Some random thoughts and ideas on music 2.0 November 7, 2007
Posted by ashz in Asian Music Scene, DRM, Malaysian music scene, Mobile content, Music 2.0, downloads, mp3, music, music business, music piracy, technology, technopreneur, web 2.0.4 comments
1- Bands should go Indie, and treat their music as water, yeah a resource which should be managed and marketed in volume, not per copies, bundling and cross selling their products as an “experience” is the way to go
2- Telcos and brands should start exploring the dance community as another untapped market, the demographics are just right for aggressive product cross selling
3- Mobile advertising is an interesting idea to explore
4- A flat music subscription fee for unlimited music downloads is another solution against music piracy in Asia
5- According to Gerd Leonhard, mobile devices are the new Internet platform, companies should harness this new territory NOW!
6- I strongly urge Major labels to work together to develop a competitor portal to itunes, this time, instead of developing another ipod, venture into mobile devices and interoperability
7- I think there is no passion in the music business anymore, well, at least in Malaysia. The executives don’t even know what the band sounds like, its just dollars and cents talk. So angry.
8- Events and concerts should start selling mobile content of their featured artist and bundle it with other merchandise. My personal case study on this is with the recent Global Gathering. 1146 ring back tone downloads in 2 days is not bad at all..
9- Mr. Sandy Monteiro, thank you for the new RBT model, now THAT new model really makes sense. I apologize for the bashing, I received info from very bad sources. As for Maxis, this new model makes more sense and on behalf of the music industry, I totally support it. I can only publish the new business mode after it is made public. Just watch out for this space!
*This is subject to changes from Maxis
** I might be removing this info if Maxis feels that it is inappropriate for me to publish this
10- I think Maliq & D’Essentials’ new album is totally AWESOME!!
DjDownload.com Mobile : First time ever in Asia! October 23, 2007
Posted by ashz in Asian Music Scene, Malaysian music scene, Mobile content, Music 2.0, dj, downloads, events, mp3, music, music business, music piracy, technology.add a comment
Here ye, here ye!
I’m proud to present my latest project: djdownload.com Mobile.
Ok now for some brief history…
It all began when I found out that I had run out of stuff to play for my Dj sets…
I discovered DjDownload.com but the prices were quite painful for a once broke student like me, so I had a plan, to bring these guys available with prices adjusted to suit the local market, so there begins my journey
I’ve imagined Djdownload.com to come to our shores (Malaysia) 3 years ago and I have been emailing the guys from Djdownload for an exclusive Djdownload Asia site to be set up thus enabling us deprived Asians to buy Dance music at a cheaper “Asian” rate. Things were really slow as DjDownload felt that piracy was the utmost concerning factor, plus they didn’t see why they should lower down their prices, my angle was cheaper prices equals volume and the much cliche’ d ‘educating the public’ phrase written all over my plan. They requested tons and tons of marketing plans, business plans and sales forecasts, I was bashed up, but I soldiered on to convince those guys that there is still hope at the end of a very bleak tunnel.
Fast forward. The boom of mobile content in Asia marks a dawn of a new beginning to sales of music related products, Telcos were investing a lot in advertising, promotions and marketing initiatives, and the Major labels were still clueless as always. There! Thats my angle! I prepared a new marketing plan and proposed revenue shares between Maxis as the official Telco, DjDownload.com, Metadome as my mobile partner and myself as the consultant.
The rest is history….
So, I present you, my first pilot project with dance music, this time, with a partnership with Pervert designs for the Global Gathering event (Btw, the flyers will be distributed at the door of the event and mobile cards containing the download codes, so be a part of this history, you might never know whom you might charm at the event…HA!):
I want to believe that this is the first event in the world that features mobile content exclusively for a rave, well, at least in Asia. I don’t want to sound too excited, sheesh, I’m always excited with new stuff…To add more to my glee, Maxis is now offering DjDownload.com’s chillout selections for a new (well, not so new) product called ‘background music’, how cool is that!
O god, I need to stop this, my post is starting to sound like a marketing pitch!
p/s: Point to wap.musicunlimited.com.my on your phone’s browser and click on the music tab, you may not find naked photos of Angelina Jolie, but hey, gems come in all shapes, sizes, formats, bit rates, bla bla bla
Among some event highlights to watch out for this year! October 9, 2007
Posted by ashz in Asian Music Scene, Malaysian music scene, Mobile content, Music 2.0, events, music, music business.2 comments
I’m working on some secret technological advancement with Kenneth from Pervert Designs as their official mobile partner, so yeah, it’s worth the mention that this event is going to push my baby, DjDownload.com mobile to the masses, owh did I tell you that DjDownload’s background music is already available on www.musicunlimited.com.my? Owh that is another story.
