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MusicMetric is an interesting new tool that (supposedly) allows bands to track real-time discussions about them around the web. Such a service is valuable data for a band, as it can be used to decide where to tour and what types of merchandising to sell. MusicMetric is yet another service that is quickly leveling the playing field between good independent bands and the major record labels.

Techcrunch has a good article here: http://eu.techcrunch.com/2009/10/20/musicmetric-launches-real-time-band-promo-tools-250-free-trials-for-readers/

Today, Techcrunch reported that Myspace Music is close to acquiring Imeem, the 6-year old streaming service that has been clobbered by financial strain. Earlier this year, Imeem recapitalized the company to survive, raising 6 million dollars in fresh capital and renegotiating deals with the record labels. Evidently, it wasn’t enough.

Now, MySpace will likely buy up the company for a pittance, and absorb the management team and general technology. Chances are that Imeem’s end will also spell the end of free music streaming, another step towards what I see as the ultimate win-win: a music streaming model supported in part by audio ads and in part by paid subscriptions.

With Spotify’s launch in the US delayed indefinitely, this could be an interesting opportunity for MySpace Music to seize market share. They already own Ilike, and with Imeem added to that, could look to become a major player quite quickly. Interesting times ahead.

Streaming music has been the focal point for all too many startups in the last several years. Companies like Pandora, Imeem, Lala, and now Spotify have invested tens of millions of dollars, only finding that it is really a hard nut to crack. After all, how exactly are you going to make money? The struggles of Rhapsody have shown that not many people are willing to pay for a streaming service, and audio ads haven’t really taken off in the way that people thought they would.

In recent months however, things have started to pick up. First off, Pandora raised an additional $35 Million to accelerate growth. Then, Swedish upstart Spotify announced it was bringing its slick new application to the US sometime in the next few months.

Now, we hear that Google is launching its own music streaming platform. Exactly how this will sync up with cellphones and mobile devices is unclear, but having the trusted Google brand name (and wallet) behind a streaming service could really push this market to the next level.

If even one of these companies manages to reach profitability and shows some ability to scale, it could usher in a new golden era for the music business. Exciting times ahead!

Variable pricing has just started to break through in the music business. The basic idea is that consumer demand, not labels, should dictate prices. Amie Street has built a rapidly growing business around this concept, and they recently took an important next step by partnering with Sony.

Under the partnership, Sony will offer its entire catalog to be purchased on Amie Street. There will be three price tiers: $1.29, $0.99, and $0.69. This is very similar to the new itunes pricing structure.

Overall, this is a good step for a major label to take. It is important to understand that music prices need to adapt to consumer demand. Lets see how this impacts the industry moving forward.

I’ve been MIA for around 2 months working on other projects, but the Musimuse blog is now back! I’ll be updating about once a week, so please touch base occasionally to see what’s up in the wonderful world of music.

Techcrunch recently reported that MySpace acquired Ilike, the music streaming service. I think there are a few very interesting things to note here:

1) Ilike is immensely popular, yet the acquisition price was reportedly only $20 million or so. Considering that Venture Capitalists put in $16.5 million, this is a really crappy return. So why did they sell….?

2) Why did they sell to Myspace? Facebook is obviously a natural option, given that the platform runs on facebook. I don’t really understand why facebook would continue to support a popular service now owned by one of its biggest competitors.

Something very unusual is going on here. Last.fm sold a few years back for $280 million. Now, I understand these are bad economic times, but this still makes very little sense to me on a number of levels. Would love to hear thoughts.

Techcrunch has a great article about Songkick, an online service focused on concert recommendations. Now SongKick is evidently embarking on an ambitious project to catalog every concert ever performed.

Its actually pretty cool. The site already has more than 1 million concerts. If you have been to a concert, you can log in and say “I’ve been there” which allows your friends to see which shows you’ve been to. It also recommends other concerts you might enjoy based on previous attendances.

I think what could really take this to the next level is some integration with large social networks such as Myspace, Facebook, and Twitter. Partnerships with Imeem, Ilike, Lala, and Pandora could be beneficial as well. They should also consider opportunities with newer services like Mobile Roadie, which I covered earlier.