Rental vs. Ownership: will streaming save the music industry?

 

 

By Michele Kennedy

Music industry faces threat as new technology allows fans to ‘stream’ their favourite music from sites such as YouTube and Spotify.

With millions of people now streaming their music online can the industry adapt to the changes and survive or are they in for a bumpy ride as new technology captivates the attention of music fans from all over the world. 

Around 20 years ago the music industry tried to gain your attention they only had to hold it for a short period of time in order to get you to buy the CD.
However, the introduction of Apple’s ITunes made it difficult for the industry to do this, they had to adapt and find new ways to make money. For music fans this was a revelation. They were able to download their favourite tracks for as little as 99p without having to buy the entire album.
The introduction of online services such as Spotify and YouTube means the music industry has to prepare itself for another drastic change in music’s culture.

Ticket sales from 2011 shows that less people are buying tickets to actually attend the concerts: a total of 50.1 million were sold compared to 52 million in 2010. However, the number of music sales has increased by an estimated 8 % to £5.2 billion in 2011.

Charlotte DeValmency, a 20 year old law student from England, says: “I think the music industry resisted it for too long and didn’t adapt, now people are more used to the illegal ways of streaming. Hard core fans will still pay for the music but think it might change the music industry for the better.”

17 year old high school student from Glasgow, Sarah Dunn, defends the industry by saying: “I prefer CDs because all you have to do is put them in a media player and listen to your favourite singer or band, you can get lost in the music. The problem with downloading music whether it be legally or not is that you have in a way, lost that personal contact with your favourite artist. In the CDs is normally a written thank you from that person and this makes the connection between the artists and their fans more personal.”

 

Byron Evans, who is a 19 year old drama student from Glasgow and self confessed music fanatic claims: “The music industry doesn’t need saving, recent statistics have proven this. However I do believe that something needs to be done about the concert attendance. Take Rihanna for example, her music sales are through the roof yet she has had to cancel shows in the past due to empty seats.”

Statistics show that 16.4 million people now stream their music online, 20% of streamers buy more downloads since streaming and 55% of streamers discover new artists because of streaming. With Norway being the leading market for streamers with 48%, surprisingly Japan having the lowest figures of 15%. Leaving an average of 32% of the worlds population are using streaming as a method of listening to music.

The download sales have increased every year with singles sales increasing by 13%, while digital albums increased 25.1%. There were more than 100 million digital albums sold in 2011. For the music industry this is a first. So clearly, streaming services such as YouTube and Spotify aren’t killing the industry. Instead i helps ng it.

 

 

 

 

Tat’s the way forward

by Courtney Hendry

As it is now estimated that around 20 million people in the UK have at least one tattoo, it would appear that workplaces all around the UK are becoming more accepting of permanent body art.

However that may not the case, one of England’s major employers, The London Metropolitan Police Force, recently outlined new policies banning employees from having visible tattoos. So the question is, will having a tattoo really impact how well you can perform at work?

The London Met announced their policy reform in October last year and blamed tattoos for damaging the professional image of the force. Previously any offensive or intimidating tattoos were banned, however now all tattoos – offensive or not – that can be seen will not be allowed.

Any officers that already have pre-existing tattoos that are visible but not deemed offensive were told to announce them within a month or face disciplinary action.

Daryl Gillespie who has worked as a tattoo artist since he was 18 and is currently manager at Timeless Tattoo Glasgow said: “I know a policeman who is head to toe covered; neck, ears, hands, everything but it doesn’t mean he isn’t good at what he does, it’s just tarring folk with the one brush.

“I know people that come into our shop and they want to get a tattoo but they’re scared to because of work or whatever, it just shouldn’t be like that. It’s not going to make you any less of a person or any worse at your job. It’s just not very nice. It’s hard for me to picture because I’ve always worked for myself or worked in the tattoo industry where the more tattoos the better!”

 35-year-old hairdresser Hannah McGill agrees with Gillespie, she said: “You could be completely covered in tattoos but it doesn’t impact how your brain works. At the end of the day you’re the same person and have the same abilities, your just a bit more colorful.”

