And Sirius is looking to steal it.

How did this happen?

Myopia, and an unwillingness to acknowledge that the internet landscape had changed.

It was a fountain of innovation. Every month there was a new site, a new app, we were all excited, it was akin to the British Invasion, internet innovation ruled the world…

And then it stopped.

When the big money comes in, when consolidation happens, you’ve got to find a seat at the table or you’re left out.

In retrospect, the two most significant signposts were Facebook’s acquisition of WhatsApp and Instagram. Let’s start with the latter. It was challenging Facebook’s dominance. But rather than sit by, work harder on its core product and hope for the best, Facebook purchased Instagram and took it out of the game. It tried to buy Snapchat too, but when Evan Spiegel could not read the rules of the new game, having his own Stanford-induced myopia, Zuckerberg just copied the site’s most addictive elements and injected them into his huge use base and if you think Snapchat is forever, you’re not using it. Kinda like Periscope squashed Meerkat. You can love your little engine that could, the progenitor, but it cannot defy the laws of business. And now Live.ly is outpacing Periscope! That’s the essence of the internet, you get ahead of change, or you’re ejected from the system.

As for WhatsApp… Zuckerberg knew the game better than the prognosticators, who kept saying he overpaid. But Zuck could see the future. Could anybody involved with Pandora see what’s coming down the road?

Absolutely not.

Pandora was the big kahuna in internet radio. When that was a thing, when that was a fad. It rallied its troops for lower rates. It advertised its excellence, which sophisticated users saw sucked, and if you don’t get the hard core attached to your product, if they’re not evangelizing, you’re screwed. Pandora’s core is the passive audience, and they’re not only passive listeners, they’re not big talkers, Pandora hit a wall and now listenership is going in the wrong direction, it just hit its lowest number in two years, at 76.7 million, meaning there’s a business there for someone to buy, or is there?

But we’re not through excoriating Pandora’s management.

There’s a first mover advantage. And if you’re not the first mover, you must be exponentially better. The iPod was exponentially better than previous MP3 players. Facebook was exponentially better than MySpace. Hell, GOOGLE was exponentially better than previous search engines. But Pandora’s pick and choose subscription site? Late to the market and not a great leap forward from Spotify. Which is why all the hubbub about iHeart’s product was just noise. Why Tidal can’t succeed. As for Apple Music, it capitalized on the company’s brand name, and has made headway, but it still hasn’t overtaken Spotify. Which decided to double-down and lose money to get to the goal line. All those inane music business stories about Spotify’s losses, the company going out of business, were just that, stupid. Because Amazon has taught us if you want to dominate, you’ve got to spend, spend, spend.

But the final chapter has not been written. Because Amazon still has not decided to play for real in music. Then again, it never played for real in downloads. A late product which was hard to get on your iPod. Amazon doesn’t care that much about music, but if it ever does…

It could buy Spotify.

You see Spotify is not forever not as a standalone product. It’s a data machine, and data now drives the internet. Who wants it and at what price? We’re gonna find out. Because Spotify’s margins are meager, the same thing that haunted Pandora and other music sites, this is the music business’s myopia, unless your partners are strong, you’re doomed. The best thing for the industry is a strong Spotify, as for Apple, it’s got incredibly deep pockets. And Google is the gang that can’t shoot straight, Zuckerberg shoots to kill, Google is half-hearted in too many endeavors.

But Apple has an advantage, it’s selling more than music, it’s got a whole services division.

The history of the internet is consolidation, hell, the history of COMPUTING is consolidation. How many computer manufacturers are there? How many mobile operating systems, never mind the ever-shrinking number of manufacturers. Microsoft killed all the competing word processors. And Pandora is doomed as a standalone company.

It matches Sirius pretty well, in that they’re both in the radio business.

But Malone likes to buy low and control. That’s how he ended up with Sirius to begin with. When you’re desperate, he’ll rescue you, but it’s only a matter of time before he and Maffei are behind the wheel.

As for Sirius, it dominates because its progenitors could see the future, that it was all about automobile manufacturer relationships. As for the future of Sirius, that’s what they’re trying to figure out now.

