Starting point: GRAMMYU

It was not a hard decision to make when I thought about of which trade associations I would pursue. Being an active seeker and sometimes participator in the happenings of the music industry, I had a list of organizations that I already monitored. The various benefits of these trade associations are not always exclusive to its members. For example, some associations have industry-related programs which involve supporting changes to legislation or educating the community. I joined GrammyU, a network created by The Recording Academy, so that I could learn more about the current trends, regulations, and developments influencing the music industry. So far, the most valuable benefit of my membership with GrammyU is the networking opportunities made available.

By providing musical performance opportunities, networking, and educational programs, GrammyU prepares members for careers in the recording industry. GrammyU has chapters all over the United States and caters to university students. The Florida Chapter, based in Miami, Fl, holds networking events each month located in different cities throughout the state. The first GRAMMYU meet-and-greet that I have attended was in Tampa. The event gave me an opportunity to introduce myself to other participating members of GrammyU, prospective members, as well as several current members of The Recording Academy.

Recognizing the achievements of industry professionals is what most people think of when they hear of the association. The Recording Academy’s members include producers, singers, songwriters, managers and many other professionals within the industry. Other than producing the GRAMMY Awards, The Recording Academy also established the GRAMMY Foundation, MusiCares, and GRAMMY’s on the Hill. The Recording Academy helps amplify the voice of the professionals in the music industry when adjustments to legislation are needed. Preserving the integrity of the industry and cultivating the talented minds that are the current and future members of the music community are the primary goals of the association. Of all the trade organizations to choose from today in the music industry, a membership with The Recording Academy was a good place for me to begin.

Chimamanda and the Single Story

We have all heard stories before. When we think of places unknown it is easy for us to revert to only what we have been told. Sometimes what we have been told merely describes only one shade of the vast colors in a landscape. We could not know otherwise and therefore we have fallen victim of a single story. A landscape of people and places go misunderstood with a palette incomplete. The danger of the single story is what Chimamanda Adichie spoke about at the TED convention in 2009.

A Nigerian native, Adichie is a novelist who warns of the misunderstandings that come when limited information is known about a people or place. Adichie has been victim to both sides of the single story. She tells of the undeniable shame felt when realizing that her conception has been wildly incomplete at times when the single story engulfed her view. Conversely, the same narrow mind, single-colored palette, she used on others was the very same used to illustrate her. For Africa is full of color, people, ideas, ambition, and life but some of us only see a dark shade of catastrophe, poverty and disease.


I have felt the shame of which Adichie spoke. It has been easy to hear and believe just one idea. The challenge is to believe that there is more to know, accept ignorance and have an open mind. Adichie’s speech inspires me to take on that challenge. The great stories are often the ones that teach and inspire us. Chimamanda Adichie is a storyteller who has done just that. I am often eager to learn more of people and places that I have previously known little for I do not want to continue as another victim of the single story.


Take a minute to listen to the story that has inspired me.

mySpoonful: The Perfect Portion for New Music Seekers

For those who crave new music but are not quite sure where to look there is now a great solution. mySpoonful is a site designed for the busy, interested and lazy indie-music enthusiast alike. Each week a team of “expert music writers” present three picks for consideration. Each week’s top picks are accessed on both the homepage of this uber-user-friendly site and conveniently in the subscriber’s email box. Subscriptions are free and so are downloads from the site. Amazingly so, this is all legal.

Straight from the start, the homepage displays the latest selections for visitors. mySpoonful boasts a just-enough-information approach for prospective subscribers to get a taste of new music. The first thing you see is the musician’s picture with the title of the featured track underneath. The origins and short description of artistic flavor are also listed which can be considered before the actual listen. If the song hits the spot then listeners can share it via Twitter, Facebook, MySpace and Digg, just to name a few. The songs can even be downloaded for free right there on the homepage. If further reading on the artist is desired, a simply click on “read more” will be the fix. This will bring those hungry site googlers to the artist’s page where they’ll find additional information including tour dates, website address and more. For more downloads on the artist in interest mySpoonful will redirect traffic to iTunes.