Other members of the public share the opinion that the appropriateness of having tattoos on show entirely depends on where you work and what the tattoo is like.

21-year-old sales assistant Alistair Campbell, said: “I think it’s okay to have tattoos on show, but it depends on where you’re working. If you’re working in the fashion sector then it’s cool, but you wouldn’t want your doctor covered in tattoos.”

Nicole Gallagher, a 41 year old call center team manager, said: “I think it depends what they are; football ones and rude tattoos aren’t appropriate but if someone in my work had a small star or their kids’ names then I wouldn’t have a problem with that.”

People may be more accepting of tattoos now because of the huge rise in popularity over the past few years. In 2001 there were 700 tattoo parlors but industry figures now estimate that there are now around 2,500 parlors in the UK with many more tattoo artists working independently from home.

Talking about the rise in popularity and acceptance of tattoos, Gillespie said: “I think on the outside it looks like it has become more acceptable but I think the reality is it’s just easier to get them now and be in employment. I know guys that have been refused jobs because of their tattoos and I know guys that have been sacked for having tattoos, but this was years ago. Now I think if you start getting a sleeve it’s not a case of ‘oh you have to wear a long sleeved shirt now’ because it’s more fashionable.”

25-year-old Aimee Stewart who is studying law, said: “Most of my friends have at least one tattoo and I would love to get one but I can’t. It just wouldn’t give the right impression being a lawyer with roses and hearts dotted about your arm. I wouldn’t be taken seriously.”

Tattoos now seem to be commonplace in society. It appears as though everyone has at least one; from the Prime Minister’s wife Samantha Cameron who sports a small dolphin on her ankle, to David Beckham with his abundance of tattoos representing different parts of his life. People look up to celebrities and copy every move they make, something Gillespie sees every day: “People come in with pictures of famous people and their tattoos. Everybody and anybody famous with a tattoo, I’ve probably seen a picture of it and been asked a price for it, it’s insane.”

Murron Young, a 17-year-old high school student, said that she’s already planned her first tattoo: “On my 18^th birthday I’m going to get the stars that Rihanna has on the back of her neck. I love that tattoo.”

It’s not just young people who are getting tattoos. A 2010 Pew Research Study showed that 15 percent of older adults now have at least one tattoo.

“I think older people are going for it now because so many more people have them. Twenty to thirty years ago you were branded as somebody that had been in jail or a criminal and a lot of people were not inclined to get tattoos because they were scared of what people thought of them. A lot of people at that age now think I should have or I wish I did and now there’s nothing stopping them,” said Gillespie.

Peter Graham, a 67-year-old retired lorry driver, said: “It was always common for drivers to have tattoos, lot’s of the guys came from the forces and had tattoos. I never got one until my granddaughter was born and I was 55 then.”

If the tattoo trend continues to grow it will soon be 40 million people that are sporting tattoos in the UK instead of the current 20 million. 

 

 

“I’m Not A Lady Who Lunches”. A Day In The Life Of.

By Emma Tomlinson

Claire Johnston is a normal girl living in Glasgow. However do not be fooled as she shares how chaotic her life can be in the wonderfully wacky world of film making.

“My typical morning begins with me being woken by my alarm at around 8:30 which I continue to promptly shove on snooze at least three times before eventually forcing myself out of bed. Once I finally get up I shower, get ready, grab a large cuppa and a bowl of Weetabix while trying to catch the last twenty minutes of Frasier before I head around the corner to catch my bus.

Once I arrive at work I get my equipment set and ready for the day, ensuring cameras are charged, materials are out and everything is prepared and working. My work day changes frequently, keeping it exciting and interesting every time. Gmac often hosts courses funded by the Prince’s Trust which gives young people a month long taster of what it’s like working in the film making industry.

Outside of working with young people I can often be found making corporate videos for companies such as the NHS regarding illness: dementia, depression etc. I also continue freelancing for bigger projects being a camera assistant and general crew member. However, a time where I stop working for other people and become my own boss is when I work on my solo project that I plan to start shooting at the end of February. In regards to general idea I am still completely oblivious myself as to what the main topic is along with stressing myself senseless over finding volunteers willing to be my crew.

