| Already making plenty of noise in the marketplace is a | | | | audience. We think this is going to mean people want |
| new concept called Playlist, which exists both as a club | | | | the unexpected. And this is why we think the Playlist |
| and as an online music competition (see for details on | | | | idea is an idea that reflects its time."The current |
| how to enter and what you can win).Playlist is | | | | consolidation of major media across the globe is |
| attracting attention for several reasons. First, as a part | | | | somewhat counter-balanced by the Playlist concept. |
| of what some are calling "iPod Culture," Playlist is | | | | As Evans notes, "In the case of radio, for example, |
| helping disseminate music to a wide audience. And | | | | commercial radio playlists are designed to appeal to a |
| second, many of us just love the Warholian idea of a | | | | particular demographic, which musician and music tsar |
| bunch of people showing up at a club to be a DJ for | | | | Feargal Sharkey describes as 'Teenage girls,' as this |
| 15 minutes of fame.So far, the Playlist club is only in | | | | group statistically buys the most music. And that's not |
| London, but you can expect them to go global soon | | | | good for music. We think we live at a point in time |
| because this concept takes social networking and | | | | when digital diversity will propel music sales beyond |
| marries it to a party context. And who doesn't like a | | | | anything ever seen before. And we really, really like |
| nice loud party?Briefly, here's the rundown on the two | | | | the idea of harnessing a personal technology such as |
| forms of this new | | | | the iPod in a way that transforms it into a collective, |
| phenomenon:BRICK-AND-MORTAR PLAYLIST.You | | | | social activity such as Playlist."CHANGING |
| arrive with your favorite 15-minutes of music on an | | | | TIMES.There is a philosophical element in the way |
| iPod or other digital music player, sign-up (first come, | | | | Evans describes the culture surrounding Playlist. "Music |
| first served) and you play your songs through the | | | | is at once a deeply personal activity and a deeply |
| club's sound system.Or you sign up to be a judge of | | | | social activity, both for players and listeners. I think |
| the quarter-hour sets. The best DJs win extra set time | | | | music is tribal glue. And it's a truism, isn't it, that |
| and prizes.Or you just drop by the club and | | | | whenever music marries new technology it sees |
| dance.CYBERSPACE PLAYLIST.Anyone can register | | | | economic benefit that is good for companies, artists |
| at the Web site and send a 15-minute playlist for | | | | and all involved in the entertainment ecosystem," he |
| judging. Again, there are prizes for the best set. Playlist | | | | states, pointing to the sales figures of firms involved in |
| does not yet feature streaming, downloading or | | | | sheet music, juke boxes, 33rpm vinyl, and clubs, not to |
| Internet radio broadcasts, but you can bet that these | | | | mention CDs."Playlist is all about the music, not the |
| are coming soon.A BEHIND-THE-SCENES CHAT.I | | | | genre," Evans says. As their manifesto states: "The |
| spoke with Playlist's co-creator, Jonny "Rocket" Evans, | | | | principle is simple: if you want to share your music, just |
| who is excited by the unpredictability of his new | | | | turn up, sign in and play out. If you want to judge other |
| venture. "What will happen at Playlist? That's just it. | | | | people's music, turn up, sign up and speak out. If you |
| We don't know what will happen." Evans is happy to | | | | simply want to party, just turn up, tune in, dance it out."In |
| let the audience take control. "We can't say what the | | | | the planning stages for months, Playlist is now |
| music will be, except that it will be diverse. We think it'll | | | | launching down the block and in cyberspace near you. |
| appeal to people with broad musical taste, a sense of | | | | Everyone can participate, and everyone can be a DJ, |
| humor and the desire to have fun. We also think we'll | | | | at least fifteen minutes at a time.Web: # #Scott G is |
| attract artists and musicians, who will want to explore | | | | president of G-Man Music & Radical Radio. His music |
| the creative potential of the whole idea."Evans sees | | | | is on commercials for Verizon Wireless, Goodrich, |
| the Playlist concept as inevitable. "I think music is about | | | | Monaco Motor Coaches, BAE Systems and more. A |
| to enter a new boom time. It's going to be very | | | | creative director of the National Association of Record |
| interesting, because digital downloads (legal and | | | | Industry Professionals (NARIP) and a member of The |
| peer-to-peer) have reinvigorated interest in music, and I | | | | Recording Academy (NARAS), he writes about music |
| think the most recent US album sales and downloads | | | | for and the Immedia Wire Service. The G-Man's |
| figures from SoundScan show this. This also | | | | albums are released by Delvian Records and are on |
| encourages a sense of diversity in the music-loving | | | | Apple's iTunes. |