After having explored the band’s website I learned that they play in NYC at the Canal Room the 3rd Sunday of every month. They describe it as “in the round, living room-style.” I’m not sure what that means and I’m wondering if you could elaborate on that?
Where do you find the inspiration for most of your lyrics? How has the Internet leveraged your band that you feel a traditional record label would be unable to do? What do you see as the future of music via Web 2.0? Do you have any plans and/or desires to be signed by a major label? Where in Africa were you born?
Monday, March 30, 2009
Sunday, March 29, 2009
In Class Film: "Tune in Tomorrow" - What Makes Community Radio Unique?
Characteristics which make “community radio stations unique”:
- It’s not uncommon to hear people you know being interviewed on the air.
- Issues that are discussed during talk shows are current, relevant issues to your immediate surroundings which one can easily relate to.
- It would seem as though since it offers a little but about everything that one could find interest in something.
- It’s flexible and adaptable to programming based on what’s happening.
Since watching the film, I found out that it was shown at this year’s Green Mountain Film Festival which just concluded in Montpelier. I enjoyed the film so much that this past Thursday and Friday at work I listened to the live streamlined programming from 9 until 11am. I appreciate what Bill McKibben said in the film that community radio like WDEV can be appealing to listeners because you can take an interest in learning a little bit about everything.
- It’s not uncommon to hear people you know being interviewed on the air.
- Issues that are discussed during talk shows are current, relevant issues to your immediate surroundings which one can easily relate to.
- It would seem as though since it offers a little but about everything that one could find interest in something.
- It’s flexible and adaptable to programming based on what’s happening.
Since watching the film, I found out that it was shown at this year’s Green Mountain Film Festival which just concluded in Montpelier. I enjoyed the film so much that this past Thursday and Friday at work I listened to the live streamlined programming from 9 until 11am. I appreciate what Bill McKibben said in the film that community radio like WDEV can be appealing to listeners because you can take an interest in learning a little bit about everything.
For Monday, March 30th: Television (Read and blog on Chapter 9 and Chapter 20)
Chapter 9:
In reading chapter 9 it was interesting to learn about the paradigm shift we are currently experiencing with regards to television viewing. People are not revolving their schedules around television programming but rather they are watching television when it is convenient for them. With the onset of mobile devices network television has created short episodes for viewing on portable devices which are about one minute in length called mobisodes. From what I understand since people are no longer necessarily watching television from their living room televisions and are on the move some are opting to watch from their mobile devices in between checking e-mails and surfing the Internet. These mobisodes could be seen as a marketing scheme by television producers to get viewers to watch the full length episodes at a later time.
In this chapter we also learned about webisodes which are “four minute mini-movies on the Web which are usually sponsored by major brands and sometimes the advertisers are part of the story line.” My question is are webisodes just a phase in advertising or will they gain popularity as marketing on the Internet evolves?
One “fact” I learned from this chapter is that the Fox network didn’t arrive on the scene until 1986.
Chapter 20:
In chapter 20 towards the end after all of the discussion on ethics I was really struck by the fact that plagiarism is somewhat of an accepted practice in journalism. This idea that story swapping through the Associated Press is quite common and neither the AP or other journalists give credit to the sources seems a bit bizarre. The text attributes this “borrowing tolerance” to the fact that everyone is under pressure to collect information quickly and get it out to the public that it has become a common practice.
A question I have is I wonder how often high profile members of society like celebrities call press conferences to divulge information about themselves that if left unsaid would surface in the media due to the unethical practices which journalists often engage in inorder to break a newsworthy story. It’s as if celebrity figures are under extreme pressure to make statements about their personal situations when in fact the information might not be that important but because they live such high profile lives they feel as though they don’t have any other choice. And it would be better for them to set the record straight. I was disturbed to read about how Arthur Ashe for somewhat forced to announce that he had AIDS nearly twenty years ago.
A “fact” from this chapter is that in all the media ethics codes which exist today gifts and bribes are not condoned yet it seems as though it’s a common practice by many.
Television Experience:
Until enrolling in this class I had watched my share of television over the years. I’ve often viewed my time in front of the tube as a way to unwind and relax after the kids have been put to bed. One could argue that I could pick up a book and read which is much more stimulating and engaging for the mind but sometimes when you’ve had a long day and you find yourself laying on the couch with the television on it doesn’t really matter what you’re watching because you’re not paying that much attention to it. It’s a mindless distraction that allows you to relax. I haven’t found that I’ve missed watching television too much over these last few months and I guess if it was that important I could record the shows for viewing at another time. I must admit that I haven’t discovered watching television episodes on the Internet yet. As an aside, since moving to Vermont 10 years ago the road we live on doesn’t get cable and I have refused to get a dish because we get all the major networks with rabbit ear antennas.
