Iz on iTunes!

I just noticed that Israel Kamakawiwo'ole and his "Facing Future" album is listed among Staff Favorites on Apple's iTunes music store!

They list four Iz albums on the store including E Ala E, Facing Future, In Dis Life and Iz the Man and His Music. Facing Future is only $9.99 for the complete 15-song album. The rest of the albums are sold by individual song, only, at $0.99 each.

And I just noticed that "Somewhere Over The Rainbow" is today's Nuber 4 Top Song on the iTunes music store, beating out No Doubt, OutKast and the Black Eyed Peas.

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Okay, so I did not know where to post this...is it about Iz and his music now in iTunes, or Iz and his music in movies.

If you want to see a movie with Iz's "Somewhere over the Rainbow" in it, check out my daughter's movie, with the Iz soundtrack at her website. Be patient, Iz comes in during the second half of the movie.

Okay, maybe not a big time movie, but it stars the biggest, best movie star in my opinion, my daughter, Malia.

This has been up on her site for about a year, so it beat both iTunes, and "50 First Dates". Hey, Hawaii was where her Mom and I had our first date. Somehow, I think this post does relate to both Iz and his music on the web, and first dates.

What a fun collection of movies, Patrick!

Iz's music has gotten around, that's for sure. "Meet Joe Black," "Finding Forrester," NBC's "ER" and "Providence," NPR, as far back as that eToys commercial, and the upcoming "50 First Dates."

I've been hearing Iz's "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" since it was used in the eToys ad. I heard it again last night at 50 First Dates and decided iTunes would be a great way to pick up this song.

I searched the store and found nothing. Hmmm. Well, it's not like they have every artist ever born I thought to myself.

Then I found this thread through a google search - so I tried the link here and went back to iTunes again. Still nothing.

It seems that Iz has been removed from iTunes! How can this be? Does anyone have any information?

Best,

Deanpaul

Wow, you are correct: iTunes Music Store has been sanitized of all Iz Kamakawiwo'ole music! All of it is gone!!!

I did an Amazon Search and found a bunch of stuff, but man, it's expensive!

BuyHawaiianMusic.com has a bunch and it's a little less pricey.

But neither of them beats the $9.99 that you could get "In Dis Life" for on iTunes. Bummer.

I wonder if Mountain Apple Records took issue with Iz being on the store?

Best of luck.
Blaine

Yeah, it's really weird. I see the first link still works - it takes me to a listing of Iz as an artist, albeit an artist with no listings!

I have no idea which party pulled the listing (although my guess would be Mountain Apple), but why? You said it was at number 4 a month ago... Surely that kind of exposure would be desirable for a label?

Ah well. Thanks for your help and for this thread. I'll probably go through Amazon for the whole cd, and we'll play it while we plan our vacation to Hawaii to help us get in the mood. ;)

Best wishes,

Deanpaul

In light of the removal from iTunes of all Iz music, I foud this interesting. From Erika Engle's column in this morning's (Feb. 2, 2004) Star-Bulletin:

Revenue for The Mountain Apple Company is growing, despite concerns over downloading and CD burning, and even though the firm's wholesale prices have not increased in five years, according to President Leah Bernstein.

"It was the best holiday season since 2001, no kidding," she said.

"Our revenues have grown because we're putting out good music and people like it and want to take it home."

She is a frequent flyer at Apple's iTunes music-selling site. For a dollar a holler -- well, actually 99-cents per song -- music may be legally downloaded. It is one of many such legal Web sites. "Everything we produce and distribute is on iTunes," she said.

That is interesting. I did e-mail Mountain Apple to ask what was up with their inventory on iTunes... perhaps it was more a glitch than some battle over rights.

Update! I got a phone call this evening from Leah Bernstein, Mountain Apple president, called my cell phone this evening while I was in the middle of a field coaching the mighty Aiea Dragons soccer team.

She promised to explain all when I call her back tomorrow morning. Stay tuned, music lovers!

I spoke with Leah Bernstein, president of Mountain Apple Records this morning and she explained:

Seems that the Israel Kamakawiwo'ole albums and singles on the iTunes Music Store were there without Mountain Apple's permission. Leah said that a third party supplied the music to iTunes Music Store. The music was pulled at Mountain Apple's request.

But Leah was very quick to add, "Don't despair!" Very shortly the entire Iz catalog, and other Mountain Apple goodies, would reappear on the iTunes store. They worked out an agreement with iTunes and will be well-represented once the music is prepared and ready to go online.

She said that when Iz was on the iTunes store he simply dominated the World Music category and they were looking forward to getting the songs back online and available.

She also mentioned that Adam Sandler's movie, "50 First Dates," has exclusive use of the Iz song, "Somewhere Over The Rainbow," until some time in June and that Iz was making national radio playlists in several large markets like New York.

She also added that Mountain Apple has launced their own online music outlet so you can get your Hawaiian musical mana from the source!

Aloha,
Blaine

Wow, Blaine, thanks for the scoops! You can take the media guy out of the newsroom, but...

Blaine,

I've been checking back here and reading the investigation with interest. Thanks so much for tracking this thing through.

It's neat to hear the behind the scene story, and I look forward to seeing Iz back on iTunes.

Best,

Deanpaul

ZZ's the MAN....:-)

Hey Patrick the link to your daughters video seems to be inoperable???

What up?

Aloha

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