Have you spotted Spotify?

Posted on February 28, 2009 by

Spotify is the latest music website and maybe the smartest. The music industry has been trapped between fending off the Napsters and disliking Apple’s dominance of paid-for music downloads through its itunes services.

The music industry’s overly protectionist approach to copyright has made music often exorbitantly expensive for certain users – like community radio stations in rural areas with small populations. It has seen clever and successful experiments like Coldplay’s, in releasing new material straight to the web for download at a price decided by the user. It has been beset by a variety of piratic assaults on its stronghold. And itunes still rules.

The industry knows it has to change, finding a way to protect artists’ rights fairly by finding the line between burning off potential users and being endlessly vulnerably to the latest piracy.

So now there’s Spotify – with a very new take on using music. You can listen to what music you like via the site – but you cannot download it. The deal is that you listen to an advertisement every twenty minutes – and that’s where the money comes from.

The site is supposed to be a beta vesion accessible only by invitation – but we were able to download the software and open an account without an invitation – so go check it out and share your reactions here.

What is Spotify?

Spotify

More evidence and closing statement still to be submitted to Bute’s Inchmarnock Fish Farm inquiry

Posted on February 28, 2009 by

The public evidence given to the inquiry into the planning application to establish a fish farm off Bute’s Inchmarnock Island has come to an end.

However, not all submissions have yet been heard. John McGhee, QC for the objectors – Stop the Inchmarnock Fish Farm (STIFF), indicated that he was quite happy for twenty-one other witness statements to be given through written precognitions. These statements include that of Christine McArthur, Secretary of STIFF. The objectors have also been given until 10th March to submit their closing statement.

John Campbell, QC for the applicants, then has a further three days to submit his closing statement for Offshore Farm Developments (OFD).

The Reporter, Mr Michael Culshaw, will be doing site visits to a number of locations on 12th March before preparing his conclusions.

The final public evidence sessions heard Mr Ian Kelly, a Planning Consultant, a witness for the applicants and Mr Kenny McNab, chairman of the Clyde Fisheries Association, a witness for the objectors.

Mr Kelly was critical of the report prepared by the Council’s Planning Department for Bute and Cowal Councilors – which they rejected. He said that the report did not address the economic benefit of the proposal and described it as lacking an ‘analytical or evidential basis for its conclusions’.

Under cross-examinationm Mr David Eaglesham, Leader of the Council’s Area Planning Team, admitted that ‘certain of those criticisms are valid’.

Mr McNab’s evidence focused on scallop dredging off he north end of Inchmarnock which he described as an important site for such fishing, being one of only two such sites in the Firth of Clyde sheltered from southerly winds. He valued scallop dredging as being worth around £86,400pa to Tarbert and Carradale on the west coast of Loch Fyne, declaring that the economy of both these villages depends on the scallop catches.

The Buteman online will publish early next week a summary of the public hearings and will also carry this in its print issue to be published on 5th March.

Scottish mountain avalanche warnings direct to mobile phone

Posted on February 28, 2009 by

SportScotland’s Avalanche Information Service has just announced that the warnings it issues can now be transmitted to mobile phones. The risk assessments can be sent from five mountain areas: Cairngorms North, Cairngorms South, Creag Meagaidh, Glencoe and Lochaber.

The service is avaiable by subscription and charged at £1 per call. Details from the website.