I am sure everyone here is familiar with iTunes. Well recently (maybe 2 months ago) the newest version, 9, arrived. While speculation was 9 would include Blu-Ray support, we actually got LP’s.
Some of you might be aware that CD stands for Compact Disc. Before they were Compact, the Discs were about 12 inches (or about 6, depending on how many songs you wanted) across, black and had a bunch of grooves carved (technically pressed, but that’s neither her nor there) in them. Now these Non-Compact Discs were called records (not NCD’s). You played them on a device that DJ’s now ’spin’ their ‘fat beats’ on called a turntable. The ones normal people used had a speed dial (a dial is what came before touch-screens to control electronic devices) with 3 settings; forward, stop, and ludicrous… I mean 33, 45, and 78, measured in rmp’s. You had to move the dial to the correct setting for the record you wanted to listen to. The most popular we the 45’s. They were called that because if you had the patience to count the grooves, you would find there were 45 of them… (wait for it… thats right! If there were 45 grooves the thing would play non stop whatever was on that groove, would it?) They were called that becasue you set your play to 45. Those records had the popular song (the on the radio) on side A, and, what was often called a throwaway track, on side B. (And you have been trying to figure out why the songs you don’t care about were called B-sides, when there really was a B-side, weren’t you, well now you know.) The records that used the 33 setting were called Long Play (or LP’s) because they contained 12-ish songs. LP’s also often contained artwork, liner notes, anecdotes, and other things that made it more than JUST a listening experience.
The regular albums in iTunes did have album art, but it is a long cry from the ‘not JUST a listen experience’ you might have had with your LP’s of old. Enter the iTunes LP. It is really quite clever, actually. Weather you know it or not, iTunes has Apple’s WebKit HTML rendering engine built in. (How do you think the iTunes Store works, magic?) Well Apple came up with a new file format (I use the term loosely, it is really nothing more than a folder with a .itlp file extension) that is, for all intents and purposes, the LP. It is a collection of HTML (5)/CSS (3)/Javascript, images, video clips, audio clips, and creativity. The most basic LP’s include an album controller (Play this track, all tracks, etc) and liner notes/artwork. The more extravagant one includes tour videos, and scrolling lyrics, animations and bonus tracks.
I started looking at iTunes LP’s (taking them seriously) when I came across iTunesLP.net. At the time they had only, the now gone, Walt Disney’s Fantasia LP. (They were hoping that due to the fact that were only making available a .itlp file, and not the music, they would be left alone, I presume they were wrong, because that LP is not there anymore.) There are now 4 other in its place. They are free, and legally so, check them out. You might find yourself liking the format, or the music, who knows?
I first thought, while nifty, this might kinda have missed the boat, particularly since they don’t sync to the iPhone/iPod Touch. (I really hope they fix that, soon.) But what I have discovered is that I am downloading these LP’s, just to see how these musicians are putting them together (and in most of the cases I am finding I like the music as well).
I will switch gears a little bit here.
There was some rumor that Apples was charging the big labels $10,000 to release the LP’s, and locking out the indie labels from the format. (One of the free LP’s on iTunesLP.net is guilty of spreading that rumor.) The truth of the situation, as far as me, Google, and 20 minutes are able to discern is this; Anyone can release an LP, (if not through iTunes, then their own site), the ‘format’ is open, (not officially yet, but the cat is out of the bag, people are already making them..), Apple will make on for you, for 10 grand.
I hope that clears any questions or concerns you had up, now on with the show.
I have decided that iTunes has created one of the best marketing tools for a band, ANY band, especially indies. I am suggesting that (more of the) little guys should start releasing what we used to call 45’s, singles or EP’s, in the iTunes LP format, and (gasp) give them away. That’s right, give them away. Before you get all huffy and walk away think about it for a second. If you are a musician, you want people to buy your music, right? People won’t buy your music if they don’t know who you are. How do you expect people to get to know you unless you get SOME music out there? I am not saying every single peace you write has to be given away, or even should be, that’s for you to decide. (Listen, by Tryad is free through Creative Commons, and hell, their iTunes LP was put together by a fan and released through the same CC license). I am saying that between your music, and a well thought out LP file you stand to gain many new fans. I for one am going to be looking more into Justin Bianco, Tryad and Tuesday Spoils.