Earphones, headphones and over-the-ear phones have become an essential accessory in today’s digital life. But each device has its own personality and therefore no one style is the absolute best for everyone. That realization immediately launches the question, “Yeah, but which one is best for me?”
The answer depends upon how you use your listening device. In what kinds of situations do you listen, to what types of content and equally important, what are your expectations?
Personally, I do most of my music listening at the gym—lifting weights, running on the treadmill, stretching and spinning. (Yeah, it takes a lot of work to look this good!) So to me, the most important considerations are comfort and sound. I have found over-the-ear phones to be the best sounding style in general because they isolate your ears. But they are not comfortable. In fact, the idea of wearing my large “ear cans” in the gym simply never crossed my mind.
For the past year or so I’ve been using a $90 pair of ear buds with silicone noise isolation inserts. I was comfortable with these, so testing the Subjeckt T.N.T. low profile headphones didn’t immediately seem like a good idea.
I did however, finally consent to take ‘em for a work out. List price is $49.99 on these ear flaps which come in eight different bright styles/colors. My first question was, “Would they be comfortable for my needs?” Answer, “Yes.”
Very lightweight, they they fit firmly against my ears, but without pushing down on my head. That made them seem absolutely viable for use at the gym, although I wasn’t sure how the looser fit might translate in terms of the sound. (According to official specs, the range covers 20Hz to 20KHZ and features a 40mm Neodymium magnetic driver.)
I discovered something very interesting about the Subjekt’s DNA which I believe is intentional. They are bass heavy. Well, they would be bass heavy if you put your hands to them and pushed them firmly against your ears throughout your listening session. But of course no one does that. So given the comfort factor of this low profile design, the extra bass actually translates to “just right.” I also found that by altering the EQ on my phone I could adjust the sonic curve for different kinds of music.
So yes, here I am wearing a pair of headphones that cost about half of the buds I’m used to and frankly I like them, I like them a lot. There is an audio fatigue factor that travels with the buds that was thankfully missing from the TNT phones. Also a plus was the rubbery 4 ft. no-tangle cord and the bright colors which deliver a dose of cool.
So if you see me at the gym, you’ll note I’ve switched sound gear and am now wearing the white Subjekts shown above, and that’s probably the best way to sum up this review.
Singled Out—Holiday Edition
/by Freeman• • • • •
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Other holiday songs looking for spins:
Toby Keith & Sammy Hagar/Santa’s Going South/SDU
Big & Rich/Blue Christmas/WMN
Joe Nicols/Old Toy Trains/Show Dog-Universal
Uncle Kracker/My Hometown (Christmas Version)/Atlantic/BPG
Joey + Rory/Remember Me/Let It Snow/Vanguard/Sugar Hill
Lisa Matassa/The Chrismas Song/It Is What It Is Records/Nine North
Craig Campbell/I’ll Be Home For Christmas/Bigger Picture
Andy Gibson/The Christmas Song/R&J Records
Rachel Holder/Christmas Eve/Curb
Lucy Angel/Mr. Santa/GForce
Little Big Town/Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas/Capitol
Jessica Ridley feat. Chris Cline/The Spirit Of Christmas/Nine North/Turnpike
Jesse & Noah/I Want Texas For Christmas
Charlie Cook On Air; Christmas Thoughts
/by contributorAs you read this I will either be heading to the Pittsburgh airport to fly to LA, be on the plane, or if you read this at 4:30 AM/ET Saturday, be getting off the plane to find my way to my home in Southern California. This for my 50 hour visit home.
As long a day as today will be, I will have come into contact with hundreds of people doing the same thing: rushing toward family and friends excited about seeing them for the first time in maybe the entire year, or rekindling a relationship during the holidays.
However you look back on the year, take a second to remember a GOOD thing that happened to YOU in 2011. I know that we all have challenges and they are the issues that need attention, but please take a second and remember a good day. A new friend. A good memory that will make you smile for just a minute.
