DVD Jukebox - The Present Day Interpretation Of A Classic

A DVD jukebox is a very novel idea and there are a few companies that have produced a player which can player music videos. The only problem that these companies foresee is the copyright laws which, at times, prevent public viewing. However, those that want a DVD jukebox are able to procure one fairly easily. Primarily for viewing DVD’s in the privacy of your own home, these machines are sometimes used for marketing. In Japan, it is not uncommon to enter a large office building and find a type of DVD jukebox greeting you in the lobby. Selecting the name of a company or office, one presses the button, and a DVD plays explaining the company and the floor it is located on.
 
 The “Get it On” DVD jukebox player from Amazon Japan, plays an array of hit music videos from the 1970s. Bands like Roxy Music, T-Rex, Mungo Jerry and Bachman & Turner Overdrive. Purchasers are able to sit back and watch these blasts for the past, sing the songs that made them what many still are today – famous. One DVD has a very young Elton John singing, for the first time live in Madison Square Garden, “Your Song” – this song would go on to be his signature tune at the beginning of most of his concerts. This particular jukebox is retailing for an incredible low price of only $20.00 – 1970s music is not as popular in Japan as it still is in the west.

 Although there are still a few hurdles to jump before these jukeboxes are seen in bars and other places, playing movies etc, I believe the playing of music DVD is gaining in popularity. It appears the music industry, here in Japan at least, is embracing this seemingly newfound technology and manipulating it for its own ends. There are even various bands that make a music video only to soon distribute it on the Internet or allow it to be played on a DVD jukebox. I personally look forward to the day when on a rainy afternoon, I can sit in a bar, sip beers and scroll through the menu of recent movies that available to watch on some sort of visual jukebox. I’m confident it will happen, Hollywood will succumb to the will of the masses and movies will be able to be viewed easily. But for now, the DVD jukebox is limited to the viewing of music DVDs.