From: owner-alloy-digest@smoe.org (alloy-digest) To: alloy-digest@smoe.org Subject: alloy-digest V4 #314 Reply-To: alloy@smoe.org Sender: owner-alloy-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-alloy-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk X-To-Unsubscribe: Send mail to "alloy-digest-request@smoe.org" X-To-Unsubscribe: with "unsubscribe" as the body. alloy-digest Tuesday, November 23 1999 Volume 04 : Number 314 Today's Subjects: ----------------- Alloy: Crackers' bid for world domination continues [Tim_Dunn.JBA_HEATHRO] Alloy: The Devil is an Englishman, and he probably runs Tower Records [an] Re: Alloy: An ambition fulfilled. [Chris Cracknell ] Re: Alloy: Welcome new members :) [Chris Cracknell ] Alloy: details of the GrooveGrams contest! [RThurF@aol.com] Alloy: Thomas interviewed about GrooveGrams... [RThurF@aol.com] Alloy: brief article/interview with Thomas about web sonification... [RTh] Re: Alloy: Crackers' bid for world domination continues [Chris Cracknell ] Re: Alloy: Welcome new members :) [Keys35@aol.com] Re: Alloy: details of the GrooveGrams contest! ["Melissa R. Jordan" Subject: Re: Alloy: An ambition fulfilled. In article <38388868.553CA549@alloy99.freeserve.co.uk>, you wrote: >not-so-old, and some off the new album. Ian Anderson's voice isn't what >it was, and he was straining a little to hit some of the high notes, but >his flute playing was superb, and the whole performance was very ~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^ I remember how thrilled I was when I finally figured out how to do that "hum and play the flute at the same time" thingy he does. Yesiree, my hummers never fail to impress. Wait a minute... that doesn't sound right. That doesn't sound right at all! CRACKERS (Sitting on a park bench from hell!!!) - -- Collector of Atari 2600 carts - Accordionist - Bira Bira Devotee - Anime fan * http://www.hwcn.org/~ad329/crab.html | Crackers' Arts Base * * http://www.angelfire.com/ma/hozervideo/index.html | Hozer Video Games * Nihongo ga dekimasu - 2600 programmer - Father of 2 great kids - Canadian eh ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 22 Nov 1999 09:15:49 -0500 (EST) From: Chris Cracknell Subject: Re: Alloy: Welcome new members :) In article <3838CDE7.6F43153@inlink.com>, you wrote: >platonic. So I had to explain to him that I was not gay or bisexual (I >must send out a 'gay vibe', as this has happened to me numerous times >since then:-) and was not interested in a relationship with him. This ~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^ Ensign: Captain, we're picking up some sort of 'gay vibe' on the 'gaydar'. Captain: Lock the homing-erotic missiles on target. Set throttle on "ramming speed". We're going in sea-men, DIVE! DIVE! DIVE!!! One of our submarines is missing tonight. ~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^ >On the plus side, John liked Thomas Dolby and had The Flat Earth, in >addition to The Golden Age of Wireless. Well, Screen Kiss and The Flat >Earth hooked me, especially The Flat Earth. For me, it spoke to the part >of me that was frustrated with society and the people around me. I was >desperately wanting to find a woman to be in a relationship with (too ~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^ I had always thought that "The Flat Earth" was about seeking and finding validation. Mostly because I mondegreened the lyrics and thought he was saying: "All my life I have waited to be given any worth, I was screaming to be heard." instead of... "All my life I have waited to be given any word, it was screaming to be heard." "Screen Kiss" I had mondegreened the hell out of. (And all the russians look the same) Luckily I've never had "existential angst". I've always been perfectly comfortable with the possibility that life itself has no greater meaning and no greater purpose. Even the thought that my very consciousness is nothing more than a bi-product of chemical reactions in my brain has never bothered me. I've got a number of friends who suffer "existential angst" though so I get enough of it from them I suppose. I can't help but think if they'd spend less time looking at their bellybuttons and more time living life as she comes they'd be much happier. Whatever the end goal is you're going to get there wether your happy or miserable so spin the wheel and enjoy the ride. CRACKERS (Oooh! Lint from hell!!!!!!) - -- Collector of Atari 2600 carts - Accordionist - Bira Bira Devotee - Anime fan * http://www.hwcn.org/~ad329/crab.html | Crackers' Arts Base * * http://www.angelfire.com/ma/hozervideo/index.html | Hozer Video Games * Nihongo ga dekimasu - 2600 programmer - Father of 2 great kids - Canadian eh ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 22 Nov 1999 11:58:22 EST From: RThurF@aol.com Subject: Alloy: details of the GrooveGrams contest! Here's a forward of some more in-depth details of the GrooveGram Contest. Some FANTASTIC prizes are in the offering so get your mixes ready! Robin T Yahoo! Music Gets Into The Groove With Beatnik GrooveGrams Contest; Fans Can Win Prizes By Remixing Songs From Britney Spears, Puff Daddy, `Weird Al' Yankovic, Lou Bega, and Others SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(ENTERTAINMENT WIRE)--Nov. 22, 1999-- Millions of listeners have heard tunes from today's hottest chart-topping artists. Now, those acts want to hear the fans' versions of their songs. Starting today, through the Yahoo!