With the music business changing rather drastically over the last decade or so, in terms of delivering music to the masses, it’s interesting to see how some of the longstanding rock icons are adapting (or not) to the new technology and methods to deliver their product to wanting ears.
Some, expectedly, have proven more successful than others.
Some, expectedly, have proven more successful than others.
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BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN
brucespringsteen.net
The Boss has tread lightly in terms of the digital age as he and manager Jon Landau, have always kept a tight rein on Springsteen’s music catalog. Impressed by the Pearl Jam model of offering up soundboard recordings of live concerts both digitally and on traditional CD, Springsteen dove into that pool with 30 different shows from 2014’s High Hopes tour, making them available in HD 24 bit, lossless FLAC, and MP3 versions.
More recently, the massive vault of vintage Springsteen recordings was opened, beginning with a 2012 performance at the Apollo in NYC, originally broadcast on Sirius XM, and now a radio simulcast show from Cleveland in 1978, taken from seven recently unearthed ¼” master reels.
While both shows have been available unofficially, it’s a promising sign to collectors and fans to see definitive versions of older shows become available and Springsteen’s catalog should broaden further in 2015.
brucespringsteen.net
The Boss has tread lightly in terms of the digital age as he and manager Jon Landau, have always kept a tight rein on Springsteen’s music catalog. Impressed by the Pearl Jam model of offering up soundboard recordings of live concerts both digitally and on traditional CD, Springsteen dove into that pool with 30 different shows from 2014’s High Hopes tour, making them available in HD 24 bit, lossless FLAC, and MP3 versions.
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Cleveland (1978)
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While both shows have been available unofficially, it’s a promising sign to collectors and fans to see definitive versions of older shows become available and Springsteen’s catalog should broaden further in 2015.
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ROLLING STONES
rollingstones.com
As the Stones’ 50th Anniversary Tour continues into 2015, the band has entered the digital download era not with recent shows from their current tour, but a handful of more classic shows on both audio and video.
Beginning with a classic Los Angeles 1975 show and the Hampton Coliseum 1981 performance that was originally a pay-per-view broadcast, the Stones have expanded the catalog offerings to include other recordings from the 70s-90s, with the LA Forum and Hampton shows available at retail in both audio and video.
Like the older Springsteen releases, the vintage Stones offerings have been long available unofficially, but collectors and completists will no doubt snap up these definitive authorized versions and the catalog continues to grow.
Start downloading at: stonesarchivestore.com.
rollingstones.com
As the Stones’ 50th Anniversary Tour continues into 2015, the band has entered the digital download era not with recent shows from their current tour, but a handful of more classic shows on both audio and video.
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Advertisement for The Rolling Stones at Los Angeles (1975) and Hampton Coliseum (1981)
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Like the older Springsteen releases, the vintage Stones offerings have been long available unofficially, but collectors and completists will no doubt snap up these definitive authorized versions and the catalog continues to grow.
Start downloading at: stonesarchivestore.com.
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MADONNA
madonna.com
Our favorite Material Girl has done things the old-fashioned way to get attention, but is showing some movement in the digital direction. First, she posed provocatively in the Art Issue of the Dec/Jan edition of Interview magazine, including an exposed bra top in corset and stockings.
Then, earlier this month, a handful of demos were released unofficially to the internet, purporting to be working versions of many of the upcoming tracks from her March 2015 album, Rebel Heart (then speculated to be called Iconic). While her people were dismissing the credibility of the leaked tracks, she took to Instagram to decry it an “artistic rape” and “form of terrorism”, though the post was quickly deleted.
Madge and co. soon went into combative overdrive, offering up six official tracks for immediate download (including Diplo-produced first single “Living for Love” which wasn’t due until Feb 14), with pre-order of the full album. The strategy worked, as iTunes pre-orders for the album topped the charts in 40+ countries.
Pre-order Rebel Heart: itunes.apple.com
Don’t expect any vault releases digitally anytime soon, though it would be great to hear unreleased remixes, unused collaborations, and early session works with Stephen Bray and Nile Rodgers from her early albums.
madonna.com
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Madonna on Interview
Jan 2015
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Then, earlier this month, a handful of demos were released unofficially to the internet, purporting to be working versions of many of the upcoming tracks from her March 2015 album, Rebel Heart (then speculated to be called Iconic). While her people were dismissing the credibility of the leaked tracks, she took to Instagram to decry it an “artistic rape” and “form of terrorism”, though the post was quickly deleted.
Madge and co. soon went into combative overdrive, offering up six official tracks for immediate download (including Diplo-produced first single “Living for Love” which wasn’t due until Feb 14), with pre-order of the full album. The strategy worked, as iTunes pre-orders for the album topped the charts in 40+ countries.
