Re: [microsound] project invite: 'City of the Future'

[jan.larsson <jlarsson@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

The trouble with MP3:s are first the demographics. You only reach=20
middle-class white kids in college and their friends and pretty much=20
no-one else. Probably mostly americans which makes it even more=20
uninteresting as they will soon be forced to listen only to patriotic=20
country music anyway.

Last research I saw stated that about 5-7% of music consumers=20
downloaded MP3-files and less that 20% had done it at all (once). The=20
reason the record co:s are so upset are that these 20% (middle-class,=20
20-30 years) are their best customers that attracts, amongst other,=20
financing and advertisers to radio stations (they are not yet set in=20
their consumer patterns, i.e. they can be manipulated by ads), they are=20=

an important group for advertisers and commercially.

On top of this you have the low technical quality when you try to use=20
MP3-format for any kind of complex music. MP3:s are not designed for=20
music that you actually listen to. The psychacoustic model (you are=20
removing 90% of the information) was based on simple pop songs and=20
schlagers. And that you listen casually (while you work etc.).

In fact the good old cassette is a much better audio media, it=20
preserves much more information. MP2 is also better (has a much cleaner=20=

and simpler psychacoustic model, i.e. easier to design good sounding=20
filters) and can sound acceptable at 224kbps or more.

l=F6rdagen den 5 april 2003 kl 16.20 skrev spw:

>> Have you read any newspapers in the past 3 years? Plenty, especially=20=

>> if they
>> are interested in music not put out by corporate scumbags.
>
> The music being free and accessible and the high prices of CD's has a=20=

> lot to
> do with the
> popularity of MP3.
>>
>> Indeed. It's also great for distributing music for free. Of course, =
if
>> you're hung up on having something physical to gaze at, you could=20
>> always
>> burn them to CDR.
>
> The problem is MP3 quality doesn't sound good even on CD, I have a lot=20=

> of
> MP3's on CD and I
> never listen to them.
>
>>>
>>
>> What's a "legit" label? Does it have to be part of the Bertelsmann=20
>> empire to
>> qualify?
>
> an established label that is carried by a distributor and sold in=20
> stores.

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