Anyway, Global Gathering this year will be held at A’Famosa, Melaka and expected turnout of 30,000 party goers. Not bad. This is an annual event not to be missed, one word of advice: Bring your own bottled water!
Register yourselves here for goodies:
Next up we have Live and Loud! Kuala Lumpur 2007,
The biggest music festival in South East Asia. Expect 10 days of music, seminars and various activities to participate in this much anticipated event. Among the artists scheduled to come are Whitney, KCI and JOJO, Kool and the gang, Shaggy, Elliot Yamin, Dionne Warwick and many many more. To be honest, I’m really looking forward to check out Maliq & D’Essentials during the jazz session which is going to be in Zouk. 80 bucks worth spending people! Owh and tickets are available on the 15th October onwards so book early to avoid disappointment!
I’m not gonna spoil the fun, check em out here:
I so need to lose myself….
A new business model for ringback tones in Malaysia will be unveiled soon! October 2, 2007
Posted by ashz in Asian Music Scene, Malaysian music scene, Mobile content, Music 2.0, downloads, music, music business.1 comment so far
A new business model for ringback tones will be announced soon, word has it that 15th November is the official announcement to all record labels, content providers and the public. This is from a very heated and long negotiation between RIM and the local Telcos. The issue was subscription sharing of the service and hopefully, this should resolve some issues pertaining to the constant struggle of RIM to fight for a win win deal.
Initially, users would have to pay RM3.00 per ring back tone/ Caller ring tone and another RM3.00 for the subscription fee, regardless of how many ring back tones that users have purchased.
I heard that the prices of RBTs will drop to RM2 and users have to pay a subscription fee of RM1 for each subsequent song, so say you purchased 3 RBTs, u need to pay RM 4 per month. To be honest, I’m not really sure how far this is correct, but according to the Telcos this would ultimately mean a more steady revenue stream for content providers and record labels.
I shall keep you guys posted!
RIM to block illegal download sites- Scapegoating at it’s best September 24, 2007
Posted by ashz in Asian Music Scene, General, Malaysian music scene, Music 2.0, downloads, mp3, music, music business, music piracy.3 comments
The music industry heads here wants the government to block internet users from accessing illegal download sites. Blaming the sites for the fall of CD sales in Malaysia.
“We are feeling the pinch from foreign websites offering illegal downloads to Malaysians,” said RIM chief executive officer Tan Ngiap Foo. (The Star, 21 September 2007)
The association has proposed to Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to look into this matter and they are currently preparing a list of potential sites that offer illegal downloads and plans to work closely in barring the sites, naming music.bluehyppo and bimbit.com as solutions to legal digital downloads.
According to Tan, nobody wants to buy CDs anymore, not even pirated CDs
Honestly…I think he must be out of his mind
My take:
1- Those illegal music sites that you were referring to, has got nothing to do with the plunge of CD sales
2- Digital music is the way to go, move on please
3- The more you weed them, the more they thrive from the free buzz, business case: When Russia decided to shut down AllofMp3, the site received more than a million hits in its final weeks
4- So are you saying that pirated CDs are one of Malaysia’s credible source of income for the music industry?
5- Why don’t we support more legal online retailers? Cut the dodgy MACP collections for a change
Pffft!
Don’t Panic! The pack that would save your sanity! September 21, 2007
Posted by ashz in General, Music 2.0, Rants, music business, startups.add a comment
As I was busting my brain looking for more marketing solutions for my band, I discovered a cool medium called Don’t panic!. I first heard about Don’t Panic from a good friend of mine a couple of months ago and according to her, these packs are very popular in the UK. Wait, you said packs? Yup, you heard me right, PACKS.
Basically a Don’t Panic pack is the new age advertising medium, an evolution from the hey days of photocopied flyers and uncool swag. A Don’t Panic pack is similar to what we lesser humans call a goodie bag, or swag bag. The packs are usually filled with flyers, posters, advertising paraphernalia and various product samples. If you are lucky, you might find underwear in those packs as well, and no, I’m not joking. The packs are always tastefully designed and each pack is an individual.
