Seven questions/ideas for Ping – Apple’s new music social network

Here is a post I sent to the Pho-List, a semi-private mailing list for people in/interested in the digital music space. As Ping & Apple is of wider interest than just industry types I am posting my seven questions/ideas here on my blog. I welcome your feedback, answers or further suggestions.

I think the really interesting stuff will be when we learn whether additional parties will be able to participate in Ping or on the Apple TV.

A few examples to illustrate what I mean.

1) will ticket services that are not Livenation/ticketmaster be able to work with Ping? If so musicians and fans win. If not Ping will lack smaller venues  and any major shows not at Livenation venues.

2) will services such as the BBC’s iPlayer (which they have made some announcements about offering outside of the UK – and slight hints that even non-UK citizens might have a means of paying for access) or similar streaming services from other global networks integrate with the Apple TV? As a US based fan of Doctor Who if this allowed me to legally view HD Doctor Who (and other BBC series) I would buy the Apple TV & pay a monthly subscription in a heartbeat. (BBC America isn’t available in HD on Comcast here in SF)

3) Will artists have a means of offering full streams of select tracks or full videos on their Ping pages as they already do on MySpace Music and on their own websites.

4) a Facebook friends invite feature was announced for Ping but will this integration be deeper? (ie linking/using music, tv and film “likes” on Facebook; connecting a facebook fan page to the musician’s ping profile etc) and will other networks also be connected to (for example will there be a myspace integration)

5) will there be an API to allow developers to build tools to help musicians and/or labels manage their Ping presence? Will this allow for cross promotion of more than just livenation venue event tickets? For example – merch, physical music such as LP’s, fan clubs, kickstarter like pre-sale offers for new works, iPhone/iPad applications etc. Will an artist be able to cross-promote for example linking to TV series or films using the artists work (or in some cases where the artist is acting)

6) how well integrated will individual artists and the group(s) they perform with be on Ping? I don’t know if there is an easy answer but countless artists across all genres perform with different groups – a fan of the artist or one group should, you would think, have an  easy way to discover these other groups.

7) will Ping and iTunes more broadly better support musical genres currently poorly represented on iTunes. Personally I’m thinking about Opera and a classical music – genres where iTunes has limited offerings. But there is a wider global array of genres and regions where iTunes (at least in the US) carries few artists.

SXSW – Music events I suggest – Wed & Thurs

I recieved a seriously useful list from a friend – 36+ pages of events which are happening (showcases and parties) at SXSW Music 2009 here in Austin.

It is a private document which I can’t forward or share – but reading over it I have seen a number of showcases which I will try to attend – showcases full of bands I love, or bands I know people who’s taste I trust love (and yes, these often are “buzzed” highly – so get there early and/or RSVP in advance.

I will only be in Austin until Thursday evening this year, but plan on getting as much great music in as I can possibly get to in the short time I have.

But here they are, hope these are helpful (and please leave comments with other showcases I should try to attend!)

Wednesday Mar 18th

My notes are in italics

11:30 a.m. – 6 p.m. – Spaceland SXSW Party at Maggie Mae’s, 323 E/ 6^th St., Austin, free.

STAGE ONE: (Gibson stage)

11:30 – 12:00 Black Gold
12:20 – 12:50 The Boxing Lesson
1:10 – 1:40 tbd
2:00 – 2:30 Natalie Portman’s Shaved Head
2:50 – 3:20 Yelle
3:40 – 4:10 Cut Off Your Hands
4:30 – 5:00 The Asteroids Galaxy Tour
5:20 – 5:50 Other Lives

STAGE TWO: (Deck)
11:45 – 12:15 Lovvers
12:35 – 1:05 The Mae Shi
1:25 – 1:55 Future of the Left
2:15 – 2:45 Marnie Stern
3:05 – 3:35 Vivian Girls
3:55 – 4:25 Mapei
4:45 – 5:15 Nico Vega
5:30 – 6:00 Wavves

STAGE THREE: (Les Paul stage)
12:00 – 12:30 Local Natives
12:50 – 1:20 Gavin Castleton with Meiko
1:40 – 2:10 Bad Veins
2:30 – 3:00 We Were Promised Jet Packs
3:20 – 3:50 Harlem Shakes
4:10 – 4:40 Titus Andronicus
5:00 – 5:45 Garotas Suecas

This is an amazing lineup. Every other band is one which has been getting a ton of buzz and in most cases make some great music. I’ve heard great things about Natalie Portman’s Shaved Head; Vivian Girls (extremely great things about them); and Titus Andronicus

12 noon – 6 p.m. – Paste Magazine Day Party at Radio Room (formerly Bourbon Rocks), 507 E. 6^th St., RSVP: http://www.pastemagazine.com/app/rsvp/new/17

Indoor: 12 Greg Laswell, 2 Port O’Brien, 3 Loney Dear, 4 Wild Light, 5 M. Ward; Outdoor: 12:30 Anathello, 1:30, Amanda Palmer, 2:30 Heartless Bastards, 3:30 Black Joe Lewis, 4:30 Superdrag

Most people know M. Ward (and indeed he’s quite good) but it is Amanda Palmer whom I am particular interested in getting in and hearing (Neil Gaiman is a big fan)

12 noon – 6 p.m. – Force Field PR and Terrorbird Media Party, Red 7, Red River & 7^th Sts., Austin, free, all ages, open to the public.

