Jukebox
Detroit Booze Rock
I’m a child of the 70s from Detroit, so drinking Stroh’s and getting down with good-time rock-and-roll on the FM radio were rights of passage for me and my crew. Guitar, bass and drums is what it was all about – the kick drum thumped us in the solar plexus and the bass guitar rattled our […]
Apple Music Update
Since Apple Music launched on June 30, over 11 million iOS device users have opted into the free 90-day trial. That’s not bad, considering the amount of heavy lifting required to bring music-streaming into the mainstream. I mused last month about the impact Apple Music could have on jukebox, and considered the possibility of a […]
Streaming Coming to a Jukebox Near You
With the arrival of Apple’s new subscription, all-you-can-eat music-streaming service, Apple Music, the music industry seems poised for yet another format shake-up. Following are some potential impact points and opportunities for the jukebox world… MUCH MORE STREAMING Apple has sold well over 1 billion iOS devices to date. A significant number of the owners of these […]
Free Streaming Under Fire
People prefer to listen to songs for free. But now the music industry is rethinking its strategy of making popular music available for free via ad-supported online streaming services. High-powered pop star Taylor Swift pulled her music from the Spotify platform in November. This could lead others to follow suit, as it appears that big-time […]
Japan Still Loves CDs!
Who knew that a squad of young Japanese girls wearing saucy Brazilian cheerleader outfits could save a dying technology? A recent New York Times article reports that AKB48, a popular Japanese group (pictured – photo by Eugene Hoshiko/AP), has sold CDs containing tickets to its performances, encouraging fans to buy multiple copies. A cunning strategy indeed. Japan […]
CD Format Still has Value
Easter isn’t the only holiday celebrated this weekend. This Saturday, April 19, is Record Store Day. It will be the seventh annual celebration of brick-and-mortar music shopping and, more importantly, of the enduring appeal of music in a physical format. Nielsen SoundScan data show that vinyl records represented the only music format that increased in […]
CD Holds Its Own vs. Digital Downloads
According to some Billboard articles I’ve been reading, CD continues to lose ground in the U.S. but is holding its own better than some may have thought. The divide between CDs and downloads has definitely grown closer in recent years. According to Billboard, in 2013 CDs represented 57.2% of the U.S. album market, while downloads […]
Retro Resurgence for CD?
I was talking with a friend recently and we were musing about the future retro-fetishist collectibility of CDs. Most music enthusiasts know that turntables and vinyl records are enjoying a pleasant boutique rebirth in recent years. In fact, vinyl is at the moment the only recorded music format experiencing any kind of growth. When I […]
CD Jukebox – Excellent Condition
This is a Rowe CD 100 jukebox. Features 100 CDs of your favorite music and is in excellent condition! What a fantastic piece of equipment to add to your home or location. Great for restaurants and arcades! Colors may vary. CDs not included.” I saw this ad and the accompanying photo on a classified-ad web […]
Amusement Expo Report – Day 2
Further greetings from Las Vegas. We did get outside briefly and I can report that it was sunny and in the 70s. However, I hear back in Detroit it was in the 70s yesterday. There are also casinos in Detroit. Hmmm, maybe I never left… Anyway, back on the show floor, the mood was still […]
Amusement Expo Report – Day 1
Greetings from Las Vegas. I’d like to tell you what the weather’s like here, but as most of you know, going outside isn’t really part of the program in this town. However, the mood inside the convention hall is decidedly sunny. An upbeat front of optimism is sweeping across the industry as operators express their […]
EAG 2012
The EAG Expo in London was further evidence of the marginalization of the coin-operated amusement industry around the world. Attendance appeared to be light and quite regional. Where the London events of the past used to draw buyers and exhibitors from around the world to this international showcase, this year’s show at the Excel […]