And so… I embarked on to meet the guys behind this project to dig their brains and get a clear picture of what the fuss was all about.
“Each pack is unique and has its own character, and we want to maintain the character of the packs by coming up with new designs and concept for each pack,” Says Yamin Shafie, The Head of Sales and Marketing for Don’t Panic!
“We started this project just recently in Malaysia and we acquired the rights for the brand to be marketed in Malaysia, we want something which is fresh to the Malaysian masses to experience and collect, it has been proven to be a very affective advertising and marketing tool for big and small brands alike,” He added
The graphical design of the packs features work from local artists and designers, a philosophy that according to Yamin, is a move to support local talent, and not only that, Indie bands get a discounted advertising/insertion rates if they were to promote themselves in the packs.
The packs are distributed to over 200 spots which includes clubs, bars, art galleries, universities and colleges, cafes, Fashion boutiques etc. The best part is that the list is constantly expanding and the take up rate is usually 98%. The packs are produced up to 20,000 per month and there are major plans to increase production…Phew! Not bad for a company that operates from a humble 2 storey house in Taman Tun.
Their client list ranges from Nike to Zouk and more companies are starting to jump on the bandwagon in promoting their products and events.
“I see this because Don’t Panic! hits the right demographics and target market for urban brands, they are starting to see the packs are becoming an urban lifestyle accessory”
The way I see it, Don’t Panic packs are becoming a life saver….
For more info, check out www.dontpaniconline.com
www.ukgmp3.co.uk- The answer to cutting edge UKG tracks without breaking your bank! September 14, 2007
Posted by ashz in Dj Gear, Music 2.0, dj, downloads, mp3, music, music business.3 comments
I’m excited, very…Why? because I just stumbled across a dedicated UK Garage MP3 store. Ah Finally! An online store which caters to a very niche genre. The site doesnt look that great but further exploring shows that this basic designed site is functional easy to browse. Labels are neatly listed on the left side and ala itunes tab makes exploring new sounds a breeze. My favorite sub genre is 4×4 or four to the floor or four by four, whichever you prefer, sounds more or less a housey version of the unmistakable skippy snare sound of 2-step garage….Well, at least through my personal interpretation of what 4×4 UK Garage is all about.
Labels such as Prolific recordings (Mj Cole’s label), Stereohype recordings and Riddler graces the categories, Juicy Joints and other labels with quality releases are covered. Gone are my days of illegal downloading! To be honest, there is not much offering of the freshest UKG cuts even on bigger MP3 stores such as DjDownload.com and not even one release under Beatport. Now this breaks my heart…Until this site which I just discovered recently from Duncan Powell’s website.
And a brief history of the site, which was nicked from the ‘About us’ section:
The site is owned and operated by Ultimate Dance Music Ltd and was launched in September 2007. Many of you will know us as UDM Records or www.udm.co.uk, an online & onland DJ Store based in Enfield, North London.
For those of you who dont know UDM, here’s a brief history. UDM has been trading as a DJ Equipment & Vinyl store since 1995 and has been at the forefront of Music & Hardware retailing, specialising in Leading brand DJ Equipment & Uk Garage & House Music.
From the owner [a dj since 1986] through to the staff [including DJ Kanga - sales manager & nu skool ukg dj] we have an extensive knowledge of UK Garage Music and through this webstore we will be bringing you not only the finest music, but un-released & exclusive ukg from the hottest producers on the planet - the biggest music makers & tastemakers the UKG scene has to offer!
Options for beatmakers to sell their music via the site is also apparent, this is really encouraging for bedroom producers to sell their tracks rather than just leaving your beats rotting in your hard drive.
Check out the site and lose yourselves!
Now I just have to save those extra pennies…..
6ixth sense is number 4 on the ERA.FM local chart! September 3, 2007
Posted by ashz in Asian Music Scene, General, Malaysian music scene, Mobile content, Music 2.0, downloads, mp3, music, music business, technopreneur.6 comments
I received an SMS from my boss last weekend. I was still groggy from the whole Malaysian Independence Day celebration, my head was still dizzy and good news is always welcome. Our project band 6ixth sense is at number 4 in the local charts now. I swear I can hear my boss screaming with joy on the other end. Unconvinced, I browsed the site and Lo! I was in tears. Our hard work is really really paying us off. In fact, further internet discoveries showed that the single has been receiving very positive feedback indeed. Oh by the way, look out for the video clip which shall be aired via Hotlink’s TV spot soon!
