“Stiff Upper Lip”, their last album, was released just prior to the bands 17 country year long tour in 2000.  Concert tickets for AC/DC will sell out fast as the normally do.  Actual dates have not been release as of this post.

Rumor has it another great rock band is talking about a 2009 tour…KISS  - Stay tuned!

Tim Somers
MusicHoncho.com

I never used any peer to peer music sharing services like the old Napster, but the New Napster sure is grabbing my attention, they are now claiming to be the  world’s largest music store with over 6 million tunes available for downloading. iTunes claims they have 6 million songs available.

So what’s the difference?  As I see it just a commitment to Napster’s monthly $12.95 fee.  I already spend upwards of $20 a month and I have to show some control to not spend $30 or even $40 a month – it is easy to loose track of how many songs you buy in a given month.  At $12.95 if I stayed with my current 20 songs per month I’d be paying .65 per song and saving $7.05 per month, hey that’s almost 2 gallons of gas these days.

Napster is now compatible with ALL music devices…yes, even the iPod and iPhone!  So with that said I am going to give Napster a shot using their “Try Napster Free For 7 Days” offer and see how I like it – then more than likely I’ll be on board for the long haul. 

Here is a little background on Napster-

Roxio bought the assets of the original Napster company at its bankruptcy auction in 2002, with the objective of creating a new legal online music service which would let users access music through a subscription or on a fee-per-song basis—the artists and record companies the royalties they had been asking for as iTunes does. The new Napster was launched 6 months after iTunes launched.

Napster expects 2008 fourth quarter revenues to be in the neighborhood of $31 million. Napster is not only claiming to have the largest major label MP3 catalog in the industry, but also the largest library of independent music available anywhere. All U.S. download songs will now be in the user-friendly, DRM-free MP3 format, which is compatible with virtually any MP3 player or music phone including the iPod and the iPhone.

Tim Somers
MusicHoncho.com

The Sweepstakes was launched August 1, 2008 and runs until September 15, 2008.  This contest will help others make better buying decisions and help GuitarTrader.com improve the selection of products they offer.

When writing a review you need to focus on the specific features of a product and your own experiences with the product you are reviewing. An ideal review would include why you liked (or didn’t like) a product with why you liked or disliked it detailed.

GuitarTrader.com is a great site with a ton Guitar related gear.  You will find all types of Guitars including Electric Guitars and Acoustic Guitars, Amps and Effects.  They also have a great selection of other instruments like Drums and Keyboards, along with Mics, Lighting and many other accessories.

Enter today – Good Luck!

Tim Somers
MusicHoncho.com

Now any song or album purchased from the Rhapsody MP3 Music Store can be played on any MP3 player, yes even the Apple iPod.  This is awesome news making it easy to load up your iPod with all the latest music from sources other than iTunes.

Another great feature is the ability to listen to an entire song before you purchase it – opposed to the 30 second clips that most music stores offer.  With over 5 million songs from all four major music labels the Rhapsody MP3 catalogue is a real player in the music arena.

Prices are just about the same as found in the iTunes store - .99 cents for single tracks and $9.99 for most newly released albums.

RealNetworks is launching a store advertising campaign titled “Music Without Limits” that you may have already started seeing on Yahoo Music, MTV Networks and Verizon Wireless sites and affiliates.

You can try Real Rhapsody Free for 14 Days – check them out and start enjoying your Music, without limits.

Tim Somers
MusicHoncho.com

You can pick up this t-shirt along with other Pink Floyd Memorabilia at Jiggy.com, including:

Pink Floyd Baby Dolls
Pink Floyd Decals
Pink Floyd Key chains
Pink Floyd Incense
Pink Floyd Necklaces
Pink Floyd Posters
Pink Floyd Tie-Dyes
Pink Floyd T-Shirts
Pink Floyd Wallets

The Pink Floyd “Have A Cigar” shirt is $18.95

Jiggy.com is a great source for not only band t-shirts but loads of other band memorabilia.

Tim Somers
MusicHoncho.com

Many music labels are cutting their staff due to lower revenuers in some areas while increasing their staff in areas like the TV and Film licensing departments.  The big push for labels is trying to score big by getting the very popular TV show or a block buster movie to feature one of their artist’s tunes.

