"Instant Live" - anyone heard of this compay?

Are they the group that used to do this for the Dead? If so, they were under the umbrella of the larger corporation that the Dead became.

A great idea, and one heck of a money maker, something the Dead had down pat. Regardless of what you think of the music those guys were/are one great business.

They are actually a spin off of Clear Channel entertainment out of Cambridge Ma, I had the good fortune of meeting Steve Simon who was one of the founders of this devision he is a real neat guy the night we met was at an Allman Brothers concert a couple of years ago in Hartford he was standing there watching his product go out like a proud papa would I sized him up as being involved and struck up a conversation and was glad that I did. Top shelf guy and a top shelf product from a heads up company

Jdevine

Did he say whether the company was started by Clear Channel or bought up by them?

I'd be surprized to find out they started it, their business model has been acquisition, not invention.

None the less, I think the idea, whether started by the Dead, Clear Channel, or someone else is great

The Dead has nothing to do with "Instant Live", which is correctly stated as being owned by Clear Channel. I'm not sure who started them but it wasn’t the Dead and believe me they are not a good thing. Sure you can get your live CD after the show but what they are trying to do is monopolize the whole live/after the show CD thing. Believe it our not they are outrageously claiming that they own a patent on they technology used to record concerts and create live CD's after the show.

They are threatening law suits to anyone who attempts to record their own concert and sell them after the show. If in fact they do have a patent on this the boys in Washington are incredible stupid to issue them one. This is a service not an invention or new technology. They didn't invent mics, recorders, burners, etc. It is the most outrageous claim I have ever heard. It is like picture framers and galleries claiming that they have a patent on paintings and that all artists owe them royalties if they are going to try to sell their painting. Or Denny's saying they own a patent on srambled eggs, or Starbucks owning a patent on a walk in cup of coffee. Well, I think you get the picture.

What started out as a way for artist to make money on their art has ended up being taken over by a greedy corporation that is looking to monopolize the market place and squeeze more money out of the system. There are many bands that are refusing to play at Clear Channel venues because of this. In turn Clear Channel has refused to play their songs on their radio station.

Here is the greater picture. Clear Channel owns many, many radio stations, they are buying many, many music venues, and they are attempting to own the production and distribution of live music..........smells like a monopoly to me!!!!!!!!!

Also, if bands don't agree to their terms they are refusing them the ability to play at their venues.

Here are some more views on Instant Live:

Early this month, we reported on the growing phenomenon of bands selling CDs or even uploads onto USB flash drives of concert recordings right after the concert would end. One company (DiscLive) estimated that it would gross up to US$500,000 during this Spring from selling live CDs. The fans are happy, the bands are happy, everyone is happy. Unfortunately, in a move that will put the brakes on an emerging industry, Clear Channel has purchased the patent from the inventors of the technology and is asserting that it is the only entity that can sell concert CDs right after gigs.

"We want to be artist-friendly," says Steve Simon, a Clear Channel executive vice president and the director of Instant Live. "But it is a business, and it's not going to be 'we have the patent, now everybody can use it for free.'"
Of course not, especially when patent enforcement has become a potentially lucrative source of revenue. It matters little if the patent makes any sort of sense or should even have been granted in the first place. It looks as though Clear Channel is looking to use this patent to get in on the post-concert recording action in a big way. While they have allowed some bands to license the technology for a dollar, other groups are starting to see the squeeze. The Pixies, who are planning a Fall reunion tour, have discovered that DiscLive will not be able to sell recordings after their concerts at Clear Channel venues.

"Presuming Clear Channel's service and product are of equal quality, it may be best to feed the dragon rather than draw swords," says Pixies manager Ken Goes. "Still, I'm not fond of doing business with my arm twisted behind my back."

This is crazy. I'm certain that Mike from Techdirt won't be the only one confused over the sense in this patent:
"Why does selling concerts via a CD burner immediately after the show need a special patent?"
So a band has to cut Clear Channel into the revenue of instant burns after their own live concert? Something is just very, very wrong with this! Rolling Stone:
But in a move expected to severely limit the industry, Clear Channel Entertainment has bought the patent from the technology's inventors and now claims to own the exclusive right to sell concert CDs after shows. The company, which is the biggest concert promoter in the world, says the patent covers its 130 venues along with every other venue in the country.

It's no wonder why so many people have gotten disgusted with the music industry. I guess artists should be grateful -- insert heavy sarcasm -- that Clear Channel isn't going to charge those who market live recordings days later than the concert. Bands like Pearl Jam and more recently Metallica have been embracing this growing trend as a way to boost revenue from their concerts and music.
Clear Channel doesn't plan to stop Phish, Pearl Jam, the Who or other bands that make live recordings available days after the show. It has also granted one-dollar licenses to a few up-and-coming bands to record and sell instant CDs of their own shows.

I think the music industry will not be happy until they can live on another planet with all their precious musical properties safe in a vault in the middle of the planet.

Clear Channel Entertainment says the expansion of its Instant Live LLC division this summer comes as both a promising new initiative and an important evolution for the concert industry.

Critics say Clear Channel's aggressive roll-out of the digital recording company will only serve to further threaten the health of the concert industry and artists. In fact, one national organization is attempting to "bust" the patent around which Instant Live LLC was essentially created.

Clear Channel Entertainment (CCE) is an increasingly important arm of San Antonio-based media giant Clear Channel Communications Inc. Among its holdings are numerous concert venues -- including Verizon Wireless Amphitheater in nearby Selma.