On my lunch break I tend to continue working, helping young people with any tasks, doing regular office work and keeping the place running smoothly. I am not a lady who lunches. On the off times where I do stop for a break I force myself out the office for at least ten minutes to get some fresh air and to pick up a quick sandwich from any of the local supermarkets near the office (sometimes from Marks and Spencers if I’m feeling especially posh!)

I’m never quite sure how to address the ‘how I got into film-making question’. It was never something I really planned to do, I kind of just fell into it and now I can’t get enough of it! I initially started off experimenting with photography at around 14-15 quickly abandoning it for boys and parties. I picked it back up again in my mid twenties doing freelance work and taking courses to broaden my skills. It was during my gap year in university that I found my true love for educating young people. I took a trip in Japan and Tokyo teaching the children there English and considered making that my career plan. However, it wasn’t until I was working as a trainee broker and bumped into actor, David Hayman when I officially started my media career.

In a bid to get out of the broker business I took on a volunteering position David was offering on a course he organised and after three months was offered a full time position training young people the necessary skills for working in Media. My greatest achievement working at Gmac is probably just having the opportunity to inspire young people to get creative and do something productive with their time.

I retire from the office at around 6:00 and get the bus back to my house. I do try to read on my journey home but I’m usually so tired that I have a quick nap behind the newspaper instead. Once I arrive home, I kick off my shoes, get my pyjama bottoms on and get the dinner started. I try not to turn the TV on as soon as I get home and have a quick read of the newspaper. This doesn’t last long though as the TV eventually beckons where I sit from 8 o’clock until I finally decide to call it a night, head to bed and get ready to do it all again in the morning.”

 

 

Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your fake hair

by Courtney Hendry

 

Four years ago I cut six inches off my hair. It was great at the time; short, stylish and made people go “oh wow, that’s lovely”. For maybe five weeks I liked the novelty of the tiny ponytail, how different I looked and that most of my friends said I looked older. However, this phase soon wore off and I was left with the most troublesome of all hairstyles, the look that’s not quite long enough to be shoulder length but just short of being classed as a ‘bob’. 

I have tried everything to boost my hair growth with little success and I must emphasise that ‘Miracle Hair Growth Shampoos’ do not work. They are an expensive waste of money and act as little more than a placebo to make you believe that it looks like your hair has grown a cm or two so you continue to buy more. Your own hair should, on average, grow half an inch each month, without the need for any expensive product

Fear not though girls in a similar situation, there is an answer to your prayers. You may, like me, have tried various different clip-in hair extensions, ranging from fairly cheap to rather expensive and yes they all absolutely add that longed for length, but the clips are not easy to hide and it tends to be synthetic materials used. Another downside of the clip-ins is that it’s often very easy to tell when a girl is wearing them, cue the “look at that girl’s extensions, they’re so thin” whispers. Clip-ins also tend to be very readily available. My first pair were bought from a stall in the middle of a shopping centre for £35. I was offered no advice and proceeded to wear these ridiculous long strands of thin hair for a year. Most young girls don’t seek any professional advice and so they aren’t cut or styled in accordance with your own original hairstyle.

 Micro-Loops are the best investment I have ever made; bearing in mind I don’t own any cars or houses. They are one of the safest forms of extensions as no heat is used when they are attached to the individuals own natural hair. It’s a fairly simple process to have the extensions fitted; a trained professional will supply the hair, bonds and tools. However, it is very time consuming, it usually takes around three hours. 

Micro-Loops differ to clip in extensions as they are fastened around your own natural hair.  To install the extensions a small section of your own hair is threaded through, along with a similar amount of extension hair and then the ring is squeezed shut with small pliers to secure it in place. To remove them, all you have to do is squeeze the ring the other way with the pliers to open it up.

Micro-loop extensions should last on average around three to six months and although they are fairly expensive, usually retailing for between £160-£220 depending on who fits them, they look and feel great. However it is important to point out that many people offer their services who are not qualified to do so and if it seems to cheap to be true, that’s because it is.

