Sandra Asks: I just had a conversation with a colleague about the CD. The long and short of it is that we do not agree that CDs have a standard size and capacity. Would you clarify this for me? I distinctly remember listening to your show, where you had explained the evolution of the CD. If I remember correctly, you indicated that the capacity of the CD was standard and was set by someone (who?) who had commissioned a format for his music that would fit either a song/or an entire collection of classical music on one disk. This is the basis for the standard size of 700 MB or 80 minutes of play time. Please advise - and thanks!

Alan Answers: The CD was a joint project of Sony of Japan and Philips of the Netherlands through the 1970s. Read More...

Arthur Asks: Assume that a given CD by band “X” has been discontinued by its label, and that copies are few and far between, essentially available only on eBay at exorbitant rates. Assume that I think that this CD is one of the great achievements of Canadian music.

1. Since the label has discontinued it, would it be illegal to make a copy of mine and sell it?

2. I love the artist in question, and this is NOT about ripping her off. I would be more than happy to send most of the money her way.

3. If is not legal to Step 1, how might I go about acquiring the rights to this CD? Given that it is discontinued, I have no idea whom to approach.

Alan Answers: Good questions. Here are some answers:

Answer 1: Yes, it’s illegal because no matter the retail status of the CD, you do not own the copyright (literally, the “right to copy”) on the material. Read More...

Eric Asks: Back in the mid to late 90's there was a band out of Vancouver on the Mint label named Pluto. They had a few minor hit singles ('Paste', 'When She Was Happy', 'The Goodbye Girl') and then vanished shortly after their last album release 'Shake Hands with the Future' in 1998. Do you have any idea why they broke up, and what their members (Ian Jones, John Ounpuu, Justin Leigh, and Rolf Hetherington) are doing now?

Alan Answers: Though it may seem like Pluto dropped of the face of the earth following the release of 1998’s “Shake Hands with the Future”, we’ve been able to track down some info for each of its former members for you. . Read More...

YOU HEARD IT HERE FIRST - November’s New Releases

November 7: Much Dance 2007 Sugarland - Enjoy the Ride Keith Urban - Love, Pain & the Whole Crazy Thing Dave Matthews Band - The Best of What's Around Foo Fighters - Skin & Bones (Live) Famiroquai - High Times: Singles Josh Groban - Awake JJ Cale & Eric Clapton - The Road to Escondido Big Shiny Tunes 11 November 14: Serena Ryder - If your Memory Serves You Well Fat Joe - Me, Myself & I Depeche Mode - Best of Volume 1 Yusuf (Cat Stevens) - An Other Cup Damien Rice - 9 The Game - Doctor's Advocate And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead - So Divided Neil Young & Crazy Horse - Live at the Fillmore East Abba - Number Ones November 21: Lorenna Mckennitt - An Ancient Muse Snoop Dogg - Tha Blue Carpet Treatment Akon - Konvicted Andrea Bocelli - Under the Desert sky Great Big Sea - Courage & Patience: Live Il Divo - Siempre Jay-Z - Kingdom Come Oasis - Stop the Clocks Our Lady Peace--A Decade P.O.D. - Gr Hits Rockstar Supernova--Rockstar Supernova U2 - 18 Singles

FIRST PRE-CHRISTMAS SALE EVER!! NOV 20TH – DEC 5TH.*
*In participating stores.