JIM CARROLLon music
Most pop fans probably probably still associate Dave Stewart with Eurythmics, but he's had a wide and varied career since that double-act came to a halt.
Aside from production and soundtrack work, Stewart is also Nokia's "chief disruption adviser".
He was wearing that particular hat at the Billboard Mobile Entertainment Live conference in San Francisco this week, where he unveiled his bright idea to make money from the music industry.
Stewart's plan? Fans will get paid for tweeting about their favourite bands if someone buys a ticket, album or T-shirt based on that tweet. Sadly, Stewart didn't go into specifics about how this would work or how much a tweet would be worth.
You can add Stewart's idea to a lengthy, never-ending list of notions hoping to save or cash in on the music industry.
Over the past few years, we've encountered countless innovations and solutions as the traditional record business struggles to make sense of technological changes.
From SpiralFrog and Spotify to Harvest Entertainment and Muzu, there has been no shortage of would-be white knights rushing to the rescue.
What the new breed is showing, though, is that there isn't – and won't be – a one-size-fits-all solution to the woes of the business.
For example, there was once a collective, industry-wide wisdom that the live side of things would lift all boats. That has now been shown up for the nonsense it always was.
It's abundantly clear that the dominance enjoyed for a few decades by the record industry is unlikely to be replaced by something similar and all-encompassing. The future is going to be pick-and-mix.
Jim Carroll chairs a Hard Working Class Heroes discussion tomorrow at 3.30pm in the Button Factory, Dublin, about what the music business might look like in 2020. Admission is free
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Not Squares Yeah OK(Richter Collective) Yet another contender for Irish debut album of the year as our favourite punktronica trio reach for the skies.
James Blake Klavierwerke EP(RS) Further proof that the London post-dubstep producer is head and shoulders above his peers. I Only Know (What I Know Now) is particularly majestic.
Cee-Lo Green Cee-Lo Green Is the Soul Machine(Arista) Let's re-up on 'Lo with this masterpiece from 2004 as we wait for new album The Ladykillerto drop.
Neil Young Le Noise(Reprise) Produced by Daniel Lanois (who has been angling for this gig for yonks), it's Young, a distorted electric guitar and a bunch of haunted, spooked, rattled tunes.
Niamh de Barra Cusp EP(Second Square to None) The Dublin-based scurvy lass delivers four exquisite, imaginative, daring, magical songs to stop you in your tracks.
THE VACCINES
Addictive indie pop from a new London band with all the right attributes and angles to star in 2011. First public track If You Wannais fuzzy power-pop with loads of oomph. Debut single Wreckin' Bararrives at the end of November. thevaccines.co.uk
SPARK
Reasons to be cheerful about Jessica Morgan: she's got a fantastic voice, she's got a great handle on ripping tunes (check out debut single Revolving), and our favourite label Neon Gold will be sticking that single out next month. One to watch. myspace.com/ sparkthemusic
THE JOHN STEEL SINGERS
Our latest find from another trawl Down Under. The John Steel Singers hail from Brisbane and specialise in summery pop melodies, dashing harmonies and quirky, colourful indie gems such as Overpass. myspace.com/ thejohnsteelsingers
