rc3.org Rafe Colburn on software development (and other topics)

How music gets sold (in 2009)

Today’s number one selling track in Amazon’s MP3 store is “Right Round” by Flo Rida.

Amazon.com MP3 Downloads_ Free music, bestselling songs from $.79, most albums $8.99 or lower. Compatible with MP3 players, including the iPod®..png

Why is this obscure track today’s best seller? It was played over the opening credits of CSI: Miami last night. I know because I used Shazam for the iPhone to figure it out. There are a number of web sites that identify the songs played on TV shows as well. I think there’s a lesson in this for the music business.

Update: Rogers Cadenhead’s post on Life on Mars has some interesting music-related notes as well.


7 Comments

You’ve linked to the guy I linked to about Marion Black.

I find more interesting music on TV than I do just about anywhere else these days. “Weeds” finds a lot of obscure, incredible music I’d miss otherwise.

Posted by Rogers Cadenhead on 3 March 2009 @ 6pm

Wow. Shazam looks really neat. I wish it would work for my phone.

I’ve been trying to figure out who the band is in this commercial but no luck so far. I really like the song. I’ve googled everything I could think of.

I’m sorry to be a pest can you shazam this?

http://adweek.blogs.com/adfreak/2009/02/mexican-ad-for-viagra-actually-doesnt-suck.html

Posted by keithl on 3 March 2009 @ 6pm

In Japan they figured this out long ago; there’s few bands that have not made an opening or ending song for an animation series :) .

Posted by Laurens Holst on 3 March 2009 @ 9pm

Shazam couldn’t tag the song in that commercial. I read elsewhere that it was composed just for that commercial — the song is called “What I Feel” by a group called Catatonia.

Posted by Rafe on 3 March 2009 @ 11pm

It’s true. My wife “collects” songs from various shows that choose good music more often than not (eg Veronica Mars, Life). Every week in which a new episode of Life airs she ends up buying two or three tracks from Amazon or iTunes.

Posted by daveadams on 4 March 2009 @ 10am

Thanks, Rafe.

Posted by keithl on 4 March 2009 @ 11am

This obscure song is playing constantly on pop radio right now and is by an artist who had another hit about 3 months ago. It’s been at or close to #1 for a few days.

Posted by Wesley Walser on 5 March 2009 @ 12am

Leave a Comment