But at least they’re trying.

“Pandora Extends Deadline for KKR Deal to Explore Its Options”

It’s the new “Blurred Lines,” but the role of Emily Ratajkowski is played by Zuleya Rivera, and she keeps her clothes on!

But that does not mean you can take your eyes off her.

What am I talking about?

Yesterday’s number one track on Spotify’s Global Top 50. Only this version features Justin Bieber playing the role of Daddy Yankee on the original, but the track was a monster before Biebs got involved.

How did this happen?

Broadband. We forget that the internet fostered Napster, which started first on college campuses, because of students’ high speed connections, and then when broadband invaded homes we got YouTube, which now even streams in 4k, if you’ve got a 5k iMac you can see the difference, assuming you’ve got something close to the 200 mbps in my household. Technology begets unforeseen benefits. And we’re never going backwards, so we might as well go forwards! We need investment, we need foreign minds. And now we’ve got this foreign hit, well, Luis Fonsi was born in the now financially-challenged Puerto Rico, but he was brought up in Orlando, I learned that in the “Bloomberg Businessweek” article and if you’re a student of business, you need to subscribe, hell, the app is free on your phone, Bloomberg is the gold standard in business features, the “New York Times” is the best for breaking news, and the WSJ has forfeited its place at the pinnacle, turning itself into a general interest paper for right wingers when what I want is stories on corporations and trends and, like I just said, you now get that with “Bloomberg Businessweek.”

I was just perusing last week’s issue, arguing for inclusion in the Paris climate accord, trumpeting the success of John Schnatter, founder of Papa John’s pizza, and containing a lengthy expurgation on the success of “Despacito.”

I missed it. Until yesterday. When trying to stay current I played the Spotify US Top Fifty and immediately got it. That’s the culture we live in, the one of the one listen smash, no one’s got time for more.

And I get this remix’s success, it’s got Bieber, his audience is gonna seek out everything he does, which means if you’re not a Belieber you may be clueless, but that’s the world we now live in, where there’s so much information, so many niches, that we’ve got huge blind spots, even in our wheelhouses.

And I get it, the combo of catchiness and Biebs gives you a hit. To the tune of nearly seven million streams on Spotify PER DAY! And a cume of 350 odd million.

BUT IT WAS A HIT BEFORE ALL THIS!

Released on January 13th of this year, the YouTube clip, sans Bieber, got 5 million views in 24 hours and as of this writing has 1,815,356,185 views. THAT’S NEARLY TWO BILLION! Which puts it at number 17 on the all time chart. But when you add in the additional 275,525,473 views of the Bieber remix, that puts it at number 8 all time, AHEAD OF TAYLOR SWIFT’S BLANK SPACE!

So I decided to pull it up, the original iteration, the one with 1.8 billion views.

First I was stunned by the quality. In the heyday of MTV we did not get HD, and my computer monitor is larger than my TV of the eighties. And driving all those pixels was…

My broadband connection.

The mood is set, there’s beautiful blue water and a gorgeous landscape and island life and a smiling Fonsi and then…

She appears. For only a brief moment.

Then there’s a stunning helicopter shot of the village.

And then the song hits its stride and the former Miss Universe starts to walk and YOU GET IT IMMEDIATELY!

But that’s not all. There’s the dancing, the energy, the clip contains all the elements of the less salacious rap videos of yore, but with a lot more fun and a track not dominated by beats. And you wonder, is this a one-off, or are we at the beginning of a trend, is America ready to embrace Latin culture, don’t laugh, all those rednecks are rap fans now…

This is not a novelty like the “Macarena,” and in a world where you cannot get ahead economically the lifestyle depicted in the clips looks so APPEALING!

Credit the record company for spending to get the clip right, we are truly in a new era of video, where the only gatekeeper is the audience, you just put it up on YouTube and…

You still hit a headwind. Bieber didn’t hear the track until April, when he decided he wanted to appear on it. But still, it’s only #9 on the Mediabase Top 40 and #9 on Rhythmic and #31 on Hot AC. Proving, once again, that streaming is far ahead of radio and you know what happens when a format falls behind, it has its lunch eaten.

