Previous Next Latest

Bob Marley USB Album Release to Save Music Industry/Kill the CD

5/15/07, 3:27 pm EST

Bob Marley, USB album, record sales, rolling stoneIt’s looking like Bob Marley is going to change the future of music. Yes, Bob Marley, whose Exodus — to commemorate its 30th anniversary — will be the first album ever released simultaneously via USB Memory Stick and Micro SD card. (The move is somewhat strange, considering that Marley died before there was even an Internet, let alone USB ports, but then again Marley has always been known as a visionary.) Only 4,000 USB sticks will be released, donning the tell-tale colors red, green and gold. Also featured will be three videos from Marley’s 1977 show at London’s Rainbow Theatre.

So how will this affect a music industry already starved for sales? Labels, eager to repackage their classic rockers for a younger audience (we’re talking to you, Doors) could follow suit, re-re-releasing the music in the very portable new format. The Barenaked Ladies have already tried out the USB market, releasing their album Barenaked Ladies Are Me on stick. Nine Inch Nails used USB drives to generate interest for their album Year Zero. But Marley’s release is the first time a non-contemporary artist has gone USB with the backing of a major label (Universal Music Group). So if this pen-cap sized monster kills the CD, it will have been Bob Marley who helped open the gate.


Previous Next Latest

Comments

Don Vito | 5/15/2007, 3:42 pm EST

The future is now!!

VIVA LA BAM!!

NYC Nate | 5/15/2007, 3:51 pm EST

I think the record companies should compromise. Not all of us are as tech-savvy as the next guy. I propose re-releasing the C & C Music factory catalogue on game cartridges that will work in my 8-bit Sega Master System. I can’t think of anything better than Freedom Williams’ soulful, forward-thinking lyrics being spit back to me in 8-bit format through 4-inch television speakers. THAT’S the future, bitches. That’s right – Everybody Dance NOW!!!

Don Vito | 5/15/2007, 4:05 pm EST

NYC Nate needs INTERNET!!! call time warner u dick!

NYC Nate | 5/15/2007, 4:08 pm EST

Dude, if I needed INTERNET, I wouldn’t being on this site, right? Thanks for the thought, though, u dick!!

offtopic comments will be news | 5/15/2007, 4:10 pm EST

I’m with Nate. 8-bit versions of “Opposites Attract” by pill-popping Paula for everyone.

Don Vito | 5/15/2007, 4:29 pm EST

No Problem NYC Nate I just figured where U dont know what a usb port is then u r a dick!

Don Vito | 5/15/2007, 4:33 pm EST

And SEGA SUX!

Chuck | 5/15/2007, 4:37 pm EST

So does Don Vito! :P

Don Vito | 5/15/2007, 4:42 pm EST

good one Chuck :)

DICK

Chuck | 5/15/2007, 4:45 pm EST

(laughing hysterically) sorry, got a bit off topic there but I couldn’t resist :) back on-topic, it’s only a matter of time till some format kills CD’s, I don’t know that it will be USB but USB is already fairly prolific. Even things such as Fire Alarms have USB ports on them.

Don Vito | 5/15/2007, 4:48 pm EST

back off topic Chuck….u a dick! and CD”S are already dead u numbnuts!

Chuck | 5/15/2007, 4:49 pm EST

damn! and I just bought one yesterday

JLeeD | 5/15/2007, 4:51 pm EST

This is an awesome idea. Finally something to stir up the stale industry.

NYC Nate | 5/15/2007, 4:55 pm EST

I bequeeth my sword and sceptre to Don Vito, the new king of RS’s blog site. He’s just so mean and witty (genius, really). Wait. What’s this U…S…B? I’m a research it right now for ya, Sir Vito.

Don Vito | 5/15/2007, 4:55 pm EST

Well u might as well of bought a cassette and played it in ur mom’s Ford Escort tape player….DICK!

Chris | 5/15/2007, 4:56 pm EST

I don’t really see how usb drives as a music format would really be any different than cd’s. It certainly wouldn’t help sales; one person buys the usb and lets all of his friends just plug it into their computers and rip it.

