Comments on: Amie Street Closes Series A Financing Led By Amazon.com http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/05/amiestreetcom-closes-series-a-financing-led-by-amazoncom/ Startup and Technology News Thu, 24 Jul 2008 22:14:51 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: binaryorganic » Blog Archive » distributing music in the 21st century http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/05/amiestreetcom-closes-series-a-financing-led-by-amazoncom/#comment-2119567 binaryorganic » Blog Archive » distributing music in the 21st century Wed, 02 Apr 2008 23:01:18 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/05/amiestreetcom-closes-series-a-financing-led-by-amazoncom/#comment-2119567 [...] 1.) AmieStreet.com - When a new social music service launches that isn’t completely crippled or broken, we expect folks like Techcrunch or Ars to pick it up, but when everybody from NPR to Business Week and The Wall Street Journal have good things to say, it’s safe to assume that somebody’s on to something. Especially when that somebody starts the business out of their house in Long Island and ends up getting financial backing from Amazon. [...] [...] 1.) AmieStreet.com - When a new social music service launches that isn’t completely crippled or broken, we expect folks like Techcrunch or Ars to pick it up, but when everybody from NPR to Business Week and The Wall Street Journal have good things to say, it’s safe to assume that somebody’s on to something. Especially when that somebody starts the business out of their house in Long Island and ends up getting financial backing from Amazon. [...]

]]> By: Amazon Helping To Change The Business Of Music — hometown.at http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/05/amiestreetcom-closes-series-a-financing-led-by-amazoncom/#comment-1865657 Amazon Helping To Change The Business Of Music — hometown.at Sun, 23 Dec 2007 03:54:08 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/05/amiestreetcom-closes-series-a-financing-led-by-amazoncom/#comment-1865657 [...] Amazon also invested in a different startup in the music space - Amie Street. Amie Street is a company I have long admired - we first covered it in July 2006, and last year I added it to my list of “web 2.0 companies I couldn’t live without.” [...] [...] Amazon also invested in a different startup in the music space - Amie Street. Amie Street is a company I have long admired - we first covered it in July 2006, and last year I added it to my list of “web 2.0 companies I couldn’t live without.” [...]

]]> By: pirelli winter tires http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/05/amiestreetcom-closes-series-a-financing-led-by-amazoncom/#comment-1573029 pirelli winter tires Mon, 27 Aug 2007 00:12:42 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/05/amiestreetcom-closes-series-a-financing-led-by-amazoncom/#comment-1573029 <strong>pirelli winter tires...</strong> pirelli winter tires... pirelli winter tires…

pirelli winter tires…

]]> By: Amazon invests in Amie St. - Report Round Up at a quiet revolution http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/05/amiestreetcom-closes-series-a-financing-led-by-amazoncom/#comment-1554571 Amazon invests in Amie St. - Report Round Up at a quiet revolution Mon, 13 Aug 2007 19:48:21 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/05/amiestreetcom-closes-series-a-financing-led-by-amazoncom/#comment-1554571 [...] Street Closes Series A Financing Led By Amazon.com - TechCrunch No doubt, Amazon’s recent payments system seems an ideal fit for the site as [...] [...] Street Closes Series A Financing Led By Amazon.com - TechCrunch No doubt, Amazon’s recent payments system seems an ideal fit for the site as [...]

]]> By: NexGen Technology Blog » Scrybe Closes Series A http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/05/amiestreetcom-closes-series-a-financing-led-by-amazoncom/#comment-1545662 NexGen Technology Blog » Scrybe Closes Series A Thu, 09 Aug 2007 12:39:07 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/05/amiestreetcom-closes-series-a-financing-led-by-amazoncom/#comment-1545662 [...] A round of financing from Adobe Systems Incorporated and LMKR. In what is becoming an annoying trend, the company is not disclosing the size of the [...] [...] A round of financing from Adobe Systems Incorporated and LMKR. In what is becoming an annoying trend, the company is not disclosing the size of the [...]

