If I'm running Apple my first call would be to EMI Publishing to get the rights to "Different Drum". EMI would be happy and so would Michael Nesmith who wrote the tune. My next call would be to Linda Ronstadt to record another version of the 60's hit getting the name Apple in the lyrics. Apple took a giant step and big risk yesterday by selling some of their iTunes without attaching DRM (digital rights management), the system that prevents file sharing. Ironically they began by selling DRM-free music from EMI...
Although the majority of Apple's 5 million songs still feature DRM, consumers can now play DRM-free music from Apple's iTunes on digital players other than the iPod. This is a major step toward compatibility for file sharing. So far EMI is the only one of the four top record labels to release unprotected music, the other 3 account for 70% of the world's music. Apple expects half of its music to eventually be available on its site without DRM and most of that will come from independent labels but can the other majors be far behind? Greg Scholl, president and CEO of The Orchard, a New York-based music distribution and marketing company says: "The only way we're going to discover the right way to grow the market is by experimenting. At least Apple is trying something new."
It should be noted that record labels place copy protection on digital songs but not on CDs, including new ones. If you have an unprotected CD you can rip songs to MP3s and no one seems to know why this inconsistency exists. Oh, if you're wondering what Microsoft's take is on DRM-free music, CEO Steve Jobs called for an end to DRM back in February...
Remember when you first started ordering Chinese food "with no MSG"? Well if you download music you can now get it "with no DRM"...
10 Timeline Memories:
- 1884] Sounds a little flaky to me: Dr. John Harvey Kellogg patents "flaked cereal"...
- 1889] Damn it: The Johnstown (PA) flood kills more than 2,000 after a damn breaks sending tons of water rushing through the city...
- 1907] Taxxxxxiiiiii: The 1st taxis in the U.S. arrive in New York City followed by an increase in traffic accidents...
- 1961] Hardy har har har: Red Sox backup Carroll Hardy becomes the only player to pinch-hit for both Ted Williams and Carl Yastrzemski. Batting for Yaz in the 8th inning he drops a bunt down for a hit during a 7-6 loss. When he hit for Williams in 1960, he lined into a double play. He also pinch-hit for Roger Maris, then with Cleveland and hit his 1st major league home run on his 25th birthday. Wow!!! Unfortunately those were the highlights of a lackluster career...
- 1967] 3-peat: A.J. Foyt becomes the 4th racer in the history of the Indy 500 to win the race 3 times...
- 1975] He would take a bow if he could: Evel Knievel crashes while trying the jump over 13-double decker London buses, breaking his pelvis. He then tells the crowd he's retiring...
- 1979] The Rockettes get their kicks: The newly renovated Radio City Music Hall reopens...
- 1990] The show about nothing: "The Seinfeld Chronicles" debuts as a summer replacement. They drop the 'Chronicles' in the 1992-93 season when the show becomes simply "Seinfeld". The show lasts for 8 seasons...
- 1991] 'Slick': Pat Riley, winner of 4 NBA titles while coaching the Lakers, becomes the Knicks new coach. The closest he gets to a championship in New York is in 1994 when the Knicks finish one game shy of the league title but the Knicks will reach the playoffs twice more during his 4 years. And he did wear great Armani suits...
- 2000] "Happy Trails": Latin jazz great Tito Puente dies on the operating table as a result of complications following 12 hours of open-heart surgery. Puente was 77...
Music Memories:
- #1 on this date: 1957] "Love Letters in the Sand" - Pat Boone (my favorite P.B. hit)...1972] "I'll Take You There" - Staple Singers (here's Mavis with Pop and her sister doing backup: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGYlxHatmoQ )...
- Surfin' USA: 1958] The Surfing Era begins when Dick Dale performs "Let's Go Trippin" at the Rendezvous Ballroom in Balboa (CA)...
- Glad All Over: 1964] The Dave Clark Five make the 1st of 12 appearances on "The Ed Sullivan Show"...
- Recorded on this date: 1969] "Honky Tonk Women" - Rolling Stones...1969] "Give Peace A Chance" - John Lennon and Yoko Ono (recorded at one of their bed-ins)...
- Released on this date: 1969] "My Cherie Amour" - Stevie Wonder...1975] "One of these Nights" - Eagles (live version: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6U6apQgxlFg )...1982] "Combat Rock" LP - Clash...1982] "Eye of the Tiger" - Survivor (here, the group does it live: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZNiRwZiPzc&mode=related&search=
[To ensure accuracy of dates and content, multiple reference sources are used in each timeline]...
"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":
Colin Farrell (31), Robert Dean Phillips (40 - Happy Birthday Rob), Brooke Shields (42), DMC a.k.a. Darryl McDaniel (43), Lea Thompson (46), Chris Elliott (47), Tom Berenger (57), Joe Namath (64), Sharon Gless (64), Peter Yarrow (69), Clint Eastwood (77) and remembering Tommy Noonan who would have been 79...
Timeline Countdown: 9 days until the Belmont Stakes and 34 days until July 4th...
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