In April, CCE announced that Instant Live LLC had acquired the U.S. business-method patent for creating and distributing digital concert recordings at live music events. Since then, the company has continued to record, duplicate, package and market live recordings of various music artists to concertgoers as they leave various venues.
In late June, CCE and Instant Live LLC launched an aggressive expansion of the on-site recording system, which is also referred to as Instant Live. Among the acts participating this summer are Jewel and KISS, but CCE is working to sign agreements with "dozens" of other acts as well.

Brian Becker, CCE's CEO, calls Instant Live one of "several exciting new initiatives," and adds, "As we enter widespread use this summer, it's clear to us, to artists and to fans that Instant Live is an enormous step forward for the concert industry . ..."
Flip side:
The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) is a nonprofit civil liberties organization based in San Francisco. It was co-founded in 1990 by Grateful Dead lyricist John Perry Barlow and currently has an office in Austin. The EFF has come down hard on Clear Channel and has included Instant Live LLC's patent as one of 10 it is attempting to have revoked by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
The EFF claims Instant Live is forcing even popular acts to deal with Clear Channel and CCE instead of burning their own live CDs or choosing to use the services of other companies. It argues that CCE and Instant Live LLC are using an arm-twisting approach that will limit artists' options and revenues.

EFF attorney John Schulz says the kind of patent Instant Live LLC is using to conduct its business has become increasingly controversial in the last few years. He says these business-method patents, as they are called, inspire monopolistic behavior that are not healthy for industries, such as music, where creativity and diversity are supposed to blossom.

One of the companies the EFF claims could become hamstrung by Instant Live LLC is Hyburn Inc. The Phoenix-based firm claims it has sold instant CDs at dozens of concerts for the last three years. The founder of the company has suggested that CCE and Instant Live LLC may be attempting to squeeze Hyburn out of business. Hyburn President Pamela Getz says she doesn't want to get into verbal wars with Clear Channel or any of its subsidiaries. "We have not run into a problem with them yet. But we have yet to venture into a Clear Channel venue," she says.

Others are less diplomatic. The EFF and the American Federation of Television & Radio Artists (AFTRA) often find themselves on opposing sides. Not this time.

Regardless of all the "legal stuff" behind it all, I love the Instant Live recordings that I have and I am thankful that a company exists to allow these live, on the spot CDs to take place.

Ramstl

Obviously feels strongly about this subject. To clarify my points

My praise was not for Clear Channel, but for the IDEA of recording concerts and selling them to concert goers. Some people actually go to concerts to listen/watch/enjoy, and don't have the time, equipment or inclination to record them. We still would like to have a copy of the show. Don't know/care who started it, the first time I ever heard of it/saw it was at a Dead show.

I too am not a big fan of Clear Channel and their business strategy of running out the small independents. Which is why I ASKED if the division was started by Clear Channel or bought by them, and suggested that it was probably bought.

burke,

I hope I didn't come across as nasty but rather I attempted to give a larger perspective of what is really occurring with Instant Live.

The idea of instant music is great and being that I have recorded concerts and live music for 22 years or so, one I really appreciate. When done properly it is a win/win for everyone. However, the method it is being done by Clear Channel is ultimately not in the best interest of anyone but Clear Channel.

BTW, The Dead only started offering live versions of their shows during the summer of 03 and in doing so their turn around rate has been 2-6 weeks. They have never offered instant recordings. Rat Dog, on the other hand, Bob Weirs band, offered instant versions during the Spring of 04. Phil and Friends were posting free down loads of selected shows starting in 02 but again, they weren't available for sometime.

Most of the recordings I've heard that come from such source are "just" okay! They offer the purchaser or fan a copy of the show they attended with FM level sound. What I mean by FM is that for the most part the sound is compressed with washed out timbres, often less than engaging sound. Listener fatigue usually sets in quickly.
The concert goer maybe able to over look this in an attempt to relive the enjoyment of the show but if you weren't there or your not a hard core fan of the band you may not give them many listening. The learning curve for quality sound is still leaning to quantity for sales instead of quality of sound.

To be honest it is difficult since for the most part they are mixing an 80% board with a 20% ambient. The Board mix is usually mixed for the house, which often means that the Board feed is not very well suited for direct playback, thus the ambient mix. However, for ambient they usually place either 2 omni's on stage or two Cards at DIN or ORTF at the board and the board is not usually placed in the best spot for sound. Sometimes the mix has little to no ambience, which makes for a very dry sound.

That being said, though, if I'm unable to record the show myself, which has happened only a few times over the last 22 years, I would be glad to buy whatever was being offered. Yes, I may have a strong opinion but I do love the music I go out to see.

For clarification, of course over the years the Dead have released selected and historical concerts and in doing so one might have to wait 15-30 years for a chance of having a concert they atteded be officially released. It wasn't until 03 that concert tours were made available.

Ramstl

Not sure what or how it was done but it seemed that String Cheese Incident put out a lot of Live CDs right after the shows. Do you know if they used something like InstantLive?

Does the patent that InstantLive has prevent people/bands like Dave Mathews from allowing taping at their shows?

As I said, I'm not a fan of Clear Channel, just the opposite. I've stopped listening to Clear Channel Radio stations because of the restrictive nature of their programming. Of course they're so big I may be listening, watching, reading a clear channel item and not know it.

I'm not sure but if I remember correctly I think they initially used either their own service or disklive until about a year ago when there was a problem with Clear Channel not allowing them to. Intially they planned on not playing at Clear Channel venues but that proved to be a bad idea and a deal was struck with CLear Channel. I'm not sure if they presently use Instant live or their own service.

Most bands that allowed audence taping still do and have not changed the policy regarding this. Instant Live only prevents the band from selling the live show at the venue right after the show at the venue its self.