Don Vito | 5/15/2007, 4:58 pm EST

BEQEETH is too big a word for you. You use little words that aren’t so pretentious….DICK!

Don Vito | 5/15/2007, 5:00 pm EST

Seriously though thanks guys for arguing w/ me I had a blast…see u DICKS tomorrow!!! Plz come back and argue its great!

wrecksracer | 5/15/2007, 5:40 pm EST

Beqeeth?
CORRECTION: bequeath

Main Entry: be·queath
Pronunciation: bi-’kwEth, -’kwE[th], bE-
Function: transitive verb
1 : to give or leave by will — used especially of personal property
2 : to hand down : TRANSMIT
- be·queath·al /-’kwE-th&l, -[th]&l/ noun

eh | 5/15/2007, 9:25 pm EST

….. if I’m not mistaken won’t this harm the music industry? If you put music on a USB device, doesn’t it make it easier for people to NOT pay for music? All it takes is for a friend to buy the album, and then simultaneously pass around the USB to all their friends. I don’t care regardless, but it doesn’t seem like this is going to help- only a different way of presenting music which will get stolen regardless.

John "fuzzbucket" Williams | 5/15/2007, 10:28 pm EST

I agree with “eh” somewhat, but I believe it’s a step in the right direction. For the most part though, we just need some real music to come out. Someone to change the musical landscape. That’s really the way to save music, not changing what format the music comes on.

kayline | 5/15/2007, 11:11 pm EST

hey guys sori but ima gona be blues in your convo..but i was wondering on what you guys think about Marley’s influence on youth culture today…if you reckon it was a positive or negative on teens these days.
its just for my assignment, gotta use media (blogs included) to research.
so if you guys could reply il be forever gr8ful…thanks!!

foluke | 5/16/2007, 7:53 am EST

wat as usb got to do with bob marley

mikeky | 5/16/2007, 10:26 am EST

i got news for anyone that thinks the usb will take over for the cd or any other cheap (or free) medium: if the usb costs more than $9.99, it’s dead on arrival. do the math, people. usb drives are cheap, but they cost twice what a cd does.

retarded.

jeff | 5/16/2007, 12:00 pm EST

I agree this is a good idea, HOWEVER, vinyl is still the superior format. Period.

jungleland | 5/16/2007, 12:39 pm EST

This is a promotional stunt, not the future of recorded music. The USB looks like a lighter. Y’all are dopes!

The only way people are going to pay for (inferior) mp3s rather than WAV quality is if it is CHEAP ($2.00 an album like allofmp3.com) or CONVENIENT (i-tunes is a rip off at $.99 a song in 128kps crappy quality, but it is quick and easy and legal)

The music industry has blown it again and let DVD totally kick their ass. The $5.99 DVD is all over Best Buy for catalog stuff. New Movies are $12.00 – $18.00 and box sets are $20 – $30…and have TONS of features, bonuses, etc. Meanwhile the music industry still thinks that $18.99 is a fair price for CDs.

If CDs were $4.99 -$7.99 people would buy them instead of stealing music, or using i-tunes or other by-the-song methods.

I am an independent artist and sell my CD for $5.00 at shows and $8.00 on CD baby (www.myspace.com/theluxuryking s) and I make money on these CDs. I can do it…the big labels can as well – and still pay the store and artist their fair share.

jungleland | 5/16/2007, 12:39 pm EST

This is a promotional stunt, not the future of recorded music. The USB looks like a lighter. Y’all are dopes!

The only way people are going to pay for (inferior) mp3s rather than WAV quality is if it is CHEAP ($2.00 an album like allofmp3.com) or CONVENIENT (i-tunes is a rip off at $.99 a song in 128kps crappy quality, but it is quick and easy and legal)

The music industry has blown it again and let DVD totally kick their ass. The $5.99 DVD is all over Best Buy for catalog stuff. New Movies are $12.00 – $18.00 and box sets are $20 – $30…and have TONS of features, bonuses, etc. Meanwhile the music industry still thinks that $18.99 is a fair price for CDs.