Many of our friends and family are experiencing a Christmas season without a job for the first time in their careers. Some are on their second Christmas without work. This can be a cruel business. We chose to work in radio or records for a multitude of reasons. Changing jobs every few years was not necessarily one of them.
My first job in radio came a few days after the Christmas holidays in, well, many years ago. I remember saying to my family that this was a great Christmas gift, to get the job of my dreams and to start on January 2. The job of my dreams paid $2.10 an hour. But I worked 10 hours of overtime every week to make $110.00 a week
Each Christmas I think back on how excited I was to get that job and to start on what has been, besides my beautiful daughters Jacki and Izzy, the most rewarding part of my life. This year I look back and say thanks again for all of the friends I have worked with in radio and records.
I may be shallower than you but I can count on one hand the friends I have that are not in our business. I would have a few fingers left over, by the way. I am tied to all of you in radio and records at every level.
So however tough it is this Christmas for many who started the year as programmers, disc jockeys, record reps or the other job titles that make up Country Music/Radio and are now looking for their next opportunity, thank God that you have your friends and family and remember the feeling you had going into that first job.
Merry Christmas and let’s all hope for a Happy 2012.
Digital Updates
/by Sarah SkatesIt’s been a big year for Rhapsody, which celebrated its 10th anniversary earlier this month, acquired Napster in November, and launched a social music experience in September.
Rhapsody is available on 60+ mobile devices, and 2011 was the first year that a majority of the playback came on devices other than home computers.
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Four albums have sold more than one million digital copies:
Mumford & Sons, Sigh No More
Eminem, Recovery
Adele, 21
Lady Gaga, Fame
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One in four consumers plan to give gift cards that can be used for digital music purchases this season, according to the Consumer Electronics Association. One in five consumers plans to give a gift card that can be used for electronic book purchases, and 16 percent for app purchases.
Bridgestone Extends Arena Naming Rights
/by Sarah SkatesThe original five-year agreement was signed in March 2010 and included the option for an extension. That option was exercised, yielding the just-announced five-year extension. The new deal runs through 2019.
When sharing the news at a press conference, Predators CEO Jeff Cogen and Bridgestone Americas CEO Gary Garfield said they hope to bring the NHL’s All-Star Game to Nashville, possibly after the opening of the Music City Center.
Road Manager Rick “Crabber” Crabtree Passes
/by Sarah SkatesLongtime road and production manager Rick “Crabber” Crabtree passed away on Dec. 21, 2011. He had been battling cancer for two years but was in remission when he died in his sleep.
Among the artists he worked with on the road were Ricky Van Shelton, Tammy Cochran, Lorrie Morgan, Tanya Tucker and Johnny Paycheck. His career also included time as production manager at the Wildhorse Saloon and the Mohegan Sun Casino.
He is survived by wife Kate.
A memorial service is scheduled for Wed., Dec. 28, 11:00 a.m. at Dickson Presbyterian Church, 500 Hwy 70 E, in Dickson, Tenn.
Grammy Camp Coming To Nashville
/by Sarah SkatesGrammy Camp has been held for the past seven years in Los Angeles, and expanded to New York last summer. Upcoming sessions run Aug. 6–13, 2012 in NY; and July 14–23, 2012 in L.A.
Applications and details are available at www.grammyintheschools.com and the deadline is March 31, 2012.
Paid positions as Grammy Camp counselors for young people ages 21–25 are also available at www.grammyintheschools.com.
Facebook Ads Moving To News Feed
/by Sarah SkatesCurrently Facebook displays ads on the right side of the page.
Advertisements will be part of Facebook users’ news feeds in 2012. Currently, these Sponsored Stories appear on the right side of the Facebook page.
The move to the news feed will greatly increase visibility for marketers, and will bring in more advertising revenue for the social networking giant.