The best things in life are free, right? Well, so is mySpoonful. The site deserves a peek or two from the people who enjoy indie-music and especially from those who don’t know where to find it or who don’t have the time to look. Navigating through the expert’s picks is quick and easy. What’s really great is that the music posted is first reviewed by the site's writers and then again by the public. All FREE.

Tune into Rdio

When considering streaming Internet music services, consumers now have a variety of sites from which to choose. It appears that new sites are popping up everyday each with different prices, benefits, and drawbacks. Some of the deciding factors for deciding on the music service are accessibility, costs, and music selection. The public will become more aware of the key players in the market in addition to their pros and cons as the need for music on-demand grows. Fortunately for everyone involved, technology advances and competition will most likely keep prices low while more features become available.

Rdio, a streaming music service spawned by the founders of Skype, has just the right arsenal to keep the competition (e.g., Pandora, Last.fm, Rhapsody) at bay. For starters, Rdio offers listeners two subscriptions with the only difference being price and connectivity. The subscriber who pays $4.99 will be able to access the music inventory from the pc only. For $9.99, the subscriber is accessing the music from not only a pc but also mobile devices. For now, Rdio offers about 5 million songs to listeners and has plans to expand the library in the future. With a subscription to Rdio, listeners are able to share music and playlists with friends and family on Facebook as well.


With the growing selection of streaming music services entering the market, a little research will help determine the most suitable site for satisfying the needs and wants of the consumer. In this process, some consumers may find that music on-demand is not for them at all as they will not own the music but only have access a music library for the duration of the subscription. On-demand services will of course take some getting used to just as consumers warmed up to CDs after cassettes and mp3s years later. When consumers are ready, Rdio should be first in the line of consideration.

Will Sony's Digital Music Venture Prove Unlimited?

Digital music downloads are on the rise so it makes sense that more and more companies want a piece of the pie. In 2010, digital downloads were up 12% in 2009 and profits reach $4.2 billion worldwide. Here in the U.S. we’re probably familiar with the big names like iTunes, Amazon, Beatport, etc. when we think to download mp3’s. But we also have digital music subscriptions to consider. Rhapsody and Napster are two companies that offer music subscriptions for purchase although the sites have not really become mainstream. MySpace Music, YouTube, Grooveshark, and Lastfm, just to name a few, are sites that the public can use to listen to songs for free. Sony now hopes to capture some of the market as the music industry continues to go digital.

What is Sony thinking?

Sony’s Unlimited powered by Qriocity hopes to be the next step in the evolution of digital music services. This cloud-based digital music service will offer millions of songs and video to subscribers with Sony products (i.e., Sony Viaos, PS3s, Bravia TVs). The media catalogue will include roughly 6 million songs and videos from major labels. The list will of course grow after the initial launch.

Subscriptions are inexpensive and as it stands now there are two from which to choose. The lesser of the two subscriptions allows users to create a streaming personalized radio station. The premium subscription will allow customers to create playlists and listen to songs on demand.

Sounds oddly familiar to me

So don't we already have music subscription services out there? What will set this apart from the competition? The service will only be offered at first for Sony devices. And 6 million songs? I think I have that many mp3s on my phone. That also brings up a good point. I have access to free and legal music via smart phone so long as I have a decent connection to the internet (just as one would require for accessing Unlimited's music library). Featuring music from the major labels is great for the masses but is limited.

This service will hopefully help in turning around the decline in music sales and lessen the piracy efforts. However, I am not convinced at this time that Sony’s Unlimited will take much of the digital music pie. Not yet at least. People still want to own their own music. And at the very least, people want to incorporate their digital music libraries and that’s something that will not be possible with Sony’s Unlimited. Not yet at least.