Worldwide pay-TV revenues will reach USD 173bn in 2016, up from USD 124bn in 2006 and USD 155bn in 2010, according to a new report from Digital TV Research.
On-demand revenues are expected to increase much faster than subscription revenues, although on-demand is only expected to account for USD 5.7bn (or 3.3%) of the 2016 total.
“Subscription revenues will stutter as more homes convert to bundles, thus reducing TV-related income,” said Simon Murray, author of the report. “DTH [DBS] revenues will overtake cable TV revenues in 2011. DTH revenues will reach USD 86bn in 2016, up from USD 71bn in 2010. DTH will command nearly half the total revenues by 2016, up from 43% in 2006.”
The US is predicted to remain the largest market for DTH services, although its share of the global total will fall from 54% in 2006 to 41% in 2016, according to the report. Brazil is forecast to add the most DTH revenues (USD 3.1bn) between 2010 and 2016 – more than doubling its total in the process.
Cable TV revenues are expected to start sliding this year, with revenues falling by USD 7bn between 2010 and 2016 to reach USD 69bn, although cable operators are predicted to gain extra revenues by converting subscribers to bundles.
Digital cable TV revenues are forecast to climb from USD 43bn in 2010 to USD 62bn in 2016, with China predicted to add USD 4.3bn in digital cable TV revenues over the period, followed by Japan with an extra USD 2.6bn.
IPTV revenues are anticipated to rise from less than USD 1bn in 2006 and USD 6bn in 2010 to USD 17bn in 2016, with the US to remain the largest IPTV revenue earner, taking a quarter of the 2016 total (down from one third in 2010).
Pay DTT revenues are estimated to have reached USD 1.572bn in 2010, and are expected to slowly grow to USD 2.3bn in 2016, with Italy to generate almost half of the 2016 total.
“The US will remain the world’s largest pay TV revenue earner by some distance,” added Mr Murray. “However, its revenues will fall by nearly USD 3bn between 2010 and 2016 as homes convert to bundles and as competition increases. On the other hand, Brazil’s revenues will more than double over the same period, with India also enjoying impressive growth.”
Albert Greene (born April 13, 1946),[1] better known as Al Green, is an Americangospel and soul music singer. He reached the peak of his popularity in the 1970s, with hit singles such as “You Oughta Be With Me”, “I’m Still In Love With You”, “Love and Happiness”, and “Let’s Stay Together”.[2] In 2005, Rolling Stone named him #65 in their list of the ‘100 Greatest Artists of All Time’. The nomination, written by Justin Timberlake, stated that “people are born to do certain things, and Al was born to make us smile.”[3] The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inducted Green in 1995, referring to him as “one of the most gifted purveyors of soul music.” Green has sold more than 20 million records.[2]
Green was born in Forrest City, Arkansas.[1] He was the sixth of ten children born to Robert and Cora Greene.[4] The son of a sharecropper, he started performing at age ten in a Forrest City quartet called the Greene Brothers; he dropped the final “E” from his last name years later as a solo artist. They toured extensively in the mid-1950s in the South until the Greenes moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan, when they began to tour around Michigan.[5] His father kicked him out of the group because he caught Green listening to Jackie Wilson.[6]
Green formed a group called Al Greene & the Creations in high school. Curtis Rogers and Palmer James, two members of the Creations, formed an independent label called Hot Line Music Journal. In 1967, under the new name Al Greene & the Soul Mates, the band recorded “Back Up Train” and released it on Hot Line Music; the song was an R&B chart hit. The Soul Mates’ subsequent singles did not sell as well. Al Green’s debut LP Back Up Train was released on Hot Line in 1967. The album was upbeat and soulful but didn’t do well in sales. This was the only album on the Hot Line label. Green came into contact with band leader Willie Mitchell of Memphis‘ Hi Records in 1969, when Mitchell hired him as a vocalist for a Texas show with Mitchell’s band and then asked him to sign with the label.
Rise to stardom
Mitchell predicted stardom for Green, coaching him to find his own, unique voice at a time when Green had previously been trying to sing like his heroes Jackie Wilson, Wilson Pickett, James Brown, and Sam Cooke. Green’s debut album with Hi Records was Green Is Blues, a slow, horn-driven album that allowed Green to show off his powerful and expressive voice, with Mitchell arranging, engineering and producing. The album was a moderate success. The next LP, Al Green Gets Next to You (1970), included a hit remake of the Temptations classic “I Can’t Get Next to You”, and more significantly, Green’s first of seven consecutive gold singles, “Tired of Being Alone“. Let’s Stay Together (1972) was an even bigger success, as was I’m Still In Love With You (1972). Call Me was a critical sensation and just as popular at the time; it is one of his most fondly remembered albums today. Al Green Explores Your Mind (1974) contained his own song “Take Me to the River“, which was later turned into an R&B hit (#7) by label-mate Syl Johnson and also covered by Talking Heads (#26 Pop) on their second album.