(R) Music Beatnik GrooveGrams Contest (http://music.yahoo.com), fans have an opportunity to submit remixed versions of songs by Britney Spears, Moby, "Weird Al" Yankovic, Thomas Dolby and others. Many of the artists themselves will choose weekly contest winners and one grand-prize winner, and all winners will be announced and showcased on a special promotional page on Yahoo! Music. Within the next two weeks, music lovers will also be able to remix songs by other artists, including Puff Daddy and Lou Bega, both among Billboard's Top 10 artists, as well as rock legends Blondie and Yes. The contest runs through January 2000. "Fans are always looking for ways of connecting with their favorite stars -- the Yahoo! Music Beatnik GrooveGrams Contest is the ultimate in fan-celebrity interaction," said Matt Rightmire, general manager of media, Yahoo! Inc. "This contest on Yahoo! Music, along with other remixes and music self-publishing tools on Yahoo! Digital, gives fans a new forum for becoming more of the entertainer than the entertained." "This GrooveGrams Contest illustrates how artists such as Puff Daddy and 'Weird Al' value interactive remixes as a creative and promotional tool to keep their fans engaged on a Web page, rather than downloading from one," said Thomas Dolby Robertson, Chief Beatnik of Beatnik. "Beatnik GrooveGrams deliver an intuitive user experience that is far more compelling, personal and easy to share than passive music videos were a generation ago." Start Grooving and Then Pass It On Using software from Beatnik, Inc., fans can easily turn their browsers into miniature sound studios to participate in Beatnik GrooveGrams. Each instrument of a particular song is on a different track that users can boost, mute, solo or adjust. The result is a unique rendition of the original tune, personally created by the user. Links to GrooveGrams can be sent through email and are not downloaded by the recipient, but saved with instructions to a secure Web address (or URL), which will recreate the recorded mix from the GrooveGram sender. Beatnik GrooveGrams draw music lovers deep into their favorite music, allowing them to interact with songs on a creative level and add their own personalities to songs that they can share with others. Beatnik GrooveGram Contest Prizes and Details The Beatnik GrooveGram Contest features new GrooveGrams from Britney Spears, Puff Daddy, "Weird Al" Yankovic, Lou Bega, Moby, Thomas Dolby and other top performers in a stable of acts that span many genres. Music fans remix and enter their favorite songs, and the winners will be selected by many of the artists themselves. Each week, for six weeks in a row, one winner will get a $200 gift certificate for the Wherehouse Music store. From the weekly winners, a grand-prize winner will be chosen. The artist will feature the grand-prize winner on the Yahoo! Music winners' page. -- Britney Spears Nov. 19, 1999 (3 p.m. ET) to Jan. 4, 2000 (midnight ET) Grand Prize: Two tickets to attend the American Music Awards on Jan. 17 in Los Angeles. Coach class airfare for two. -- "Weird Al" Yankovic Nov. 19, 1999 (3 p.m. ET) to Jan. 10, 2000 (midnight ET) Grand Prize: Accordion signed by "Weird Al" -- Thomas Dolby Nov. 19, 1999 (3 p.m. ET) to Dec. 20, 1999 (midnight ET) Grand Prize: Coach class airfare for two to London with a visit to Oxford, England. Three nights accommodation. -- Moby Nov. 19, 1999 (3 p.m. ET) to Dec. 13, 1999 (midnight ET) Grand Prize: Two tickets to Moby's Millennium Concert at Cameo in Miami Beach, Fla. Coach class airfare for two. Official rules and more information, can be found at http://promotions.yahoo.com/promotions/groovegrams/rules.html Separate from the GrooveGrams Contest, users can remix additional songs from David Bowie, Queen Latifah, Luscious Jackson and others on Yahoo! Digital (http://digital.yahoo.com). ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 22 Nov 1999 12:02:13 EST From: RThurF@aol.com Subject: Alloy: Thomas interviewed about GrooveGrams... Beatnik GrooveGrams Launch With Top Acts As New Promotional Vehicle for the Web SAN MATEO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 22, 1999-- Beatnik Launches Interactive Remixes With Platinum Acts Britney Spears, Puff Daddy, 'Weird Al' Yankovic, Lou Bega and Others to Promote Songs in a Major Contest on Yahoo! Music Beatnik Inc., the leader in interactive audio technology and content for the Web, today introduced Beatnik "GrooveGrams" on Yahoo!