SBA Music Business News | SBA Music - Solutions in Sound and Vision

SBA Director Wayne Hall discusses the issues
confronting the music industry today.

8 Days A Week...

February 2, 2012
You want exciting? I'll give you exciting. Try a three day vending machine show at a large convention hall on the outskirts of London in the middle of winter. Pin ball machines, shoot 'em up games and pretty well any "skill game" you can slot a coin into was there.

Would I Lie To You...?

January 4, 2012
Well, the new year is upon us, along with the usual predictions about the end of the world being nigh. I suppose that there will be a time when the doomsayers are on the money. For now, though, I'm opting out of planning my year around a prediction passed down by an ancient civilisation that couldn't last long enough to find out whether it would come to pass or not...

Stuff I Remembered I Once Knew...

December 1, 2011
It’s starting to bug me how quickly the years are passing. Being reminded that, as I get older, one year of my life represents a smaller fraction of my total years (and consequently will seem to pass by relatively more quickly) doesn’t seem to help, either.

'Cause It's A Bittersweet Symphony, This Life...
The Verve, 1997

November 3, 2011
Vanuatu is a relatively poor third world country. Most Ni-Vanuatu live a fairly basic, communal life. In many parts of the country hot, running water is still a luxury, just as it was back in the mid 80’s when I lived in the capital, Port Vila...

...And We're All In This Together...

October 1, 2011
My apologies upfront…the introduction to this month’s guest writer’s piece is a little longer then I’d like it to be, but I feel some context is required, so bear with me. In Australia there are four main licensing organisations associated with the supply of business music...

So Much Technology...So Little Time

September 1, 2011
Well, I’ve just settled down after performing a self-congratulatory round of solo fist pumps (not a pretty sight), because for the second month in a row I’ve managed to convince someone else to write up the newsletter. Angus Hayes is a director of Mule Music, which is a technology partner to SBA. One of the wonderful points Angus makes below is that music services and imagination are inextricably linked. Technology is getting to the point where it will pretty well facilitate anything.

So You Think You Can Dance…?

August 1, 2011
One of the fears I have for any business - including those that I am involved with - is that they can fall into “comfort zones”…places from which it can become difficult to see the perspectives of others or changes in the way the market is behaving...

We Don't Need No Education…

July 4, 2011
Doubt and inspiration can come from the most unlikely places. A couple of newsletters back I asked for feedback from readers about the value and relevance of the topics covered, and I’m delighted to say that I received some wonderful replies...

Knowing Me, Knowing You…

June 2, 2011
Some ugly things have been happening in the Australian “bricks & mortar” retail industry lately. Booksellers Borders and Angus & Robertson have been placed into voluntary liquidation, and many of the larger department store chains, such as Harvey Norman, Myer and David Jones have experienced, or are projecting, profit declines. In the U.S., as a reminder that physical retail everywhere faces considerable challenges, the DVD rental behemoth Blockbuster has filed for bankruptcy. I think it is fair to say that, in the main, the traditional retail model is under threat...

It’s Just A Silly Phase I’m Going Through…

May 2, 2011
Well, with Will and Kate dominating this month’s news, it was tempting to do an “at times you feel can’t live with ‘em, but what do you replace them with” analogy piece between the Royals and the major Record Companies, but I figure that would come across as being far too cynical. Hopefully the majors will find their Kate & Will factor before any more of them disappear. It doesn’t look good, though...

“I’m not such a dictator that I would shut down facebook…
I’ll merely imprison anyone who logs onto it..” Muamar Gaddafi

April 5, 2011
Earthquakes, tsunamis and civil unrest…unfortunately there seems to have been no shortage of extreme events lately. When they occur, it is tempting to position them as either a scenario that “would never happen to us”…or as events so random that there is little one can do to avoid them. I suspect that this is as much a defensive mechanism as anything else, and understandably so. Extreme events are by their very nature threatening...

Ya Gotta Be In It To Win It

March 7, 2011
“We think it’s time we increased it…” During the past twenty years the recording industry (ie ARIA and the Record Companies) has increased royalty rates for the right to duplicate tracks and clips for use in business music programs by between two and three fold. I don’t mean that the fees have simply gone up as, say, the price of petrol has gone up. I mean that the royalty rate, calculated as a percentage of the gross revenue from the sale of music, has increased by this multiple.