]]> By: Torq http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/05/amiestreetcom-closes-series-a-financing-led-by-amazoncom/#comment-1541749 Torq Tue, 07 Aug 2007 05:33:13 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/05/amiestreetcom-closes-series-a-financing-led-by-amazoncom/#comment-1541749 Congrats Elias. Kick ass non DRM site. Glad to see its doing so well. Congrats Elias. Kick ass non DRM site. Glad to see its doing so well.

]]> By: Paul http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/05/amiestreetcom-closes-series-a-financing-led-by-amazoncom/#comment-1541689 Paul Tue, 07 Aug 2007 04:39:19 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/05/amiestreetcom-closes-series-a-financing-led-by-amazoncom/#comment-1541689 The concept is pretty good. There is a recent trend online to take what used to be called pyrmaid schemes and putting the model to valid uses. Incetivising users to listen and give feedback on new music will definately help small bands get started. There is a site called PeerIt that takes Amie Street's concept to the next level. They actually pay each buyer for sharing music via PayPal. So if you buy early you make more. Its a monetized bittorrent model. They do anything digital, not just music, not sure of PeerIt has gotten funded yet. http://www.peerit.com The concept is pretty good. There is a recent trend online to take what used to be called pyrmaid schemes and putting the model to valid uses. Incetivising users to listen and give feedback on new music will definately help small bands get started.

There is a site called PeerIt that takes Amie Street’s concept to the next level. They actually pay each buyer for sharing music via PayPal. So if you buy early you make more. Its a monetized bittorrent model. They do anything digital, not just music, not sure of PeerIt has gotten funded yet.

http://www.peerit.com

]]> By: David Mackey http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/05/amiestreetcom-closes-series-a-financing-led-by-amazoncom/#comment-1541659 David Mackey Tue, 07 Aug 2007 04:14:24 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/05/amiestreetcom-closes-series-a-financing-led-by-amazoncom/#comment-1541659 Sweet deal for Amie Street - and a smooth move on Amazon's part. Sweet deal for Amie Street - and a smooth move on Amazon’s part.

]]> By: spcoon http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/05/amiestreetcom-closes-series-a-financing-led-by-amazoncom/#comment-1541636 spcoon Tue, 07 Aug 2007 03:43:53 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/05/amiestreetcom-closes-series-a-financing-led-by-amazoncom/#comment-1541636 amie street is the bomb. (close your eyes if you don't want to witness big time pimpage. open your ears if you want to hear some beautiful lungs at work) http://amiestreet.com/mollymcginn amie street is the bomb.

(close your eyes if you don’t want to witness big time pimpage. open your ears if you want to hear some beautiful lungs at work)

http://amiestreet.com/mollymcginn

]]> By: Somewhat Frank http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/05/amiestreetcom-closes-series-a-financing-led-by-amazoncom/#comment-1541578 Somewhat Frank Tue, 07 Aug 2007 03:04:57 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/05/amiestreetcom-closes-series-a-financing-led-by-amazoncom/#comment-1541578 <strong>Amazon Buys Into Amie Street Approach...</strong> Amie Street, Rhode Island-based music startup with an interesting online music business model by allowing prices to be based on artist interest and demand, has taken a Series A round of funding led by Amazon.com. Though many were skeptical of... Amazon Buys Into Amie Street Approach…

Amie Street, Rhode Island-based music startup with an interesting online music business model by allowing prices to be based on artist interest and demand, has taken a Series A round of funding led by Amazon.com. Though many were skeptical of…

]]> By: Brendan http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/05/amiestreetcom-closes-series-a-financing-led-by-amazoncom/#comment-1541548 Brendan Tue, 07 Aug 2007 02:38:09 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/05/amiestreetcom-closes-series-a-financing-led-by-amazoncom/#comment-1541548 Hey Bruce, what's your great idea for high volume/high profits? $80 CD's? Hey Bruce, what’s your great idea for high volume/high profits? $80 CD’s?

