Will Watermarking Deter Piracy?
The Digital Watermarking Alliance (DWA) has announced findings from a recently commissioned survey on piracy deterrence. The study, conducted by media and technology measurement and market research firm Interpret, aimed to determine whether the inclusion of Digital Serial Numbers (DSNs) in online content would deter illegal file sharing. The results showed that DSNs would deter illegal downloading among 33 percent of the 994-person sample and deter illegal uploading among 52 percent. DSNs represent a new way to track media content by digitally watermarking audio or video content such as music, movies or TV programming with unique, imperceptible digital identification numbers. Unlike Digital Rights Management, DSNs allow consumers to freely access content and make multiple copies for backup use or for different playing devices. Should the content be used illegally, however, the DSN can be associated back to the original buyer.
Additional findings from the survey:
* The introduction of DSNs would encourage more legal, paid downloads among consumers;
* The illegal downloading of music would be impacted the most with the introduction of DSNs, decreasing by approximately 40 percent;
* DSNs would result in a 45% decrease in the number of P2P users who leave music and video files in shared directories for others to download;
* The vast majority of consumers who download content find DSN technology “less cumbersome” than DRM and a “better balance between consumer needs and copyright protections”; and
* Many consumers would buy more CDs and DVDs when introduced to DSNs.
One conclusion from the survey is that consumers would need to be educated on the differences between DSNs and traditional Digital Rights Management, specifically regarding the legal status of content and the risks of uploading.
Findings from the survey are detailed here.
Just weeks away from the official street date of his latest release, The Rock, Rocky Comfort Records artist Tracy Lawrence has announced a Military World Premiere of the album. In an exclusive pre-release celebration, Lawrence will participate in a special two-day event, delivering his new CD personally to military personnel at Norfolk Naval Station and Fort Bragg. Lawrence will visit Norfolk Naval Station in Norfolk, VA on Sunday, May 31 and will wrap up the excursion at Fort Bragg in North Carolina the following day. The CD will be made available on these bases for all military personnel to purchase ten days prior to the retail sale date. The singer will also visit with the troops individually via meet and greets and CD signings.
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The Canadian Country Music Association (CCMA) has announced that RCA Records artist Martina McBride will perform at the 2009 Canadian Country Music Awards. The awards will be held at General Motors Place in Vancouver, BC, on September 13. This will be McBride’s first time as a guest at the CCMA Awards. Other stars confirmed for this year’s broadcast include 2008 CCMA Male Artist of the Year, Johnny Reid, six-time 2008 CCMA Award winners and 2009 JUNO recipients, Doc Walker, and multiple CCMA Award winner Terri Clark.
Pictured (l-r) are: Blacktop’s Lindsay Gum, Jimmy Yeary, Blacktop’s Mike Sebastian, Marty Dodson and Blacktop’s Kim Wiggins.
Musicians on Call (MOC), an organization with a mission to bring live and recorded music to the bedsides of patients in healthcare facilities to enhance the healing process, has enlisted musicians and other volunteers to play for over 136,000 people. MOC continues their mission through room-to-room hospital performances by both local musicians and national celebrities. Since opening the doors of the first National Chapter in April 2007, the organization has received the support of many country artists. Through these volunteer performances, MOC has visited the bedsides of over 10,000 patients, families and caregivers in Nashville. This year, MOC will once again benefit from the 3rd Annual Country Weekly Fashion Show and Concert, being held June 10 at Nashville’s Wildhorse Saloon.Artists who have graciously given their time and talents to visit patients at local Nashville hospitals include Fashion Show participants Chuck Wicks, Chris Young, Mark Wills, Trent Willmon, Joey & Rory and Jypsi. “I think I may have had more fun than the patients, but it was a joy to walk into those rooms and see the smiles on their faces,” said volunteer performer and RCA artist Chris Young. “I am looking forward to doing it again very soon.” You can find more information about Musicians on Call 
The Women’s Music Business Association (WMBA) recently celebrated their 2009 Annual Cocktail Reception and Awards Ceremony at Nashville’s Limelight. Awards were presented to the following WMBA members: Wonder Woman of the Year — Loretta Martin; Miss Congeniality — Sheree Spoltore. Additional award recipients were: Melissa Bollea, Leslie Mitchell, Tarryn Smith, Holly Hefner Nance, Whitney Sutton, and Heather Hubbard. In addition, a special induction of WMBA’s inaugural Alumni Group was announced at the celebration. Inducted into 2009/2010 Alumni are: Melissa Fuller, Dana Kelley, Jessica Porfirio, Amanda Thompson, Sara Pociask, Malia Axsom, and new Alumni Chairman, Jennifer Witherell. For more info on WMBA, click 
Tenacity Records artist Mark Wills is donating a portion of every sale of his next album, 2nd Time Around (in stores June 16th) to benefit military families through USA Cares, a nonprofit organization that helps post-9/11 military families bear the burdens of service with financial and advocacy support. Wills has also created a free USA Cares music sampler at www.markwills.com. Fans can visit the website to receive three free music downloads and a Mark Wills interview with Dennis Miller talking about their work with USA Cares. In addition to proceeds from the sale of the album, Wills has put a USA Cares insert inside the CD case that tells the buyer about the organization and asks them to use their cell phone to text the word “TROOPS” to 90999 which will trigger a onetime charge to their cell phone bill of $5, which will go directly to USA Cares. “The idea of allowing my fans to help make a difference in a Veteran’s life by simply picking up their cell phone is not only cutting edge technology, it is a way that we as Americans can make our voices heard,” Wills said. “So I am going to remind my fans, in audiences and one at a time, to pull out their cell phone and let’s make a difference together.” For more information on USA Cares, click 
Guitar maker Gibson Acoustic has joined Nashville musical instrument retailer Corner Music and the 12th South District Merchants of Tennessee for the 1st Annual Benefit for the Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee on Saturday, June 6 beginning at 12 noon. The benefit will include a day of performances on the outdoor stage, food and special sales to benefit Second Harvest. Vendors will be set up in the parking lot of Corner Music and Forks Drum Closet located at 2705 12th Avenue South. In addition, Gibson Acoustic’s Product Specialist will be on hand throughout the day where an exhibit of the world’s greatest acoustic guitars from the Gibson Montana Custom Shop will be on display. Music enthusiasts can receive free advice and information on their guitar. The event is open to the public and attendees are asked to bring a donation of canned goods or non-perishable food items to benefit the Second Harvest Food Bank. Second Harvest’s mission is to feed hungry people of the community and work to solve the overall hunger issues facing many families today. For more information on the Second Harvest Food Bank click 
For the second year, CMT One Country, CMT’s pro-social initiative, will reward winners of the 2009 CMT Music Awards by making donations on their behalf to their selected charities. In addition to honoring winners, CMT One Country is partnering with Rhapsody to make donations on behalf of all nominees. From now until Sunday, June 21, the proceeds from the purchase of any nominated song from Rhapsody.com will go to benefit that artist’s specified charity. CMT One Country was launched in 2005 to inspire CMT viewers to take action and bring about important change in their communities. After the 2008 CMT Music Awards, CMT One Country donated $70,000 on behalf of winners to their selected charities. An alphabetical list of nominated artists and the charities who would receive their donation is below: