Thursday, 16 April 2009 14:29
The Guardian and Intel are in the midst of creating a three-day music festival in Second Life (which is a 3D virtual reality world in which users have the option to create their own unique virtual alter ego avatar to be a citizen of the virtual community).
The seven million plus members of Second Life will have the opportunity to attend the traditional style festival, which will feature a separate stage for the main acts, an acoustic stage, a dance tent, and a chill out garden. Headlining acts at the virtual festival will include the Pet Shop Boys and Groove Armada, and participants will be able to do a few extracurricular activities as well, such as donning roller skates for a tour of the roller-park (a dispenser will make skates available free of charge).
Throughout the festivities, a skywriting plane will spell out current events at the celebration, and information will be dispensed through whirlwinds spinning pages of the Guardian itself, and reminder note cards. The Guardian is making a special edition of its Guide available for the event, which will include a description of the fest as well as a stage schedule and select reviews.
For Second Life first timers, the Guardian has launched a sort of survival guide detailing the virtual world, and instructions on how to locate the entry gate of the festival. In addition to the page on the Guardian’s website, they have also started a MySpace page specifically for the event.
The Guardian reports that the Intel UK branch manager is excited to put the capabilities of an Intel Core TM 2 Duo-processor on display. He said, “Second Fest is the latest and most innovative collaboration for Intel and the Guardian. This festival provides a showcase to demonstrate the enhanced musical and digital experiences that are achieved using an Intel Core TM 2 Duo –processor.”
Wednesday, 15 April 2009 16:34
CDs sales have famously taken every plunge imaginable lately, and with peer-to-peer networks and pirating sites constantly popping up, they aren’t the only music format that isn’t making much money for record companies.
However – many music fans are taking their interests back to the old school, and investing in records. In the States, record sales have gone up almost double time, even if consumers these days are more inclined to store music on an iPod than anywhere else.
Sky.com reports that record companies have begun ringing in profits not just by selling vinyl to nostalgic graying rock fans, but to members of a more youthful generation as well. Chris Carmino, manager of the legendary Amoeba records in Hollywood told Sky, “People are realizing that vinyl is the collectors’ format. CDs are becoming just vessels of information, something to throw into your computer for the purpose of getting that music into your iPod.”
Of course, CD sales, however increasingly lethargic, are still leading over record sales at the moment. In the UK vinyl sales haven’t moved much, but there has been an increasing demand for limited edition vinyl singles. Record stores like the Vinyl Factory, west of London, and Phonica in the West End report that the limited edition releases like that of the Pet Shop Boys’ latest synth pop masterpiece, 'Yes', have seen spiking sales and increasing consumer interest.
Though Phonica has begun selling t-shirts that read “Vinyl Kills the MP3 Industry,” this is still a bit of an exaggeration. But collectors and artist alike continue to revel in the sound quality of a vinyl record.
“Music sounds better on vinyl,” Chris Lowe told Sky. “It’s just a fact isn’t it? And also it’s the process of getting it out, putting it on.”
