Pandora closes to the UK :(

Man, I hoped this would never get sent too..

There is an obligatory facebook group to try and save it.. but I'm not holding my breath.
http://www.facebook.com/n/?group.php&gid=6878879451

hi, it's Tim,

This is an email I hoped I would never have to send.

As you probably know, in July of 2007 we had to block usage of Pandora outside the U.S. because of the lack of a viable license structure for Internet radio streaming in other countries. It was a terrible day. We did however hold out some hope that a solution might exist for the UK, so we left it unblocked as we worked diligently with the rights organizations to negotiate an economically workable license fee. After over a year of trying, this has proved impossible. Both the PPL (which represents the record labels) and the MCPS/PRS Alliance (which represents music publishers) have demanded per track performance minima rates which are far too high to allow ad supported radio to operate and so, hugely disappointing and depressing to us as it is, we have to block the last territory outside of the US.

Based upon the IP address from which you recently visited Pandora, it appears that you are listening from the UK. If you are, in fact, listening from the US, please contact Pandora Support: pandora-support@pandora.com.

It continues to astound me and the rest of the team here that the industry is not working more constructively to support the growth of services that introduce listeners to new music and that are totally supportive of paying fair royalties to the creators of music. I don't often say such things, but the course being charted by the labels and publishers and their representative organizations is nothing short of disastrous for artists whom they purport to represent - and by that I mean both well known and indie artists. The only consequence of failing to support companies like Pandora that are attempting to build a sustainable radio business for the future will be the continued explosion of piracy, the continued constriction of opportunities for working musicians, and a worsening drought of new music for fans. As a former working musician myself, I find it very troubling.

We have been told to sign these totally unworkable license rates or switch off, non-negotiable...so that is what we are doing. Streaming illegally is just not in our DNA, and we have to take the threats of legal action seriously. Lest you think this is solely an international problem, you should know that we are also fighting for our survival here in the US, in the face of a crushing increase in web radio royalty rates, which if left unchanged, would mean the end of Pandora.

We know what an epicenter of musical creativity and fan support the UK has always been, which makes the prospect of not being able to launch there and having to block our first listeners all the more upsetting for us.

We know there is a lot of support from listeners and artists in the UK for Pandora and remain hopeful that at some point we'll get beyond this. We're going to keep fighting for a fair and workable rate structure that will allow us to bring Pandora back to you. We'll be sure to let you know if Pandora becomes available in the UK. There may well come a day when we need to make a direct appeal for your support to move for governmental intervention as we have in the US. In the meantime, we have no choice but to turn off service to the UK.

Pandora will stop streaming to the UK as of January 15th, 2008.

Again, on behalf of all of us at Pandora, I'm very, very sorry.

-Tim Westergren
(Pandora founder)

Free Music

This is from the Guardian site, some excellent resources for music downloads.

Best for electro/techno: ill-ec-tro-nic
ill-ec-tro-nic.blogspot.com/

When London blogger Langer started ill-ec-tro-nic two years ago, there weren't many MP3 blogs dedicated to writing about underground electronic music. These days there are plenty, but Langer's (which he co-edits with his friend RAW) still stands out as one of the best. The site has a catholic remit, with experimental electronica, techno, remixes of indie tracks and even the odd slab of psychedelic rock thrown into the mix. "No cheesy house, though," says Langer. "And we've gradually steered away from the whole electro house/new rave stuff as every other blog seems to be posting it and most isn't very good."

Download: Thom Yorke - Harrowdown Hill (Ripperton Dub) (posted 30/12/07)

Best for new sounds: Pitchfork Media
pitchforkmedia.com

Some see Pitchfork as the world's brightest beacon for new music. Plenty of others lambast the site for its florid writing and self-congratulatory tone. But nobody can deny Pitchfork's influence. Thirteen years after it was established as an indie-rock webzine by Minnesotan high school graduate Ryan Schreiber, the site now receives more than 1.5m unique visitors each month, with around half of those living outside the US. That's enough for Pitchfork to make a significant global impact on any new band's fortunes. The Go Team!, M.I.A. and, recently, the Black Kids have all benefited from their support and the site is acknowledged to have kickstarted the Arcade Fire's career with its glowing 9.7 out of 10 review for the band's Funeral album.

Download: Cave - Hunt Like Devil (posted 14/12/07)

Best for B-sides: The "B" side
redkelly.blogspot.com

"I don't think B-sides are a dying art," says blogger Red Kelly, "they're already dead". Perhaps so, but Kelly does a sterling job of keeping the memory of old flipsides alive. About once a week, the New Yorker thumbs through his extensive collection of classic soul and R&B 45s and picks a B-side to post on his blog.

Download: Kim Tolliver - I'll Try To Do Better (posted 28/12/07)

Best for hip-hop: Cocaine Blunts
cocaineblunts.com

A surprisingly small proportion of MP3 blogs dedicate themselves to hip-hop. So, while unsigned indie-rock acts can expect blog exposure almost as soon as they've formed, upcoming MCs can struggle for attention. "There are a lot of local and niche scenes [in hip-hop] that are painfully under-represented on blogs," says Nos, a Washington DC-based hip-hop writer. Since 2003, Nos has done his bit to redress the balance with the excellent Cocaine Blunts, writing expertly about both the latest hip-hop micro-scenes and big name releases, often with accompanying MP3s.

Download: Battles feat Joell Ortiz - Leyendecker (DJ Emz Remix) (posted 12/12/07)

Best for live gig bootlegs: Smuggled Sounds
live-bootleg.blogspot.com

Live concert bootlegs used to be badly recorded cassettes sold by furtive-looking geezers at record fairs. These days, thanks to Smuggled Sounds, any computer owner can relive gigs in impressive quality audio, for free. Since the blog took its current form in August 2006, its prolific London-based author, ZazafromJahor, has posted recordings of hundreds of concerts, all available to download as large MP3 files (so you'll either need quick broadband or plenty of patience). Last month, the site offered a bootleg almost every day, including shows by Ike and Tina Turner from 1972, the Beatles from Hamburg in 1962, reggae legend Yellowman from 1983 and brand new recordings of reunion concerts by the Police and Led Zeppelin. As if the frequent posting didn't give you enough options, the site's download links seem to stay live longer than many blogs', so it's worth trawling back through the archive. Björk's 2007 Roskilde show and a belting 1985 Springsteen set are two November 2007 highlights.

Download: Björk - Hyperballad (posted 26/11/07)

Best for covers: Cover Freak
coverfreak.com

US blogger Steve McIntyre is, by his own admission, "obsessed" with cover versions. "I've been giving covers CDs to my friends as Christmas presents for years," he says. "The site is an outgrowth of that." Every Sunday since October 2006, McIntyre has posted five cover versions on a particular theme, be it war, ukuleles, Johnny Cash, drinking or California.

Download: Tricky - The Love Cats (posted 30/12/07)

evolution of dance

James Lavelle

James Lavelle (UNKLE, MoWax) talks about his year

Guardian Mp3

Led Zeppelin at the 02

Bit weird that this is the end of newsnight.. but seems to be one of the better videos..

http://www.ledzeppelin.com

Lo-Fi's disappoint

Saw the lo-fi's last night and they were rubbish

I am hugely dissapointed as they were my gig of the year in 2002(?)

The original singer never made it pass the recording of the first album, but when I saw them, I guess not long after their peak.. when ER played a song of theirs.. the singer they had then was amazing, the gig at Scala was I couldn't stop playing the album.. last night was just awful.

http://www.lofidelityallstars.co.uk/