In reading chapter 9 it was interesting to learn about the paradigm shift we are currently experiencing with regards to television viewing. People are not revolving their schedules around television programming but rather they are watching television when it is convenient for them. With the onset of mobile devices network television has created short episodes for viewing on portable devices which are about one minute in length called mobisodes. From what I understand since people are no longer necessarily watching television from their living room televisions and are on the move some are opting to watch from their mobile devices in between checking e-mails and surfing the Internet. These mobisodes could be seen as a marketing scheme by television producers to get viewers to watch the full length episodes at a later time.
In this chapter we also learned about webisodes which are “four minute mini-movies on the Web which are usually sponsored by major brands and sometimes the advertisers are part of the story line.” My question is are webisodes just a phase in advertising or will they gain popularity as marketing on the Internet evolves?
One “fact” I learned from this chapter is that the Fox network didn’t arrive on the scene until 1986.
Chapter 20:
In chapter 20 towards the end after all of the discussion on ethics I was really struck by the fact that plagiarism is somewhat of an accepted practice in journalism. This idea that story swapping through the Associated Press is quite common and neither the AP or other journalists give credit to the sources seems a bit bizarre. The text attributes this “borrowing tolerance” to the fact that everyone is under pressure to collect information quickly and get it out to the public that it has become a common practice.
A question I have is I wonder how often high profile members of society like celebrities call press conferences to divulge information about themselves that if left unsaid would surface in the media due to the unethical practices which journalists often engage in inorder to break a newsworthy story. It’s as if celebrity figures are under extreme pressure to make statements about their personal situations when in fact the information might not be that important but because they live such high profile lives they feel as though they don’t have any other choice. And it would be better for them to set the record straight. I was disturbed to read about how Arthur Ashe for somewhat forced to announce that he had AIDS nearly twenty years ago.
A “fact” from this chapter is that in all the media ethics codes which exist today gifts and bribes are not condoned yet it seems as though it’s a common practice by many.
Television Experience:
Until enrolling in this class I had watched my share of television over the years. I’ve often viewed my time in front of the tube as a way to unwind and relax after the kids have been put to bed. One could argue that I could pick up a book and read which is much more stimulating and engaging for the mind but sometimes when you’ve had a long day and you find yourself laying on the couch with the television on it doesn’t really matter what you’re watching because you’re not paying that much attention to it. It’s a mindless distraction that allows you to relax. I haven’t found that I’ve missed watching television too much over these last few months and I guess if it was that important I could record the shows for viewing at another time. I must admit that I haven’t discovered watching television episodes on the Internet yet. As an aside, since moving to Vermont 10 years ago the road we live on doesn’t get cable and I have refused to get a dish because we get all the major networks with rabbit ear antennas.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
For Monday, March 23rd: In Class Films: "Behind the Screens" and "Reel Bad Arabs"
I too would agree that “Reel Bad Arabs” has a more persuasive argument in its criticism of Hollywood. It is evident in how Arabs have been personified in films throughout the years translating into stereotypes filled with hatred and lies. The narrator, Dr. Jack Shaheen says in order to reverse the damage in our depiction of Arabs in films "we must not remain silent no matter what our role is in media". While in the film “Behind The Screens” the main premise was that films have become an effective vehicle for selling product and that it’s virtually impossible to create great films. Though I would agree that this is degrading the art of film making to some degree, the experts neglected to discuss the role of independent films and/or studios therefore not providing us with a complete analysis of this so called hypercommercialism era we are currently experiencing in Hollywood.
For Monday, March 23: Blog Chapter 8 (Radio) and Chapter 19 (Mass Media Law)
Chapter 8:
In reading chapter eight I found it interesting to learn that even as mainstream radio’s audiences are shrinking with the onset of new media like MP3 players where you can determine your own commercial-free playlist, the text says that the public radio audience is growing. Public radio has a growing and loyal audience for news and public affairs which historically mainstream radio has veered away from. One argument the text makes in support of why audiences have decreased over the years is that radio station owners made a decision early on to veer away from “promoting citizen participation in the life of the community and public affairs that it was all but forgotten”.
My question is what shift will radio need to make to regain its audiences in order to be competitive with other 21st century media like MP3 players and satellite radio? Could we possibly see more grassroots/local radio stations like college radio stations filling the void for providing local news and a focus on community events?
One “fact” from this chapter to remember would be the radio conglomerate, Clear Channel comprises of 1,200 plus stations with up to 8 stations in certain markets.
