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For me it has gone exactly the other way, since I created few radio stations I discovered great songs and bought lots of them on the spot on impulse.
 
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You know what would be great someone would take over the debunked label Global Underground and Moonshine re-release their stuff I have been buying a bunch off Amazon Prime. Try to find anything from Sasha on iTunes it is terrible only thing you can get is Involver 2 and 3 forget Involver 1 the tracks are screwed up also where is his classic album Airdrawndagger? Lot of people would also love to get Northern Exposure series if it was on iTunes I am amazed no re-release has happened. There is John Digweed & Sasha Renaissance classic 3 set on iTunes but the separate tracks just the tracks from the mix terrible release and editing clearly was released by some terrible U.S. label not UK.


iTunes really needs to improve searching such as by Genre all they got is Downtempo or Ambient how about Chillout and Lounge? Would it hurt to also break it down by Record Labels there so many well known ones.


So much room for improvements but iTunes store is like a giant cluster **** I would have better chance finding at Tower Records or Virgin Megastore if they were still around (miss those days going out and getting excited to buy something on CD).

Ah, a fellow S&D fan. :D I was about to mention their Renaissance album on iTunes which is the ultimate classic electronic album (I actually have the top helpful review on there lol) but I wasn't sure exactly what sub-genre of EDM you listened to (I kind of loathe dubstep...). Also, did you mean to think that it's just only the individual tracks on the Renaissance album on iTunes? Because it actually does in fact include all three continuous mixes from each CD (tracks 16, 32, and 47). They just included the continuous mixes at the end of the track lists for each respective CD. I think it's a really good and faithful release to the original (I used to own that too, but had to buy this just to support this movement!)

Actually in my review on iTunes I touched on the notion of Global Underground being re-released on iTunes, but your damned right it's debunked. I loved GU back in the day and it's primarily the label that got me into electronic music in the first place and introduced me to Sasha & Digweed. It's such a shame that a legendary but ill-fated label had to crash and burn like that. Oh, and I would DIE for a rerelease of Northern Exposure on iTunes! I still own the entire set but boy are they ****ed up with scratches for playing in my car all throughout my college years :D I've long since ripped all of them into my iTunes library but again they've been so scratched up that some tracks just ripped as a skipping mess and don't even play their entire duration. I did just check Amazon and it shows the first NE CD at $80 new, so that really isn't an alternative for me at this point. :(:p

I like that pop artists get their own radio station on iTunes and they can play their own favorite tracks, but I haven't yet seen many DJs get their own radio stations yet. I'd love to see them embrace iTunes Radio more.
 
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I will never support any streaming services, ever. When I pay for music I want and expect tangible goods in return. With streaming you don't get this, plus you are paying subscription rate, plus using your own data at your own cost to obtain what you paid for - effectively paying twice financially. No thanks.

Additionally, most of these services use low quality MP3 audio, which is highly compressed and has truncated audio data, so quality compared to WAV is pathetic. WAV is uncompressed and sounds a lot better than MP3. Why choose "convenience" over "audio quality"? I also won't support any service that uses DRM, or any other draconian "control" measures including proprietary services and applications. I also don't / won't listen to crappy radio so why would I want a radio service?

I think more education about the poor quality and drawbacks of digital audio and restrictions should be publicised, instead of the "industry" trying to make everyone "feel good" by providing over-priced "controlled" services for mindless sheep to use and keep paying for numerous times.

Everyone should read the true origins of Copyright, which has been hushed up by the "industry" for over 300 years - http://questioncopyright.org/promise
 
Money Hungry, you say.

I'm loving iTunes radio as I've tried the rest and they're ...... okay. None of friends are buying CDs, just buying tracks on iTunes and should I say it, from those file sharing sites ;) Not many artists/songwriters are as good as the ones from the late 60's into the 70's. For a young guy, I LOVE LOVE music from that era...... 'they don't make them like that anymore.' Pop music now and the artists, SUCKS! One hit wonders, listen to a few songs a few times and I tired of them, it's no wonder people are stop buying albums.