Pre-order Rebel Heart: itunes.apple.com
Don’t expect any vault releases digitally anytime soon, though it would be great to hear unreleased remixes, unused collaborations, and early session works with Stephen Bray and Nile Rodgers from her early albums.
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PRINCE
3rdeyegirl.com
After the 2014 release of not one, but two studio albums and a long-awaited deal with Warner Brothers to return his master recordings, anticipation was high in the Purple zone for a benchmark year. Though he and band 3rd Eye Girl managed some hit-and-run random concert dates, mostly in Europe and there were sporadic gigs back home at Paisley Park, a major tour never did materialize in 2014, as was fully expected.
Prince was an early pioneer as a major music artist to utilize the internet in then-unseen ways to connect and also created innovative marketing like giving away copies of his Musicology album in 2004 with every concert ticket bought (which at that time, counted as sales on SoundScan charts) and the looming 30th anniversary of Purple Rain, had expectations high.
Prince, in his inimitable and unpredictable way, instead pulled the plug on all social media just before Thanksgiving; silencing the 3rd Eye Twitter account, his barely used Facebook page, and lauded Prince-stagram account as well.
Still remaining mostly silent, third party sites and the Purple Essence and Baron 3121 accounts, are the closest link to finding out what The Purple Yoda may or may not do next, though an authorized lyric video for song “Anotherlove” did appear recently, via WB.
Watch “Anotherlove” on youtube.com.
Known for a tight control of his artistic output as well as a massive vault of unreleased sessions and recordings, fans know better than to hold their breath for any series of vintage tracks or more current concerts to be released, though it would be most welcome and be direct income for him.
3rdeyegirl.com
After the 2014 release of not one, but two studio albums and a long-awaited deal with Warner Brothers to return his master recordings, anticipation was high in the Purple zone for a benchmark year. Though he and band 3rd Eye Girl managed some hit-and-run random concert dates, mostly in Europe and there were sporadic gigs back home at Paisley Park, a major tour never did materialize in 2014, as was fully expected.
Prince was an early pioneer as a major music artist to utilize the internet in then-unseen ways to connect and also created innovative marketing like giving away copies of his Musicology album in 2004 with every concert ticket bought (which at that time, counted as sales on SoundScan charts) and the looming 30th anniversary of Purple Rain, had expectations high.
Prince, in his inimitable and unpredictable way, instead pulled the plug on all social media just before Thanksgiving; silencing the 3rd Eye Twitter account, his barely used Facebook page, and lauded Prince-stagram account as well.
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“Anotherlove”
Screen Capture
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Watch “Anotherlove” on youtube.com.
Known for a tight control of his artistic output as well as a massive vault of unreleased sessions and recordings, fans know better than to hold their breath for any series of vintage tracks or more current concerts to be released, though it would be most welcome and be direct income for him.
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THE REPLACEMENTS
thereplacementsofficial.com
In typical and seemingly unplanned fashion, after spending the last year and a half doing reunion shows at indie festivals, The Replacements recently released a 24 min. jazz jam via Soundcloud, called “Poke Me in My Cage”, recorded in October in Waltham, MA.
The Paul and Tommy reunion was initially spurred by ex-bandmate Slim Dunlap’s need for financial support following a debilitating stroke, which resulted in a series of singles and resulting benefit album, and after the tour announcement, plans for new Replacements music were floated about.
While the extended instrumental probably has little bearing on what any new ‘Mats songs will actually sound like, the unexpected release did get fans excited for the prospect of new songs to come. Westerberg himself previously released digital tracks timed and named 49:00 and 5:05, so fans can likely expect more of the unexpected.
Hear “Poke Me in My Cage” at soundcloud.com.
thereplacementsofficial.com
In typical and seemingly unplanned fashion, after spending the last year and a half doing reunion shows at indie festivals, The Replacements recently released a 24 min. jazz jam via Soundcloud, called “Poke Me in My Cage”, recorded in October in Waltham, MA.
The Paul and Tommy reunion was initially spurred by ex-bandmate Slim Dunlap’s need for financial support following a debilitating stroke, which resulted in a series of singles and resulting benefit album, and after the tour announcement, plans for new Replacements music were floated about.
While the extended instrumental probably has little bearing on what any new ‘Mats songs will actually sound like, the unexpected release did get fans excited for the prospect of new songs to come. Westerberg himself previously released digital tracks timed and named 49:00 and 5:05, so fans can likely expect more of the unexpected.
Hear “Poke Me in My Cage” at soundcloud.com.
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