]]> By: Bruce Warila http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/05/amiestreetcom-closes-series-a-financing-led-by-amazoncom/#comment-1541233 Bruce Warila Mon, 06 Aug 2007 22:14:15 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/05/amiestreetcom-closes-series-a-financing-led-by-amazoncom/#comment-1541233 Ty - "Most band income comes from playing shows and selling merch." I always put this challenge to people that make that statement. Send me a list of 100 unsigned bands that make a living wage from touring and merch. Yup, labels need higher margin products, but as every band can now be a label - and do it all on their own, they also need high margin / high volume products other than shirts just to put gas in the van. If Amie Street, MySpace, PureVolume, LastFM, etc. are the only businesses making money, lots of great music is never going to be created. Passion does not pay the bills! Ty - “Most band income comes from playing shows and selling merch.” I always put this challenge to people that make that statement. Send me a list of 100 unsigned bands that make a living wage from touring and merch. Yup, labels need higher margin products, but as every band can now be a label - and do it all on their own, they also need high margin / high volume products other than shirts just to put gas in the van. If Amie Street, MySpace, PureVolume, LastFM, etc. are the only businesses making money, lots of great music is never going to be created. Passion does not pay the bills!

]]> By: Ty http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/05/amiestreetcom-closes-series-a-financing-led-by-amazoncom/#comment-1540911 Ty Mon, 06 Aug 2007 18:26:48 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/05/amiestreetcom-closes-series-a-financing-led-by-amazoncom/#comment-1540911 I wrote a somewhat similar business plan to this over the winter, but trashed it on account of the difficulty raising funding for an entertainment-based venture. The partnerships and funding Amie Street has established are impressive ans should serve them well, and I wish them the best of luck! And Bruce, I'm not quite sure what part of the music industry you're referring to, but in the independent/small label world (which it seems is what Amie Street is aimed at, at least initially), getting the songs out there is far more important than the profit margins--the bands make so little off the music itself that it hardly matters. Most band income comes from playing shows and selling merch. Sure, the label may prefer to make higher margins, but in a lot of cases they'll recognize that places like Amie Street, MySpace, PureVolume, LastFM, etc will serve to benefit them greatly in the long run. I go back to a spinoff of Seth Godin's concept of the Purple Cow--if you create something truly extraordinary, it's your own damn fault if it doesn't get you noticed, especially with so many free marketing outlets available on the internet. I wrote a somewhat similar business plan to this over the winter, but trashed it on account of the difficulty raising funding for an entertainment-based venture. The partnerships and funding Amie Street has established are impressive ans should serve them well, and I wish them the best of luck!
And Bruce, I’m not quite sure what part of the music industry you’re referring to, but in the independent/small label world (which it seems is what Amie Street is aimed at, at least initially), getting the songs out there is far more important than the profit margins–the bands make so little off the music itself that it hardly matters. Most band income comes from playing shows and selling merch. Sure, the label may prefer to make higher margins, but in a lot of cases they’ll recognize that places like Amie Street, MySpace, PureVolume, LastFM, etc will serve to benefit them greatly in the long run.
I go back to a spinoff of Seth Godin’s concept of the Purple Cow–if you create something truly extraordinary, it’s your own damn fault if it doesn’t get you noticed, especially with so many free marketing outlets available on the internet.

