This is not a course designed for an experienced executive in their 40s or 50s. The typical participants will be in their 20s and 30s, and will currently work in or have a desire to work in a high tech company.
Doc and I aren't welcome! Seriously, Tom Kosnik, the professor, looks like a very good guy. No weblog -- but that's probably coming soon. His "Glean" project looks interesting."
Yeah well Scott, you two old men aren't the only ones. Include me in that roster of the UN-invited. The problem is we're too well connected and jaded-- or seasoned (ahem) for most academic programs. We tend to make the professors nervous. Personally I'd like to see someplace confirm Master's degrees to those of us because of "Time Served vs. The Standard Academic Hurdlejump and BS."
The article proved to the rest of the world, Janis Ian is an intellegent voice for the independent music industry as well as the older or seasoned talent who rarely gets airplay. She isn't the only professional musician and songwriter I know whom I have personally heard this from before. Janis' articles and the way she has conducted herself in this debate has also proved to me that Janis, like a number of seasoned music business folks, has more than her share of common sense. That makes you a jewel in this world Janis!
Yesterday Dave mentioned in Scripting News: The "SJ Merc interviews Janis Ian. "She credits Napster and its progeny with sparking renewed interest in her music, at a time when she can't be heard on contemporary-hit-obsessed radio stations. And she says her decision to offer free music downloads had done the opposite of what the industry predicts it would do: It caused a 300 percent spike in merchandise sales."
Well I'm not surprised. However it was difficult to prove. Or the recording industry called it a freak accident. Well is appears it isn't.
Today I hand you the proof Janis is right--Bill Rose and the crew over at Arbitron and the Edison Media Research group has released the news that they have just completed a study which shows as broadband connections grow, the number of people who listen to Internet Radio is increasing. Those listeners are buying more CD's per year-- nearly double.
I don't know about you, but this type of proof makes the recording industry look more and more customer unfriendly.
More on this later.
2:22:21 PM
Arbitron Study Shows"People Who Stream Each Week Buy Significantly More CDs Than Most Americans According To Latest Arbitron/Edison Media Research Study"
[Editorial Note: I rarely post an entire press release, but this one is worth posting.]
Residential Broadband Adoption Doubles in 18 Months. 08.19.02
NEW YORK, August 19, 2002 - Weekly "Streamies" - people who have watched or listened to streaming media online in the past week - bought more than one and a half times the number of compact discs (CDs) in the past year than the average American, according to a new study by Arbitron Inc. (NYSE:ARB) and Edison Media Research.
The study, "Internet 9: The Media and Entertainment World of Online Consumers," found that weekly Streamies bought 21 CDs in the past year, compared to the average American, who bought 13 CDs.
"While some in the record industry have viewed streaming as a threat, this research indicates that Streamies are a very lucrative group of record buyers," said Bill Rose, vice president and general manager, Arbitron Webcast Services, Arbitron Inc.
The study also found that residential broadband adoption has doubled in just under 18 months. Those with a cable modem or DSL Internet connection at home jumped from 12 percent in January 2001 to 28 percent in July 2002.
These and other new findings from the study will be presented during a live webcast on Thursday, September 5 at 12:00 Noon EDT. Those interested in viewing the free webcast can register at www.arbitron.com or www.edisonresearch.com.
Other issues addressed in the study are:
Consumer perceptions of radio, TV, newspapers and the Internet;
Internet access and online buying trends;
Streaming (audio and video) usage trends;
Streaming subscription and advertising;
Usage and perceptions of local media Web sites;
Awareness and interest in satellite radio.
The findings reported here are based on a July 2002 survey consisting of 2,511 telephone interviews with a randomly selected national sample of Arbitron's Spring 2002 radio diary keepers. Since 1998, Arbitron and Edison Media Research have conducted nine groundbreaking studies of the Internet and streaming media, one every six months.
3:01:22 AM
AOL's Chicken
Kevin's right that AOL/TW is the only company who has all of the pieces of the pie that could actually merge the entire convergence of entertainment, information and internet. This is exactly what I was talking about 8-9 years ago in my Convergence paper. However it is not that the various units of AOL don't speak the same language-- the struggle is for control. This Control-Freak mentality runs so deep between the AOL and TW side that it will eventually send the company into a nosedive if Steve doesn't get them to realize they are on the same team now. I know Mayo and several others in power understand it-- but the question is: Does the rest of the board and managment team see the bigger picture?
Doc says: "Give every journalist in the whole AOL/Time Warner organization a blog. Control nothing. Just let 'em go and let nature take its course."
Hate to break the news to you Doc, but Case won't. Too many control freaks in the line of succession. Too many lawyers in Virginia who are clueless about the technology, who have created more rules and regulations than people can function intellegently. They too would never let him cut loose and give people the ability to speak. We tried to work with them before with the forums and communties. They do not even understand or respect the value of the volunteer peer-experts. We tried to show them the differences between the AOL and CompuServe cultures. It failed, as you know. Now they are telling us we should lose the library files of information we've amassed over the years. Hell they didn't understand the difference between the Netscape and AOL communties!
Now add to the mix the entertainment, television and publishing empire from TW. By nature these people are complete IP control-freaks. They look down upon the online divisions only as a vehicle to promote their productions and publications. The TW people are clueless while the keep producing more television, films and music, that AOL owns the IP to several products that can be used for peer-2-peer file sharing of all of these products! These are the very same products they are fighting us from the right to use.
Doc: I do have to warn you, that while the DSM Marriott is Iowa's only 3-Diamond Hotel, it's not the Four Seasons in SF or Fess Parker's place in SB. However I suspect you will find the people of my fair state a hell of a lot friendlier. Also, that smell you may get outside... is cattle manure. Get used to it. If the smell is blowing in from the West, blame it on the Better Homes and Gardens Test Gardens 3-4 blocks away. Go for a walk over there if you can and take the camera. It should be picture perfect this month. If the smell comes from the East, blame it on the leftovers from the Iowa State Fairgrounds, which you just missed.
Eating Iowa
One tip: Eat steak while you're there. If you don't eat steak, eat the pork chops. (Trust me Iowa Pork Chops are NOTHING like the ones you get at home.)
If you can't get there the 801 Steak and Chop House in the 801 Grand Ave, a Four-Star, is a little closer to you is a great runner up but pricey. Either place you go-- you won't believe you're in Iowa.
And if you've got wheels: my all time favorite place to eat is The Iowa Machine Shed. They have a good location over in 11151 Hickman Road (I-80/35 - Exit 125) over in Urbandale by the Living History Farms. Why? Simple. You have never ever been to place like this. The food is all home made and served semi-familystyle, which to us locals means farm-style. (sorry the menu's a pdf) The meat... well there is nothing like it anywhere in the world. Calling it Prime isn't good enough. And the staff-- well this is the best example of Iowa Hospitality you will ever experience. The reason behind the place is Mike Whalen, owner of all of the Heart of America Corp. is one hell of a bright and nice guy. My mom helped him in the resturant biz when he had his first started out with his first coffeeshop in Davenport. In many respects Mike's a lot like us-- more common sense than one Harvard Lawyer's supposed to have! OH! one more thing if you go.. BUY THE COOKBOOK. This way you can take some of the place home with you.
To my friends and family in attendance-- (Yes, they're going to be there.) Yes folks, this the Cluetrain Doc. Be nice to him. Yes, he knows me. Try hard not to tell him every embarrassing story you can think of about my childhood and youth. However if he bribes you with a beer, you're written out of the Will. ;-)
Seriously, 
Well Janis, Here's Your Proof
Studs Decend on Des Moines: Gnomedex Opens