After six years providing information to the music industry, the music media, people working in music at the grass roots, and those consumer brands using music as a marketing tool, we here at CMU know more than anyone how the various sectors in the music world can sometimes feel threatened by each other.
Despite the perception in the wider world that too many people working in the music business are in it for the money, it has never ceased to surprise us how many people - including those at the top of the biggest labels, media groups and music-supporting brands - share, or at least support, CMU's mission of finding, supporting and championing damn fine music wherever it might be.
However with everyone facing their own commercial challenges it can sometimes seem like labels, media and brands are moving in very different directions. To that end CMU has been working for the last year with a new cross-sector company called BigTime.tv to develop new programmes which, we hope, can benefit labels, media, brands and music fans alike - and which enable us pursue our passion - getting that great new music out there.
This is a round about way of telling you that BigTime.tv soft launches with a gathering in central London later today. Working with the Evening Standard and BT Rich Media, BigTime.tv is launching the London Music Network, a new digital music service which exists to champion exciting new music from across the genres, from both established names and brand new artists.
Through both enhanced CDs released by the Standard, and online at http://www.bigtime.tv/lmn, music fans will be able to not only read about the artists we are most excited about, but to listen to tracks in full on demand up to four times through a new rights-managed-player - the 4Play jukebox. If they like what they hear they will be able to buy the album at the click of a button.
If they're not keen - then they can move along to the next album and try that for size. Not only that but over the next few months BigTime.tv will be adding all sorts of new content strands to the LMN website - previewed each week in the Standard's MetroLife magazine - providing music fans with an exciting place to discover - and experience first hand - great new music.
Crucially, LMN will begin the reinvention of the cover mount CD - a tool used by the media that has been causing particular concern in the music industry in recent months. By adding the 4Play jukebox as a multi-media layer on an enhanced cover mount CD we ensure the medium is what we always hoped it would be - an exciting way of promoting new music with a tangible sell-through opportunity for artists and their labels.
Evening Standard Chief Rock & Pop Critic David Smyth explains: "There is much debate in the industry with a consensus that traditional covermounts are threatening the value of music. The London Music Network addresses this by transforming the covermount CD into a media platform that enables Londoners to hear for themselves the new music we review in the paper."
Andy Brown, CEO of BT Rich Media, who are providing the technical infrastructure behind LMN said: "Through the LMN and Bigtime.tv, The Evening Standard is leading the way in exposing new music to Londoners. BT Rich Media makes this possible by providing a robust digital platform to reach a mass audience which also has embedded Digital Rights Management - allowing the record labels the scrutiny they need. This is a true demonstration of how digital technology and the growth of broadband is complementing traditional methods by giving artists another route to market."
Anyway, enough blatant plugging - those of you in London can experience the London Music Network for yourself on a special covermount CD designed to celebrate London Fashion Week, released by the Standard this Thursday (23 Sep) and including music from no less than ten CMU favourites - Elefant, Freeform Five, Two Culture Clash, Nostalgia 55, Lazyboy, Mylo, Client, The Go! Team, Kasabian and The Killers. The following week there will be more 4Play online - watch this space for information.
Meantime, if you are interested in promoting your artists through LMN's 4Play jukebox drop us an email - [email protected]