The hair can be very easily styled as it is usually made from human hair. The   highest quality extensions are grade AAAA Remy hair which is the best because it has never been permed, dyed, coloured, bleached or chemically processed in any way.

For anyone who wants instant confidence and hair that turns heads they should definitely look into micro-loop extensions.

Derren Brown: Master of Mystery

by Courtney Hendry

The 27^th of February 1971 brought the arrival of new baby boy to Christine and Bob Brown, a child that would one day grow up to be described by The Guardian as, “The greatest dinner party guest in history… He’s either a balls out con artist or the scariest man in Britain.”

We are of course discussing the man who has had the nation glued to their seats (literally), broadcast a ‘live’ séance that became one of the most complained about shows in television history and correctly guessed the lottery results, among many other incredible achievements.

It’s hard to describe Brown to someone who doesn’t understand what he does. He classes himself as a, “illusionist, hypnotist, painter, writer and sceptic”, however when trying to sum him up it’s easier to just say he’s a man with incredible intelligence that gives him the ability to do things no ordinary human can. The effect he has on critics, journalists and everyone else is impressive. He rarely receives negative reviews and is highly praised for his work; resulting in two Laurence Oliver Awards and two Bafta nominations.

Derren Victor Brown was born and raised in Croydon, London along with his younger brother Dominic. He has said previously that some of his interests in magic, illusion and psychological techniques date back to his childhood but it was a perfectly ordinary young life that he lived, having being privately educated at Whitgift School.

His interest in perusing magic did not take hold until later in life when he was studying law and German at The University of Bristol. It was a hypnosis show performed by Martin S Taylor that made Derren reconsider his career path. He began spending his 20’s drinking wine and practising hypnosis and close up magic for hours on end. He started performing his act in cafes and bars in Bristol and abandoned the distant dreams of a law career.

Aside from creating new acts and tricks to astound audiences Derren is a patron of the Parrot Zoo Trust charity and lives with two parrots. He finds painting a relaxing hobby and he has had his impressive caricatures displayed in a gallery. He is very quiet when it comes to his private life but since revealing in a 2007 interview that he was gay, he’s said that he is in a “blissfully happy relationship.”

The big break came for Derren in 2000. Channel Four was looking for someone talented to create a television show based on the theme of mind reading. Derren happily obliged and Mind Control was such a hit with audiences that in 2001 and 2002 the Mind Control series continued, gaining Derren more and more popularity.

He continued to make successful television shows with Channel Four with shows like Russian Roulette where he shocked the 3.3 million people who turned in to watch it and Derren Brown: Séance which was a very controversial show and one of the most complained about television shows in history.

The Heist, which was broadcast in 2006, was one of Derren’s most exciting shows. He selected members of the public and claimed that he was holding a ‘motivational seminar’ to teach some of his skills. He was actually conditioning the participants to respond to music, colours, phrases and experiences he had set up, in such a way that they would experience this motivated mind set that encourage them to believe they could do anything and so three out of four of the chosen participants attempted to rob a security van in broad daylight.

In 2010, he managed to transform the life of a normal man who had a severe fear of flying. He took Matt Galley on a journey from being stuck in his ordinary life to being able to summon the strength to land a plane, when he believes it is in trouble, at 30,000 feet. Brown considers Hero at 30,000 Feet his “fondest and best show”.

Derrens most ambitious show to date is Apocalypse. It aired in October 2012 and focused on Steven who described himself before the show as “lazy and irresponsible” and his own mother said that she felt he didn’t love her anymore. The show took months to set up as it involved meticulous planning. Over 200 actors were used and the team involved had to hack Steven’s phone, control his news feeds and make special versions of television and radio shows to convince Steven that a meteor shower was hitting earth. He then worked his way through an abandoned military hospital as one of the few survivors allowing him to develop courage, brains and a heart on the journey. It was one of the most popular shows on Channel Four in the past two years with 2.3 million viewers.

