[Jason Dunn]

http://music.monstersandcritics.com/news/article_1335285.php/Zunes_Live_at_the_BBQ_hits_New_York_City

"On Saturday, August 4, Zune will be executing their third show in its "Live at the BBQ" series in New York City - presenting a day of food, drinks and hip hip music to the community. The event is open to the public, and RSVP is required through the "Live at the BBQ" site. Confirmed artists for the New York Zune BBQ include Brand Nubian, Cham, MIMS, Joell Ortiz, Clipse, and Large Professor. Rather than sponsoring an existing concert series, the Zune team created the "Zune-Live at the BBQ" series from the ground up. Zune worked with artists directly, to give back to the cultural core consumer and connecting Zune with that core by giving them the opportunity to participate in the Zune mantra, which is to support Art, Music and Film in the digital space with technology and innovation."

I used to be into local, indy music when I was younger, but I found that the places I had to go in Calgary to see new bands (dives) and the times they were playing (late) started to factor in to me not wanting to go as I got older. Now I find I discover new music through friends and sites such as eMusic. I think it's great that the Zune is support local music though - that's not something I've seen any other audio player company do in any way, shape, or form. Any Zune Thoughts readers planning on heading out to this NYC event? We could use a live reporter.

[Jason Dunn]

http://music.monstersandcritics.com/news/article_1335285.php/Zunes_Live_at_the_BBQ_hits_New_York_City

"On Saturday, August 4, Zune will be executing their third show in its "Live at the BBQ" series in New York City - presenting a day of food, drinks and hip hip music to the community. The event is open to the public, and RSVP is required through the "Live at the BBQ" site. Confirmed artists for the New York Zune BBQ include Brand Nubian, Cham, MIMS, Joell Ortiz, Clipse, and Large Professor. Rather than sponsoring an existing concert series, the Zune team created the "Zune-Live at the BBQ" series from the ground up. Zune worked with artists directly, to give back to the cultural core consumer and connecting Zune with that core by giving them the opportunity to participate in the Zune mantra, which is to support Art, Music and Film in the digital space with technology and innovation."

I used to be into local, indy music when I was younger, but I found that the places I had to go in Calgary to see new bands (dives) and the times they were playing (late) started to factor in to me not wanting to go as I got older. Now I find I discover new music through friends and sites such as eMusic. I think it's great that the Zune is support local music though - that's not something I've seen any other audio player company do in any way, shape, or form. Any Zune Thoughts readers planning on heading out to this NYC event? We could use a live reporter.

[David Tucker]

Does anyone support music like they do? I mean...everyone else sells it but I feel like the Zune is really in the whole music scene. Apple can't say that, can they?

[Adam Krebs]

I signed up for the BBQ in NY earlier today, and assuming all goes well, I'll be there to report and take pictures. I just came back from the Rock the Bells tour (more on that in a minute) and I've uploaded two of the pictures I took to Wikipedia (on the Rock The Bells Festival 2007 and Method Man articles). If I wind up going, I'll definitely have better seats, and will take clearer pictures.


I agree with David; it's great to see Zune taking chances on things Apple and other music players aren't willing to do. That said, Rock the Bells was sponsored by SanDisk, though more in the way MySpace, Heineken, and Guerilla Union all sponsored the tour: by plastering their logo on the banners, t-shirts, etc, and getting a quick shoutout by Supernatural (the host), but not doing much else. I'm not sure this is such a good thing. Most people won't give a **** about the MP3 player, and will care more about the music.

I think it probably depends on how effectively it's done. If they have cool Zune giveaways, options to get songs, etc., outside the show, that will be fine. Hell, they were giving away Trojans right next to the Rockstar drink table at Rock the Bells, but they didn't get on stage and do anything like that.

We'll see how it pans out, and if I go, I'll definitely post on what I thought (this being ZuneThoughts and all...)