But still, this is a hit record, just like “Dominique,” sung in French, back in 1963, only now the world is both smaller and bigger. We live in a global village, but we’re inundated with music. But Latinos have risen in status and even if there’s not another crossover hit imminently, “Despacito” shows you’ve got to pay attention.

Listen to the Bieber version, which is almost entirely in Spanish, here:

Despacito Feat. Justin Bieber (Remix) – Spotify

Luis Fonsi, Daddy Yankee – Despacito (Remix Audio) ft. Justin Bieber – YouTube

I dare you not to get it. And if you don’t, that probably means you’re out of touch with today’s music business, which focuses on hooks and immediacy and skews pop.

And be sure to read the “Bloomberg Businessweek” article:

A Spanish Song at No. 1? All It Took Was Justin Bieber

And be sure to know, “Despacito” is the biggest hit in the world RIGHT NOW!

Bloomberg app

June 1970 Playlist

“Easy Now”
Eric Clapton

From the initial solo LP, right after Delaney & Bonnie’s “On Tour” and “Comin’ Home.” This is the first track that resonated with me.

Clapton didn’t become a superstar until 1974, when “I Shot The Sheriff” became a cultural staple, on all radio bands and formats.

Oh no, don’t get your knickers in a twist. I know, I know, you’re a hipster who was listening to the Bluesbreakers. And of course, we all went to see Cream, didn’t you? But that was a band. And sure, “Layla” was a monster, but the band name was Derek and the Dominos, and it was all about the FM, which not everybody was listening to, but by ’74, the two band radio had infiltrated most cars and there were aftermarket units galore and they did.

“Let It Rain”
Eric Clapton

The closing cut from that magical initial solo LP when Eric sang all the songs instead of Jack Bruce. The sound of the intro, the changes, it’s hard to believe this was the sound of the day back then when you listen to what passes for success today. Furthermore, the rockers that are left are either playing something harder or more obscure. Being lyrical and melodic, somehow that’s gone out of fashion.

“After Midnight” and “Blues Power”
Eric Clapton

I preferred the latter, but it’s the former that had more impact, more staying power, this was before we had any idea who J.J. Cale was.

“Only You Know And I Know”
Dave Mason

The opening cut from “Alone Together,” an unheralded masterpiece instantly purchased by fans of Traffic’s second album, you dropped the needle and could not believe how solid it was. This song was on the aforementioned Delaney & Bonnie album, “On Tour,” but this take far exceeded that one, it’s the acoustic guitar and the subtlety.

‘Cause you know that I mean what I say
So don’t go and take me the wrong way

Such a jaunty track with such chiaroscuro lyrics. But as Dave sings:

I don’t mean to mislead you
It’s just my craziness coming through
But when it comes down to just two
I ain’t no crazier than you

Remember when it was a badge of honor to admit your flaws?

Don Henley said it even better, years later, in “Not Enough Love In The World”…

I’m not easy to live with
I know that it’s true
You’re no picnic either, babe
That’s one of the things I loved about you

From back when our rock stars gave us insight into life.

“Shouldn’t Have Took More Than You Gave”
Dave Mason

The best cut on “Alone Together,” it’s six minutes and two seconds long and it never drags, you never want it to be over, it’s hypnotic, the kind of stuff we loved sitting in our bedrooms listening to over and over and over again.

“World In Changes”
Dave Mason

As I said, there’s not a clunker on “Alone Together,” be sure to listen to “Look At You Look At Me” as well as “Waitin’ On You” and “Sad And Deep As You,” hell, listen to the whole thing.

But it’s the mood of this number that eats at your soul.

“Empty Pages”
Traffic

The last song on the first side of what was supposed to be a Steve Winwood solo album, it’s the changes and the organ that penetrated me, this is the number I got into first, you can still see Winwood live, and he’s as good as he ever was.

“John Barleycorn (Must Die)”
Traffic

When every song didn’t sound the same, when bands showed breadth, seeing Steve sing this at the Fillmore was TRANSCENDENT!

