The internet for Music

The internet has various best and worst aspects in the case of music and other entertainments such as movies. Those entertainments can no longer be protected on the internet, but at the same time, due to the convenience of the internet and fastness, new prospective indie bands have more chances to be popular than the past. In the case of Japanese indie bands, Youtube (of course) and Natalie (New Japanese subculture site) are important starting pints to sell their names. In the past, indie bands had to sell their names by having lives on the street or trying to take their demo tapes to label companies in order to contract. The best aspect of the internet for music is any new indie bands have chances to get attention, on the other hand, the worst aspect of the internet for music is songs are downloaded so easily by free. This blog will explore how indie bands can sell their names on the internet and how songs are downloaded by free.

Nowadays, there are many ways to be popular for indie bands such as uploading their music on Youtube, Mixi (or facebook), and Natalie. Youtube allows them to upload their songs, especially Youtube had an event for indies to get a chance youtube looking for indie bands. Since youtube is the biggest video sharing page in the world, it is a big chance for indie bands to get attention by music labels and viewers.

natalie (the above image) is the popular music information site which allows subculture fans to get new information quickly. This site interviews not only popular bands but also indie bands. This music information site does focus on indie bands so that people who are tired of listening to popular bands go on natalie to get some new indie bands.
Unlike youtube, natalie shows how the band gets to write the song, why the band decided to write the song and other reasons of them so that viewers can not only see their songs but also their "life styles". which viewers feel more close to them rather than just looking at their songs.

An example of how the internet can connect to the real world is this. These two little girls liked pretending as if Nicki Minaj and they kept singing. Their dreams came true by posting their videos on youtube.

In the case of how Japanese indie bands get their names popular is not only Youtube or Natalie but also NikoNiko douga.
Niko Niko douga is like Youtube but NIkoNIko duoga allows viewers to type anything on the video so that viewers can say anything of the video.
The famous case of the Japanese indie band which gets to be famous is shinsei kamattechan. Shinsei kamattechan sings songs of boring days (the singer used to do nothing and lived home with family without a job and school). The songs get popular within those people who think the same way(boring days), Shinsei Kamattechan became pouplar on Niko Niko douga. Natalie also reports about Shinsei kaamttechan here.
From their popularity on the internet, the bands' movie was released according to white screen.

The internet not only allows indie bands to be popular on only the internet but also to be popular in other fields.

Although the internet allowed indie bands to get attention easier, the internet did not allow popular bands to get sold easier. Digital Music News reports the difficuly of selling CDs here.
Due to the convenience of the internet, any music on youtube or any music on the internet has been downloaded free on the internet. It has been a serious problem in the world so that the Limewire (which was invented on 2004/ 12) was accused of stealing music by many music labels on 2006/08.
In another case, Youtube fire was also accused of stealing music in this summer. In order to prevent music, MIAU was found to protect being stolen illegally.
According to the survey on internet watch, the number of people who use the illegal music downloading site is 37.1% (among 1054 cellphone users). In addition, 82.5% users acknowledged the existence of freedownloading music site. It is also surprising that the number of users who use the freedownloading music site is increasing rapidly.
By looking at the number of CDs which was sold on the year has been decreasing rapidly. As we can see here, the CD which was sold over millions ("Million seller" in japanese) do not appear as the 2000s but as the 1990s or before. It is because of course, due to the internet freedownload music site has appeared.



             Advantage points                                                               Disadvanatge points

good place to appeal to viewers (indies)                       less number of sold CDs (popular bands)
less cost and more convenient attention                      no meaning to maintain copyright
more activity in another field

The solution:
So, the question is, how can music labels sell their CDs a lot??
This is not the solution but an example of selling a lot of CDs.
AKB48 (not band though), 's number of sold CDs reaches the highest of each annual year.
Why? because there is a ticke to the event to get to see the AKB48 members in each CD.
The fans are not aiming to buy CDs, but aiming to see members many times and shake hands.
It was reported that ONE fan bought 5500 copies of one AKB48 CD. kawaii kakkoii sugoi.
This is called AKB business method, which has been discussed whether this method is good or bad.
It is obvious that it is a smart way to sell CDs a lot but the good music CDs are not sold but just their CDs are sold with fans hopes to see them.

This is how the internet works in either good way or bad way. The best aspect of the internet for music is to spread any indie bands names to the world and more attention they can get.
The worst aspcet of the internet for music is that the copyright cannot work and no music is protected. = everything is downloaded free.