]]> By: Bruce Warila http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/05/amiestreetcom-closes-series-a-financing-led-by-amazoncom/#comment-1540878 Bruce Warila Mon, 06 Aug 2007 17:57:54 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/05/amiestreetcom-closes-series-a-financing-led-by-amazoncom/#comment-1540878 Nobody within the value chain of music creation is going to survive on selling songs for $.99 cents or less. After 30% is carved off to the digital music platform/distributor, there’s not much left over to justify making and promoting music. I tell friends, imagine if in 2006 all cars sold for around $15,000, and then in 2007 consumers decided they would only pay $1,000 or less for a car (or just the wheels and tires), and 50% of the car buying public just decided to steal cars all together! This is the music industry and digital music, and unless your band is U2-sized, you cannot survive on $.69 cents of margin, t-shirts, banner ads and touring revenue. The small and medium-sized players are getting annihilated, and the larger players are merging and contracting to reach some sort of economic equilibrium. It’s not pretty; the industry needs high-margin, high-volume products to fund the development of unproven artists and to survive in general. I have a solution. Nobody within the value chain of music creation is going to survive on selling songs for $.99 cents or less. After 30% is carved off to the digital music platform/distributor, there’s not much left over to justify making and promoting music. I tell friends, imagine if in 2006 all cars sold for around $15,000, and then in 2007 consumers decided they would only pay $1,000 or less for a car (or just the wheels and tires), and 50% of the car buying public just decided to steal cars all together! This is the music industry and digital music, and unless your band is U2-sized, you cannot survive on $.69 cents of margin, t-shirts, banner ads and touring revenue. The small and medium-sized players are getting annihilated, and the larger players are merging and contracting to reach some sort of economic equilibrium. It’s not pretty; the industry needs high-margin, high-volume products to fund the development of unproven artists and to survive in general. I have a solution.

]]> By: The Buxr Widget http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/05/amiestreetcom-closes-series-a-financing-led-by-amazoncom/#comment-1540735 The Buxr Widget Mon, 06 Aug 2007 16:19:18 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/05/amiestreetcom-closes-series-a-financing-led-by-amazoncom/#comment-1540735 Congrats to Aimee Street - great idea and execution! Congrats to Aimee Street - great idea and execution!

]]> By: Nick http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/05/amiestreetcom-closes-series-a-financing-led-by-amazoncom/#comment-1540490 Nick Mon, 06 Aug 2007 13:41:32 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/05/amiestreetcom-closes-series-a-financing-led-by-amazoncom/#comment-1540490 The main thing I didn't like about Amie Street is that if you want to buy an album, you have to pay for each song. They should cap it out at 7-10 dollars like iTunes (1 song for 98 cents and the album is either the price of all the songs or no more than 7-10 dollars, whichever is cheapest). The main thing I didn’t like about Amie Street is that if you want to buy an album, you have to pay for each song. They should cap it out at 7-10 dollars like iTunes (1 song for 98 cents and the album is either the price of all the songs or no more than 7-10 dollars, whichever is cheapest).

]]> By: Black Hole News http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/05/amiestreetcom-closes-series-a-financing-led-by-amazoncom/#comment-1540393 Black Hole News Mon, 06 Aug 2007 12:25:35 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/05/amiestreetcom-closes-series-a-financing-led-by-amazoncom/#comment-1540393 <strong>Roswell Information...</strong> Roswell Information continues after 60 years... Roswell Information…

Roswell Information continues after 60 years…

]]> By: Tim from bla.st http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/05/amiestreetcom-closes-series-a-financing-led-by-amazoncom/#comment-1540317 Tim from bla.st Mon, 06 Aug 2007 10:34:29 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/05/amiestreetcom-closes-series-a-financing-led-by-amazoncom/#comment-1540317 Go the ST domain! Oh wait they are .com now, however the amie.st domain still works with a redirect :) Go the ST domain! Oh wait they are .com now, however the amie.st domain still works with a redirect :)

]]> By: Michael Vu http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/05/amiestreetcom-closes-series-a-financing-led-by-amazoncom/#comment-1540280 Michael Vu Mon, 06 Aug 2007 09:43:29 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/05/amiestreetcom-closes-series-a-financing-led-by-amazoncom/#comment-1540280 I'm sorry... I meant to movies! I’m sorry… I meant to movies!

