I just read this article over at TechCrunch, and I have to say that I'm a little disheartened at the very least.
Major labels are creating their own file format. The single file will include everything a listener might want, which would have been great six years ago.
I'm interested to see how this one plays out. Devin Coldewey has already called it "the laughing stock of the internet," and I'm inclined to agree with him.
As you know, we have a special place in our hearts for independent creators of all kinds here at Project Unicorn, which is why we love this.
The Independent Television Festival, also known as ITVFest, is a festival for independently produced, original and innovative television pilots and webseries. It began in 2006 with a mission to change the game. The festival explores the creativity behind independent production and gives indie directors, writers, and producers a viable vehicle to showcase their visions for the small screen. you can see some of their success stories here...it's a pretty impressive list.
Unicorn Media, the very same company that powers Project Unicorn, just announced this morning that ITVFest has signed on to use their UMedia Player Services Platform to showcase this year's entries. From one indie lover to another...welcome to the family!
This year's ITVFest is being held July 6th-August 8th. It should be a great show. If you're in the LA area, I encourage you to check it out. You can find ticket and schedule info over here.
Well I hate to say it, (scratch that, if you know anything about me you know that I actually love to say it) but here it is: I told you so.
I'm not claiming that I predicted the now-inevitable rise of online content viewership, but I've certainly been waiting for people to stop giving me "you've got to be kidding me" reactions when they find out I don't own a television. That's right. I don't own a television. (Oh, and a note to any friends or family that may be reading this: please stop trying to gift me old televisions sitting in your garage. No really. I'm good.)
I won't get into how I found myself sans a tv, but I have certainly found that I just don't need one...and I'm not alone. Plenty of twenty-something's are foregoing their cable bills in favor of consuming content online. (And let's be honest, my shoe addiction certainly appreciates that I've got one less bill to pay.)
Don't get me wrong, I'm not advocating that you all throw out your televisions...yet, but improvements in video quality are leading audiences to consume more and more content online. Every major network offers programming online, and many cable networks are following suite. Except for one of my favorites...ahem, Bravo!, ahem. (Might I mention that Bravo! is a perfect point in case, as even my love for Tom Colicchio cannot overpower my aversion to the cable bill. They lost me as a viewer because they don't offer their content online, but I digress.) ...and I'm not even getting into the rise of companies like Revision3 who, with the tag line "Internet Television any way you want it" is literally changing the way people are viewing content.
Sagan noted, "We as an industry have to make it really simple to connect the Internet to the wide-screen TV. As that happens, people are going to choose to get their video over the Internet."
Bingo.
While it might not ever be a good time for us to throw out our big screens, I think I can safely say that cable television might just be on its way out.
With more and more viewers asking, "Why do I need cable television?" MSOs are justifiably getting scared. HD video (which really drives revenue in the online video department) is on the rise and on its way to becoming the norm. While I have no problem watching The Daily Show on my 13-inch monitor, for most, the quality-factor is a big one, and Sagan is exactly right when he argues that it's our job to make it really simple for people to watch online content via their televisions. While it's certainly going to make many in the industry uncomfortable, it has also become clear that adapting to the changing consumer and new technology is important. (And it's great to see the CEO of a major technology company advocating this change.)
So bring it on skeptics. I'll take my quick internet connection with a growing shoe collection any day.
We had a chance to catch up with none other than Alice Cooper a few weeks ago to pick his brain about the current state of the music industry and where he thinks it might be going.
Alice offers some great advice to young musicians (you've got to be a good live band, among other things), but he also offers up that the internet-and specifically Project Unicorn-may just be the wave of the future.
Check out a few of the clips from the interview (and don't forget to watch his Solid Rock promos while you're at it to find out more about the great organization Alice has founded).
Last week we began competition for the title of champion – in ping pong that is! Yes ladies and gentlemen, the employees of Unicorn Media of the Tempe office have caught ping pong fever. But who will be the champion? I can give you a clue it won’t be me. I was defeated in the first round of the tourney losing the series (the tourney is played using a best-of-three rule) to my opponent Matt. I did have some nice shots here and there but Matt’s game was far superior today then my own – with his wicked top spin – and he was able to advance in the standings. Even though I lost, the most important thing was that I had fun. And in the end, isn’t that what this tournament is all about? To promote and nurture a bond between individuals, colleagues, friends. I say yes.
The tournament has just heated up so please stay tuned for the most up-to-date report on how the employees of the Tempe office are fairing in the ping pong tournament.
Not a day goes by that I don't read a blog, website, or news article about the incredibly sorry state of the music industry, which notably now includes streaming startups backed by large labels. Many of these companies, too, are now faltering.
With the rise of DIY, social media, and legitimate self-publishing, musicians no longer must chase after large labels looking for the elusive "big deal." I have news folks: that "big deal" you're chasing? It's just not necessary anymore.
At Project Unicorn we have made it our mission to support any and all artists that are tired of banging their collective heads against the wall. So it offends us a little when music sites falter, and artists are left sending out demos and waiting for the phone to ring. An artist's time and work are too precious. His rights are to importnat to just hand over.
The music, film, and entertainment game is changing. Join us in the rEvolution.
Earth Day is like Christmas for my inner tree-hugging, hybrid-driving self. Last year, in my debut post to UnicornSightings, I wrote about fantastically simple things musicians and bands are doing to green up their tours. (Still a great read in my opinion, but then again, I may be a little biased.)