Will there be a future which good music CDs will be sold equally?

MALWARE

weekly blog #4

Facebook and twitter are the SNS that are used a lot by people.
and it is the easiest way to keep in touch with people that you will not be able to see face to face.
but, as we discussed in previous courses such as  malware on facebook, it is a big problem.

I had never gotten any malware on facebook and never thought that I would get them.
but just a few days ago, I have gotten a message on my wall post from my hostfather in canada says..."Hey mai! ...."
the following is the picture of my facebook

the top comment is from my hostfather.

since I was looking at newsfeed before I see this message, I was not get hacked by malware!
lucky me :)
This is the first malware I have gottten in my life.
and I thought the malware exists rigt next to anyone.

Although the internet made people's life so much easier and so much more convenient, the internet has more possibility to hack anyone.

In addition, as you can see from my picture, it seems like my hostfather got hacked on his smartphone.
so I want to search more about malware on smartphone.

as I found some articles about malware on facebook, facebook smartphone malware introduces the problem of malware.
However, as I tried to find some other malwares on smartphones, seems like facebook is not the only one that smartphone users should be careful.
Apps are also should be paid attention as a dangerous malware as I read this article malware on smartphone rise up to 800.

the following was added on 11/17
Q: who did I get malware on facebook from?

1: my hostfather in canada
2: my hostfather in the states
3: my hostfather in China
4: my hostfather in Germany 

MAI TYPOGRAPHY

so.. this is my last ds106 assignment!!!

MAI typography :) from typography

this took about just one hour and I actually enjoyed creating it.
I was looking at other students' typographies and I thought they ALL are cool.
although you may be able to see a cross in this typography, i have to say that i am not a chrstian.
I just like the combination of cross and heart.
Since I wrote typography on midterm blog, I wanted to include japanese kanji in my typography.
its 舞.

In order to create this typography, I used vector image on aviary.
I had a problem of saving my typography because somehow my image had black and white check behind my image.
and RIMI MORITA helped me out to save it on white screen! thank you rimi!!
I hope you liked mai typography :)

COLORIZE YOUR WORLD!!

this is the fourth blog of digital storytelling 106!

this is how I colorized my world :)
one of my best friends drew the original drawing of me and the left words say "kosei ha sengen!" which means individual declaration.
so I wanted to show the EXACT my individual declaration through the color.
so it is "I am only who I am!" hope you liiked it!

Video Essay

this is the commentary of a video. I am going to write about a movie trailer that I love.
I always watch this movie when I am in need of something and when I feel I need to refresh my mind.



this trailer reallly depicts well the importance of the color and mood.
and especially music cuts in the very good timing.
since I love this movie so much, I went to see the locations with my mother last month.
most of the locations are in Kamakura.
but I think, because of the color and brightness of this movie, it shows the sadness of the main character well. and this trailer edits well at that point.

Assignment Description: Video Essay

Google Map Story

this is a place I visited last year, Yakushima
it is an island of the great nature as it is a model place of Mononoke hime (Princess Mononoke)



きな地図で見る

It took about 6 hrs to get to see the famous BIG tree which is "A" spot.
and took 6 another hrs to go back...
but the island was REALLY great I mean, not only the nature but also people.
every people I saw greeted me. which we will not experience in the city.
and I so a lot of animals who are also nice to us.

I have other places that I want to visit but definitly I want to visit Yakushima again sometime.

the following blogpost was added on 10/27
B: it is a place callled "Yakushima guide club" which introduces tourists about Yakushima. A little bit far away from the place where all the hotels gather.
C: "Yakushima drive in" where some accesories and foods are sold. this is the link yakushima drive in
D: "Yakusugi shizen kan" which shows trees's history and has a cafe. Yakushima Shizen Kan



Assignment description: Google Map Story

Haiku It Up

sounds like a movie title but its not.

思い出は　白い大地の　暖かさ

this means the memory I remember is the warmth of the white big land
I was inspired by this picture http://www.flickr.com/photos/44101777@N04/4241905167/ by Rubie B
this picture remembed me the days I had in canada
although it was really cold (like -30 in the winter), I remember the warmth of host family and the sun comes from close sky.

the following was added on 10/27
In order to put a picture here, I added a new blogpost here.
Although this is the different picture that I put the link above, this is also a great picture that I had seen it before in Canada.
Since the sky in here I see is very narrow, I cannot see it well and it sometimes has a beautiful color of change from purple to pink but it is not so easy to see it well.
I have a lot of things that I love about Canada. but the beautiful broad sky would be the top of the things that I love.



