Rykodisc signs deal with GoodNoise

paulbort writes "RykoDisc has announced in a press release that they will sell at least part of their catalog (Frank Zappa, Robert Cray, others) in MP3 format via GoodNoise. This is a nice development in the debate between Big Record Companies and the MP3 community. It also is at least mentioned in the Wall Street Journal (subscription required). "

Huh?

[pingouin]

People who like Zappa are also likely to dig Rush, Dream Theater, and other bands that are better known for playing instruments than playing music.

Music consists of the playing of instruments. Pop music is generally what used to be called "vocals with musical accompaniment"; the music was/is subservient to the aims of the singer(s) and lyricist(s). That's generally not a good thing to do to music. But the voice is also an instrument, at least when the voice belongs to someone like Cecilia Bartoli (in Mariah Carey's case - and in pop in general - it's mostly an Inanity Device). I luv FZ, but I don't like Rush or Dream Theater. The few "illegal" MP3s I own are either Captain Beefheart bootlegs, the in-the-news Public Enemy stuff, or out-of-print Soft Machine recordings. The MP3s (or proprietary stuff, like Liquid Audio and such) out there in cyberspace are generally of the pop variety, be it electronica (rhythm tracks in search of a tune) or been-there-done-that pop junk ("underground" or not, it's all essentially the same if you strip away the subcultural baggage).

Wake me when labels like FMP, Incus, Nato, or suit-addled Blue Note have MP3s on display.

--

Great news!

[Tim Moore]

They also used to carry David Bowie (who I believe is now on Virgin). And Richie Havens. I can be pretty sure that any CD with an emerald case is probably great!

DCD != Rykodisc act

[acb]

Dead Can Dance were on 4AD, not Rykodisc. Their CDs were distributed by Warner in the US, Shock in Australia, and by 4AD themselves in the UK.

No idea what 4AD will be doing, but they seem like a pretty cool label... they're run by a guy who actually does music, rather than manufacturers of gadgets or bottlers of drinks.

Are they going to sell music, too?

[eGabriel]

The speculations as to what music I like aside (bzzt, wrong), Zappa was a far more interesting person to read about than listen to. People who like Zappa are also likely to dig Rush, Dream Theater, and other bands that are better known for playing instruments than playing music.

Admittedly, my post was flame bait. Shame on me.
Kurt Vonnegut is a hack.

To bad...

[walflour]

/. doesnt have an ad banner for goodnoise right now. I know i would have just given you a click-thru
--

Great news!

[Chihuahua Grub]

This is very hip... Ryko's always been one of my favorite almost big labels (carried Mono Puff's first album, still has Morphine).

I wonder if some indie lables such as Matador will follow suit? That'd be great!

No Subject Given

[orabidoo]

wonder if their mp3's are going to be watermarked... and what's with the weird pricing? a track can be anything from a few seconds to over an hour, and I have cd's with examples of both. they should price it by the minute, or something more sensible ...

will sightsound.com be getting 1%?

[Captain Pillbug]

Last I checked, goodnoise was complying with their garbage patent claims...

yeah yeah yeah

[dangerboy]

But what about Dead can Dance?!

yeah yeah yeah

[dangerboy]

CD's...no mp3s or anything digital

Cool. I buy CD's too.

[Wild_dog!]

I have 4 new albums I wouldn't have bought if I hadn't liked the mp3's I heard. I download tons of mp3's and get a chance to hear music I have never heard of before.
Can't buy it if I don't hear it. I find that I don't listen to radio much anymore, so my exposure to music is thru the web.

Right now, I have a list of 4 or 5 albums I want after listening to the mp3's. I have another list of 40+ abums I want to buy too. Maybe, I could find some of the songs or albums on the web, but I want the album itself.

MP3's helps keep me from buying crappy albums too!
I only have limited funds and wouldn't buy more albums than these in the next couple years. But I can keep downloading and finding more ablums I will add to my list.

not entirely true...

[PDG]

I'm looking at the "A Passage In Time" disc right here and there is NO mention of Ryko at all. Strictly 4AD.


PDG--"I don't like the Prozac, the Prozac likes me"