The futile search for global hotkeys on iTunes for Windows

In the over three decades I’ve spent on this planet, relatively few of those years have I spent listening to music on a computer (desktop/laptop). Yes, in the old days, I listened to records. I think the first one was Def Leppard’s Pyromania. I spent a long time loving tapes, though, and making mix tapes… Continue reading The futile search for global hotkeys on iTunes for Windows

Drunk singers unite!

Until this past weekend, my experience with karaoke had been exclusively in the privacy of someone’s home or (Korean-style) a room full of friends. Well, a friend of mine took me and my wife to a karaoke place, and even though there were moments of fun, I think I’m going to stick with singing with… Continue reading Drunk singers unite!

Goodbye, Cowon; Hello again, Sandisk

My Cowon iAudio 7 crapped out on me after three months. I’m extremely disappointed, since both “official” (CNET and the like) and user reviews for it appear to all be positive. Well, I’m sorry to say that my experience is not. So either I happened to have the fluke lemon unit, or other people are… Continue reading Goodbye, Cowon; Hello again, Sandisk

Moving Beyond DRM in Music

In the tired illegal downloading debate, there are few things the different sides can agree on. Is it stealing? Is it moral? Does it actually affect sales? Does it hurt the artists? One thing I think everyone can agree on (including the RIAA) is the need for a new distribution model. DRM (Digital Rights Management)… Continue reading Moving Beyond DRM in Music

Are you sure the music you’re downloading isn’t hurting the musicians?

I’m reading a book now called Hip Hop Matters by S. Craig Watkins. I came across a certain part about Master P that got me thinking. I don’t really want to retype that passage, so I copied and pasted a similar blurb from this online article: Master P: Hip-Hop Mogul Reveals – interview with the… Continue reading Are you sure the music you’re downloading isn’t hurting the musicians?