You somehow knew this day would come. It was inevitable probably. When Microsoft launched the Zune media player in late 2006, it spelled the eventual doom for the PlaysForSure program. Sure Microsoft publicly stood behind the certification program - especially since many third party vendors were still on board with it - but let’s face it.. we all knew PlaysForSure was well.. doomed. As more and more vendors began rolling out their own music services and initiatives, PlaysForSure’s days were indeed numbered.

That day has finally come folks. The PlaysForSure brand is no more as the program has been rolled into the general “Certified for Windows Vista” program. According to the Microsoft website here, if a device says “Certified for Windows Vista”, it will still support the PlaysForSure initiative. All the testing requirements are still the same - just part of something else now.

It was nice knowing you PlaysForSure.. (though honestly, I never dealt with it myself thankfully)

[Check it out via News.com]

Technorati Tags: PlaysForSure, Certified for Windows Vista

Are you upgrading from version 1.x of the Zune software to the latest version? Are you having problems with your library collection? Well don’t fear - it seems like you’re not alone. If you rummage through the Zune support forums, you’ll find a number of people with mangled music libraries thanks to the new Zune Software upgrade. Microsoft is apparently aware of this problem and has provided a solution (though it isn’t exactly elegant). It basically requires the Zune Software to rebuild the library from scratch. Don’t worry - your actual music meta information is safe. It’s just the library itself that’s all screwy. Soo.. if you’re suffering from this problem - give this forum posting a look over.

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: Microsoft Zune, Zune Library, Zune Upgrade

Universal Music Group has announced that they will begin selling a significant portion of their digital music catalog without the standard copy protection software in place (digital rights management). DRM-free content from Universal will be offered at digital music retail services such as RealNetworks, Wal-Mart, Amazon.com, Google, and at some artist websites. Notably absent from this list is Apple’s own music service - iTunes. Universal will offer DRM-free music for a short period of time (until January) to see if this has any effect over digital music sales and in online piracy.

The more interesting part of this story is the fact that Universal would not be offering DRM-free content via iTunes - instead forcing iTunes to still pay for DRM protected tracks. Remember - it was only a month or so ago when Universal announced that they would not be agreeing to a long term music contract with iTunes. Put all of this together and it seems clear that Universal aims at stirring up competition to iTunes by providing DRM-free content via other retail channels.

EMI Group was the first company to switch to selling DRM-free digital music. Tracks from EMI that were DRM-free are being sold for $1.29. Universal announced that some of their DRM-free content would be sold for as low as $99 cents.

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: Universal Music Group, DRM-free music,

As most of you know, Microsoft held their last “Live at the BBQ” concert this past weekend in NYC. There are plenty of write-ups on the net about the concert and thanks to ZuneInsider, here are some of the links. (Man.. I love the fact that the Brooklyn Bridge is the backdrop to the concert!)

Blender has an good write-up here and has this to say:

How’s this for a winning Saturday afternoon concert formula: A sunny New York City day plus live sets from LL Cool J, Clipse, the Lox, Brand Nubian and others plus an incredible view of the Brooklyn Bridge.

The “Nah Right” blog has a video clip of LL Cool J here.

The folks at ZuneThoughts.com have a write-up here. Here’s a blurb:

It’s nice to see Microsoft give back to the community that has supported them (the event was free), and I’d certainly like to see more grassroots PR such as this. Now, about the Zune 2.0…

Finally, SLAM Online has an article entitled “Doin It Big in Brooklyn” with a caption “Microsof Knows How to Throw One Helluva Party”. Here’s their comment near the end:

I had a great time and everyone was already asking if Microsoft/Edelman were gonna do this again next summer. If so I’m there.

There you have it. It sure sounds like everyone had a blast with the NYC “Live at the BBQ” event. Thanks again to Microsoft for hosting these three free concerts this summer. Special thanks to Cesar for hooking us up earlier last month for the Los Angeles concert!

