Well Done Warners!
Warner Home Video has just launched an online program to help all those of you who many purchased their previously released HD-DVD titles replace them with new Blu-ray versions.
All you have to do is go to www.red2blu.com and select the titles you wish to exchange (1 per HD-DVD title), then you mail the HD-DVD cover artwork only back to Warner along with $4.95 (per disc) to cover shipping and handling.
They'll send you back the title in question on Blu-ray within 4-6 weeks. This way, you get to keep the HD-DVD disc, but you also get to upgrade to Blu.
Not bad...Universal should do this too!!
Bruce Springsteen photo raffle to benefit FoodBank of New Jersey
HILLSIDE, N.J. - Help fight hunger and you just might end up with a rare Bruce Springsteen photo.
Vintage shots of the famous rocker will be awarded to 14 lucky fans who make donations of $25 or more to the Community FoodBank of New Jersey.
Some of the biggest names in rock photography are participating and will sign prints for the winners. The photographers have made iconic images of Springsteen, including the album covers for "Born to Run," "Darkness on the Edge of Town," "Born in the U.S.A.," "The Rising" and other Springsteen albums.
Once 14,000 donations have been made to the food bank, 14 fans will be chosen at random to each receive a print. The contest starts Thursday morning. Fans can enter at www.backstreets.com/hunger.
Out of tune: global music sales tumble
Global music sales have plunged more than eight per cent in 2008 compared to the year before, according to a record industry organization.
The IFPI, which represents most of the world's music labels including giants such as Sony Music Entertainment, Universal Music Group and EMI, says the drop is partly due to the lower price of downloads over the internet.
Sales of CDs and vinyl were hit hard, dropping by 15 per cent.
Meanwhile sales of digital formats like MP3s and ringtones grew by 24 per cent worldwide. However, people who download tend to take single songs rather than entire albums.
And record companies got a massive boost in monies from music used on radio, TV and being played in public.
Asia provided a small bright spot with sales up slightly by one per cent.
The IFPI says any boost they got was not enough to make up for the loss in overall music sales.