This year, I wanted to do something a little different to celebrate this high holiday...by bringing you a few things that you can do to green up your life in what I'd like to call, 9 Ways to Go Green in '09.
Going green can be as simple or as complicated as you'd like to make it, and these suggestions run the gamut. So, without further ado...
1. Clean Green
This is one of the simplest things you can do to green up your living. Cleaning products are everywhere in our homes and offices: on dishes, countertops, furniture, clothes, floors, windows, and floating through the air.
Most of the conventional cleaning product we all grew up with are petroleum-based and have dubious health and environmental implications. Instead of opting for cleaning products that annihilate everything in their path, there are plenty of natural products and methods that keep a house clean and fresh-smelling, without the toxic side effects.
Check this out for a few ideas on environmentally friendly cleaning techniques:
It should be noted that here at Project U we also use plastic corn cups. It's a great way to invest in our future, and they certainly aren't as scary as they sound...
2. Start an Organic Garden
The benefits of organic gardening are endless. For starters, organically grown food is significantly higher in essential vitamins and nutrients, and because organic food production doesn't use any pesticides, growth hormones, fertilizers, or artificial additives, organic food also greatly reduces the intake of harmful chemicals.
Organic gardening can also be a form of relaxation and exercise. Need a little spiritual rejuvenation? Try a little gardening!
I'll be the first to admit that gardening of any type seems more than a bit overwhelming. If that's the case, check out this video with organic gardening expert Katherine Whiteside. She's got some great tips on getting started:
3. Make a Compost
I've always wanted a compost, but I've never really considered my living condition suitable for one. It's a requirement that you live in the country on five acres of land, right? Wrong.
I discovered this little video, that makes it easy for almost anyone to start their own compost, with only a few simple steps and materials you can almost certainly find right in your home.
Take a look:
John Schaeffer, President of Gaiam Real Goods, goes through the steps of urban-living composting. It's much simpler than I could have imagined, and I'm pretty positive that I could do it on a smaller scale...
4. Use, or Make Your Own, Biodiesel
Biodiesel is a domestic renewable fuel for diesel engines derived from natural oils like soybean. Galen Bowen, a mechanical engineer for AGR, LLC, show's us here how to make it. This might be a little tricky for most of us, but it's interesting none the less:
5. Build a Green Home
Building a green home has got to be expensive, right? Not necessarily.
Catherine Childs, a net zero home owner, takes us through the benefits, and the cost effectiveness, of owning a green home:
6. Go Solar
If building a green home from the ground up is too big of an undertaking, why not start by using solar power? As the solar market keeps growing, solar panels are becoming an effective and efficient way to power, heat, and cool your home.
Pete Rodgers, a solar home owner, discusses the benefits of solar power. He even hopes to eventually be able to power an electric car from his roof:
7. Take it to the Bedroom
So perhaps even solar power is a little much for you right now. Alright, let's start small. How about green bedding?
There are enormous amounts of resources you can use to invest in organic bedding, from organic cotton mattresses, to organic sheets and comforters....all at comparable price points to regular bedding.
Check out some of your options here:
8. Shop Organic
One of the simplest things you can do to go green is to shop at an organic market. Organic grocery stores are springing up all of the country, and they're becoming more and more cost effective. Attending a local farmer's market is also a great way to shop organic, as well as supporting local farmers and business owners.
Check out one of the many small organic markets, Mana Foods with Michel Nischan, and find a market near you.
9. Go Zero Waste
Did you know that the average American produces around a tone of stuff every year? Crazy.
For those who aren't faint of heart when it comes to the green lifestyle, try going zero-waste. Gaiam's zero waste program takes recycling and composting to new levels. Watch and learn:
So that's it folks, 9 Ways to Go Green in '09.
Earth Day isn't about "being green" for one day out of the year. It's about education, awareness, and taking small-or big-steps to an on-going, more sustainable lifestyle. Challenge yourself do make one change today...and have a happy Earth Day!
I just ran across this article today from Brett Zongker over at Associated Press.
On Tuesday musicians Josh Groban, Wynton Marsalis, and Linda Rostadt for more public funding for the arts.
Fantastic.
So we're in an economic slump, and it's no secret that when times are tough, arts programs are usually the first to go. I mean, let's be honest, even when times are good, these programs get cut.
(Remember when the government slashed funding for federal arts endowment in the mid-1990s? Economically, we were sitting on top of the word, and arts programs were still getting the shaft. Nice.)
Given this history, I'm excited that members of the arts community are coming forward and fighting for these programs...programs that are certainly important.
So props to you, and let's hope that Congress takes notice.
I just came across this article about a recent study done at Glasgow Caledonian University. The study found that people who were listening to their favorite tunes felt less pain and could stand pain for a longer period of time.
I've already mentioned how music can lighten my mood, and while I'm no scientist, I definitely think pain researcher Laura Mitchell is onto something here.
I mean, who hasn't used music to ease worries, dry tears, or soothe anger? Music is used so often to deal with emotional pain, so it's only a short ride on the logic express to think that it might be effective in dealing with physical pain as well. Rock on Ms. Mitchell.
(For the record, I do NOT recomend that you test this theory on your own time....but keep up the jams.)