Technorati Tags: Live at the BBQ, New York City, recap

Speaking of Live At The BBQ, you can now register for the New York City concert which will be held on August 4th starting at 3pm and running until 10pm. The NYC concert will feature the following artists:

• Brand Nubian
• Cham
• Large Professor
• Clipse
• MIMS
• Joell Ortiz
• and many more special guests

That looks like a pretty sweet concert! I’ll have to get my NYC friends into the gig.

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: Live At The BBQ, NYC

The ZuneInsider has the recap of the latest “Live At The BBQ” concert - this time in Chicago. Check out the pictures here. Sniff.. wish I was able to check that one out! Someone needs to post up video clips of the concert!

[Check it out]

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One of the things that I’ve always wanted to do here was to spend a little bit of time on ZuneSphere spotlighting local small and new artists/bands here in the Los Angeles region. There’s just so much talent out here - much of which often goes unnoticed. To that end, I hope to discover and regularly write about those individuals and groups here.

One such group that I want to mention is the Ken Oak Band. I first came across this duo last year while walking with my wife at the Third Street Promenade. We stopped to listen to their music and you know what? It was pretty darn good. It was so good that we decided to pick up their two albums on CD. The duo (Ken) pumps out incredibly beautiful music with Ken on the cello and Ed on the guitar. Ken’s got one of those soothing voices that really makes for soothing and relaxing (sometimes haunting) ballads. I still remember the first weekend owning both of those CDs - I think I listened to both CDs continuously throughout the weekend! Now if you’ve never seen them before, you can still catch them regularly at the Third Street Promenade when they’re not on tour.

So speaking of tours, the band is now currently booking their Fall 2007 Tour. They’ll be driving across America in Ken’s Honda Element with a trailer in the back. If you like their music and you’d like to bring them to your school, send an email with details to Peter Ghobrial (booking @ kenoakband.com).

If you’re not familiar with the Ken Oak Band, definitely check out their website here. They even have some of their tracks online for you to listen to. Finally, if you’re here in Los Angeles in early August, the Ken Oak Band will be playing at the Derby on August 9th. The details are as follows:

Ken Oak Band

The Derby

August 9th, 9:30pm

4500 Los Feliz Blvd.

Los Angeles, CA 90027

Prices are $12 dollars or $8 dollars with flyer. Open bar from 8-9pm. Click here for the flyer.

If you know of a local artist or band here in Los Angeles, give us a shout and we’ll write about them on ZuneSphere.com.

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: Ken Oak Band, Los Angeles, Music, Artists

Zune Arts has a new video up featuring the group “What Made Milwaukee Famous”. It’s a cute video so make sure to check it out. Thanks to ZuneInsider for this tidbit.

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: Zune Arts, What Made Milwaukee Famous, Zune

If you live in Chicago, make sure to register for the Live at the BBQ concert here at zuneliveatthebbq.net.  The concert will be held on July 22nd at 3pm and will last until 10pm. Artists coming out to the concert include Mos Def, Bilal, Little Brother, and Qualo.

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: Live at the BBQ, Chicago

If you’re planning to attend any Live Nation concerts this summer, be on the lookout for on-site “Zune Spots”. Zune Spots are converted freight containers that have been redesigned to bring the Zune brand straight to consumers and make the media player available on site at popular concerts around the country. The Zune will be present at 28 Live Nation concerts around the country this summer.

Microsoft is also holding it’s Zune Zoom Away competition which gives you a chance to either win a Microsoft Zune media player or win a trip to see a Live Nation show. You can find additional information about the contest here. You’ll also be able to download Zune Zone vouchers which you can then bring to a Zune Spot at a Live Nation concert. The first 50 people to bring a Zune Zone voucher to the Zune Spot will receive VIP treatment at a Zune Zone which is a special area at select concerts with private wait staff and Zune lawn chairs.

[Check it out]

[Check out the I Like My Zune sweepstakes]

Technorati Tags: Zune, Live Nation, Zune Zoom, Zune Spot