Chapter 19:
An interesting observation from this chapter is when they were discussing Google’s latest venture of digitizing entire collections of five major libraries they state that whatever comes of this project it is apparent that “mass media companies are less in control of the technology that is reshaping the world than are companies and individuals who specialize in the research and creative thinking that brings about technical revolution”. I found that observation by the author of the text to be profound in that one would think that media companies are filled with creative individuals whose main job is to come up with innovative ideas to further position their company and/or products to be at the forefront of technology within the industry. For whatever reason it seems as though that’s not always the case.
My question is why aren’t media companies more creative and innovative when it comes to new product development within an industry which appears to be changing so quickly? Why are so many media companies unable to adapt to new technology that in many cases is being created by individuals to counteract the current system?
An interesting “fact” from this chapter is that “copyright” has been in existence since the beginning of the Republic as it was written into the Constitution by our founders. The text goes on to say that in 1790 when Congress first convened the second law to be passed was for copyright as they were trying to encourage creativity.
A Recent Radio Experience:
Lately I enjoy the times when I am alone in my car even if it’s only for 5 minutes to listen to VPR on my drive to work. As I don’t have many opportunities to listen to news on the radio these days since my commute to Burlington includes dropping the kids off at daycare at least my 5 year old has acquired an eclectic taste in music which he prefers to listen to and it doesn’t include nursery rhymes. There are many shows I enjoy listening to on NPR specifically Fresh Air, All Things Considered and Marketplace. These days when Kai Risdall does the numbers it’s often quite depressing. When I have to drive any distance in my car and I find I’ve forgotten cds or my MP3 player, I must admit that I end up scanning the fm dial and there aren’t many stations which come in on Interstate 89 between Burlington and southern NH. So I think if there are any aspiring disc jockeys in our class it seems as though now is the time and radio in Northern New England needs you.
In reading chapter eight I found it interesting to learn that even as mainstream radio’s audiences are shrinking with the onset of new media like MP3 players where you can determine your own commercial-free playlist, the text says that the public radio audience is growing. Public radio has a growing and loyal audience for news and public affairs which historically mainstream radio has veered away from. One argument the text makes in support of why audiences have decreased over the years is that radio station owners made a decision early on to veer away from “promoting citizen participation in the life of the community and public affairs that it was all but forgotten”.
My question is what shift will radio need to make to regain its audiences in order to be competitive with other 21st century media like MP3 players and satellite radio? Could we possibly see more grassroots/local radio stations like college radio stations filling the void for providing local news and a focus on community events?
One “fact” from this chapter to remember would be the radio conglomerate, Clear Channel comprises of 1,200 plus stations with up to 8 stations in certain markets.
Chapter 19:
An interesting observation from this chapter is when they were discussing Google’s latest venture of digitizing entire collections of five major libraries they state that whatever comes of this project it is apparent that “mass media companies are less in control of the technology that is reshaping the world than are companies and individuals who specialize in the research and creative thinking that brings about technical revolution”. I found that observation by the author of the text to be profound in that one would think that media companies are filled with creative individuals whose main job is to come up with innovative ideas to further position their company and/or products to be at the forefront of technology within the industry. For whatever reason it seems as though that’s not always the case.
My question is why aren’t media companies more creative and innovative when it comes to new product development within an industry which appears to be changing so quickly? Why are so many media companies unable to adapt to new technology that in many cases is being created by individuals to counteract the current system?
An interesting “fact” from this chapter is that “copyright” has been in existence since the beginning of the Republic as it was written into the Constitution by our founders. The text goes on to say that in 1790 when Congress first convened the second law to be passed was for copyright as they were trying to encourage creativity.
A Recent Radio Experience:
Lately I enjoy the times when I am alone in my car even if it’s only for 5 minutes to listen to VPR on my drive to work. As I don’t have many opportunities to listen to news on the radio these days since my commute to Burlington includes dropping the kids off at daycare at least my 5 year old has acquired an eclectic taste in music which he prefers to listen to and it doesn’t include nursery rhymes. There are many shows I enjoy listening to on NPR specifically Fresh Air, All Things Considered and Marketplace. These days when Kai Risdall does the numbers it’s often quite depressing. When I have to drive any distance in my car and I find I’ve forgotten cds or my MP3 player, I must admit that I end up scanning the fm dial and there aren’t many stations which come in on Interstate 89 between Burlington and southern NH. So I think if there are any aspiring disc jockeys in our class it seems as though now is the time and radio in Northern New England needs you.
Friday, March 13, 2009
For the week of March 17th: Blogging Chapter 7 (Motion Pictures) & Chapter 18 (Mass Media and Governance)
Chapter 7:
I enjoyed reading chapter seven as I feel I gained a new perspective on the movie industry. As a child and young adult I have vivid memories of going to the movies with my family to see the most recently released films. I found it interesting to learn how documentary films were first introduced when in 1921 the explorer Robert Flaherty went up to the Arctic to film the life of an Eskimo family which resulted in a 57 minute film. Then to read how this particular genre was used during World War II as propaganda films created by the Nazis and even the U.S. is interesting.
