From vinyl to CDs to mp3s to the cloud. If you've used any of the streaming services like Rhapsody or Pandora, you're probably familiar with how music in the "cloud" is actually more convenient than digging through files. Personally, I can't wait for Apple - and the industry players who get it - to roll this out.

Artists are seeing the power of social media and now launching videos via Facebook and UStream. Shakira launched her new video on Monday this week. Artists are following where the target audience is and they are online, versus just watching MTV. It makes sense to debut within a social network where you have the opportunity to reach a lot of fans quickly. Shakira already had a large fan base of 1.7 million so the foundation was there, and she had a 30% response with 500K views within 24 hours. The facebook page also has a leader board to show comments from everyone or just your friends.

This is certainly a gift for the first-in retailers selling the gifts. This isn't open to the public, and there are only two categories to start. Music and sports. With music, DRM-free mp3s are $.90, 9 cents cheaper than iTunes. But the real kicker is, when you send, or gift, someone a song, everyone else can see it. And play it right there one time. I think the idea of giving a song as a form of self-expression or communication is going to have big appeal, and is a powerful one-up on iTunes.

Hilarious branded iPhone app, takes the joke about T-Pain auto tuning everything and gives access to everyone. Also great simple youtube video to promote of him using the apps with his friends.

Brendan

Really good exchange between the two. Moby indicates how far off the mark record companies are, and how much the business has changed. Most refreshing is his very simple approach to life. He's the anti-rock star.