Streaming, the next best thing since ................. I always go back to Fleetwood Mac, Stevie Nicks, etc.
 
thats just a way of life, you are just getting older. I am sure my grandmother hated my mothers music and my mother hates my music and my children will hate my music and their children will hate their parents music ;)

I'm 41 and I actually like a lot of the music from the last few years. Just over half of the music in my music library was produced after 2000. I think the reason I like today's music (with exceptions of course) is because it's mostly minor variations of the music I grew up with. I also like my mom's music (50s, 60s & 70s) and she likes some of the music I listen to. I think my generation is more open to different music styles and at the very least, that our musical tastes won't grow old. Give me a good beat, a potent social message, something to dance or chill to, a sexy female voice that makes love to my ears, old school, new school, no school, it's all good.
 
Apple can't expect for iTunes to be the "only thing ever that will be popular"..


They has to be a stage where it declines....... That's not always a bad thing, people just wish to explore.... however Apple having a one track mind, they want everyone to stay in iTunes.

I actually welcome this. People should be exploring other stuff than just iTunes...

Its been going on to far too long as being "poplar". Time for a new game.... Google Music, Pandora, Spotify ?

Probably. Than again, i could be completely wrong, & we all turn to piracy... :O

But what do I know :)
 
You know what would boost sales. Better quality. Back when CDs came out in the 1980s, movies were on big, honking VHS tapes. In the late 1990s, DVDs came out with getter life, easier skipping and better video quality. About a decade later, BD came out with HD quality and even better sound. 4K movies will probably come out via download and an enhanced BD with yet even better video.

Meanwhile, the CD is still what some people think sounds "best." I have heard DTS audio before, and it's amazing. But unfortunately it was probably a little early or didn't get enough hardware support since it was on DVDs. Almost nobody has a DVD player in a car.

Apple could change this easily. Start making models of car stereos that beat the snot out of the ugly, painful models that permeate the market. I don't know what could be done about higher quality 5.1 sound in a car, but Apple is making inroads with iTunes in the Car. So get something like that as a certification. Then offer higher quality songs that will sell for maybe 20 cents more per song and sell more storage upgrades on iPhones, iPods, etc. since they will take up more space. Then give me a cut.
 
The article you cite states:

Did you not actually read it?

You sure like to :rolleyes: , don't you?

Still not dead, no matter how you spin it. Vinyl is being sold at much higher volumes than previous years.
 
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On another note Blurred Lines is possibly the worst song I've heard in a decade, it is a rape anthem that is seedy and has a horrid message. I cringe when I hear it. The fact it has been so popular says a lot about society I suppose and should be a bit disconcerting.

Preach!

----------

I find it silly that MP3 albums are sometimes $2 or $3 More than Cds
 
Ah, a fellow S&D fan. :D I was about to mention their Renaissance album on iTunes which is the ultimate classic electronic album (I actually have the top helpful review on there lol) but I wasn't sure exactly what sub-genre of EDM you listened to (I kind of loathe dubstep...). Also, did you mean to think that it's just only the individual tracks on the Renaissance album on iTunes? Because it actually does in fact include all three continuous mixes from each CD (tracks 16, 32, and 47). They just included the continuous mixes at the end of the track lists for each respective CD. I think it's a really good and faithful release to the original (I used to own that too, but had to buy this just to support this movement!)

Actually in my review on iTunes I touched on the notion of Global Underground being re-released on iTunes, but your damned right it's debunked. I loved GU back in the day and it's primarily the label that got me into electronic music in the first place and introduced me to Sasha & Digweed. It's such a shame that a legendary but ill-fated label had to crash and burn like that. Oh, and I would DIE for a rerelease of Northern Exposure on iTunes! I still own the entire set but boy are they ****ed up with scratches for playing in my car all throughout my college years :D I've long since ripped all of them into my iTunes library but again they've been so scratched up that some tracks just ripped as a skipping mess and don't even play their entire duration. I did just check Amazon and it shows the first NE CD at $80 new, so that really isn't an alternative for me at this point. :(:p

I like that pop artists get their own radio station on iTunes and they can play their own favorite tracks, but I haven't yet seen many DJs get their own radio stations yet. I'd love to see them embrace iTunes Radio more.

Woke up to your post and you reminded me of my favourite house album from the last century (long lost CD). Will head straight over to iTunes for some Rennaissance.
 
Second, I'm uncomfortable with the idea of someone telling others what should be considered good music or who is a musician.

I didn't tell anyone what is good music as I know full well that this is a matter of taste. It is my personal opinion that people like Britney Spears (although I enjoy some of her older songs) or Robin Thicke are not musicians but performers as some people pointed out before me also.

