BuzzSugar

Should Popular Songs Cost More on iTunes?

BuzzSugar — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 05:30:26 -0800

One of the announcements that caught my eye from this year's Macworld event was the change in how much iTunes music downloads will cost. Starting in April, songs will cost either $0.69, $0.99, or $1.29. So far, Apple's just said the songs will be priced according to what labels charge them. But there's one theory going around that the $1.29 price will apply to "the handful of the most sought-after songs," which drive the majority of iTunes sales in the first place.

On the one hand, I don't mind paying $1.29 for "Single Ladies" if it means I can download more obscure stuff for less. But on the other hand, couldn't the most popular songs be cheaper because more people will be buying them? And what happens when last year's big single isn't so popular anymore - is it $1.29 forever?

So many questions, but let's start with the basic one: Is it a good idea to charge more for popular songs?

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Buzz Gift Guide: Attention All Procrastinators!

BuzzSugar — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 09:30:52 -0800

Welcome back to my Buzz Gift Guide series for all the entertainment lovers in your life. Many of us eventually become last-minute shoppers, so it's good to have some quick gift options ready to go. I already dug up some of my favorite entertainment-related gift cards, and today I've got some more thoughts on what to do when you're in a time bind.

I love making mix CDs: They're simple, personal, and often expose people to new music. If it's too late to burn a CD, you can create and purchase a custom playlist for your friends and virtually hand it to them via iTunes. Or you can leave the tunes up to them and just email them iTunes gift cards.

A magazine subscription is a great, easy idea as well. You can purchase the subscription online (Amazon is good for these) and then find a hardcopy in the store to wrap up. Movie lovers will be thrilled to receive some Fandango bucks, and it's always quick to give the gift of Netflix.

Finally, tickets to local events, concerts or museums make easy and thoughtful gifts. Giving someone a night out on the town or a Sunday at a special exhibit is something everyone can appreciate.

Check out HolidaySugar for all of our holiday coverage and gift guides.

What to Download: New Music on iTunes

BuzzSugar — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 15:30:40 -0700

Tuesdays are big in entertainmentville: Not only do all the new DVD releases hit Netflix, but new music also pours into stores, including iTunes. So I take a spin through each week's iTunes music releases and pick out some albums and tracks worthy of a download. Here are today's selections:

Man band: Well, they are all grown-up and reunited, and it feels so good. OK, it's also a slowish music day, but I've been pretty curious to sample the new New Kids on the Block CD, The Block (heh). The album's not bad and is in fact pulling in some decent reviews. The LA Times said the Kids have definitely matured due to the "surprising strength of most of the material." I really like "Twisted" (no really! I do!) and "Click Click Click" is actually, like, pretty! Overall, I'm enjoying the CD and will potentially exercise to a lot of these tracks.

Nashville star: Brooke Waggoner is a piano-playing singer-songwriter out of Nashville who reminds me in a lot of ways of Regina Spektor. Her new album, Healing for the Honey, is out exclusively on iTunes today and explores themes of heartbreak and healing. One song, "The Wrong," is a gorgeous break-up song that I must have for my own. "Young Friend" is a great track as well. Check her out!

One more album up next so read more.

Austrian electro-pop: Madita, an Austrian pop singer and actress, released a new single today called "Better Brother" and I think it's quite catchy. Her voice is unique and this is certainly danceable. Take a listen and let me know what you think!

Estelle and Kid Rock Join List of Artists Saying No to iTunes

BuzzSugar — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 14:30:48 -0700

There's an interesting article in the Wall Street Journal today about a trend toward record companies pulling their artists' records from the iTunes Music Store - and/or avoiding iTunes altogether - because selling singles at Apple's mp3 store isn't always as profitable (or necessary) as people think. Kid Rock's latest album, Rock 'n Roll Jesus, was never sold on iTunes, for example, and he still managed to sell 1.7 million copies in the US alone. Estelle is on the same label as Rock, and after seeing how well his album has done, the label yanked hers from iTunes as well - even though she currently has one of the hottest singles of the Summer.