If CDs were $4.99 -$7.99 people would buy them instead of stealing music, or using i-tunes or other by-the-song methods.

I am an independent artist and sell my CD for $5.00 at shows and $8.00 on CD baby (www.myspace.com/theluxur yking s) and I make money on these CDs. I can do it…the big labels can as well – and still pay the store and artist their fair share.

jungleland | 5/16/2007, 12:39 pm EST

This is a promotional stunt, not the future of recorded music. The USB looks like a lighter. Y’all are dopes!

The only way people are going to pay for (inferior) mp3s rather than WAV quality is if it is CHEAP ($2.00 an album like allofmp3.com) or CONVENIENT (i-tunes is a rip off at $.99 a song in 128kps crappy quality, but it is quick and easy and legal)

The music industry has blown it again and let DVD totally kick their ass. The $5.99 DVD is all over Best Buy for catalog stuff. New Movies are $12.00 – $18.00 and box sets are $20 – $30…and have TONS of features, bonuses, etc. Meanwhile the music industry still thinks that $18.99 is a fair price for CDs.

If CDs were $4.99 -$7.99 people would buy them instead of stealing music, or using i-tunes or other by-the-song methods.

I am an independent artist and sell my CD for $5.00 at shows and $8.00 on CD baby (www.myspace.com/the luxur yking s) and I make money on these CDs. I can do it…the big labels can as well – and still pay the store and artist their fair share.

jungleland | 5/16/2007, 12:40 pm EST

sorry for the 3x post ;(

Chuck | 5/16/2007, 3:22 pm EST

I have not seen where they indicate what format will be on the USB drive so bashing it as poor quality does not make sense.

Also, to the person who stated that USB drives cost twice as much as CD’s (I am assuming you are referencing blank media in both cases). I would like to know where you got this information and if it takes into account such things as packaging, shipping costs, shelf space etc…..just wonderin’

fred | 5/24/2007, 8:57 pm EST

bob marley will open the futur of music

blunderblussman | 6/22/2007, 2:26 am EST

Vinyl is overrated.

The USB seems like an interesting next step. As cheap and portable as MP3s/other digital download formats, while at the same you still get to own the music in “physical” form, without needing to bother with all the glitches, net access, and crap that digital downloads/music players can cause.

maple_steel | 6/8/2009, 3:38 am EST

CD’s avd DVD’s will be and are being replaced by USB’s …….. if you look at the new video rental market there is now a line of movie-rental kiosks which will replace the video rental stores by offering a USB stick that will download a movie in 30seconds……all of the electronic equipment out there from car stereos to production machines have usb built in them. Flash disks will take over why? because the quality and durability is much better than CD and DVD’s they definitely will last longer….okay their was a promotional gadget offered by D-skin to so call protect your CD which in all honesty doesn’t really work plus it costs more than a CD or DVD which isn’t really worth it I know because I had bought the D-skin and felt ripped off. CD and DVD’s are very sensitive they scratch easy its very hard to keep them clean plus if you have a big colection its very hard to organize and find space for them……..plus you can’t carry a CD or DVD in your pocket or on your key-chain in my opinion this is the best move that the music industry is taking and I am sure other industries like games, pc programs, film, and others will follow step.

ontomssit | 7/2/2009, 2:38 pm EST

Your blog is so interesting! I have subscribed on rss and I will read it regullary/

freemaGeobe | 7/3/2009, 7:13 am EST

Very interesting blog! Subscribed on rss. Regular will read it

OrdedaCabWarf | 7/8/2009, 7:14 pm EST

Great blog! Very interesting posts. I will often read it. May i post your backlink on my page?

netwarezaa | 9/18/2009, 1:19 am EST

Íó ÷òî òû êîãäà íèáóäü âèäåë òàêîå? Ðàçâëå÷åíèÿ ïîêîðÿþùèå ìèð!

áëà áëà

Post A Comment

Caution: Off-topic comments will be deleted

Name:

Comments:



Advertisement

Advertisement