5 Ways Musicians Can Benefit From Google Glass[es]
Love 'em, hate 'em, it doesn't matter. Google Glass or Glasses, depending on what suits, are going to be part of your reality. Welcome to a wearable technology that will have unexpected effects on the world of music. But musicians and music pundits aren't waiting for the actual tech to arrive as you can see from the following bit of paranoia plus 5 ways musicians can benefit.
Google Glass is ushering in a strange and disturbing world in some respects. Yet they also fit a time when most folks are happy to create self-surveillance databanks via Facebook and related networks while disregarding the government's increasing data collection in the name of security.
The MusicTechPolicy blog's paranoid cop vision seems relatively on target:
"I always said that the last frontier for Google would be to find a way to monetize human conversations–not only can they do that with Google Glass, but they can now send human drones in to your shows to record your songs and have them up on the Internet before your last encore whether you like it or not. Not legally, of course, but when has that ever stopped Google when they can send in the mob?"
Yet, given the move to livestreaming and related options, I think there's a more positive and proactive approach available to performers but that's your call, dear reader.
In addition to getting your fans to create live concert videos, as bands are already doing with Switchcam, CrowdSync and Vyclone, here are some ways to turn your music tech terror frown upside down:
1) Google Glass commercials have provided placements for songs by The Kissaway Trail and Bibio.
2) The commercials and concept have led to such YouTube videos as a ukelele cover of Bibio's "Lover's Carvings", a "Song About Google Glass" and a disorienting "First Person Music Video".
3) Alex Guthrie applied for the first release of Google Glass with plans for the Alex Guthrie Google Glass Tour 2013. We'll soon know if he's one of the lucky 8000 chosen in the first round.
4) DJ Pauly D ain't waiting for an official release when a knockoff pair for a music video can get him some quick publicity.
5) And, though the RjDj app is no longer available, the bone conduction sound tech of Google Glass should open up new possibilities for mixing personal and environmental sounds.
So whether you choose despair or positive action either way somebody's gonna be watching you.
Hypebot Senior Contributor Clyde Smith (@fluxresearch/@crowdfundingm) also blogs at All World Dance: Videos and maintains Music Biz Blogs. To suggest topics for Hypebot, contact: clyde(at)fluxresearch(dot)com.
Can you please explain how there is a “choice”?
There are always choices in the face of forces you cannot fully control.
That’s true, you can choose to submit or be torrented. good point.