I naively thought the ailing music business had finally surrendered to the download. Now I'm not sure where I stand on all this. From an artistic perspective, I think some albums really are a total package, and it's a shame to pick them apart by only buying singles. That's why Jay-Z refused to sell his American Gangster album on iTunes last year, stating, "As movies are not sold scene by scene, this collection will not be sold as individual singles."

On the other hand, not all "collections" are a work of art. Do we really need to listen to Katy Perry's album front to back rather than picking and choosing what songs we like? I bet a lot of people are glad they could buy just "I Kissed a Girl" on iTunes rather than shelling out $10 or more to get that one song.

So what do you think? Is this smart on the part of record labels, and does it preserve the integrity of the album format? Or is this just delaying the inevitable? I have to say, as I scan my iTunes library, I sure have a lot of unrelated singles mashed together, which is really different from my CD book from the old high school and college days.

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What to Download: New Music on iTunes

BuzzSugar — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 14:30:44 -0700

Idol voice: Despite that goofy-looking picture and the fact that this isn't necessarily my favorite type of music, David Archuleta's first post-Idol single, "Crush" isn't half bad. I could imagine a me in another universe wistfully looking out over the ocean on a beach, thinking of that special someone with this tune blazing in my earphones.

Futuristic R&B: If David A. is a bit too saccharine for your taste, check out this super-weird, super-awesome album from Janelle Monae. You may know this artist from OutKast's movie soundtrack for Idlewild. Take a listen to the fun and funky track "Many Moons." I'm also enjoying her surreal cover of the standard "Smile."

One more selection that stood out to me this week, so read more.

Folk singer grows up: I've always been a fan of Dar Williams's pretty, lyric-driven songs, so I anxiously await her new album (her first original material in over three years) Promised Land, which is due for release in September. Today I'm excited to report a little EP of hers, a kind of preview of what's to come, is available on iTunes. Check out "It's Alright," a track that might feel right at home on a Cameron Crowe movie soundtrack. It's lovely!

Now Available on iTunes: Your Childhood

BuzzSugar — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 15:30:42 -0700

If you were one of the people who turned my Hey Dude recast into a lovefest for '90s Nickelodeon, here's a bit of good news: As of today, you can download episodes of the show on iTunes!

The show, along with Clarissa Explains It All, Rugrats, and Doug (the good one, not the weird ABC one where they changed Doug's voice), is now available as part of Nick Rewind on iTunes, which exists specifically to feed our craving for nostalgia. No, really: “We hear from literally thousands of teens and young parents who say they want to see the shows that defined their childhood," one Nickelodeon executive said in announcing the service.

There's some slightly more recent fare in there, too (The Amanda Show, The Wild Thornberrys), but I'm most excited to go download some Clarissa. What about you? Will you be grabbing any of these episodes? And what shows do you hope Nick Rewind adds next? (My vote: Salute Your Shorts, then The Adventures of Pete and Pete.)

Buzz News Roundup, 5/2

BuzzSugar — Fri, 02 May 2008 13:30:02 -0700

Catherine O'Hara and Andie MacDowell have signed on for ABC pilots, Zap2it reports: O'Hara will play the mom in Good Behavior from Rob Thomas, while MacDowell's plot is described as a Hamlet-like drama set in the auto industry.
Maggie Gyllenhaal will replace Toni Collette in the Sam Mendes relationship comedy that also stars John Krasinski and Maya Rudolph, Variety writes.
According to ComingSoon, comedian Demetri Martin will be joining Ang Lee's next project, Taking Woodstock.
Billboard writes that The Cure has announced the date of their next album release: September 13, with a new single coming out every month until then, starting on May 13.
Variety reports that iTunes will now offer movies to be purchased and downloaded on the day of DVD release.
If you liked the Christian Siriano-designed blouse that Amanda wore on Ugly Betty last night, you can bid on it now; details on how are at The Futon Critic.
E! reports that Leighton Meester will be reprising her role on Entourage as a Britney-esque pop star.
Pitchfork has new details on the new album from The Hold Steady, which will be released in July.

