio like Sonos and not a whole lot of others. Now that CNet has favorably reviewed the $400 Squeezebox Duet we told you about at CES, it may well have a shot. In living video, our buddy John Falcone explains the Wi-Fi-powered system, and notes that, aside from DRM protected content, the Squeezebox Duet gets at "any music, anywhere" including stuff from Rhapsody, Slacker, and Pandora, plus internet radio and podcasts. More » -
#music
Yahoo Dumps Music Service, Sends Customers to Rhapsody
As if it hasn't been a rough enough patch for Yahoo, the company just announced that it would be ditching its iffy attempt at all-you-can-eat DRM music, Yahoo! Music Unlimited, and turn what subscribers it does have over to Rhapsody. This is good news for people who may have signed up for Yahoo before reading reviews; in our observations, Rhapsody is a much better service. The only thing that strikes fear in us, from the press release: "A simple process...will convert Yahoo! Music Unlimited subscribers' music libraries to Rhapsody." Uhhh, just don't call it ConvertsForSure, okay? Thanks. Press release after jump. More » -
#ces2008
Logitech Makes Grab at Sonos' Audience with Squeezebox Duet
Logitech's Squeezebox Duet is a handheld receiver that uses 802.11g to wirelessly route music throughout your house, emanating from strategically placed little receivers—the first one included in the $400 starter kit. If this sounds familiar, it's because the most excellent but also more expensive Sonos Digital Music System does something very similar. More » -
#facebook
Rhapsody Makes Facebook App (Because Everyone Else Is Doing It)
Just got word that the Rhapsody music service has a new Facebook app called Music By Rhapsody. You get "access" to 4.5 million songs, and there's a preference engine that recommends songs for you and your visitors to play from the profile page. The price catch is, you get 25 free songs per month, after which you have to upgrade to a paid-for plan. And the whole thing, still in beta, feels more promotional than servicy. Like many Facebook apps, the promise of doing things right there on the profile page is quickly dashed, and you're whisked away to another page after just a click or two. I don't blame Rhapsody, I just think the Facebook app format is—ahem—highly overrated. I could be wrong; go check it out and report back here. [Rhapsody on Facebook] -
#music
Mog Gets Rhapsody, Gives You Instant Song Search-and-Play
Until now, Mog, the music blog network, has been missing one key ingredient: mainstream music. Music lovers could talk about music, share files of more obscure acts, and even share YouTube videos of popular songs. But today, Mog teamed with Rhapsody to deliver all those millions of tracks inside the web browser legally. (You will have to pay the $10-per-month PC subscription, or else use up Rhapsody's 25 free listens per month.) Mog also added a fast Spotlight-style search engine, which lets you grab songs fast. It'll even find songs you may not be able to play, but will tell you quickly whether you'll hear it or not. For music lovers who shied away from Mog for lack of said subject matter, this is a good reason to give the newly updated service a try. [Mog] -
#portablemedia
Rhapsody and Haier Go PC-Free with Ibiza Wi-Fi Music Player
Today Rhapsody and Haier launched the Ibiza Wi-Fi music player, which lets you download Rhapsody tracks via Wi-Fi without connecting to a PC first. This is really good news for Rhapsody users, until now there was no true portable device for managing tracks, though Apple, Microsoft and SanDisk (with Yahoo) have launched similar products. The question is, how good will Chinese-electronics maker Haier be at entering a game both Apple and Microsoft have approached only gingerly? Here's a look at the ambitious initial hardware, Haier's first US-destined DAP: More » -
#music
Sonos Launches ZoneBridge Plus Napster and Best Buy Music Stores
In a raft of announcements, Sonos today confirmed the existence of the $99 ZoneBridge 100, and launched two more PC-free music-store options on the system, including Napster and Best Buy's new Digital Music Store. More » -
#clips
Video of the TiVo/Rhapsody Music Streaming Team-Up
Remember when we told you TiVo and Rhapsody had joined forces to allow the streaming of Internet radio stations and Rhapsody's online music catalogue to broadband equipped TiVo boxes? Here's a video of the new feature, which will allow users to search through music catalogues and Rhapsody charts via their TVs. If you are already signed up with TiVo, you will receive a free 30-day trial. Thereafter, the added content/functionality shall cost $12.99/month. Check out the short run-through of the UI, which seems to flow smoothly. Just how we like it. [TiVo via Osegundochoque, video via TiVo Blog] -
#tivo
TiVo Rocks the Rhapsody Music Service
It's been muttered about since the first of the year, but now it's official and in full effect: TiVo gets the Rhapsody Music Service, and users get a month-long free trial without providing a credit card, or even signing up. It's just one click. (Okay, like two.)