Shows like Grey’s Anatomy, Ugly Betty and many more are adding to music publisher’s bottom lines by simply playing a song on the show.  Reality shows like MTV’s “Real World” are using music from less know acts, and boosting music downloads of these wildly unknown acts.  Show’s like “American Idol”, “Dancing with the Stars” and “The Singing Bee” have deeper pockets and are giving a real boost to older and even current top charting hits.

A great example is the recent performance of “Imagine” on “American Idol” by David Archuleta, Idol paid a sync fee to the publishers then after the show aired music downloads on iTunes increased 600% for John Lennon’s classic version of “Imagine”

It’s funny how it all works, I have the John Lennon classic on my iPod and fired it up the next day, simply because I heard it on Idol the night before, guess I would have downloaded it from Real Rhapsody if I didn’t already have it.

Tim Somers
MusicHoncho.com

This post sponsored by ~

Jiggy.com - Band T-shirts and More 

I like Hot Topic because you will find different band t-shirts not found at the local t-shirt stores.  Their line of South Park T-shirts are awesome, I am a rocker and am very satisfied with the selection of Band T-shirts available on the Hot Topic site, but as a dad with three daughters I’d like to see them expand their section a bit to include some the younger kiddie bands, I’m sure they could sell a ton to Jonas Brothers T-shirts, at least three to me anyway.

Hot Topic is offering Free Shipping on orders of $75 or more through the month of April.

Tim Somers
MusicHoncho.com

I thought I would do some research to see what was the best selling guitar course had to offer, while I contemplated what type of guitar to buy.

The buzz is all about Ben Edwards’ course Jamorama.  The course claims to be packed with easy-to-follow instructions and the most inclusive and straightforward system available to date.

Ben provides some exclusive Jam Tracks to learn and practice with, these are not the ordinary boring drills other learn to play guitar courses offer.  Some of the best professional musicians collaborated on these recordings – although no names where mentioned one wonders just who these “Best Professionals” really were?  Eddie – nah, no way!

Big bold letters claim that JAMORAMA WILL WORK FOR YOU (ME) and get you playing like a professional in no time.  The sales page is full of testimonials as with most products sold online.

What seems to peak my interest is the 148 stet-by-step video lessons with 26 tracks to jam along with.  Nothing is worst than reading to learn something like playing guitar or listening to audio tracks – the Video Lessons are a hugh selling point for me.

All the usually claims, Jamorama makes learning FUN! I hate these types of sales lines, but they work and help push a potential shopper into a buyer every time.

Ben offers a FREE 6 part Guitar eCourse valued at $37 – which includes both Audio and Video content, free music learning software and what seems to be a ton more.

I’ll be checking it out for sure.

Hope I finally (wow Hope!) I will learn to play guitar this year, and I think Jamorama will be the course I try first.

Tim Somers
MusicHoncho.com
Music Forum

I searched for the I am your brother lyrics but couldn’t find anything so after waiting the video several times here are the lyrics for I am your brother:

I am your brother
Your best friend forever
Singing the songs
The music that you love
Brothers til the end of time
Together or not
You’re always in my heart
You hurt your feelings
And you will rain on mine
I love you brother

It’s hard to tell if Ronaldo had more lyrics written or this was pretty much it.  I am sure we will be seeing much more of good old Ronaldo.

Here is the Ronaldo Lapuz American Idol Audition Video for your enjoyment.

Tim Somers
MusicHoncho.com

The seventh season will include highlights of some of the auditions that were held in some of the major cities across the country, including Dallas Atlanta, Miami and Philly.  After the premier the regular season will broadcast two times every week, on Tuesday’s and Wednesday’s until February 6.  Then the Hollywood round will air on February 12th and 13th and that is when the top 24 American Idol contestants will be named.

The very first episode where the contestants will perform, first featuring the 12 men that have made the final cut will run February 19.  The 12 ladies will sing their hearts out on the next night February 20, the following night is a live show that will announce the results of the first vote.  The top 12 contestants are scheduled to perform on Tuesday, March 11.

This is is surely going to be an exciting one, as more and more people are tuning in to watch one of the most popular TV shows around – American Idol will still be a top rated show for years to come.

Tim Somers
MusicHoncho.com
Music Forum