During the roll out, there will be about one sponsored story per day in users’ news feeds. The ads will be identified by the word Sponsored.
Initially, these ads will not appear in feeds viewed on mobile devices, but could show up there as early as March.
Facebook is reportedly preparing for a second quarter 2012 IPO.
More from AdAge.
Garner’s Beyond The Hits To Help Others
/by bossrossGarner, award-winning host of After MidNite, is releasing Beyond The Hits under the banner of his new production/development company TriPower. The 20-track edition is priced at $9.99.
The collection features hit artists such as Alan Jackson, Jason Aldean, Brad Paisley, Lady Antebellum, Carrie Underwood and many more. (Track list here.) The music is intended to help fans find great songs that appeared on previous albums from each artist but were never were released as singles. According to Garner the ideas is to, “Focus on the depth and brilliance of each artist as well as the songwriters behind these tracks.”
Garner told Nashville.com writer David Scarlett, “I’m doing this for a couple of reasons. Sharing these great songs that people may not have heard is important. But I also know how much songwriters depend on people downloading their music to make a living. And with so many people no longer buying complete albums, a lot of writers who, in the past, might have been able to make a living getting album cuts until they’re fortunate enough to have a single or two released are now losing a lot of their income. And then, there’s the charity aspect. I’m really excited about being able to devote a portion of the proceeds from this project to causes I truly believe in.”
Subjekt TNT HeadPhones Offer Sonic Surprise
/by bossrossThe answer depends upon how you use your listening device. In what kinds of situations do you listen, to what types of content and equally important, what are your expectations?
Personally, I do most of my music listening at the gym—lifting weights, running on the treadmill, stretching and spinning. (Yeah, it takes a lot of work to look this good!) So to me, the most important considerations are comfort and sound. I have found over-the-ear phones to be the best sounding style in general because they isolate your ears. But they are not comfortable. In fact, the idea of wearing my large “ear cans” in the gym simply never crossed my mind.
For the past year or so I’ve been using a $90 pair of ear buds with silicone noise isolation inserts. I was comfortable with these, so testing the Subjeckt T.N.T. low profile headphones didn’t immediately seem like a good idea.
I did however, finally consent to take ‘em for a work out. List price is $49.99 on these ear flaps which come in eight different bright styles/colors. My first question was, “Would they be comfortable for my needs?” Answer, “Yes.”
Very lightweight, they they fit firmly against my ears, but without pushing down on my head. That made them seem absolutely viable for use at the gym, although I wasn’t sure how the looser fit might translate in terms of the sound. (According to official specs, the range covers 20Hz to 20KHZ and features a 40mm Neodymium magnetic driver.)
I discovered something very interesting about the Subjekt’s DNA which I believe is intentional. They are bass heavy. Well, they would be bass heavy if you put your hands to them and pushed them firmly against your ears throughout your listening session. But of course no one does that. So given the comfort factor of this low profile design, the extra bass actually translates to “just right.” I also found that by altering the EQ on my phone I could adjust the sonic curve for different kinds of music.
So yes, here I am wearing a pair of headphones that cost about half of the buds I’m used to and frankly I like them, I like them a lot. There is an audio fatigue factor that travels with the buds that was thankfully missing from the TNT phones. Also a plus was the rubbery 4 ft. no-tangle cord and the bright colors which deliver a dose of cool.
So if you see me at the gym, you’ll note I’ve switched sound gear and am now wearing the white Subjekts shown above, and that’s probably the best way to sum up this review.
Performers Set For New Year’s Bash on Broadway
/by Sarah SkatesMore than 30,000 people are expected at the downtown event, according to the Nashville Convention and Visitors Bureau.
The free street party starts at 7:00 p.m. on Dec. 31, with concerts running for four or five hours. The event will be hosted by Storme Warren and will be simulcast on SiriusXM.
A 15-foot red music note will be lowered at the countdown to midnight, replacing the guitar drop of past years. Click here for more info.