“That Would Be Something”
Paul McCartney

“Band On The Run” is McCartney’s best solo album. But the forgotten underrated initial LP is the second best. Overlooked because it coincided with the breakup of the Beatles, with “Let It Be” on its heels, the intimacy will haunt you.

“Every Night”
Paul McCartney

My favorite song on the LP, it’s the vocal. It’s subtle and meaningful.

“Teddy Boy”

A story song, like the ones on the White Album.

I missed this LP, and then I went with a co-counselor to his fraternity house at Cornell and toked up an listened to this over and over again and got it. If you’ve never listened to “McCartney” put it on and let it go a couple of times and you’ll be sold.

“Days Of 49”
Bob Dylan

From the excoriated “Self Portrait,” this is the cut I needed to hear from the double LP, it wasn’t even written by Dylan, but it sounded like it was.

“Hesitation Blues”
Hot Tuna

From the initial LP, the opening cut, the best, even though the act really hit its stride with its third album, “Burgers.” This got a lot of attention, after all they were in Jefferson Airplane!

“I’ve Got A Feeling”
The Beatles

The opening cut on side two of “Let It Be,” it’s my favorite track on the LP, it seems to be made without worrying about the rough edges, as a band, trying to capture the energy, knowing that’s more important than perfection.

And as good as McCartney’s emotive vocals are, and the stinging guitar, what puts it over the top is Lennon in the bridge…

Everybody had a hard year
Everybody had a good time

How many times have I sung this in my head? It’s the world-weariness of John, the all-knowingness, the wisdom, the resolution, he’s so comfortable in his skin!

“See My Way”
Blodwyn Pig

The ethereal vocal, the horns, the changes, this is a one listen get.

“Dear Jill”
Blodwyn Pig

The best track on “Ahead Rings Out,” but I must say I didn’t really get it until I heard it in “Almost Famous.”

“Love Like A Man”
Ten Years After

The best cut on “Cricklewood Green,” the band’s best album, which coincided with their triumph in the Woodstock movie, for a moment there they were superstars. This is an indelible riff, with a great change, do young kids get this?

Great marijuana music.

“50,000 Miles Beneath My Brain”
Ten Years After

You either got the memo or you didn’t, either you smoked dope and listened to albums or you didn’t. All these years later, this is my favorite track on “Cricklewood Green.” Alvin Lee is dead and forgotten, but when I listen to these tracks he seems totally alive, in their own way they don’t seem dated at all.

“Morning Morgantown”
Joni Mitchell

The opening cut off “Ladies Of The Canyon,” from before she was a star, this was a quantum leap beyond her two first LPs. This number literally sounded like waking up in the morning.

“The Arrangement” and “Rainy Night House”

At this point, these are my two favorite cuts on “Ladies Of The Canyon,” somehow you got the notion you were stuck in the middle of Joni’s story, and it was just you, her and the person she was singing about, you truly felt like you knew her.

“Conversation”
Joni Mitchell

Ever been in love with someone who’s involved with someone else?

I’m not talking from a distance. I mean the two of you are friends, even more than that. You touch a bit, but what you really want to do is reach over and kiss them. They complain about their relationship, you share intimacies they don’t, but you’re paralyzed, you feel the way Joni does in this song, elated and frustrated all at the same time.

“Country Road”
James Taylor

The first cut that got me on “Sweet Baby James,” from back when he was still a cult artist, when I saw him at the Capitol in Port Chester and there were a hundred or so people there, when he still played solo, before “Fire And Rain” became ubiquitous on the radio.

“Delta Lady”
Leon Russell

From the initial solo LP.

He’s gone now, but once upon a time, in the spring of ’70, this was a revelation, it took Joe Cocker’s version up a notch. And when you saw him lead “Mad Dogs & Englishmen” it was a revelation! But although those gigs were in the spring, the double live album didn’t come out until the end of the summer…

“Coming Into Los Angeles”
Arlo Guthrie

It was the summer of Woodstock.

The festival happened in August ’69, but the movie didn’t come out until April 1970 and the triple album the following month, but the film played all summer, people went multiple times, to revel in not only the music, but the culture.

