INTERACT FORUM

More => Old Versions => Pono Music => Topic started by: JimH on July 19, 2015, 06:44:18 am

Title: Neil Young Removing Songs from Streaming Services
Post by: JimH on July 19, 2015, 06:44:18 am
(http://cnet1.cbsistatic.com/hub/i/r/2009/03/31/3704003f-fdc0-11e2-8c7c-d4ae52e62bcc/resize/620x/2fcd2653798dfbb936f2a23e3e67379b/lcroppedincvoltshakey_pictures_copyright.jpg)

From Neil's Facebook page:

I was there. AM radio kicked streaming's ass. Analog Cassettes and 8 tracks also kicked streaming's ass, and...

Posted by Neil Young on Wednesday, July 15, 2015
Title: Re: Neil Young Removing Songs from Streaming Services
Post by: BrianKW on July 19, 2015, 09:30:48 am
?
Can someone explain what he/this means?
Title: Re: Neil Young Removing Songs from Streaming Services
Post by: JimH on July 19, 2015, 10:14:18 am
He wants his music off all the streaming sites.
Title: Re: Neil Young Removing Songs from Streaming Services
Post by: BrianKW on July 19, 2015, 06:19:04 pm
Quote from: JimH on July 19, 2015, 10:14:18 am
He wants his music off all the streaming sites.

Except Pono I hope.
Title: Re: Neil Young Removing Songs from Streaming Services
Post by: Cheezmo on July 19, 2015, 07:56:21 pm
Quote from: BrianKW on July 19, 2015, 06:19:04 pm
Except Pono I hope.

Pono is not a streaming service.  It is a digital download store.  Totally different.  His problem is with the quality of streaming.  Since it is similar to iTunes quality in some cases, I do wonder if he plans to take his music off of iTunes/Amazon MP3, etc.
Title: Re: Neil Young Removing Songs from Streaming Services
Post by: BrianKW on July 21, 2015, 08:32:20 am
Quote from: Cheezmo on July 19, 2015, 07:56:21 pm
Pono is not a streaming service.  It is a digital download store.  Totally different.  His problem is with the quality of streaming.  Since it is similar to iTunes quality in some cases, I do wonder if he plans to take his music off of iTunes/Amazon MP3, etc.

Oops...
I got the two confused since I don't stream and know nothing about it.
Now it makes sense. :-[

Cheers.
Title: Re: Neil Young Removing Songs from Streaming Services
Post by: Hendrik on July 21, 2015, 10:45:12 am
I find those statements quite confusing. Analog Cassettes and AM radio have horrible quality, maybe 10 bits of dynamic range and barely 20kHz sample rate.
Personally I feel that everyone should be able to decide how they want to listen to music. Many people don't have "golden ears", and some streaming services have enough quality to provide no audible loss compared to a CD.
Title: Re: Neil Young Removing Songs from Streaming Services
Post by: Joe.P on July 21, 2015, 11:05:49 am
Streaming quality is the result of bitrate and encoding. Some are better than others.

A quick survey of streaming services I've tried:
* Tidal has a hi-def mode that's pretty darn good.
* Mog was also not bad, and it was bought by Beats which was in turn bought by Apple; I haven't tried Apple Music yet.
* Slacker is better than many.
* Rhapsody sounded so flat to me when I ran it through my sound system that I cancelled it. 
* I can't remember what Pandora sounded like. Didn't like the mixes it was creating for me.
Title: Re: Neil Young Removing Songs from Streaming Services
Post by: BrianKW on July 21, 2015, 02:04:50 pm
Quote from: Hendrik on July 21, 2015, 10:45:12 am
I find those statements quite confusing. Analog Cassettes and AM radio have horrible quality, maybe 10 bits of dynamic range and barely 20kHz sample rate.
Personally I feel that everyone should be able to decide how they want to listen to music. Many people don't have "golden ears", and some streaming services have enough quality to provide no audible loss compared to a CD.

I'm split on this.
You made a great point about having the right to choose.
But as an Artist I can see why he'd want his Art shown in all it's glory.
Sorta akin to a film director not wanting his film be shown in the wrong aspect ratio.
Title: Re: Neil Young Removing Songs from Streaming Services
Post by: loafer on August 07, 2015, 03:00:02 pm
As a long time Neil Young fan I'm slightly miffed about this - to be fair, some of Neil's stuff sounds like it was recorded in a fish tank in his bedroom so I'm not really sure where he is coming from.  ?
Title: Re: Neil Young Removing Songs from Streaming Services
Post by: Cheezmo on August 08, 2015, 07:42:20 am
Since artists aren't making much on streaming, it is an easy place to take a stand on quality.

I would think he would also remove mp3 versions from iTunes, Amazon MP3, etc. as that is similar if not the same as streaming quality.

His quote that AM radio blows away streaming is perplexing.

Not sure this is the forum for this.
Title: Re: Neil Young Removing Songs from Streaming Services
Post by: astromo on August 08, 2015, 08:00:31 pm
Young is making a principled stand that aligns with his business goals. In my view, he's living the dream that he's made for himself. Good on him and I respect him for all of that. If he suffers financially and then backs off from his principles, then that will tell us something. My expectation is that he'll stick to his guns.