Derren’s stage shows are perhaps even more amazing than the television shows. His ability to work a crowd is outstanding and his humour comes across in ways that it can’t on TV. He has had five stage shows since 2003 with another new show starting in 2013. Something Wicked This Way Comes from 2005-2006 and Svengali from 2011-2012 both won Laurence Olivier awards for Best Entertainment Shows.

Empire Magazine has possibly come up with the best way to describe Derren Brown, “The closest our galaxy has to a Jedi Master.”

Drinking or Driving?

Emylie Howie

With three weeks to Christmas, it’s getting to the time of year where our televisions are bombarded with adverts about drink driving over the festive period. But we must remember that these adverts are trying to serve a purpose: to protect you, your family and the public.
In the UK, the alcohol limit for drivers is 80mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood, 35mg per 100ml of breath or 107mg per 100ml of urine. In most other European countries, the limit is less, usually 50mg per 100ml of blood.
Nationally, 25% of all road death involves the driver being under the influence of alcohol and last year (2011) saw the first increase in drink drive collisions since 2002. That means 1 in 7 of road deaths involved drink drivers over the alcohol limit. 1,290 serious injuries occurred when someone was over the drink drive limit
Recent research by road safety charity Brake found that more than half of young drivers and over a third of older motorists are risking lives by driving first thing in the morning after drinking a lot the night before. So with Christmas nights out on the horizon make sure your’ not in the category of the drink drivers caught the next day, think of it as the walk of shame. You don’t want to do it.
Although less people are taking the plunge and the risk of dink-driving at night, more are getting into their cars in the morning. Many without realising they could still potentially be over the legal limit to drive. Just because you’ve been to sleep, does not mean your 100% sober.

If you have any worries over the festive period, check out the drink aware website, for all the facts: http://www.drinkaware.co.uk/facts/drink-driving?gclid=CIiRkd7ZhbQCFe7MtAodBAsApQ

Payday loans bankrupting Scotland

 By Darren Carrigan, Holly Callender and Jordan Fergusson

In difficult financial times such as these it is common for struggling families and citizens to look for loans, but with banks turning down almost every applicant it has resulted in the ‘legal loan shark’.  We’ve all seen the adverts for these companies with friendly and catchy names, they seem all smiles and laughs on the surface but once you step into their world you’re caught in a cold and efficient racket.

It might seem like a simple deal, you don’t have any money and don’t get paid until Friday – but bills need to be paid Wednesday. So you go to these nice people who’ll lend you some cash. But with an APR of 4214% you might not be able to pay that money back. But, hey – it’s okay, you can pay it back next month we’ll just charge you extra. 2 months later and the friendly public image is gone, final demands are made and you are trapped in poverty.

It’s these multiple loans at sky high interest that lead people to charities like Step Change, who give help and advice about debt. When asked about payday loan companies they said, “We have concerns for the industry; as they offer immediate loans at extremely high rates with no credit checking”

He added “In the first six months of this year more than 2000 people came to us with multiple payday loans as opposed to 700 in 2009. Wages are not being raised to match the inflation rate and this is stretching everyone’s budgets thin. It is not just Students and unemployed people who are taking on these loans and getting into trouble. There has been a huge rise in the employed households who are struggling”

Quick interviews with the public suggest similar facts. When asked if they were spending more or less this year for Christmas, the majority replied they were spending less. One reason was that everything was rising in price. Council tax plus rent has gone up since last Christmas in some areas.

However, while many have been tempted by taking out a pay day loan, not many have actually gone through with it. Only one member of the public actually had taken out a loan of £100 and that was when she had lost her job and was absolutely skint. It took her three months to pay it back.

There are also several shops which have a pay day loan style. Bright House allows customers to buy expensive products and pay up weekly. The amount of money that customers have to pay in total is ridiculous. For example, the Philips Party Machine costs £199 online with free delivery from the Phillips UK retailer. Despite this, Bright House manages to get away with charging £4.69 a week for 104 weeks which will eventually add up to £317.20. This is £118.20 more than the retail price.

These pay day loans are blatantly ripping off people who need the money most in this current economic climate. Some people have the foresight to avoid it, but many fall into the trap. Especially with Christmas coming up, the most expensive holiday of the year, these loan sharks will be having a field day.