Bee’s Musings

If only there was a way that we really could save Pandora - wouldn’t we? How many great artists have you discovered on Pandora? How many otherwise unbearable work days has Pandora saved us from? And now, loyal listening ears, where will we be when Pandora leaves us?

From Wired.com:

Pandora — practically the poster child for online radio — says it will shut down if royalty rates enacted in March of 2007 are not altered soon.

Despite all of those warnings, the rates remain intact and must be observed by webcasters, even as the battle over them continues. Aside from a few concessions to small webcasters and those with lots of unique streams, Washington lawmakers have not altered the rates, which currently require Pandora to fork over 70 percent of its revenue to labels and artists.

Of course, with all this fuss, there are a few options. A radio conglomerate, like Clear Channel, could attempt to buy out Pandora and the music genome project. You would probably lose the ad-free formatting, but it would allow us to keep listening. Pandora could start charging a subscription fee, joining the ranks of XM radio. They could try to run more ads on their site (which probably get very few clicks, since most people run Pandora in the back ground while they do something else). Most listeners are spoiled, and would likely pay a nominal charge. Its not clear if it would be enough to really provide the revenue needed to continue their unique brand of programming.

Either way, the day that we lose Pandora will indeed be a sad day for our computer speaker systems.

I was lucky enough to be able to spend the weekend with 2 of my best friends (Larry and Tara) attending an absolutely amazing music festival - the first annual Mile High Music Festival. Here are just some of the bands that we saw:

Day 1:

• Newton Faulkner - You’d never guess this guy would have long red dreadlocks when you just listen to him…
• Gavin Degraw - The only performer from the main stage who I actually saw use the walkway from the main stage to go interact with the audience.
• Steve Winwood - The man, the legend. He also did a couple of songs with Tom Petty. Talk about once in a lifetime. Wow.
• O.A.R.  - These guys completely won over a new fan by seeing them live. That’s the way music should be.
• Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers - Amazing. Except for the 18 year old who used me as a pogo stick to scream at him that she wanted to have his babies. I’m not sure she realized that she could *be* his baby. Ick.

Day 2:

• Samantha Farrell- I could hear her soulful voice from outside the tent and had to go listen closer.
• Ferras - Another band that I’d heard one song from (and I didn’t even know it was theirs) that still turned out to be amazing.
• Ingrid Michaelson - her pure honest voice and simple lyrics engage virtually everyone.  I mean, really, she tells the man she loves that she’ll buy him Rogaine. What’s not to love?
• Colbie Callait - the crowd for Colbie was so huge that she just looked like a miniature Barbie from our standpoint. Her stage definitely needed screens for those of us in the way way way back.
• Rodrigo y Gabriella - ok, so Larry and I actually played Guitar Hero at the Guitar Hero on Tour van for part of their performance. But man, can these two play guitar. Wow.
• John Mayer - He actually “suggested” that women start showing their boobies at concerts again. And one of his band members went crowd surfing. He’s got so much more personality in person than you’d guess from some of his albums.
• Dave Matthews Band - amazing, as always. Even from the safe distance of the hillside to avoid being crushed and pulverized.

Obviously, we learned a bit on the first day that we put to good use on the second day. Things like bringing food into the venue in our bags, to avoid ridiculously long food lines for overpriced ice cream and lemonade. We also finally adjusted to the fact that it was ok if we didn’t see a band’s entire set, and if we weren’t in the front row. Sometimes you can experience music just as well (or even better) from a few dozen feet away.

Want to check out a few photos from the event? I’ve posted them on Facebook. See those pictures!

If next year’s line up is anything like this one (please add Matt Nathanson to the line up - please!) I’ll definitely be back next year for more fun in the sun.

I’ve been listening to lots of music lately, what, with the move and all. Packing, painting, etc. One of the bands getting me through the move is “Saving Jane.” You may have heard their song “Girl Next Door” a few years ago.  But their songs “Ordinary” and “Imperfection” are a couple of fun, chick-lit anthems reminiscent of the songs of my younger days.

See below for the lyrics to “Ordinary” - behind a “more” tag for length

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Since I started a new job this week, working exclusively from home, I’ve got the unique opportunity to listen to some of the 3992 songs currently in my iTunes library. I listened to my iPod quite a bit at my last job, and when I’m traveling (like when I was stuck in the Charlotte Airport for 3+ hours last week). Unfortunately, the flaw in listening on the iPod is that I can’t build playlists or flag songs that I absolutely hate to delete them later.

One of my friends asked if I could recommend any Ben Folds music today, because he’s going to see him in concert tomorrow night. (I’m a bit jealous of that, but I’ll cover that in a different post…maybe.) So, I set my iTunes to play, starting at the beginning of “Rockin’ The Suburbs”, and I just let it play for most of today.

I’m learning a lot about my musical taste through this little adventure. Here’s what I’ve found today:

• I know every word to some albums that I bought in high school. Albums that I bought in college, or after, I’m lucky to know every word to even 2 songs.
• Billie Myers album “Growing, Pains” really is about growing pains, and epitomizes so much of my high school career. Particularly the song “First Time“
• I hate some of the stuff that Big & Rich did. It doesn’t even have redeeming humor value. Those songs diminish from some of the more enjoyable songs that they produced.
• I could listen to Ben Folds almost every day. I wish I hadn’t forgotten about him for so long.

More music-y goodness as I listen to nearly 4000 songs.

Sign me up!
The Mile High Music Festival

I’m totally a junkie when it comes to live music. I like to make it to at least one show a month - more if I can. So when I see a headline about how you can get free concert tickets, I’m all over it. I don’t even have to know the band - there’s a good chance I’ll go see them if its free.

So, I give you How the flat-broke concert loving dude can score free tickets

The 2 problems… the group giving away the tickets is in Ireland, and the tickets are actually in exchange for some… bodily fluids that only men secrete.

Guess I’m out of luck… unless anybody out there wants to take me to shows.

The new video for my favorite Matt is out! He’s up for the “Who’s Next” contest on Yahoo. Go check him out - and vote vote vote!