David Emery OnlineNIN Edition of Tap Tap Revenge
In what may well stand as a defining moment in the maturation of Apple’s App Store, Tapulous has announced that it has partnered with the band Nine Inch Nails to release a premium version of its popular game Tap Tap Revenge some time in October.
I find it quite interesting that this NIN version of Tap Tap Revenge will be a premium version, considering that the normal version is free (and has been very successful).
I’ve been thinking a lot about the pricing models of music related iPhone apps recently – it’s the traditional ‘free, but with promotional value’ versus ‘monetized, but with less promotional value’ debate that music videos also have to face. My general conclusion is that the ‘free with promo’ option is probably the best to go for – if the game you are in is selling music then the surrounding content you generate that isn’t part of the body of work (like you could argue a music video is) should be seen as promotional value only, there to increase music sales.
That being said, if the content you create is compelling enough in its own right then it seems reasonable to think about charging for it, but then is that worth the development time and resources? This NIN/Tapulous deal seems like a nice bridge between the two, although I think it would have made far more sense to have the NIN version free – with the value being in increased music sales – and the normal version for-pay.
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Radiohead Reckoner Remix
We’ve just launched the second Radiohead Remix project, this time with Reckoner (which I think will be a hell of a lot easier to remix then Nude was).
Visit ➔Bandcamp - A free hosted CMS for bands that (hopefully) doesn't suck
Most of the time, these products are poorly built, poorly customizeable and then want to charge artists money (for these amazing services). Bandcamp seems simple, easy to use and free, though they do have some plans to make money.
It’s amazing how many of these type of products there are out there, and still not one I’d choose to use. Bandcamp seems better then most, but only does the ‘music’ bit (playing/downloading/purchasing) for the time being and in all honesty ecommerce from a small band’s site generally isn’t worth the time and effort (not enough sales and you have to do all the promotion yourself).
Visit ➔Best Buy eyes Apple, Microsoft with Napster purchase
Today, electronics retailer Best Buy announced that it would buy Napster for a total of $121 million, a significant premium over the company’s value based on either stock price or assets.
“Hi there! We’re Best Buy.
We know nothing about digital music.
No, seriously – absolutely nothing. Not a clue.”
It’s almost like they’re trying to prove how stupid they are – Napster is a company loosing customers hand-over-fist as its main subscription business has unsurprisingly turned out to be a failure. The brand only has recognition from its illustrious illegal past and subsequent appalling advertising.
I don’t get it.
Visit ➔The labels that turned the tables
Once upon a time, the major labels were king. They swept up sales in their velvety cloaks, showered money from the heavens, and defined the way you and I bought music. Now they’re shedding staff, dropping bands and losing their star names. Now the drivers of the record industry are small, maverick labels that define trends and launch careers. Some of them even sell records by the lorryload. And this autumn sees a spate of anniversaries in which these powerhouses of British music are celebrating their achievements.
Nice article on our little corner of the industry…
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