Music Business Blog by Jason Feinberg

With so much discussion about mp3 bit rate, digital compression, quality loss, and other pros and cons of digital music, this is an interesting test – can you hear the difference between 128k and 320k encoding?

http://mp3ornot.com/

Check it out and see if you can tell the difference.

I was interviewed last week by Billboard magazine for an article discussing how people are using Wikipedia as a source for artist information, in some cases 2:1 over Myspace. You can read the whole article here, and my input (aka insanely valuable knowledge) is:

“Wikipedia is a fantastic landing page,” says Jason Feinberg, owner/president of On Target Media Group, a Web promotions consultancy. “It’s so clear, so concise, and it’s standardized. That’s something I think is a draw over MySpace, where you never quite know the experience you’re going to get. Is it going to be a horrible jumble of images and video and text that’s difficult to read? Also, (Wikipedia is) rooted in fact. It’s not promotional. Especially these days when the Internet is full of artists trying to essentially ram their message down your throat, I think a fan is a lot more receptive to a simple, no-hype approach.”

It’s something artists need to consider – sometimes the facts, when presented in an organized, well polished fashion, can be everything a fan needs to make a decision. It is important to note that one major benefit of Myspace over Wiki is the ability to media-ify your page in almost any imaginable way. Widgets, video, audio, and more can be easily embedded and updated, which is certainly of value.

Ultimately, you want to have both pages be amazing destinations, which is one of the reasons why people hire us.

Anybody that hasn’t seen Duffy yet needs to check her out. She’s #1 in the UK, was the iTunes download of the week last week, and she was amazing at SXSW. I saw her at a small outdoor BBQ party and then also at Stubb’s, both shows were stellar.

I have gushed for months about Sarah Borges (and not just because my company is doing her online promo) and her shows at SXSW delivered. I hope somebody got the the Twangville party on video. Basically the entire left side of the PA decided to short out, but Sarah isn’t the type of performer to let that get in the way of a good show. She went out into the audience (tele in hand), which formed a big circle around her, and began singing a classic blues song (with much audience involvement and improvisation). My description of the event doesn’t even begin to explain how much of a happening it was. Seriously.

The Meatmen were freaking awesome. Tesco Vee is still the consummate showman and filled with as much hate, humor, and comic genius as back in the Detroit heyday. We’re working on getting some video from the show to post, more on that soon (and also the reissues, more tour dates, a new CD, and a DVD).

Every year there is one old-school punk band that makes the rounds, last year it was Buzzcocks (I caught 3 of the 4 shows) and this year it was X. I caught 2 of the 3 shows, and they were about as good as it gets. Exene and John are one of punk’s leading duos and they still rock as tight as ever. So many classic songs, so much energy. Looos Aaaangeleees!

I wish I could say I saw a bunch of unsigned gems, but SXSW is barely about that anymore. I did see a few, but didn’t catch a whole lot of names… Oops.. For me, SXSW is about seeing my friends in the biz, making new ones, having business meetings, and seeing bands I love. I always try to see up and coming or undiscovered talent, but my schedule just didn’t allow for much of it this year.

For anyone who hasn’t been to SXSW and is going next year, I have some advice – book your hotel as soon as possible. Last year I booked late and had to take a cab into town, this year I ended up at the Sheraton which is at the end of the bars on Red River. Splendid. Other advice – make plans but assume none will happen. That’s the chaos and beauty of SXSW, so many things you want to do, but so many diversions that lead to better things.

Alright, enough for now, will post pics and video soon.

Saturday night / Sunday morning at 3:40am. SXSW has come to a close. Well actually not really, plane doesn’t leave til 6-something-pm so my day tomorrow will involve the hot tub, lunch with a pal or two, and maybe some nice soft relaxing live music. Sunday is all about the SXSW hangover. And I don’t mean me, I mean SXSW chugs along for one more day, but with a hangover. It’s as if downtown Austin is a zombie wasteland, I love it.

Been here since Tues eve. Been a long week, will detail today’s bands after a good night of sleep. Very glad SXSW is over. Really sad SXSW is over. As I said to so many people, “SXSW takes everyone back to college radio.” I don’t know if everyone will get that, but for a long-term college music director and disk jockey, this was everything exciting about getting into noncomm at the start of your career.

Now we’re talking. Today really made up for the past few days. Went to the convention center and hit the Flatstock poster exhibit, amazing concert art by many of the famous poster artists we’ve also seen over and over. Some great stuff.

Ended up at the Spin party, a little late so only caught Vampire Weekend and X. I know VW are one of the biggest buzz bands at the conf, but tis not for me. Now X on the other hand was badass. Looking forward to seeing them again tomorrow night with the Raveonettes and the Donnas. Had dinner with biz peeps, then made my way to Emo’s Annex for one hell of a mighty show – Red Fang, Black Earth, Meatmen, Lions, Blue Cheer, and Supersuckers. Enough said.

As one should at any good punk show, I ended up bruised and covered in beer. The Supersuckers pit was just too good to not get a taste. I still do love a good pit.

My marketing company is helping promote the Meatmen online and I was thrilled to see the packed house and people singing every word to every song. This band’s fan base is still interested and need only be informed; I also think a whole new audience will dig it.

Saw a few other bands throughout the day but those were the biggies.

Man it’s a good thing I don’t do this blog for money! Rule #2 of writing a blog is Be Consistent. (Rule #1 is having compelling content). I’ve been on the road like mad at conferences (or at home prepping for conferences) and I haven’t updated in a week or two.

At SXSW, been here a few days. It’s always a trip – things can be bland and mediocre one second, then you meet up with the right person at the right place and the whole night changes. Or vice versa, of course.

Hard to say what my favorite thing has been so far, but Raveonettes were pretty good. I need to find the name of the band before them at the MOG party, they were really good. Perry Farrell at that same venue tonight was also kickass, especially from the VIP section. Again, SXSW is a weird magical fairy land where you can be unsure of your plans for the night one minute and then shortly later sitting in between Tom Morrello and Perry having a chat. Then 20 minutes later at the Playboy party, which was meh – no nudity! i could go to *any* party and (not) see that.

Alright, bedtime. 3 more damn days of this madness.

This will put me at number 12 on the leaderboard. And had I not thrown an errant kick drum that killed my bonus multiplier, I would have probably had another 1-2 thousand points, putting me around #5 or 6! That’s what this weekend is for I suppose…