(R) Music (http://music.yahoo.com). The Beatnik GrooveGram is the first interactive entertainment vehicle of its kind that allows anyone to record and mix popular songs, in real time through their browser, and share them with friends through email. Music labels believe Beatnik GrooveGrams are poised to become a preeminent promotional and creative medium for musicians on the Web the same way music videos and MTV revolutionized the music industry nearly two decades ago. Major labels have supported GrooveGrams by providing song tracks from top acts for the launch of the Yahoo! Music Beatnik GrooveGram contest. "Beatnik GrooveGrams demonstrate the power of interactive audio on the Web and how Beatnik technology and content enhance the music experience. When GrooveGrams are used as a creative and promotional tool for the artist, they keep the music fresh and keep fans engaged on the Web page, rather than downloading from it," said Thomas Dolby Robertson, Chief Beatnik of Beatnik. "Beatnik GrooveGrams are not only the new word-of-mouth on the Web, they are the dawn of a new promotion medium that is far more compelling, personal and easy to share than passive music videos were a generation ago. Beatnik GrooveGrams have the potential to completely re-energize the music industry, as artists' fans become Web communities." Music companies have provided three of the current top-ten Billboard acts including Puff Daddy, Britney Spears, and Lou Bega, as well as marquee acts 'Weird Al' Yankovic, Moby and classic pop artists Thomas Dolby, Blondie and Yes in selecting Beatnik GrooveGrams as a groundbreaking new way to interact with their fans. For the first time, artists can now listen to the fans and hear how they interpret their original music. Many of the artists themselves will choose weekly contest winners and one grand prize winner, and all will be announced and showcased on a special promotional page at Yahoo! Music (http://promotions.yahoo.com/promotions/groovegrams). Music lovers and novices alike can become a creative part of their favorite songs by sending their personalized song to a wide network of friends and by entering the GrooveGram contest. In addition, top labels and music companies such as GetMusic, BMG Entertainment, Bad Boy Records, The RCA Records Label, Jive, Volcano, Beyond and others are working with Beatnik to provide new and exciting artists for GrooveGrams on a continual basis. "GrooveGrams are an entirely unique Web experience that allows fans to engage directly with the music and connect with the artist at the same time," stated Tom Carrabba, general manager of Jive Records. "For example, 'Weird Al' Yankovic, on our affiliate label, Volcano, will be choosing the final GrooveGram winners on a weekly basis as well as selecting the grand prize GrooveGram winner. This level of participation and validation by artists far surpasses traditional promotional vehicles. We find this tremendously exciting." GetMusic, which brings major acts Lou Bega and Puff Daddy to join this promotion, supports Beatnik "GrooveGrams" by offering links to Peeps, one of its five music genre sites, for additional information on the artists and for an opportunity to purchase the CD. "This technology acts as a fantastic tool to enrich the user's experience with the music," said Andrew Nibley, president and CEO, GetMusic. "This technology fits perfectly into our notion of offering the consumer a compelling experience and we look forward to featuring the GrooveGrams in our GetMusic universe of sites very soon." "Fans are always looking for ways of connecting with their favorite stars -- the Yahoo! Music Beatnik GrooveGrams Contest is the ultimate in fan-celebrity interaction," said Matt Rightmire, general manager of media, Yahoo! Inc. "The Yahoo! Music Beatnik GrooveGrams Contest, along with other remixes and music self-publishing tools on Yahoo!Digital, give fans a new form of self-expression and makes them the entertainer, not just the entertained." Beatnik GrooveGrams are portable Beatnik Remixes that can be sent through email securely and with full copyright protection. Similar to Egreetings, Beatnik GrooveGrams are not downloaded, but saved with instructions to a secure URL, that recreates the recorded mix from the GrooveGram sender. Beatnik GrooveGrams draw music lovers deeply into their favorite music, allowing them to interact with songs on a creative level and validate fans on an emotional level as they add their own personalities to the songs and share their talents with others through email. In addition, once fans experience GrooveGrams, they can enjoy remixing a variety of other artists' music, regardless of genre, and are exposed and engaged to wide range of new music when they mix and record Beatnik GrooveGrams. ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 22 Nov 1999 12:09:34 EST From: RThurF@aol.com Subject: Alloy: brief article/interview with Thomas about web sonification... Company aims to ``sonify'' Web, partners with Yahoo By Scott Hillis LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Beatnik Inc. wants to bring you the Internet with all the bells and whistles. Literally. The Santa Clara, Calif.