Technology Brian Chesky nails the non-disruption disruption Technology disruption is very relative. If in a society where people regularly share car rides, services like Lyft and Uber disrupt very little.
Tunes Listening to Two Bodies by Flight Facilities Any questions about Australia’s ability to produce amazing music (or tech startups for that matter)? Flight Facilities feat. Emma Louise released by Future Classic.
Tunes Listening to A Kind of Blue by Miles Davis I have posted this album before, but it's one of my faves and I listen to it often. It is one of the very rare recordings that will stand the test of time.
Music Business What exactly is the right price for music streaming? In his article Music Streaming Is Booming, and That’s a Problem for Music Sales, Peter Kafka suggests the right price for a streaming subscription "might be $3 to $4 a month". But is it?
Technology Listening to a16z's two Bens discuss Amazon a16z's Ben Horowitz and Ben Evans explain everything you need to know about Amazon. Great insights into Amazon's future.
Tunes Listening to #ASOT679 If you love electronic dance music and have not yet discovered, Armin van Buuren, you're missing out experiencing a master at work.
Tunes Listening to State of the Art by Hilltop Hoods More *Hilltop Hoods*. *State of the Art*. Sounds kinda old school, for 2009.
Tunes Listening to Walking Under Stars by Hilltop Hoods Hilltop Hoods is the best hip-hop group Australia has produced. Few would disagree. If you're not familiar with their work, do yourself a favor and check out their debut State of the Art [https://robertcollings.com/listeningto-state-art-hilltophoods/]. Here's their new release, Walking Under Stars.
Year With No Beer A Year With No Beer 2014-15, Redux 2 #YWNB Four years ago this October I decided to stop drinking alcohol to learn how it affected my well-being. I called the experiment a Year With No Beer. I'm doing it again.
Tunes Listening to Flesh & Blood by John Butler Trio I remember seeing John Butler Trio play in Sydney, Australia in 2001. It was a stunning performance and at the time I thought to myself here was an artist with something to say.
Tunes Listening to The Low End Theory by ATCQ Justifiably one the ten best hip hop records of all time, The Low End Theory swings and grooves like few other records in the genre.
Tunes Listening to Once More 'Round the Sun by Mastodon Mastodon is band I hadn't really paid much attention to. Once More ‘Round the Sun is a stellar release.
Tunes Listening to Robert Johnson No idea what the ethnomusicologists say about Robert Johnson, but imho a lot of modern music follows a road back to this master of the Delta Blues.
Tunes Listening to Black Sunday by Cypress Hill This record makes me so incredibly happy: can't quite explain it. You'll just have to listen and discover for yourself.
Tunes Listening to Mama Said Knock You Out LL Cool J These are some of the finest rhymes ever ... Everyone is due a second chance after all.
Startup The Four things PayPal did that changed startups If you're not familiar with the lore behind the founding of PayPal, here's a primer on how the PayPal Mafia redefined success in Silicon Valley.
Tunes Listening to It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back Public Enemy Growing up in a very white Australia, Public Enemy had a huge impact on my world view. Thx Chuck D.
Creativity So the Apple / Beats deal was all about culture and creativity? Great panel at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity featuring Kanye West, Ben Horowitz and Steve Stoute discussing creativity and culture.
Business Quick thoughts on the Apple and Beats deal [update] Only two reasons I can see for Apple wanting to aquire Beats: Jimmy Iovine & Dre. The subscription deals Iovine did with the labels.
Technology Why I hope Uber crushes the Aussie taxi business A recent trip to Australia is why I support Uber in breaking the monopolistic taxi industry. Here's my experience.
Tunes Listening to Since I Left You by The Avalanches The greatest Australian album of all time? You've gotta listen to the entire recording — no cherry-pickin' songs. DJ Dexter is pure genius.
Music Business The truth about doing business with the music business Turntable.fm recently pivoted to some sort of live event platform for musicians. Here's what to expect when doing business with the music business.
Creativity Aningaaq, the other side of Gravity At the end of the film Gravity, Sandra Bullock's character communicates with a person on Earth. Here's the other side of that conversation.
Music Business Does file-sharing account for less than 10% of US net traffic? Digital Music News ran a story this week suggesting that because "file-sharing now accounts for less than 10% of US internet traffic ... file-sharing volumes are also plunging." But does it?
Business Is writing down lyrics ripping off an artist? The rights industries are better equipped to deal with fair use exploits, scholarly research and other similar defenses for monetizing copyright works. Is Rap Genius immune?