 RAIN FOR FEB. 25 2008: LAST.FM, KURT AT SANFRAN MUSICTECH ·Feb 25, 10:02 AM FREE, ON-DEMAND STREAMS, PLUS MAJOR PROMOTION, POWER BIG GROWTH FOR LAST.FM: CBS-owned Last.fm says it is now the “fastest growing online music network in the U.S.” Since the social-networking music site launched its free on-demand music streams, Last.fm says “unique listeners” has grown 92%.
LEAVE THE MUSIC PLAYER, TAKE THE ONLINE STREAMS?: There’s high praise for the music programming and recommendation systems available on the recently-released Slacker portable Wi-Fi player. According to a review in the Washington Post, the “strongest aspect” of the Slacker experience is the free online streaming music service, not the player device, and “budget-minded fans” should go wild for the high quality programming and music discovery capabilities. The drawbacks? Spotty Wi-Fi plagued this particular reviewer, which could put a damper on Slacker’s main draw: its ability to refresh music lists on the go. The author’s last word on the device is available here. THE END OF THE MUSIC INDUSTRY AS WE KNOW IT.“ A new study from Forrester Research Inc. predicts that half of all music sold in the U.S. will be digital sales by the year 2011, with digital music surpassing the CD in 2012. The Massachusetts-based research firm says that digital music sales will increased with a compound annual growth of 23 percent over the next five years, bringing in $4.8 billion by 2012. However, CD sales figures will continue to decline to $3.8 billion by 2012. “This is the end of the music industry as we know it,” stated James McQuivey, VP and principal analyst at Forrester RAB CHIEF JEFF HALEY’S KEYNOTE AVAILABLE ONLINE. Among other things, he notes, “The financial success from online streaming is reflected in the double-digit increases in Radio’s off-air revenue activity. The average monthly off-air revenue
ADVERTISERS GET THE KEYS TO NEW DESKTOP WI-FI PLAYER: With its funky design and clunky name, the Chumby desktop player seems like something of a paradox. A review in the New York Times finds that the unique player is full of contradictions, giving users a touch-screen and robust Wi-Fi media options on the cheap. share: del.icio.us.  Reddit  Digg  Yahoo  Wink  Windows  Google  Newsvine 
Comment Other stories RAIN 8/19: Top webcasters hold their ground in July's webcast metrics ratings RAIN 8/18: Pandora tells press it's nearing "pull-the-plug" decision RAIN 8/15: iPhone doubles Pandora mobile listening; experts say mobile wi-fi should scare FM, satellite RAIN 8/14: Net radio's educated, affluent, at-work audience impacts July PPM RAIN 8/13: CBS Radio says growing digital revenues spurred by online ratings spike RAIN 8/12: For Pandora iPhone ads, the future may be "all about ears" RAIN 8/11: Wilhelms: Labels will take at least 50% of a radio royalty, but Simson's op-ed never mentions it RAIN 8/7: Salem's Internet gains ease pain of losses on radio side Bob Bellin on the satellite radio merger RAIN 8/6: "Gulf" between viewpoints may stall royalty compromise, says Oxenford |
The service claims to have more than 21 million active users per month worldwide. The on-air promotional exposure during 
The catch? Chumby makers are trying to cash in with unorthodox ad opportunities. The review explains its ad model like this: “It could charge a higher fee for the device itself and have no ongoing revenue, as with computers. It could charge less for the device and then charge a subscription fee, as TiVo does. Or it could sell the devices at cost and make money on advertising.” Now the test: will anyone buy in? Read more of the 