-based company is pushing what it calls the ``sonification'' of the World Wide Web in which sounds and music are generated with the nudge of a mouse or the tap of key. Monday, the privately held company will expand a partnership with online media giant Yahoo! Inc. that will showcase its suite of audio tools so visitors can remixsongs by Brittney Spears, Moby and ``Weird Al'' Yankovic. Aspiring sound engineers can e-mail their sonic tweakings to friends, who can then listen to the modified tune on Yahoo. A contest will give prizes to the best remixes. ``If you looked at the presence Yahoo had over the past several years ... it's been all about data and text and information,'' Matt Rightmire, Yahoo's General Manager for Entertainment and Media, said in an interview. ``This is the first step into making that medium an entertaining one and more compelling that just raw data,'' Rightmire said. While Yahoo is eyeing the promotion to see if it will make visitors hang out on its site longer, Beatnik is hoping the backing of big-name pop artists will draw attention to its services, and make the Web a noisier place. ``For the Web to reach its full potential, high quality audio and sound needs to be a part of the experience,'' Beatnik Chief Executive Officer Lorraine Hariton said. ``We believe we will be the brand for interactive sounds on the Web,'' Hariton said. ``The launch on Yahoo represents a real showcase of what this is all about.'' Beatnik makes money by licensing its Audio Engine and other tools such as a ``sound bank'', or collection of sounds, to Web site designers. Besides Yahoo, MTV.com and Microsoft's WebTV have also deployed the technology. Founded by 1980s pop star Thomas Dolby Robertson, the company is counting on wider support from music companies and artists because its technology doesn't download or stream music, so piracy is not an issue. Instead, a song or sound is disassembled and a blueprint of how to rebuild it is read by a user's Beatnik player. ``We're not actually sending music, it's not actually downloading the music. It's just sending a few bytes of information on how you configure the song,'' Hariton said. Beatnik expanded its product range earlier this month when it acquired closely held Mixman Technologies Inc., which lets users create, record and remix multitrack music. ``If you turned on the TV and no sound came out, you would know immediately that something was wrong. But on the Internet, if a sound pops out, it's a little surprising,'' Dolby Robertson said. ``This an incredibly exciting time for me because I'm right at the time when this is absolutely going to explode on the Web,'' he said. ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 22 Nov 1999 16:16:50 -0500 (EST) From: Chris Cracknell Subject: Re: Alloy: Crackers' bid for world domination continues In article <80256831.003CFF31.00@splmta.jbaintl.com>, you wrote: >Reading innocently through my Saturday Guardian in London, I find a list of >'Weird Band Names'. Going down the list, among the 'Phlegm Fatale' and >'Amputee and the Eunuchs, there it is - 'I Love My Shih-Tzu'! > >Is that your first UK press coverage Crackers? Congrats! > ~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^ Woohoo!!! Yepper, as far as I know that's our first UK press coverage although it might not be. When the band released it's first CD we got into the papers by being the first band to "give away" it's entire CD for free on the internet. Every song (and one bonus song not available on the CD) was available in full CD quality audio for free downloading. People were invited to make their own CD-Rs of the album if they wished. The publicity from this move netted us CD sales all around the world. I wish things were going so well with our second CD. We're having studio nightmares from hell. It looks like this thing will never be released. We may end up just scrapping it and starting over again from scratch. CRACKERS (Pulled out hair from hell!!!) - -- Collector of Atari 2600 carts - Accordionist - Bira Bira Devotee - Anime fan * http://www.hwcn.org/~ad329/crab.html | Crackers' Arts Base * * http://www.angelfire.com/ma/hozervideo/index.html | Hozer Video Games * Nihongo ga dekimasu - 2600 programmer - Father of 2 great kids - Canadian eh ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 22 Nov 1999 17:59:24 EST From: Keys35@aol.com Subject: Re: Alloy: Welcome new members :) mondegreened ?? ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 22 Nov 1999 23:34:38 -0500 From: "Melissa R. Jordan" Subject: Re: Alloy: details of the GrooveGrams contest! RThurF@aol.com wrote: > Here's a forward of some more in-depth details of the GrooveGram Contest. > Some FANTASTIC prizes are in the offering so get your mixes ready! This would be SO much fun... if only it didn't come up "document not found" each time I try it on Yahoo... grumble, grumble... :-( I had my headset on and I was ready to rock out, too. Bummer! Ah well, then it's back to Erasure's "Blue Savannah" remixes (god I love those guys!) Fingers crossed that it'll work at some point here... - -- Melissa R. Jordan Owner/Artist, Compass Rose Studios (www.crstudios.com) Owner, Compass Rose Consulting (www.askcrc.com) Visit my new blank, websites! Text, pictures, and all that coming soon!!! ------------------------------ End of alloy-digest V4 #314 ***************************