Audio Killed The Video Star

February 6, 2011
We love our screens here in Australia. Walk into any venue (pub, club or larger retail space) and you'll find no shortage of moving pictures playing from screens of all shapes and sizes, positioned to entertain and inform. Music video, sports, digital signage... they're all there.

www.ihatecompetition.com...

January 4, 2011
If you are a large, store-based retailer looking for some customer empathy (and perhaps government protection) then complaining loudly about how you are at a disadvantage in the market because rival online “e-tailers” can avoid charging the goods and services tax (GST) on overseas-sourced product is definitely worth a shot. “We pay our taxes…”

Some Things Change, Some Things Stay The Same...

December 6, 2010
Well, another year has literally skipped by, and all too quickly. Reflecting on it triggered a “flashback” (no drugs involved) to the late 60’s, when my favourite primary school teacher, Mr Stanwell, drummed into his class the art of reading, writing and ‘rithmatic, while confidently predicting that: “By the year 2000, computers (I think he used the term robots) will be carrying out so many of man’s day-to day-tasks that man will be working three day weeks, enjoying a life of leisure…”

Reality Check... One, Two...

November 4, 2010
The setting was a forum-style discussion on ways to create the best possible environment for café patrons. At my table were a mix of cafe owners, managers and suppliers – two Americans, a Spaniard, an Englishman and a couple of Australians...

And The Sign Said "Long Haired Freaky People Need Not Apply..."

October 5, 2010
I’d made the mistake before, but this time I was sure that I’d gotten away with it. I mean, here I was…on the other side. I’d never managed to get this far before. At no point had our eyes met…while the one, quick glance I’d shot her way left me convinced…

"Too Much Information Running Through My Brain, Too Much Information Driving Me Insane" (The Police)

September 5, 2010
Well…I’ve decided that I simply don’t have the time (or focus) to write a newsletter this month. I’m sure you’re familiar with the condition - you take on so much that, eventually, the simplest task seems daunting...

Yes We Can, And At Any Price!

August 2, 2010
Aah…for the freedom to be able to sell like a politician…“Features of our music system…? Where do I stop! Don’t waste your time looking at any other product. This little baby has it all...

Look At Moiye, Look At Moiye, Look At Moiye Please

July 2, 2010
It is so easy to fall into the trap of feeling that what you do – your business service – becomes more and more understood and appreciated by your clients over time. I mean, after all, if people are paying you their hard-earned money year in and year out, surely they are making the most of what they are paying for...aren’t they?

The Space Between

June 1, 2010
We all do it…spend time and energy looking for a “point of difference” for our products and services - that something special which will provide us with the “extra edge” in the market. Often, (and probably more-so in today’s time poor, techno-materialistic society) we seem to assume that the differentiating feature will be a “special app” or perhaps a piece of ground-breaking software or technology. Personally, I can’t even keep up with the jargon any more, let alone what it is the latest “apps” are designed to do.

Does Size Matter?

May 3, 2010
Now that I’ve got your attention, I think that it’s fair to say that most people involved with any type of business feel that growth is good - and a logical extension of this belief seems to be “the bigger the business, the better”. Certainly, when you get to the end of any period - a month, a quarter…or the year - it is a nice (and, I daresay, comforting) feeling to have increased sales and operational activity.

Testing... testing...1,2,3...

April 6, 2010
Patience... It can be a difficult discipline to maintain at times. Take, for example, the environment associated with the average new product or service roll-out. The closer you get to finalising the project for launch, the more compelling it becomes to get it out there. After all... there is nothing like "real market conditions" and "user feedback" to improve the product.

Beautiful Vision (Van Morrison) . . .

March 1, 2010
Sometime during the past few decades, the notion of having a “vision’ - be it for your business, department or special project - has taken a back seat. I’m not sure when it happened*… all I know is that when I get along to the (very) few business seminars that I manage to make time for - the ones that explain how simple it is to run your business - it’s a term that is always left out of the presentation. All the practical, down to earth terms are there...one should have a plan, or a strategy, and of course one must be ready to manage change...but it would seem that the idea of having a vision is, well, passé…

Fat Belly Has The Last Laugh . . .

