October 2013

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YouTube Rumored to be Launching Music Service

A 2012 Nielsen report pegged YouTube as the primary way teens listen to music — beating our radio, iTunes and CDs. Not a shocker: It's free, has a huge library, a great search engine attached to it, and did I mention it's free?

There are now rumblings via Billboard that YouTube will be launching a subscription music service this year to compete with Spotify, rdio and the other current players, while also providing a "premium" tier to complement VEVO.

Billboard reports that there will be a free unlimited tier — supported by ads — and a paid version, both tied into a new YouTube mobile app.

How does this effect music videos?

Well, if videos are just something hidden behind a window or otherwise minimized, then this could effect viewcounts, which could effect budgets and trickle on down. But it could also form the next step in the entwining of music and video into one product: After all, would "Wrecking Ball" and "Gangnam Style" have been big hits if not for sticky videos that you were compelled to watch, rewatch and share?

Lyrical

Arcade Fire "Leaks" Reflektor via YouTube with an Album Lyric Video

Here's a good idea on every level:

1) Almost every album leaks, so why not leak it yourself via YouTube? Especially if more kids listen to music through YouTube than any other service?

2) Why should lyric videos stop at just one song? Especially when your source material is the feature film Black Orpheus, thus providing ample material to take you through the whole album.

So, if you enjoyed the "Afterlife" lyric video, you should love this expanded version for Arcade Fire's entire new album, Reflektor...

Watch It

Paul McCartney "Queenie Eye" (Simon Aboud, dir.)

There's an abundance of riches in this new Paul McCartney video — and that's not a sly way of saying everyone in it is worth millions upon millions. It was shot in Abbey Road studios, which is apparently haunted not just by The Beatles, but also by guest stars Johnny Depp, Kate Moss, Jeremy Irons, Meryl Streep, Sean Penn, Jude Law and many other familiar faces/names.

Community / Watch It

Matt Cardle "Loving You" (Jonny Kight, dir.)

X Factor winner Matt Cardle and former Spice Girl Melanie C team up in this video for Loving You - the first track to be lifted from Cardle’s forthcoming album Porcelain – directed by Jonny Kight, who gives this performance video an element of sophistication.

We see Matt and Mel occupy different rooms throughout a large house, always separate, with snippets of their now-lost intimacy – until it leads to the climatic kiss..

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