The Bandwidth Reality

Sent to me earlier this week by a colleague, the graphic below is a fantastic "state of the union" address for our bandwidth capabilities world-wide.  Working in streaming and digital music, there is often the call for "Hi-Res" streams, and larger "lossless" digital file downloads from the field (the wealthy minority who actually have the capabilities to access and play these types of files).  I find it interesting to look at the real facts of how much access people have.  Of course the real global results would be skewed based on the population averages as these are results specific to the Pando service but nonetheless it is very telling where the digital business is going.  Also interesting to note is the fact that on the City leader board, South Korea swept the field with the exception of Andover, MA.

iTunes offering free streaming of new RHCP Album

Perhaps I have been under a rock, or simply not paying attention, but it would appear that iTunes is now offering pre-release streams of upcoming albums.

The Red Hot Chili Pepers' new album, "I'm With You"  is now available for listening at iTunes .  It will be streaming free until the album's release date.   In addition to streaming via iTunes, the Chili Peppers are also hosting a slew of streaming listening parties World-wide for interested fans.  For more information, check out their website.

It certainly would appear that RHCP has taken an agressive 360 degree marketing campaign on their upcoming release.  Between their listening parties, twitter meme, iTunes, and Livestream partnership and revamped website featuring global imaging by Google they are certainly pulling out all the stops.  As I type this I am two tracks in and so far Anthony, Flea, Chad and Josh continue to deliver that pure RHCP sound two decades after their music caught my ear initially.  Go have a listen!