Crazy innit?
Notice that last week the song was at number 13 and shot straight up after the video clip was released in Youtube. My assumption is that users whom viewed the video clip were really into the song, thus, spreading the virus even further to their mates? Or perhaps our viral newsletters affect users in some way that it created alot of buzz? To be honest, I’m not entirely sure
Okay here are my action plans to boost up the song in the chart:
1- Send out more viral newsletters
2- Mention about this achievement in our weekly tabloid insertions
…And we shall see whether this goes as planned!
Celldorado.com- A cool mobile content website which lacks lustre August 29, 2007
Posted by ashz in Asian Music Scene, Malaysian music scene, Mobile content, Music 2.0, downloads, music, music business, technology, web 2.0.16 comments
I stumbled upon Celldorado.com a few days ago. It is a company specializing in mobile content which operates globally. Exploring the site was painless and the design is pleasant to the eye. I wanted to blog about these guys for quite some time now but I forgot all about them…Until I received a newsletter from them. I have to admit that the newsletter was brilliant!
The newsletter enables users to directly download the mobile content by typing in their mobile number. This concept, I ultimately feel is very effective in capitalizing on consumer’s impulse buying habits, but hey, the content sold by Celldorado themselves are top-notched! They offer standard subscription models via local Telcos using their own 3 series short code. The newsletters are professionally designed and has a minimal feel to it. Something which I long for in newsletters, as compared to boxy cluttered designs.
However….
I really feel that Celdorado needs to inject some cool factors in it, such as a company blog, an option to subscribe to their newsletters which I think is the main driving force for them, probably some insights of the people behind the company. A podcast streaming their global content probably, and how about providing a complete catalogue instead of just listing down your previous newsletters? how about some free downloads to entice users to experience your content? I would also like to suggest a dedicated section for media relations, an ability to download a PDF of your press release would be good for us bloggers. Instead of putting all those country flags at the bottom of the site (I know you guys are trying to highlight your presence in different countries) Why don’t you have an option function to select which country users reside in? It would be more clutter free. The fonts, omigod, the fonts, change the fonts! And one final but most important thing, an FAQ section. No doubt the website is functional but I believe people like you and I would appreciate more if we could ‘Experience’ rather than just browsing through. Don’t get me wrong, I love what you guys are doing, it just needs the ’sticky’ factor to ensure repeated visits.
Kudos guys!!
p/s: I think I know who is behind this…If you are reading this, congratulations! 
Nitrus- Another cool band signed under Metadome! August 29, 2007
Posted by ashz in Asian Music Scene, Malaysian music scene, Mobile content, Music 2.0, downloads, mp3, music, music business.1 comment so far
Metadome has signed another band. This time, its Nitrus. Another undiscovered band whom reeks with potential. We are coming up with another cool concept for Ramadhan and I really hope it works. I have this feeling that its going to be another crazy quarter for my company. I am trying my very best in cooking some sort of a viral marketing plan. I hope it works, because to tell you honestly, the concept is very new in Malaysia and I don’t know whether it will work. As it stands, the band has already started recording their songs and shall be launched after Ramadhan. The execution is going to be intense and we are devising something for the Indonesian market. I hate to tell you more because then you guys will feel that I’m bragging. The truth is, I’m just so very excited of this new project. For some info and snippets of their songs, goto their Myspace page.
The project is going to be similar to the project band that we’ve helped to launch to critical digital download success, I hope to achieve the same thing, oh did I tell you that 6ixth sense is about to penetrate the Indonesian market now? The funny part is that they had to be rebranded as ‘Tirta’ because there is already another Indonesian band with the same name! Talk about competition!
It has been a very hectic month for my company, with Malaysia’s Independence Day celebration and all. My work is really piling up and I’m drowning very very fast. I just need to get myself organized. Today would be a half day at work for me as Peter Pan (the Indonesian band, not the mythical character!) is coming down for a photoshoot in Kuala Lumpur and I’m in charge to babysit them. Benny, their manager asked me to take him to some motorbike shops around town to source out parts for his Gilera DNA, so I bet its gonna be very very hectic with the traffic jam and all.
I have to get myself a Gilera as well….