Image: Canadian Sunset by staciemorris through CC Licensing

Assignmnet description: Haiku It Up

response ot timmyboy

Now I am going to write about the response to Timmyboy.

well... I do not know but somehow I felt what the speaker was talking about makes me want to create more arts which includes like music, photos and evertying that I think it is creative.
Although I take pictures just as my hobby, I do not really have confidence in my creativity of photos.
so that I had thought that I may not be allowed to regard or call myself as an "artist".
and as you know, just a bad cycle of thinking starts.
no confidence→no desire to take photos→no creativity of myself
but it seems like, it is free to express myself through art and I can call myself as an artist.

according to the speaker, creativity is not inherited. well... in my case, I hoped it did.
I have mentioned several times on my blog and some people in my class already know but I used to go to a music kindergarten through high school (which my mother who graduated from music university hoped me to be a violinist or music related person) and music was EVERYWHERE and I spent most of the time of my life for music till like years ago. but now, my life is out of music! why?
Eventhough my mother seems to have a music talent, and eventhough I was in creative environment of music as the speaker said that it is good to create art, I have nothing of music.

However, I agree with the idea that we all are artists because this idea totally decided me to make more art because I feel free to express anything through art by the idea as I mentioned above.

Unique typography KANJI

I write here about typography as ds106 shows some ideas.
There are typography that some artists create.
As I try to find some typography, I found some fun in typography of kanji.

Knaji , I see  a lot in Japan, can express various unique Designs.
For example,

Image: 穏屋　看板　（用賀）-Odaya by karitsu through CC Licensing

This is one of examples of how kanji works here in Japan.
Not only in Japan, there are some advertisements that use Kanji in Asia.
This example is from a blog of how advertisements are used in Shanhai.
ほぼワインな日々This blogger went on a trip and found some kanji.


Not only for the Door and the advertisements above, Japanese kanji typography is loved by the world as we can see on their bodies.Yes, it is Tattoos.

kanji are kind of popular for tatoos. I see a lot of people who have kanji tattoos on their bodies such as 愛(Love).
This video shows what kind of tattoos are put on bodies.


I see fun in tattoos which Artists create by their imagination of typography.
We sometimes see a weird kanji tattoos. I guess in order not to make a weird tattoo, there is a blog of what kanji expresses what. You can see this blog Kanji Tatoo Symbols. As you read this blog, you will find that celebrities put kanji tattoos.

I am not supporting tattoos (even its kanji), but I am supporting unique designs of typography of anything whatever it is on advertisements.
As I introduced a lot of kanji typography, I introduce here NOT kanji typography! Check this blog of top fifty typography designs blogs!
This blog introduces a lot of blogs of typography. The Top 50 Typography Blogs.

I hope you enjoyed learning typography of kanji and tattoos!

the last practice for midterm!

as will told me how, i again practiced how to embed the video on blogpost!
hope this is right...



tokyojihen!

and justr in case, i put a picture here.



Image: Moose by Travis S. through CC Licensing

DONE!!

another practice for midterm

tokyojihen!!

Embedded Video

so I do not need to add CC licensing stuff as I do on picture??
hmmm...?

practice for midterm!

this is practice for midterm!

i miss canada
this town is where I used to live.
Such a coincidence that I was there when this photographer took this picture. which is october 2007.



Image: Canada - Huntsville (Ontario) by vtveen through CC licensing

POP culture weekly blog post #2 part 2

I am adding this info because Mr Yeow asked me if the band became popular (famous) or not.
I would say Yes and No.

The band was interviewed by NHK and was made a TV programme.
In addition, the band got a chance to perform on a Music programme called "Comming soon!", which is a LIVE tv.
I am not saying that they had a interview by NHK means they are famous, but I think they deserve to be said that they are famous.

POP culture weekly blog post #2 (due 10/04)

our group. artist 1, is working on how artists use social media to promote themselves.