Popular career
On October 18, 1974, Mary Woodson White, a girlfriend of Green’s, assaulted him before committing suicide at his Memphis home.[7] Although she was already married, White reportedly became upset when Green refused to marry her,[8] some four months after he peaked at #32 on the Hot 100 with the ironically titled “Let’s Get Married”. At some point during the evening, White doused Green with a pan of boiling grits while he was showering, causing burns on Green’s back, stomach and arms.[9] The police found in her purse a note declaring her intentions and her reasons. “The more I trust you,” she’d written, “the more you let me down.”
Green cited the incident as a wake-up call to change his life.[7] He became an ordained pastor of the Full Gospel Tabernacle in Memphis in 1976 and continues to serve in this capacity, delivering services down the street from Graceland.[10] Continuing to record R&B, Green saw his sales start to slip and drew mixed reviews from critics.[11] 1977’s The Belle Album was critically acclaimed but did not regain his former mass audience.[12] In 1979 Green injured himself falling off the stage while performing in Cincinnati and interpreted this as a message from God. He then concentrated his energies towards pastoring his church and gospel singing,[10] also appearing in 1982 with Patti Labelle in the BroadwaymusicalYour Arms Too Short to Box with God.[13] According to Glide Magazine, “by the late 70s, he had begun concentrating almost exclusively on gospel music.” [14] His first gospel album was The Lord Will Make a Way. From 1981 to 1989 Green recorded a series of gospel recordings, garnering eight “soul gospel performance” Grammys in that period. In 1985, he reunited with Willie Mitchell along with Angelo Earl for He Is the Light, his first album for A&M Records. In 1984, director Robert Mugge released a documentary film, Gospel According to Al Green, including interviews about his life and footage from his church.[15] In 1989, Green released “I Get Joy”, again with producer/guitarist Angelo Earl. In 2001, he appeared in the movie and soundtrack of On the Line featuring Lance Bass.
Return to R&B
After spending several years exclusively performing gospel, Green began to return to R&B (Rhythm & Blues). First, he released a duet with Annie Lennox, “Put A Little Love In Your Heart” for Scrooged, a 1988 Bill Murray film. In 1989 Green worked with producer Arthur Baker writing and producing the international hit “The Message Is Love”. In 1991 he created the introductory theme song for the short-lived television series Good Sports featuring Ryan O’Neal and Farrah Fawcett.[7] In 1992, Green recorded again with Baker, the Fine Young Cannibals, and reunited with his former Memphis mix engineer (this time functioning as producer) Terry Manning, to release the album Don’t Look Back. His 1994 duet with country music singer Lyle Lovett blended country with R&B, garnering him his ninth Grammy, this time in a pop music category. Green’s first secular album in some time was Your Heart’s In Good Hands (1995), released to positive reviews but disappointing sales, the same year Green was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.[16]
By 2003 Green released a non-religious (secular) album entitled I Can’t Stop, his first collaboration with Willie Mitchell since 1985’s He is the Light. In March 2005 he issued Everything’s OK as the follow-up to I Can’t Stop. Green also collaborated with Mitchell on this secular CD.
In 2008, Green’s album Lay It Down marked his full return to chart success, reaching number nine on the Billboard hit album chart. It was his most successful album release in 35 years.
On August 26, 2004, Green was honored as a BMI Icon at the annual BMI Urban Awards. He joined an impressive list of previous Icon honorees including R&B legends James Brown, Chuck Berry, Little Richard and Bo Diddley[22]
In 2009, Al Green was inducted into the Michigan Rock and Roll Legends Hall of Fame. Green’s biggest hit, “Let’s Stay Together”, was voted a Legendary Michigan Song that same year.
^ Darden, Robert; Darden, Bob (2005). People Get Ready!: A New History of Black Gospel Music. Continuum International Publishing Group. pp. 296. ISBN0-826-41752-3.
^ Booth, Stanley (2000). Rythm Oil: A Journey Through the Music of the American South. Da Capo Press. pp. 150. ISBN0-306-80979-6.
^ abc Brunner, Rob (2000-10-20). “Scared Straight”. ew.com. Retrieved 2008-08-07.
^ Strong, Martin C.; Peel, John (2004). The Great Rock Discography: Complete Discographies Listing Every Track Recorded by More Than 1,200 Artists. Canongate U.S.. pp. 628. ISBN1-84195-615-5.
