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The Little Ringtone That Could
With limited lifespans and three-dollar price tags, cell phone ringtones have been dubbed "the last great digital rip-off" by one technology columnist. Today on Soundcheck, we look at the brief, lucrative history of the ringtone. Also: Ever wonder why more songs aren’t written about dorm rooms and college life? We’ll hear from Ravens and Chimes, a band that’s made an album chronicling their lives at NYU.
Ringing Up Profits
Love them or hate them, cell phone ringtones are here to stay. We'll look at the brief, lucrative history of the ringtone, from the best-selling selections to the most annoying. (Perhaps some ringtones make both lists...) We talk with Antony Bruno of Billboard magazine and Jeff Dodes of Zomba Label Group, home to pop-oriented Jive Records.
Ravens and Chimes
Most of the six members of Ravens and Chimes met while students at NYU. Not surprisingly, their album "Reichenbach Falls" is filled with nods to New York (General Lafayette, 11th Street, and the Village Voice, to name a few). We'll find out if there's life -- and rock -- after college. Plus, the band performs live in the Soundcheck studio.
Greyhound Ad Draws Ire
The Greyhound bus line is courting the indie-rock demographic with advertisements in music magazines, including one in XLR8R that featured concert photos. Some of the artists are taking issue with what they say is an implied endorsement of the bus company. Maura Johnston of the music blog Idolator.com tells us more about it.
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Go behind the scenes!
Find out what John Schaefer and the Soundcheck staff have to say about recent segments on the show. Plus, watch videos from in-studio performances.
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Introducing our Video Contest
Soundcheck
John Schaefer gives the lowdown on Soundcheck's music video challenge with the Fiery Furnaces.
In Studio: Angel Deradoorian
Soundcheck
The 22-year-old multi-instrumentalist performs live in our studio.
- Comments [7]
Cucu Diamantes Performs Amor Cronico
Soundcheck
Cucu Diamantes went from a tough childhood in Havana, Cuba, to an art school in Rome to underground New York City, where she co-founded the Latin alternative band Yerba Buena.
- Comments [1]
In Studio: Stephanie McKay
Soundcheck
The local singer-songwriter performs "Jackson Avenue," a nostalgic toast to her childhood in the South Bronx.
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In Studio: The Decemberists
The Portland, Ore., band's latest album, "The Hazards of Love," is a concept album with a mythological flair. They joined Soundcheck to play live for a studio audience in WNYC's Greene Space.
Sound Off
Soundcheck
Throughout May, Soundcheck presents “Sound Off” a Friday series on the many aspects of noise in music and our lives. The series -- which coincides with “Better Hearing and Speech Month” -- looks at issues like New York’s noisiest neighborhoods, the latest research on iPods and hearing loss, and what happens when noise becomes a musical ingredient.