February 1, 2010
During the past few weeks I’ve been fortunate enough to catch up with two old stalwarts (I don’t think they’ll mind me calling them that) of the vending - or coin-op - industry. It’s an industry which has been around for a long, long time…full of great characters, innovation and that most attractive of product - cash (which is why it is so full of “characters”).Despite enjoying, between them, just shy of 100 years experience in the “game”, both guys are very modest, so getting them to talk about their success can be difficult at times. I think I was fortunate enough to catch them in a reflective mood - perhaps they feel they are coming to the end of an era. Once underway, the twinkle in the eye and passion in the voice were very evident. Catching up with people like this is always an inspiring experience…

The Answer Ain't Blowin In The Wind . . .

January 4, 2010
As 2009 comes to a close and brings to an end the eventful decade of the “noughties” there has been no shortage of commentators heralding it as a decade of change – political, economic and social. Certainly there were some momentous events - “9/11”…the election of a non-white U.S president…a global economic crisis…and far too many wars and natural disasters to contemplate. In fact, “change - and how to respond to it” became a favourite topic of business consultants throughout 2009, as they looked to capitalise on the supposed “new order” of things and “assist” business through changing times (though why these wise men hadn’t been able to predict the change in the first place was conveniently left aside).

Mirror, Mirror On The Wall . . .

December 1, 2009
It’s great to be busy…going full steam…but it can have its downfalls. Most notable is the lack of time to reflect…to work through what has gone well and not so well…and why. We can learn a great deal by looking back and analysing, but it’s easy to rationalise that we don’t have the time to do it . 2009 has been one of the more challenging times for the business-to-business music industry. A global financial crisis, significant licensing issues, and the ongoing pressure to deliver new technology solutions that “work” and have a decent shelf life have put more then a few new wrinkles on foreheads.

Going For It...Heart & Soul . . .

November 3, 2009
Wherever we can here at SBA, we look to support independent and up-and-coming artists. Inclusion of their tracks, whenever possible, within our various audio and video programs, and the “artist of the month” initiative (part of our monthly newsletter) are the more obvious areas, while general advice on business matters and part-time employment also come with the territory. There’s no doubt, though, that what an artist really wants to do – what drives them - is the opportunity to perform… Earlier this year I was discussing the challenges and “philosophy” of Business Music with a Sydney based artist – in particular the nature of how a great business music program should create a “condition” or follow a “theme” - when we got talking about Christmas music…

I'll Drink To That . . .

Bundanoon is a small town (population around two thousand) with a very big problem. Less then a kilometre from the town centre, past the primary school and down a very steep hill, is the entrance to Moreton National park. If you ever get to the area, make a point of driving the extra kilometre into the park to check out the gullies. They are quite spectacular - large enough, in fact, to get you thinking about the meaning of life and that sort of thing...

"Please Release Me, Let Me Go"* . . .

August 31, 2009
*(Engelbert Humperdinck, some time ago, anticipating call centres)
I recently had to call my bank after my credit card was declined. Because it is connected to my other online accounts, I was “pushed” across to the telephone banking support line. After lots of button pressing and discussions with no fewer then three support staff (involving a full explanation of the issue to each) I was finally put through to the “right” person. Or so I thought…

Happy Gilmour . . .

July 31, 2009
Time for a prediction. I’m have no doubt that if the two associations which represent the Record Companies in Australia - ARIA, which licenses the right to copy music, and PPCA, which licenses the right to play recorded music in public - continue to push for anything like the tariff increases they are chasing, then the B2B music market within Australia will be fully transformed within two years.

Being From Sydney I Don't Like To Admit It, But . . .

June 30, 2009
Gosh Melbourne has become a wonderful city! Gone are the days (twenty or so years ago) when it seemed to be wallowing in self pity . . . struggling with its
identity as the capital of a cash-strapped state . . . and with, seemingly, little direction or way out of the mire. As much as Melbourne people clung to their
one great passion - the “footy” - you got the feeling that deep down they were frustrated with their place in the world.

The Power Game . . .

May 31, 2009
My apologies in advance for this article, as it does at times get into a little bit of detail - but necessarily, I feel. I had hoped to avoid ever writing about licensing issues because:(i) I have noticed a definite correlation between the word “licensing” and people’s eyes glazing over, and (ii) it meant we simply didn’t have issues worth writing about - which in the music game is a good thing. But that’s all changed recently, and I feel it is important - vital, in fact - that as many people as possible get an appreciation of where some areas of music licensing are headed and the impact it will have on our businesses. The greater the awareness, the greater the likelihood of achieving a fair, balanced outcome . . .

Tipping The Change . . .

