The April 29 edition of the Rolling Stone had a "State of Rock" feature with the "top 40 reasons to get excited about music."
Hi Fi featured prominently:
#5: More and more HD live concert recordings, including ease of access for hi rez recording by consumers.
Examples included Thom Yorke and Flea's concert in New York and Eddie Vedder's surprise collaboration with The Who in London.
Quality music and images that would never have been so well captured in the past.
#7: Improving concert sound quality.
Live acts and venues are dialing in better and better sound with new acoustics algorithms.
Venues are paying more and more attention to their room set-ups and how music is hard in each seat.
#10: "Because Indie Rock Has Upgraded to Hi Fi Sound."
That's a direct quote.
The ability to record with better quality at diminishing cost is a great thing.
The main man from the group Of Montreal was quoted about what is available now...
"They have better mics, better tubes..."
#14 & #15: Higher bitrate audio in mobile devices! (D'uh.) The move to uncompressed audio will become a selling point, and with it, mobile subscription services will turn us all into Paul Oakenfold.
#24: The new president of Atlantic records is a vinyl collector and aficionado. 350,000 LP's means he's also a hoarder, but what the heck!
#25: The movement to higher fi headphones! They lost the Shure SE530, Ultimate Ears 18 Pro, Etymotic Custom Fit....and....oh, well...Monster's Beats. 
#27: Coming attractions....Terabyte mobile devices...all wrapped into a combination of phone, iPod, and video/still HD camera/recorders.
#35: Quote - "Because Vinyl sales Have Tripled Since 2006."
I agree, it's a fad, and in 2009 only 2.5 million LP's were sold (a smaller market that one Beyonce album,) but none the less!
#37: Classic rock vaults are brimming with music ready for HD release. The article mentions stuff by Dylan, Springsteen, Neil Young, and even The Beatles.
So, even the codger crowd who hates everything recorded since 1970 can smile momentarily.
#39.5: technology allowing more and more musicians taking direct control of their work and its sound.
#40: The average number of songs someone has in their iPod - 6,370!
"In an average week, how much time do you devote to each of the following activities:
Music listening - 11.5!!!
Watching TV - 7.9
Social networking - 4.4
Reading magazines - 3.0
Playing video games - 2.8
Music is still the primary driver of what people want in their lives.
And, JA take note, people are spending more time reading magazines than playing Call to Battle.
Yay!
"If you had to give up all of the following forms of entertainment...which one would you keep?"
Listening to music.....get ready for it....64.7%
Second place was TV at 17.1%.
"How important is music in your life?"
94.7% said extremely or very important.
Ok, so, can we cheer up about the future of this beautiful thing that all the old white men think has gone to Hell?
Cheers!
The April 29 edition of the Rolling Stone had a "State of Rock" feature with the "top 40 reasons to get excited about music."
Hi Fi featured prominently:
#5: More and more HD live concert recordings, including ease of access for hi rez recording by consumers.
Examples included Thom Yorke and Flea's concert in New York and Eddie Vedder's surprise collaboration with The Who in London.
Quality music and images that would never have been so well captured in the past.
#7: Improving concert sound quality.
Live acts and venues are dialing in better and better sound with new acoustics algorithms.
Venues are paying more and more attention to their room set-ups and how music is hard in each seat.
#10: "Because Indie Rock Has Upgraded to Hi Fi Sound."
That's a direct quote.
The ability to record with better quality at diminishing cost is a great thing.
The main man from the group Of Montreal was quoted about what is available now...
"They have better mics, better tubes..."
#14 & #15: Higher bitrate audio in mobile devices! (D'uh.) The move to uncompressed audio will become a selling point, and with it, mobile subscription services will turn us all into Paul Oakenfold.
#24: The new president of Atlantic records is a vinyl collector and aficionado. 350,000 LP's means he's also a hoarder, but what the heck!
#25: The movement to higher fi headphones! They lost the Shure SE530, Ultimate Ears 18 Pro, Etymotic Custom Fit....and....oh, well...Monster's Beats.
#27: Coming attractions....Terabyte mobile devices...all wrapped into a combination of phone, iPod, and video/still HD camera/recorders.
#35: Quote - "Because Vinyl sales Have Tripled Since 2006."
I agree, it's a fad, and in 2009 only 2.5 million LP's were sold (a smaller market that one Beyonce album,) but none the less!
#37: Classic rock vaults are brimming with music ready for HD release. The article mentions stuff by Dylan, Springsteen, Neil Young, and even The Beatles.
So, even the codger crowd who hates everything recorded since 1970 can smile momentarily.
#39.5: technology allowing more and more musicians taking direct control of their work and its sound.
#40: The average number of songs someone has in their iPod - 6,370!
"In an average week, how much time do you devote to each of the following activities:
Music listening - 11.5!!!
Watching TV - 7.9
Social networking - 4.4
Reading magazines - 3.0
Playing video games - 2.8
Music is still the primary driver of what people want in their lives.
And, JA take note, people are spending more time reading magazines than playing Call to Battle.
Yay!
"If you had to give up all of the following forms of entertainment...which one would you keep?"
Listening to music.....get ready for it....64.7%
Second place was TV at 17.1%.
"How important is music in your life?"
94.7% said extremely or very important.
Ok, so, can we cheer up about the future of this beautiful thing that all the old white men think has gone to Hell?
Cheers!