Apple pushes Ping with exclusive Michael Jackson song
In a new promotional effort to generate interest for its iTunes Ping music social networking service, Apple has landed an exclusive track from the late pop star Michael Jackson.
The song, from the forthcoming album "Michael," is called "Much Too Soon." The world premiere of the track is available exclusively on Ping, a new social networking service from Apple that allows users to connect with artists and share their iTunes purchasing activities.
The newly released song from the "King of Pop" can be streamed within iTunes by accessing Ping, and navigating to the official Michael Jackson account. It's also a new way for Apple to promote Ping, which garnered over a million users in its first 48 hours, though Apple has not provided an update on the number of accounts since.
The new song from the late artist was written at the time Jackson was working on "Thriller," released in 1982, which went on to become the best-selling album of all time.
"Michael always liked the song but never found the right home for it; here it finds its place as the bittersweet closing to the stellar collection," the official Ping account for Jackson reads. "This song was written by Michael Jackson and produced by Michael Jackson and John McClain. David Campbell is featured on the strings."
The album "Michael" features new songs from the late artist. The complete collection of 10 tracks, featuring artists 50 Cent, Akon and Lenny Kravitz, will be released on Dec. 14.
Apple's exclusive Michael Jackson track marks the second major content deal the company has secured in less than a month. In November, Apple began selling the entire catalog of The Beatles through iTunes, the only digital service with the rights to the band's music. Sales of Beatles albums topped 450,000 in the first week.
Ping was launched with the new iTunes 10 in September. The product is based on discovery, allowing users to see what their friends are listening to and what concerts they're going to.
In November, Apple and Twitter announced a strategic alliance that allows users to share music discoveries with their friends through Twitter. Users can advertise their Ping activity, with song previews and links to purchase and download music from the iTunes Store, on their Twitter account.
The song, from the forthcoming album "Michael," is called "Much Too Soon." The world premiere of the track is available exclusively on Ping, a new social networking service from Apple that allows users to connect with artists and share their iTunes purchasing activities.
The newly released song from the "King of Pop" can be streamed within iTunes by accessing Ping, and navigating to the official Michael Jackson account. It's also a new way for Apple to promote Ping, which garnered over a million users in its first 48 hours, though Apple has not provided an update on the number of accounts since.
The new song from the late artist was written at the time Jackson was working on "Thriller," released in 1982, which went on to become the best-selling album of all time.
"Michael always liked the song but never found the right home for it; here it finds its place as the bittersweet closing to the stellar collection," the official Ping account for Jackson reads. "This song was written by Michael Jackson and produced by Michael Jackson and John McClain. David Campbell is featured on the strings."
The album "Michael" features new songs from the late artist. The complete collection of 10 tracks, featuring artists 50 Cent, Akon and Lenny Kravitz, will be released on Dec. 14.
Apple's exclusive Michael Jackson track marks the second major content deal the company has secured in less than a month. In November, Apple began selling the entire catalog of The Beatles through iTunes, the only digital service with the rights to the band's music. Sales of Beatles albums topped 450,000 in the first week.
Ping was launched with the new iTunes 10 in September. The product is based on discovery, allowing users to see what their friends are listening to and what concerts they're going to.
In November, Apple and Twitter announced a strategic alliance that allows users to share music discoveries with their friends through Twitter. Users can advertise their Ping activity, with song previews and links to purchase and download music from the iTunes Store, on their Twitter account.
Comments
If apple wants Ping to become big, they have to PORT IT TO THE INTERNET.
Give me a useable online version. I'll check it just as often as I check facebook!
Shall I Twitter what I'm listening to? (as if anyone cares) Ultra-Lounge: Christmas Cocktails. The Nutcracker Suite by Les Brown.
Ping is silly jump-on-the-social-website-bandwagon crap.
Shall I Twitter what I'm listening to? (as if anyone cares) Ultra-Lounge: Christmas Cocktails. The Nutcracker Suite by Les Brown.
Who cares?
Who cares?