April 30, 2009
There’s no denying that the economy is in poor shape at the moment . . . but if my recent experiences are anything to go by, at least there is a lot of healthy analysis taking place, both at the individual and organisational level (and no doubt the two are related, with the change in market conditions triggering the self analysis).

Mmmmm . . . That Coffee Smells Great

March 31, 2009
I can’t quite place when I first met Michael Morrison. It was sometime during 2002 at Monash University in Melbourne, after he’d called and introduced himself as having a keen interest about the impact of music in retail environments. Once I got to know Michael a little more, I realised that “keen interest in music” was a bit of an understatement. It turned out that he was one of the world’s leading experts on “experiential retailing” - creating strategies that appeal to our five key senses (smell, sound, taste, sight and touch) so that we feel a sense of comfort and belonging in a retail space.

A Mixed Bag This Month . . .

February 28, 2009
Listen, do you want to know a secret . . .
ARIA changes the tune . . .
Music, money and all that . . .

Juke Box Hero . . .

January 30, 2009
Each year towards the end of January I do my best to get to a trade fair in London (called the ATEI) at which the (remaining) juke box manufacturers and operators get together to show their wares, discuss the market, share ideas and talk about the good old days . . .

Can You Feel It . . . Can You Feel It . . . Can You Feel It . . .

December 31, 2008
Recently I had an encounter with a business which brought home to me (once again) the importance of not just being able to see the big picture, but to “feel” it. It involved staying at a large hotel, where despite the fact that everyone carried out their allotted tasks perfectly, it simply didn’t work . . .

Please Don't Take Me For Granted . . .

November 27, 2008
I am not at my best when shopping. There seems to be so many options these days, even in the most specialised of stores. What’s more, if there is no one on hand to guide me through the options-maze, I suffer from sensory overload . . . eyes glaze over, can’t speak properly, lose focus - I’ll even start looking at unrelated items without quite knowing why. I’m told it’s a male thing . . .

The Cost Of A Great Idea . . .

October 31, 2008
Big events bring out big responses, and there is nothing like a global economic crisis to trigger a climate of “review” and “re-evaluation” within business. For many, it’s time to “baton down the hatches” - for a few, it’s a time of opportunity . . .

The Whole World's Goin' Crazy (Slade, 1972) . . .

September 29, 2008
The new Business Development (BD) guy was very excited. He had a plan . . .
At the table were the Music Programmer, along with the Managers of Customer Relations, Finance and Sales.
“Have I got a great idea for taking this business to the next level . . .” he said, strutting confidently about the room.
(Here we go . . ., thought the Music Programmer)

A Blend Of Art And Science . . .

August 31, 2008
During the month The Music Network - a well known music industry magazine - ran a story on SBA which ended up covering quite a few issues and concepts associated with business music (it was done in the interview style). We received a very positive response to the article from many different areas of the market (artists, record labels & production houses to name a few) with many commenting that they simply hadn’t appreciated what business music involved, in particular the art of programming and it’s capacity to make such a difference. Here is the article reproduced in full . . .

Bang That Drum . . .

July 31, 2008
Our Operations Manager & Head of Programming here at SBA (Natascha Doran) recently organised a team building exercise for the staff. We went into the experience without any idea of what it would entail, and came out reminded of just how much music plays a role in certain cultures . . .

You Can Listen But Not Hear . . .

June 30, 2008
I was chatting recently with a person who had just celebrated their 40th birthday party. Naturally, my first question was to ask what they had done for music. Their answer - and it was an emotional one - was very insightful, not just in terms of music, but in relation to how important the qualification and support process of a “sale” can be. Here’s what happened.

Boss . . . I Don't Like The Colour Of The Carpet

May 30, 2008
During a meeting with one of our strategic partners recently, the “issue” came up about how to deal with the scenario where a client looks for feedback from their staff about the effectiveness of their music strategy.
Like so many things in business, handling matters that involve receiving information from a number of people becomes a question of balance. At times it can seem that the advantages of the exercise well outweigh the disadvantages, as what seemed to be a good “inclusive” idea becomes a myriad of varying (and incompatible) opinions in someone’s inbox.

Accommodating Change & Fighting Pirates

April 30, 2008
It’s amazing how incremental change creeps up on you. Twenty years ago it seemed that if you changed jobs less then every three years you were considered an unstable employee (trust me, I was there!). These days it is pretty well the opposite – you’re almost considered strange if you stay in the one position for three years. The world has become so much more transient in so many ways, and no doubt the desire for immediate gratification (txt messages, auto-tellers, internet downloads, automated phone attendants) is a function of this condition.

