RSSMicrosoft to Sponsor Free Zune Concerts
By the Betanews Staff | Published July 9, 2007, 1:41 PM
Microsoft said Monday that it is sponsoring a series of free concerts over the next month to help promote its Zune music player. Called Zune Live at the BBQ, the tour features several hip-hop acts and starts in Los Angeles on July 12. Other dates are currently planned for Chicago on July 22, and New York City on August 4. Viral invitations will be sent to fans.
Confirmed artists include Common, Mos Def, Bilal, Collie Budz, E-40, and Cham, among others. Microsoft said additional acts were still being confirmed and it planned to have a few surprise acts. "It's a way to show our appreciation to the hip-hop community for its support of the Zune brand and to bring the music to life for fans," Zune marketing chief Chris Stephenson said.
Personally I like the zune, the gui is 10x the beauty of the ipods, but so far my two microsoft buddies (not employees) swear by their zunes over my ipod. When will microsoft learn that the zune just doesn't have what it takes.
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|You're wrong, the Zune has what it takes; Microsoft just didn't get it right first time around.
It's mainly about market awareness and advertising, and only partially about a quality product. I mean, look at the XBox 360,it's slopped together yet it's selling like a charm. :D
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|You couldnt be more wrong. The Zune fails in every respect from its small capacity to its 10 pound clunky design. Go spout your MS fanboy BS somewhere else.
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|Yeah, not everyone needs anything over 30 gb of space on a media device. See Iriver, Ipod, and Creative. Its not 10 lbs far from it, its about the size of a PDA. The interface is much nicer then what I've seen on other devices and I prefer wmp to Itunes anyday.
You sound like a troll because he likes his device that makes him a fanboy? Seriousily?
Your whole purpose was to come on here and spout negative comments knowing absolutely nothing of the device itself.
Is the Zune perfect? No, its not but neither were any first generation devices.
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|What is not to like about being able to buy a brown one?
It is just like "other" Micro$oft devices...getting crushed in the market place. ;)
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|I'm just waiting for the second gen that people say are coming out in the fall.
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|Yep, and then you will be waiting for the third gen and then fourth and fifth, etc....
You could tell the Zune was destined for the trash heap when Micro$oft would not even put their name on it.
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|i'm waiting for the same thing. I've got an old ipod which needs upgrading in a serious way. Before I blindly buy another, I will check out zune 2.
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|I am still waiting for the Zune to launch in the UK they have confirmed it wont happen this year. I am a Zune owner I love the device I prefer it to my old iPod video which broke. But I am forced to import accessories for it.
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|Yeah, and most of those performers are complete crap, and I'm not saying that biased, I'm talking about talent here.
How about those 80gig Zunes? How about some commercials advertising the Halo 3 edition? The halo campaign would be cheaper and more effective, but Microsoft needs to consider three things:
1)Steve Ballmer is a punk.(Irrelavent, but true)
2)Product quality, advertising, and longevity in the market REALLY effect a products sales.
3)You won't be able to compete well with Apple until you stay head-to-head by offering comperable devices, like the 80 gig Zune. Better yet, stay ahead of the curve.
I'm not bashing anyone who owns a Zune or the product itself, but Microsoft is not being smart about it. It's alot like the useless trials AMD put against Intel for "monopoly", really, they had been around longer and they had bigger mouths, that's why the majority of the market still lives with them.
*edit*
Two more things, will discounted or limited-edition Zunes be sold at these events? That's the only way this idea will really be effective.
Also "It's a way to show our appreciation to the hip-hop community..." Do they mean the black community? :D
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|uh, Yeah?
By your post I'm assuming your a young white(not that it has anything to do with it) kid, say 19 who knows nothing about hiphop nor marketing.
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|Actually I'm a legal Hispanic, way ahead of the curve :D Aged 26, thankyou.
I know music; I'm a mexican Simon Cowell, and none of these groups have anything redeeming or innovative, but that's all blacks strive for, never push the bar and try to look expressive.
Also, how do you extrapolate from what little I said that I know nothing about marketing? You're likely just a "homeboy" that's proud they're marketing your favored rubbish that you like to call "music".
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|"Also "It's a way to show our appreciation to the hip-hop community..." Do they mean the black community? :D"
Well, they say "for hip hop community" you assume "hip-hop" means black, so doesn't matter what race you are you still are trying to be coy at trying to turn it into a race issue.
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|No need to argue with you, but go back and read your comment, you want to advertise a music device to a gamming community? Halo edition is still an mp3 player not a gamming rig, But I guees if they had El Greco and Dali you'll be ok.
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|Being "coy at trying to turn it into a race issue?" Funny, and being black, I also read "hip-hop" to mean the black community.
That said, I'm still amazed at the number of "white boys" I see driving around listening to rap and booming bass from their cars. And, I don't know a single black person who owns a Zune.
So, maybe Microsoft has a better read on "whites with disposable income" and "gangsta wannabes" than I, a marketing researcher, might think.
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