Keane use "memory stick" to release single

(Thursday October 19, 2006 02:57 PM)



LONDON (Reuters) - Rock band Keane is releasing a single later this month through a groundbreaking gizmo called a memory stick.



"Nothing in My Way" will be presented in standard-sized CD packaging with the USB memory stick shrink-wrapped to the sleeve artwork.



Fans will be able to buy the 3.99-pound tool at HMV stores from October 30. It contains video and screensavers and plugs into the back of home computers.



Keane will be launching the device with a limited edition of the single taken from their second album "Under the Iron Sea".



The trio from Battle, East Sussex are the latest to turn to a multi-media platform following Arctic Monkeys' leap to fame with their music releases on MySpace.



But increased fame and fortune is not guaranteed. Robbie Williams' attempt at releasing the first album on memory card is widely reported to have failed.



Jon Turner, general manager at Island Records, said: "It fits perfectly with our stated aim of giving fans the widest possible access to music and entertainment products across all platforms."



Sarah Pearson, at Keane's PR company Wasted Youth, said the memory stick would be a collectors' item.



"It is like a fashion item, in a way," she added.



"It is another bit of merchandise, just a different format of a CD

iguanapunk Escribi�:

The trio from Battle, East Sussex are the latest to turn to a multi-media platform following Arctic Monkeys' leap to fame with their music releases on MySpace.

You know, I'd never really listened to the Arctic Monkeys, never had the time to sit down and consider them.



This little bit of information is very, very helpful, as it will now allow me to dismiss and despise them for perfectly valid reasons without ever having to listen to them.



The memory stick thingy is kewl tho'

Hmm. This is a clever idea, however I think it will be more of a collector's item than anything else - especially in light of downloading mp3's.



I can see huge bands being able to pull off something like this because from a collector's item point of view and market demand this would be feasible, but for small bands it might not be something a band or label is willing to risk.



It's still a great concept, though.

iguanapunk Escribi�:

Fans will be able to buy the 3.99-pound tool at HMV stores from October 30.

The only tools are the people buying this. Fantastic: let's buy a single in a format that is useless in many applications, rather than buying a CD which can be ripped to comp and put on a memory stick as well as get played out everywhere.

More like: Stupid Idea

It may be a stupid idea for some... but in all honesty who here wouldn't jump at the chance to buy a Chems single on a ltd. edition memory stick if it was released. Or at least consider it. Even in brief passing while browsing e-bay. (don't kid yourself! :P )

whirlygirl Escribi�:

It may be a stupid idea for some... but in all honesty who here wouldn't jump at the chance to buy a Chems single on a ltd. edition memory stick if it was released. Or at least consider it. Even in brief passing while browsing e-bay. (don't kid yourself! :P )

I wouldn't.



(i dont even have the Live 05 EP)

Well, perhaps you wouldn't but there are some people on this board who are big collectors - so they might consider it.



I'm sure there are people who are nuts for Keane as we are for the Chems.



I don't want to argue, just offer a another perspective...

This is the future people, embrace it!



god knows chems might do something like this one day.

whirlygirl Escribi�:

Well, perhaps you wouldn't but there are some people on this board who are big collectors - so they might consider it.



I'm sure there are people who are nuts for Keane as we are for the Chems.



I don't want to argue, just offer a another perspective...

I doubt is a idea from the band.

mX. Escribi�:

whirlygirl Escribi�:

Well, perhaps you wouldn't but there are some people on this board who are big collectors - so they might consider it.



I'm sure there are people who are nuts for Keane as we are for the Chems.



I don't want to argue, just offer a another perspective...

I doubt is a idea from the band.

You're probably right about that! A great deal of marketing ploys are not the bands' doing.

I want music I can listen to, not that I can wear around my neck, stick in my pocket, etc.



I do see the novelty and collector's value of it, and I was mostly joking with my "tool" comment, but I just want good tunes. Good tunes sell themselves, IMO.

Actually I thought the tool comment was pretty funny! X-D

whirlygirl Escribi�:

Actually I thought the tool comment was pretty funny! X-D

Good, I was having one of those don't-let-my-apathy/mild-interest-get-in-the-way-of-a-scathing-comment moments. :D

you know, this is actually a good idea in a way.



People are digitizing all their important documents, birth certificates, deeds, loan agreements, baby pictures, all that sorta shit, like stuff you'd need to grab in case your house is burning down, and storing em on memory sticks... it would be a good idea to store all your chems bootlegs and downloads on a memstick, that way when the house is burning, you can just grab it and scoot.

One burned DVD would do the same trick. :D

toomuch'stash Escribi�:

... it would be a good idea to store all your chems bootlegs and downloads on a memstick, that way when the house is burning, you can just grab it and scoot.

You know, that would be a complete nightmare. I think about that a lot actually - especially now that the Santa Ana winds are kicking up and we have vast dry canyon areas practically surrounding our home.



turtles - check

important docs in green file box - check

computer and external hard drive - check

cd's - ehh, k - fling em off the balcony, hope ground isn't on fire too

baby pics (old fashioned, pre digital) - hands getting a bit full

art portfolio - fling off balcony, hope for the best

giant chems display - 'fraid I'd be SOL

musical instruments - SOL



Yep, that whole scenario wangs chung.

Better start praying now. Or buy a lot of fire extinguishers. Or both.

I wish I could say that I gave a rat's ass, but I don't.



possessions suck.

toomuch'stash Escribi�:

I wish I could say that I gave a rat's ass, but I don't.



possessions suck.

So long as you don't lose the dealer's phone number? X-D Or have a finely aged tequila, scotch, or wine go up in flames?



Possessions do suck, but they can be amazing too. Lots of books, music, even clothes that have a lot of memories associated with them that I wouldn't want to lose. Although memories might not go away, sometimes the contact "high" from picking up something associated with a great night is really nice.



Like if the board was erased and I couldn't go back and read over some old threads (esp. Buzzed Posting). Sure, I remember most of the good times, but it's amazing to read what I was thinking at the time or immediately afterwards.