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Juno Gets a Second Soundtrack - With More Ellen Page

BuzzSugar — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 11:30:23 -0700

The sweet, quirky Juno soundtrack was - much like the movie that spawned it - one of those little indies that could. Filled with songs by the relatively little-known Moldy Peaches and their spinoff projects, the soundtrack shot to the top of the Billboard charts in January. And now, it's getting a sequel!

Juno B-Sides: Almost Adopted Songs will be available April 8 via iTunes (it's already available for pre-order) and will include 15 more songs that just barely didn't make the cut for the film. As director Jason Reitman wrote in the liner notes: "None of these songs made the movie, but they are all essential members of the Junoverse."

The roster of artists looks a lot like the first soundtrack, with songs from Belle and Sebastian, Kimya Dawson, and Buddy Holly. There are two new songs by Mateo Messina, who composed music for the film, called "Meet the MacGuffs" and "Meet the Lorings." And there's also another track from Ellen Page, whose song - "Zub Zub" - was written by screenwriter Diablo Cody herself. Apparently, the song comes from a scene where Juno was just fooling around on the guitar, singing lyrics like "he filled me with baby batter, then we ate some orange Tic Tacs after." Heh. The scene got cut for time, but luckily, now the song's preserved for posterity.

Are you interested in more Juno-related tunes? To check out the full track list, just read more.

"Twentieth Century Fox Fanfare" - Kimya Dawson
"Me and You" - Barry Louis Polisar
"My Wandering Days are Over" - Belle and Sebastian
"Kite" - Mateo Messina
"Viva La Persistance" - Kimya Dawson
"Little Baby" - The Bristols
"I'm Into Something Good" - Jr. James and the Late Guitar
"Meet the McGuffs" - Mateo Messina
"Once I Loved" - Astrud Gilberto
"All I Want is You" - Kimya Dawson
"Learning the Game" - Buddy Holly
"Meet the Lorings" - Mateo Messina
"Besame Mucho" - Trio Los Panchos
"You Can Have It All" - Yo La Tengo
"Zub Zub" - Ellen Page

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Have Your Own Oscar Shorts Screening, Courtesy of iTunes

BuzzSugar — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 13:30:24 -0800

The live-action short films and animated short films from this year's Oscars are still working their way through theaters, but if the tour isn't stopping near you or you just don't have time for a trip to the movies, there's another option. All of the Oscar shorts are available on iTunes for $1.99 each.

That's really not a bad deal, considering that you could buy all 10 films for $20 - about what it would cost to see both shorts programs in the theater. And while you'd have to watch on a smaller screen, maybe the chance to make your own move snacks balances it out.

Several past winners - including last year's winning films and nominees - are also available for the same price. I'll tell you, I bought last year's winning animated short, The Danish Poet, a while back, and I still watch it all the time. Not bad for my 2 bucks!

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Dance Your Cares Away! Fraggle Rock Hits iTunes

BuzzSugar — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 16:31:49 -0800

It's been a big month for childhood icons: Legos and Smurfs turned 50, and now, Fraggle Rock is available on iTunes!

The first season of Fraggle Rock can be downloaded now, with more to come in the future. It and cult sci-fi show Farscape both hit iTunes this week, and the Jim Henson Company plans to put more shows online soon. Unfortunately, that doesn't include any Muppet-related content, as that all was sold to Disney a few years back.

But who cares about Muppets when there's Fraggle Rock to watch right now? Seriously - Mokey, Boober, the Gorgs, Sprocket the dog, radishes? I'm so there. Yeah, it's been available on DVD for a while, but DVDs don't fit in my pocket.

What other shows of your childhood would you love to see on iTunes eventually? Personally, I'd lobby for Jem and She-Ra: Princess of Power.

If you need a little cheer, you can watch the Fraggle Rock opening if you read more.

Photo courtesy of The Jim Henson Company