Yes, that's kinda the point. Hmmmph.
That Michael Jackson song they put up sucked hard core and I actually like Michael Jackson. I just don't like that sappy crappy heal the world type songs he loved to make. *sticks finger down throat to try and throw up*
His family has gone on record as saying that most of the songs on the new album "aren't Michael" singing.
He will probably be more popular after his death than before and probably produce more albums after death as well. Hendrix has dozens of albums but I think he only actually put out two while he was alive. Michael Jackson will probably be the same.
His family has gone on record as saying that most of the songs on the new album "aren't Michael" singing.
He will probably be more popular after his death than before and probably produce more albums after death as well. Hendrix has dozens of albums but I think he only actually put out two while he was alive. Michael Jackson will probably be the same.
The Jackson kids have said at least 3 of the 10. I haven't seen any other numbers related to how many tracks are in question. Sony of course claims it's all Michael. Hendrix had 4 albums released before his death and the first 3 albums released after his death covered a large chunk of the remaining studio work for the double album he had been working on before he died.
The Jackson kids have said at least 3 of the 10. I haven't seen any other numbers related to how many tracks are in question. Sony of course claims it's all Michael. Hendrix had 4 albums released before his death and the first 3 albums released after his death covered a large chunk of the remaining studio work for the double album he had been working on before he died.
Thanks for the detailed correction. I knew I was right in a general sense anyway.
For Hendrix I was referring to the never ending supply of crappy "Live" albums that came out afterwards, but thankfully almost none of them made the jump to CD anyway. At the time it seemed like anyone who had a tape of Hendrix playing anything, anywhere could get it made into an album.
Personally, I think Ping is pretty cool and use it regularly. I've found a number of songs and even an album that I normally wouldn't have because of it. Yes, it would help its popularity if Ping were on the internet, but Apple has at least also made it available on the iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch. iTunes and iDevices, that's pretty ubiquitous these days. And really, do you need to check Ping more than once a day?
I don't get it and I don't think it will fly long term.
Thanks for the detailed correction. I knew I was right in a general sense anyway.
For Hendrix I was referring to the never ending supply of crappy "Live" albums that came out afterwards, but thankfully almost none of them made the jump to CD anyway. At the time it seemed like anyone who had a tape of Hendrix playing anything, anywhere could get it made into an album.
Witness the number of posthumous Tupac albums as well. Hell, Prince has well over 1000 songs in his vault. When he dies, expect his estate to be issuing albums for decades. Not to mention he records every show or at least used to, so live albums could go forever too.
Well to be accurate, "Much Too Soon" isn't exclusive to iTunes. It will be on the CD and other digital music stores. What's exclusive is the pre-release stream of the song.
It's exclusive now tho, which makes it an accurate statement for the time being. It isn't like they try to hide that it isn't the closing album track.
I downloaded an album Tupac Shakur 'liked' yesterday.
Oh wow John McClain helped with the song? He can fight evil and Produce a song... Now that's talent :P
Yippie ka Yay
Well to be accurate, "Much Too Soon" isn't exclusive to iTunes. It will be on the CD and other digital music stores. What's exclusive is the pre-release stream of the song.
Personally, I think Ping is pretty cool and use it regularly. I've found a number of songs and even an album that I normally wouldn't have because of it. Yes, it would help its popularity if Ping were on the internet, but Apple has at least also made it available on the iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch. iTunes and iDevices, that's pretty ubiquitous these days. And really, do you need to check Ping more than once a day?
Ping is the only thing reeking of FAIL from apple that i can smell....
In a new promotional effort to generate interest for its iTunes Ping music social networking service, Apple has landed an exclusive track from the late pop star Michael Jackson.
Were there no non-pedophile partners willing to feed the Apple profit machine?
-kpluck
Ping is silly jump-on-the-social-website-bandwagon crap.
Shall I Twitter what I'm listening to? (as if anyone cares) Ultra-Lounge: Christmas Cocktails. The Nutcracker Suite by Les Brown.
Ping? Pong. Meh.