More »
-
#feature
iRiver clix Rhapsody Review
The iRiver clix Rhapsody is, hardware wise, the same iRiver clix we reviewed a few months back. It's a sexy mini media player, and we urge you to check out what ex-GizmodoGod Travis said about the device in his reviews here and here. More » -
#press
Rhapsody to Gizmodo: "Be a Good Boy."
Our videographer Richard Blakeley is a serious rabblerouser. Not only did he get us kicked out of an HP party, but yesterday he nearly got himself thrown out of CES altogether. Witness as our beloved troublemaker ruins a scripted game show at the Rhapsody booth and the schoolmarmy reaction. Nice work, Blakeley. More » -
#portablemedia
Virgin Kills US Music Subscriptions
Tough luck if you were subscribing to Virgin Digital music, as the company is shelving their US operations and giving users some free Napster content instead. If you're one of the affected, you can grab your free Napster player and three free months of Napster To Go service as a consolation prize. More » -
#portablemedia
First Grope: SanDisk, Best Buy, Rhapsody Threesome
It's not often that three big players hop in bed together and invite us to watch. So we wasted no time this afternoon at the Sansa Rhapsody music orgy, where SanDisk showed some slow tender lovin' to their new bedside partners Best Buy and Real Rhapsody. More » -
#homeentertainment
Sonos 2.0 Plus Rhapsody = Joy for $10 bucks a month?
Both WSJ Gadget Curmudgeon Walt Mossberg and BoingBoing's Ukulele-Obsessed Mark Frauenfelder are living blissfully with their Sonos 2.0 systems, streaming Rhapsody/happiness into their hearts and homes. Come again? Real Network's Sucktastic Rhapsody music service? Really? Walt says:there's a substantial minority of folks who have neither the time, knowledge, nor inclination to do all this downloading and ripping. They don't want to fool around with any PC software just to hear music. [Hell Naw!]
More » -
#portablemedia
Real Teams with SanDisk to Release Sansa Rhapsody
Real Networks, of unfortunate Real Player fame, will be teaming up with SanDisk to release a rebranded Sansa player. SanDisk has decided to jump on the combination mp3 player, music download service bandwagon that is being seen with the Zune and iPod. They are doing so by re-releasing the e200 Sansa this holiday season, bundled with Real Rhapsody and a bunch of Rhapsody music. Do they really stand a chance? More » -
#cellphones
Rhapsody Joins The Sprint-apalooza
Just days after Sprint announed that Sirius will be available on its handsets comes news that you can get streaming music from Real Rhapsody through PCS Multimedia Vision Service as well. Clever sounding stations such as "Urban Hitz Radio" and of course, "Country" will be available. Also, it seems you can get podcasts from one radio station in Santa Monica (KCRW.com) in case you've been dying to listen to Morning Becomes Eclectic. And don't forget the plethora of crappy music videos available from IMNTV. The oddest feature is called "Beats N Break," which gives you a the basic beats from a bunch of popular songs and lets you "freestyle rap to the instrumental tracks." This is so hip and underground that it makes me feel old. Of course you'll have to sign a contract promising you won't sing any lyrics in public that you don't own the copyright to. This service will set you back another $6.95 a month. How long would I have to put my hat out on a streetcorner while freestyling with my Beats N Break to make that much money? A long, long time. More »