It was a turning point, the final division between the oldsters and the youngsters. We had our music, our dope and each other.

Coming into Los Angeles
Bringin’ in a couple of keys

Either you knew what Arlo was singing about or you didn’t.

“Sgt. Pepper” came out in 1967, but it wasn’t until the seventies that albums truly triumphed, when singles died and everybody shifted over from AM to FM.

June 1970 wasn’t the apex of the transition, but a head of steam was being built, it was happening.

The deal was sealed with “Stairway To Heaven.”

But that was eighteen months away.

It rained today. Although anywhere else you’d call it mist. Southern California only has two speeds, mist and downpour, and today it was the former. And at first you think it’s overflow from the car in front of you, you know, its misaimed windshield jets, happens all the time, have you experienced it? And then you realize no, it’s coming from the sky, which is oh-so-rare in April, never mind June, and then you believe the wind will clear your windscreen and then…you turn on the windshield wipers, which you’re loath to do, because if there’s not enough water you just get streaks of dirt and even if you turn on you own washers it never seems to do the trick.

It’s not summer here. It won’t be until sometime after July 4th. I know, that’s hard to fathom if you live anywhere else, like the east coast, where summer begins on Memorial Day and ends on Labor Day, but out here, on the left coast, at the bottom of the state, summer can run all the way to Halloween. My A/C went kaput in September and I was debating whether to fix it and Felice said it would be hot for two more months, but she grew up here.

I grew up on the east coast, Connecticut, when school didn’t start until after Labor Day and it ended in the middle of June, how late depended upon how many snow days you’d had, but the earliest I ever remember school ending was June 17th. But in the last two weeks of classes we’d go down to the beach, with our transistors and suntan oil, maybe even make a rush into the water…no one goes into the water out here now, unless they’re a surfer, wearing a wetsuit.

After classes ended we’d have a week or two before camp.

Camp. Maybe it’s a Jewish thing. But I recommend it for all kids. It’s where you make friends, it’s where you belong, sans the stratification of academics. All day long you integrate and play, those were some of the best times of my life. If I could go to summer camp for the rest of my days, I’d sign up for that. I know, I know, there are adult camps now, but no one leaves their identity and status behind. What their job is, what kind of car they drive, where they’ve been… People want to let you know they’re better than you, whereas when you’re young, you’re all in it together, at least at summer camp.

And when you go to summer camp, there are days like today. Gray. When you’ve got to wear a hoodie to breakfast, when you’ve got to wear long pants. When swimming is canceled and there’s a movie in the lodge, assuming they have one and it’s really raining.

That’s something I miss about the east coast, the rain. Oh, it’s terrible when you live there, your plans are often thwarted, long weekends are ruined. But the precipitation changes the pace, the mentality. On a rainy afternoon you can sit home and read a book, or go to the movies and not feel guilty. When it’s sunny on the east coast you’ve got to take advantage. But it’s those rainy days I miss.

They happen in July, but I mostly remember them in August. When the days are getting shorter and the temperatures are dropping and you know fall is coming.

And fall’s stretch of good weather depends upon where you reside. In Connecticut, where I grew up, it wasn’t until October that you got cold days, the kind that had your fingers tingling. But that could happen at the end of September when I went to college in Vermont. And November is miserable everywhere. And when you hit winter, it could be bitter cold and snow or warm and rain and it’s so disappointing. Especially if you’re an outdoorsman. You’re thrilled if you can ski into April, this year they’re skiing at Mammoth, in the Sierras, until August. Really. Check it out. Go to the website.

But what I love about the gray weather and the rain is the mood it puts me in. Like I’m in a cocoon. Like what’s in my brain is more important than the penumbra. I’m a cornucopia of feelings and memories. They come flooding back, what I was doing when it was like this before.

Lying on my bed in Botwinik at Camp Laurelwood.

Lying in the grass with my hand on that co-counselor at Camp Pine Cone.

Listening to Eric Clapton’s “Easy Now” on cassette.

Listening to “Let It Rain.”