In particular note The Vivian Girls playing at 5:20pm

STAGE A – RED 7

12:15 – 12:45- LAKE
1:00 – 1:30 – WAVVES
1:45 – 2:15 – LONEY DEAR
2:30 – 3:00 – THE THERMALS
3:15 – 3:35- YONI WOLF OF WHY?
3:50 – 4:20 – FOL CHEN
4:35 – 5:05- THE PAINS OF BEING PURE AT HEART
5:20 – 5:55 – VIVIAN GIRLS

STAGE B – RED 7
12:30 – 1:00 – LARYTTA
1:15-1:45 – SHOUT OUT OUT OUT OUT
2:00 – 2:30 – MAX TUNDRA
2:45- 3:15 – DMG$
3:35 – 4:05 – THEMSELVES
4:20 – 4:50 – RAINBOW ARABIA

5:05 – 5:35 – BEACH HOUSE

12:30 – 6 p.m. – Little Radio 3 Day Event, Red Eyed Fly, 715 Red River St., Austin, bloody marys and beer, free.

In particular note Amanda Palmer performing at 2:50

12:40-01:00 The Upside Down


01:20-02:00 Whispertown2000


01:50-02:20 Youngmond Grand


02:20-03:00 Evangelicals


02:50-03:20 Amanda Palmer


03:20-04:00 The Von Bondies

03:50-04:20 Dawes


04:20-05:00 Megafaun


04:50-05:20 Tallest Man on Earth


5 – 6:30 p.m. – A Tribute to Leonard Cohen at Waterloo Records, 600A N. Lamar Blvd., Austin, free/open:

I am a fan of Lenoard Cohen, so may try to stop by this as it could be a lot of fun

5PM: David Garza

5:05: Southeast Engine
5:10: Laura Gibson
5:15: Kevin Devine
5:20: Buck 65
5:30: Loney Dear

Thursday March 19th 2009

11 a.m. – 2 p.m. – Taping of KCRW Morning Becomes Eclectic at Buffalo Billiards, Austin.

Possibly the best music radio show now running and quite seriously an argument for living in LA (and if in LA for where to live based on if the reception is good)***** CORRECTION ******** this is NOT at Buffalo Billards but at a local Austin studio.KCRW Has a showcase WED night at Buffalo Billards (which I am at)

12 noon – 6 p.m. – Discover The Wine, Discover The Music Wine Bus, will hit the day parties. Backed by Wente Vineyards with pourings by fifth generation winemaker Karl Wente.Leaves from the Whole Foods Parking Lot at 525 N. Lamar (across from Waterloo Records) at noon, ME Television at 12 noon – 6 p.m. –Discover The Wine, Discover http://www.DiscovertheWineDiscovertheMusic.ning.com

This is organized by a friend of a friend and I will probably hop on it for a bit

reapandsow, Remix Magazine, Electronic Musician Magazine, Batter Blaster & DataPipe present a day of music, sun, and drinks at SXSW 2009

This is organized in part by my good friend Corey Denis, I will probably spend a lot of time here
Free. 2 Stages of music! You do not need a wristband or badge to attend.

Batter Blaster will also be there flipping free flap jacks

Outside Stage
5:15 Red Cortez
4:15 Ian Moore w/ Oranger
3:00 The Mother Hips
2:05 Royal Bangs
1:20 Brothers and Sisters
12:30 Milton

Inside Stage
5:25 Milton
4:50 Beast
4:10 Honey Claws
3:25 Rotary Downs
2:35 Loquat
1:45 Katy Mae
1:00 Pink Nasty
12:15 Kevin Seconds

Event Details:
Event: “Electronic Musician Magazine” Showcase
Date: Thursday, March 19th, 2009
Location: Habana Calle 6, 709 E 6th St, Austin, TX
Time: 12:15pm – 6:00pm
Tickets: Admission is FREE
Event Sponsors: Electronic Musician Magazine, (www.emusician.com), Batter Blaster (www.batterblaster.com), Datapipe (http://datapipe.com/), Cerwin Vega (http://www.cerwinvega.com/), Leighelena (http://www.leighelena.com), and reapandsow (www.reapandsow.com)