Cafes, Karaoke, Customers & Cars

March 31, 2008
Being in the business music game, our primary focus is one of helping our clients deliver the right music for their target audience. Consequently (and understandably), we - and our clients - often tend to think that once we get the “music strategy” right, everything will be fine from an audio perspective. A couple of recent personal experiences reminded me that this is far from the case . . .

The Fly On The Wall

February 29, 2008
"So what you’re saying," said the Operations Manager, "is that this system can be set up to run automatically . . . it can upload music over a network at low traffic times, switch on and off as required, report on player status, and schedule music into parts of the day . . . What was that term you used?"
"Day-parting."
"Day-parting . . . makes sense. How is it managed?"

New Partners

January 31, 2008
SBA are excited to welcome two new key strategic partners – Ecomist and Mule Music. Both partners stand out for taking a solutions approach when attending to client requirements. Where appropriate integrating SBA services into their total package offering provides both parties with an advantage in the market - and more importantly, a superior solution for their client. 2008 will be spent forging these relationships.

Technology Can Byte You At Times

December 24, 2007
Technology . . . It has delivered us some marvelous things, but boy, does it present some headaches at times. For as long as I can remember (and I will admit to getting on a bit now), technology advances have always been accompanied with a promise of efficiency . . . more bang for the buck.

Interesting Days Indeed

November 30, 2007
"I notice you’re putting some new plasma’s up around the place"
"Yep . . . they should look pretty good"
"What will you be showing on them?"
"We’re not sure yet . . . Probably a morning show to start the day. Then, well . . . we’ll see. With so many pay TV channels available, I’m sure we’ll find something to run to keep the punters happy"
"Hopefully you will . . . are you going to have the audio on or off . . .? I notice you’ve already got background music running"
"Good point . . . I’m not sure yet . . ."

A Mixed Bag This Month

October 30, 2007
During the past year, the activities of the Music Industry Piracy Investigation team (MIPI) have noticeably increased, with a number of successful convictions carried out in partnership with other forces. This is great news for legitimate content suppliers and users, and MIPI are to be commended for their approach.

Howdy Partner

September 27, 2007
Strategic partners & core competency…. Both are terms that have come back into vogue recently. In the case of the business music industry, the need to assess whether strategic partners are required and the ways in which they can add value to the operation is certainly high on the agenda.

We're All Individuals

August 31, 2007
These days there are so many instances in everyday life where one can enjoy the benefits of digital delivery. From MP3 players to on-demand inflight movie channels on an aircraft, new technology is delivering some incredible entertainment experiences.

Change – Opportunity or Opponent?

July 31, 2007
Change can often present so many challenges, and if the past ten years are any indication, it would seem that the number of times the business music market requires us to change the way we do things will continue to increase.

Elevator Music to Elevated Music

June 29, 2007
During the past few months it has been really pleasing to see renewed interest in music from businesses that were once the mainstay of the background music market but fell away as music users during the late 80’s.

A Punters Guide to Business Music Copyright

May 31, 2007
During the past few months we’ve received quite a few enquiries about public performance licenses relating to the use of music. I suspect that these queries are mainly driven by tariff reviews recently introduced by APRA; regardless, I thought it worthwhile I put together a “punters guide” to music licensing.

Market Change Challenges All of Us

April 30, 2007
The degree to which market expectations are changing is really starting to gain momentum, with all sorts of repercussions for business. Customers are actively exploring ways to get more from services.

Music & Advertising - Would You Like Fries with That?

March 29, 2007
During the past year it has been interesting to watch the re-emergence of the “advertising based content supply model”. This model is the one in which the supplier fully underwrites the content delivery system (hardware, installation, communications network, content etc) with revenue from advertising.

The Challenge of Product Development

February 28, 2007
There are some major challenges confronting our industry, and one of the key issues that we have had to deal with here at SBA during the past few years has been that of how we respond to “player” technology.

SBA looks at Overseas Opportunities

February 1, 2007
During January I had the good fortune to meet with various business music operators in the UK and Europe, and it has been interesting to note that they are faced with the same challenges as Australian businesses.

SBA Music Business News . . .By Director Wayne Hall