]]> By: Devendra http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/05/amiestreetcom-closes-series-a-financing-led-by-amazoncom/#comment-1540231 Devendra Mon, 06 Aug 2007 08:44:24 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/05/amiestreetcom-closes-series-a-financing-led-by-amazoncom/#comment-1540231 Hearty Congrats Amie Street. You are rocking the music world in a new way ;) Hearty Congrats Amie Street.
You are rocking the music world in a new way ;)

]]> By: Tcruncher http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/05/amiestreetcom-closes-series-a-financing-led-by-amazoncom/#comment-1540216 Tcruncher Mon, 06 Aug 2007 08:27:55 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/05/amiestreetcom-closes-series-a-financing-led-by-amazoncom/#comment-1540216 I think Amie Street need to have a long hard look at this company: http://www.digonex.com/ which produced this website early on in the 00's http://www.musicrebellion.com This patent they hold is also VERY similar to what amie street do around pricing. http://www.wipo.int/pctdb/en/wo.jsp?IA=WO2002069107&wo=2002069107&DISPLAY=DESC Congrats on the round however!!!! :D I think Amie Street need to have a long hard look at this company:

http://www.digonex.com/

which produced this website early on in the 00’s

http://www.musicrebellion.com

This patent they hold is also VERY similar to what amie street do around pricing.

http://www.wipo.int/pctdb/en/w.....SPLAY=DESC

Congrats on the round however!!!! :D

]]> By: Michael Vu http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/05/amiestreetcom-closes-series-a-financing-led-by-amazoncom/#comment-1540106 Michael Vu Mon, 06 Aug 2007 07:03:07 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/05/amiestreetcom-closes-series-a-financing-led-by-amazoncom/#comment-1540106 This is an awesome idea. Congrats to Amie Street for closing series A. I'd like to see the same model be applied to music... This is an awesome idea. Congrats to Amie Street for closing series A.
I’d like to see the same model be applied to music…

]]> By: Ed P. http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/05/amiestreetcom-closes-series-a-financing-led-by-amazoncom/#comment-1540044 Ed P. Mon, 06 Aug 2007 06:15:29 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/05/amiestreetcom-closes-series-a-financing-led-by-amazoncom/#comment-1540044 Who gives a rat's ass? And what the hell does this have to do with Portland, or Oregon, or even the Pacific Northwest? Who gives a rat’s ass? And what the hell does this have to do with Portland, or Oregon, or even the Pacific Northwest?

]]> By: Andrew http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/05/amiestreetcom-closes-series-a-financing-led-by-amazoncom/#comment-1540016 Andrew Mon, 06 Aug 2007 05:45:15 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/05/amiestreetcom-closes-series-a-financing-led-by-amazoncom/#comment-1540016 Aren't they based in Providence, Ri and not Long Island, NY according to crunchbase? Aren’t they based in Providence, Ri and not Long Island, NY according to crunchbase?

]]> By: Paul http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/05/amiestreetcom-closes-series-a-financing-led-by-amazoncom/#comment-1539958 Paul Mon, 06 Aug 2007 05:00:32 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/05/amiestreetcom-closes-series-a-financing-led-by-amazoncom/#comment-1539958 Nick, I do believe the "ceiling" for popular songs is 98¢, not 99... Something about undercutting iTunes and eMusic on a per-track basis. Congrats on the round guys! Looking forward to the new features. It would be nice to have other payment options in addition to PayPal. I'm a fan of Google Checkout, but Amazon's Flexible Payment Service looks like it will be a good option as well. I like how they separate "free", "bargains", and "popular" tracks in "my home" and break out albums under $6 on the "today" page. Keep up the great work guys! Nick, I do believe the “ceiling” for popular songs is 98¢, not 99… Something about undercutting iTunes and eMusic on a per-track basis.

Congrats on the round guys! Looking forward to the new features. It would be nice to have other payment options in addition to PayPal. I’m a fan of Google Checkout, but Amazon’s Flexible Payment Service looks like it will be a good option as well.

I like how they separate “free”, “bargains”, and “popular” tracks in “my home” and break out albums under $6 on the “today” page.

Keep up the great work guys!

]]>