Here is an analogy to make things more clear. I'm a percussionist and can play all instruments that you need or can hit with a stick or your hands. My sister can't play an instrument. Now if I would ask her to hit any drum I have only once and sample the sound and produce a drum beat from my computer. And if I would subsequently ask her to waive her arms around at one of my performances to the beat of that sampled sequence. Does that make her a musician?
 
Ah, a fellow S&D fan. :D I was about to mention their Renaissance album on iTunes which is the ultimate classic electronic album (I actually have the top helpful review on there lol) but I wasn't sure exactly what sub-genre of EDM you listened to (I kind of loathe dubstep...). Also, did you mean to think that it's just only the individual tracks on the Renaissance album on iTunes? Because it actually does in fact include all three continuous mixes from each CD (tracks 16, 32, and 47). They just included the continuous mixes at the end of the track lists for each respective CD. I think it's a really good and faithful release to the original (I used to own that too, but had to buy this just to support this movement!)

Actually in my review on iTunes I touched on the notion of Global Underground being re-released on iTunes, but your damned right it's debunked. I loved GU back in the day and it's primarily the label that got me into electronic music in the first place and introduced me to Sasha & Digweed. It's such a shame that a legendary but ill-fated label had to crash and burn like that. Oh, and I would DIE for a rerelease of Northern Exposure on iTunes! I still own the entire set but boy are they ****ed up with scratches for playing in my car all throughout my college years :D I've long since ripped all of them into my iTunes library but again they've been so scratched up that some tracks just ripped as a skipping mess and don't even play their entire duration. I did just check Amazon and it shows the first NE CD at $80 new, so that really isn't an alternative for me at this point. :(:p

I like that pop artists get their own radio station on iTunes and they can play their own favorite tracks, but I haven't yet seen many DJs get their own radio stations yet. I'd love to see them embrace iTunes Radio more.


Well the individual tracks get cut off at the end it is just the mix version they did not bother editing it and yes the actual mixes are the last 3 tracks I wish I could just get those because the separate tracks are exactly the same from the mixes it is not full tracks or radio edit but the tracks ripped straight from the mix so the ending kind of ruins it.
 
Apple could change this easily. Start making models of car stereos that beat the snot out of the ugly, painful models that permeate the market.

Uh, please no.. Apple should do what they're good at. Apple building car stereos? Seriously? There are many very good manufacturers out there, no need for apple.
 
iTunes was always dumb, and Spotify is dumb. CDs are the best. Good quality, low price, and you actually HAVE the music.
If iTunes would offer lossless options, you would also HAVE the music (via download on iTunes on your Mac or PC). And if Apple would actually improve their music services, they could also offer multi-page PDF-scans of the covers and/or booklets included. Even better, you could directly stream them over Airplay wherever you are, without any additional work involved. You could also take the AppleTV with you and have access to non-Airplay enabled equipment in a hotel for instance, or at a friends house, or a party. And don´t tell me that you like your jewel cases so much that you can´t do without. CDs are totally NOT NEEDED anymore.

So it´s not about CDs vs. iTunes, but rather the current state of overlooked (for whatever reason there may be) opportunities to actually make CD sales obsolete. But my conspiracy theory actually tells me that´s exactly what the music industry wants (like with iTunes movies).

If Apple would have negotiated this, they could have a MASSIVE increase in sales and costumers. But they rather concentrate on lower quality music, since the impression seems to be that the masses don´t care and Apple can make more money out of it.

If Apple is not going to do something about this, their music services will be in a steady decline and the only trumph they still have in their hands is that Apple devices sell like hot cakes.

Also, just mentioning this, but this is in stark contrast to Blu-Rays vs. iTunes movies, where the quality on Blu-Ray still is the best you can get. But even that will probably change when HEVC (H.265) is going to get introduced and Apple will introduce HEVC (H.265) decoding in the iPhone 6 SoC. The current bitrate on Blu-Rays is not needed when you have a more sophisticated encoder (like x264). Still leaves the question if the industry would allow Apple to offer something that is as good as their physical media.

You know what would boost sales. Better quality. Back when CDs came out in the 1980s, movies were on big, honking VHS tapes. In the late 1990s, DVDs came out with getter life, easier skipping and better video quality. About a decade later, BD came out with HD quality and even better sound. 4K movies will probably come out via download and an enhanced BD with yet even better video.