As an aside, recently my son was introduced to Frank Zappa and we’ve heard the song “Don’t Eat the Yellow Snow” many times. I didn’t realize that the lyrics of this song were based on the Robert Flaherty’s story Nanook of the North since Zappa speaks of Nanook in this song.
My question is as I am a strong proponent of independent films I am wondering if as Hollywood continues to evolve will we see them seeking out more film festivals in search of artistic creations which have the potential to be the next blockbusters?
One “fact” from this chapter to remember is that Toy Story which came out in 1995 by Pixar was the first movie produced entirely by computers. And in 2006 Disney bought Pixar from Steve Jobs making him the largest shareholder at Disney.
Chapter 18:
In chapter eighteen I enjoyed reading how Helen Thomas progressed in her career and earned herself senior reporter status in the White House press corps. Her success as a female journalist at a time when the profession was male-dominated is an important historical milestone for women establishing careers in the field of media and journalism.
In this chapter they discussed how past presidents have influenced media coverage. For example Theodore Roosevelt’s famous “fireside chats” which were broadcast on Sundays in time for coverage in the Monday edition of newspapers. My question is will President Obama choose a particular medium to address and influence U.S. citizens and if so is it via the Internet?
A “fact” to remember about this chapter is that through trial balloons the media is used in order to see how the public will respond to potential information that political leaders are considering unveiling. Now that I know this happens I’m not sure this makes me feel any better about our politicians.
I enjoyed reading chapter seven as I feel I gained a new perspective on the movie industry. As a child and young adult I have vivid memories of going to the movies with my family to see the most recently released films. I found it interesting to learn how documentary films were first introduced when in 1921 the explorer Robert Flaherty went up to the Arctic to film the life of an Eskimo family which resulted in a 57 minute film. Then to read how this particular genre was used during World War II as propaganda films created by the Nazis and even the U.S. is interesting.
As an aside, recently my son was introduced to Frank Zappa and we’ve heard the song “Don’t Eat the Yellow Snow” many times. I didn’t realize that the lyrics of this song were based on the Robert Flaherty’s story Nanook of the North since Zappa speaks of Nanook in this song.
My question is as I am a strong proponent of independent films I am wondering if as Hollywood continues to evolve will we see them seeking out more film festivals in search of artistic creations which have the potential to be the next blockbusters?
One “fact” from this chapter to remember is that Toy Story which came out in 1995 by Pixar was the first movie produced entirely by computers. And in 2006 Disney bought Pixar from Steve Jobs making him the largest shareholder at Disney.
Chapter 18:
In chapter eighteen I enjoyed reading how Helen Thomas progressed in her career and earned herself senior reporter status in the White House press corps. Her success as a female journalist at a time when the profession was male-dominated is an important historical milestone for women establishing careers in the field of media and journalism.
In this chapter they discussed how past presidents have influenced media coverage. For example Theodore Roosevelt’s famous “fireside chats” which were broadcast on Sundays in time for coverage in the Monday edition of newspapers. My question is will President Obama choose a particular medium to address and influence U.S. citizens and if so is it via the Internet?
A “fact” to remember about this chapter is that through trial balloons the media is used in order to see how the public will respond to potential information that political leaders are considering unveiling. Now that I know this happens I’m not sure this makes me feel any better about our politicians.
Sunday, March 8, 2009
For Week 9: Blogging Chapter 6 (Sound Recording)
My question is would boot leg recordings of concerts be categorized a long with pirate dubbing? I can remember when I received my first boot leg tape in the eighth grade of a Led Zeppelin concert from the early 1970s. In most cases though it might be illegal, I had always thought that people swapped boot legs of shows rather than paying for them. It was part of the fan base frenzy.
Though I’ve only had limited exposure to podcasts I find the concept fascinating. It seems like a great way for up and coming bands to gain exposure to the masses and use digital technology to market themselves. It sounds as though a lot is riding on the success of PodShow Inc. since $9 million has been invested in it from the same venture capital companies who invested in Yahoo and Google.
One “factoid” worth remembering is for a record to go platinum either 1 million albums or 2 million singles have to be sold.
Though I’ve only had limited exposure to podcasts I find the concept fascinating. It seems like a great way for up and coming bands to gain exposure to the masses and use digital technology to market themselves. It sounds as though a lot is riding on the success of PodShow Inc. since $9 million has been invested in it from the same venture capital companies who invested in Yahoo and Google.
One “factoid” worth remembering is for a record to go platinum either 1 million albums or 2 million singles have to be sold.
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