I focused on 神聖かまってちゃん(shinsei kamattechan) which is a japanese indie rock band and consists of four members which are Noko, Chibagin, Mono, and Misako.
The reason why I chose 神聖かまってちゃんis because the way they use social media is SO different from others.
I thought that most of bands either popular or indie use managers or companies to promote themselves which means bands are not basically promoting themselves but companies.
BUT in the case of 神聖かまってちゃん, the vocal of the group, NOKO, promotes his band himself by going on 2channel and Niko Niko douga and posting the link to his music videos to get attention by viewers.
Since his lyrics mean something relates to "a loser who have failed to make a connection with people"(which means himself) and music sound is random, the name "shinsei kamattechan" became widely known.

Not only the lyrics and music sound but also his performance on the stage should be paid attention.

His face sometimes gets covered by blood from his head.
His eyes are opened so much.
He sometimes takes his pants off.
and so on..
Since I cannot upload a photo of 神聖かまってちゃん、 I decided to draw a picture of Noko.
I hope you will get some sense of the band.

pop culture 2

so as Rimi suggested, I decided to write another blog about what Dokusha models are.

Dokusha models are models whose fashion is popular and most of them have another work such as a university student, or wife, or something that looks ordinary work to us.

Why are they so popular?

I think because they are ordinary. not so beoing treated as importantly as a Model as we imagine.
(well... We do not even know if they are treated importantly or not tho)

In addition, basically Dokusha models were used to be the readers of the magazine.

In order to show how they are close to ordinary people. there is a cafe where Dokusha models work.

If you go there, you can meet them. MILK cafe

Pop culture in Japan

Not only in Japan but in world wide, New Pop Culture is continuously born in the world by young people.

There are many ways to know what pop culture is but on this blog, I will concentrate on fashion in Japan.

I would say that Japanese young fashion has some kind of different favor compared to foreign young people because

Japanese fashion has various ways to express their characteristics.

such as as you can look at this fashion store fake tokyo, they have some kind of punkish style.

on the other hand, haight and ashbury has old european sense of fashion.

so Why do they wear like these??

I think because they want to express what they want to look like, and what kind of music or sense they like by showing thier characteristics through fashion.

For example, In japan, models who used to be ordinary girls became models is a new way to become popular models.

AMO is a popular model in Zipper and Kera.
Although she was an ordinary girl, she became a popular model. and mainly popular among harajuku girls.

The way she expresses her characteristics is the great example of how common harajuku girls do.

because she likes fantasy, gothic, pastel colors, and classical things so as you can see from her blog, her fashion is exactly showing what she likes.

So I would say that japanese fashion is a useful tool to show what they like and what kind of person he/she is.

the limit of memorization in our brains

so memex seems like a place that can store anything.
as we may think

I went to music kindergarten, elementary school, juniour high, and high school. (and somehow I go to a school where english is everywhere instead of music)

I was majoring in violin and minoring in piano. so that I had to memorize a long score each time for each semester for music exams.

Although I was young, I had a difficulty of memorizing long score both for violin and piano. (well, more difficult for piano)

I always had wished how much it would be easier if I had a better brain which store music score quickly.

and I remembered that my mother said that "If you go to a music university, you will have to be able to make a score only at once when you listen to music".

I was wondering, if there is a connetion between brain and ears which can hear all notes of music and make a score.

I found this article (sorry, in japanese) tsujii nobuyuki the pianist who is blinded about tsujii nobuyuki. Althoug he is blinded, he is a great pianist as his piano record is chosen as a theme music for a movie.

As he listenes to a music or any sound that is made can make it into a score and he can actually play it.

according to the article, first he listenes to a music and make a score in his brain, and he plays it on piano.

As I read this article, I remembered that Mozart and Einstein are the same.

Mozart is famous as he played a music Miserere ( music of Miserere ) at only once he listened.
Of course, he is the exception who has a developed brain.

Einstein is said that he could not speak until 3 years old but could play a violin which he had fun.
He had been called "der Deperrte" which means stupid when he was young.
However, it is said that he was structuring a sentence in his brain before he talks.

I made a connection between this idea that Einstein structures a sentence in his brain before he talks and the idea that Mozart and Tsujii nobuyuki can make a score in his brain.

It is interesting how music and brain has a connection although I have no ability of making a score in my brain. but when I was 16 years old, I found that it becomes much easier to memozize when I play piano or violin before memorizing something.

Probably, my little brain is trying to wake up with my both hands are working.

Hello world

Hi this is mai :)
I realized that I have other three different accounts for blogspot!