Meanwhile, the CD is still what some people think sounds "best." I have heard DTS audio before, and it's amazing. But unfortunately it was probably a little early or didn't get enough hardware support since it was on DVDs. Almost nobody has a DVD player in a car.

Apple could change this easily. Start making models of car stereos that beat the snot out of the ugly, painful models that permeate the market. I don't know what could be done about higher quality 5.1 sound in a car, but Apple is making inroads with iTunes in the Car. So get something like that as a certification. Then offer higher quality songs that will sell for maybe 20 cents more per song and sell more storage upgrades on iPhones, iPods, etc. since they will take up more space. Then give me a cut.
Personally, I would be willing to pay $100 a year for a better iTunes Match service with at least lossless audio masters (without any tinkering from Apple, just direct PCM -> ALAC transcodes).

I love my CD collection, but it´s so much more convenient to have access to everything on the fly. And since Match also offers to upload your own stuff, this would be perfect for me.

Apple doesn´t seem to care to improve iTunes Match though, for whatever reason.

There is so much music available nowadays that even if I would be listening to one CD a day, I would never be able to find all gems out there that exist and that I love. This is a thing that Apple needs to address, or else, people will just continue to use Spotify or other intelligent services.

Steve knew about all that and thus made the iTunes music store what it is today. It´s kind of funny when you think about it, because when watching their keynotes, it always seems that they "love music", but if they really would LOVE music, they would actually offer you something that is AT LEAST on the same level as CD quality, and not less.
 
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The music in the charts is really bad. People like Miley Cyrus aren't musicians, like others already pointed out. She can be replaced with any other (sexy:confused:) girl.

Thank god there was Sigur Ros this year. Those guys are musicians. If you don't know them... seriously, check them out!
 
Streaming Revenue 2012 in USA: $1,032.8 million USD (up 59%)


it's possible that it will be at $1.5 billion USD for 2013.

And this year, it will reach over $2 billion USD. Streaming is growing VERY FAST.
 
I have never bought music online, only apps and games. DRM is already gone, but no lossless no deal.

I don't really get the vinyl fever. There is no single advantage to it, instead stop doing remasters that mess up all the dynamics and release proper cds.

Hell my first release "Brothers In Arms" from Dire Straits sounds great (maybe a bit light on the bass).

Still my family uses youtube a lot to listen to music, I don't recall any of them having bought music either online or in store recently (4~5 years).
At least from what I see, a lot of people either use spotify or youtube to listen to music.
 
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I didn't tell anyone what is good music as I know full well that this is a matter of taste. It is my personal opinion that people like Britney Spears (although I enjoy some of her older songs) or Robin Thicke are not musicians but performers as some people pointed out before me also.

Here is an analogy to make things more clear. I'm a percussionist and can play all instruments that you need or can hit with a stick or your hands. My sister can't play an instrument. Now if I would ask her to hit any drum I have only once and sample the sound and produce a drum beat from my computer. And if I would subsequently ask her to waive her arms around at one of my performances to the beat of that sampled sequence. Does that make her a musician?


First, my point about not telling people what music they should listen to was directed at making opinion statements that are hurtful or denigrating. I understand that you are free to express your personal opinion l, but I think (and this is my personal opinion also, so you may choose to ignore it) that you shouldn't dismiss someone's personal choices in a denigrating way just because you don't agree with them. Most people have an emotional connection with music, so making statements like "Britney Spears is not a musician" is just as hurtful and denigrating to their personal choices as statements such as "atheists are immoral" or "vegetarians are stupid" are.

Second, I would avoid making blanket judgements about someone's career just because the music they make doesn't appeal to my personal tastes. Britney Spears started taking vocal lessons when she was a child and literally dedicated her life to making music. She has worked hard touring, sculpting her image and producing her music to sell the more than 100 million records she has sold. Robin Thicke similarly has worked all his life writing songs and doing gigs, following in the footsteps of his father and mother who were songwriters and vocalists. He wrote songs for Brandy, Christina Aguilera and Michael Jackson and released well-received soul albums long before "Blurred Lines" became popular. Neither Britney Spears nor Robin Thicke are untalented novices who just appeared in the studio yesterday and made a hit single. They are both hardworking and talented people who have made a career out of making music (aka musicians).
 
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