Tony Brooke, MLIS

Tony Brooke, MLIS

San Francisco, California, United States
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About

Tony is a music industry executive with broad experience in product management, technical…

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Education

  • San Jose State University Graphic

    San Jose State University

    -

    MLIS, 2014. Credits: 43.
    Concentrated on media asset management and audiovisual metadata. Master's research included music industry descriptive metadata, media asset management implementation, rights management, globally unique persistent identifiers, open source development, and DDEX. Master's research, available upon request: "Descriptive Metadata in the Music Industry: Why It Is Broken and How To Fix It" (Journal of Digital Media Management, 2014), "An Evaluation of the DDEX Metadata…

    MLIS, 2014. Credits: 43.
    Concentrated on media asset management and audiovisual metadata. Master's research included music industry descriptive metadata, media asset management implementation, rights management, globally unique persistent identifiers, open source development, and DDEX. Master's research, available upon request: "Descriptive Metadata in the Music Industry: Why It Is Broken and How To Fix It" (Journal of Digital Media Management, 2014), "An Evaluation of the DDEX Metadata Standards" (2013), "Persistent Identifiers" (2014), "Descriptive Metadata in Music: A Literature Review" (2013), Open Source Integrated Library Systems" (SLIS Student Research Journal, 2013), "Audio Format Guide: A Pathfinder" (2012), "Revenue Ideas for Moving Image Archives: A Bibliography" (2012).

  • Credits: 5. Post-graduate courses in Mass Communications and Journalism.

  • Credits: 19. (f.k.a. California Recording Institute)

  • Credits: 7. Audio Engineering courses in the Broadcast and Electronic Communication Arts department (BECA).

  • Credits: 125. Concert producer, DJ, WJRH-FM, won Battle of Bands, The Vid, Delta Upsilon.

  • Activities and Societies: Program Director and Officer of WSPS-FM radio station.

Volunteer Experience

  • The Recording Academy Graphic

    Board Member, San Francisco Chapter

    The Recording Academy

    - 9 years

    Arts and Culture

    Elected five times to serve on the Board of Governors of the San Francisco Chapter of the premier music creator membership organization (2014-16, 16-17, 19-21, 21-22, 22-23). Actively advised regional activities to support the careers of artists, producers, and engineers. Chair of the chapter’s Producers & Engineers Wing Committee and member of the national Producers & Engineers Wing Advisory Council (2019-21). The Recording Academy is popularly known for The GRAMMY awards.

Publications

  • Descriptive Metadata in the Music Industry: Why It Is Broken and How To Fix It

    Journal of Digital Media Management

    This 67-page report examines an ongoing problem with descriptive metadata in the music industry. Stakeholders agree that there is a problem with descriptive metadata (popularly known as credits or liner notes). But consensus has not been reached regarding how to fix it. The report first covers the issue’s background, showing evidence that descriptive metadata in digital downloads today is no more detailed than on audio cylinders of 1899. Then it examines two keystones to a solution: a…

    This 67-page report examines an ongoing problem with descriptive metadata in the music industry. Stakeholders agree that there is a problem with descriptive metadata (popularly known as credits or liner notes). But consensus has not been reached regarding how to fix it. The report first covers the issue’s background, showing evidence that descriptive metadata in digital downloads today is no more detailed than on audio cylinders of 1899. Then it examines two keystones to a solution: a standardized descriptive metadata schema, and a Globally Unique Abstracted Persistent Identifier (GUAPI). While previous discussions of this topic have concentrated on authority, this report will show that a standardized schema is the first step to a solution.

    First, the landscape of music descriptive metadata silos is detailed and the proprietary and open systems are compared. Next, persistent identifiers are examined to gauge their suitability as a GUAPI. A study is proposed to quantify richer metadata’s ability to increase music sales. Potential arguments against richer metadata are also examined.

    Finally, a proposal is made that brings together the component issues. A standardized schema is proposed by combining two current schemata, CCD (Content Creator Data) and MusicBrainz. A method of achieving a GUAPI is suggested by increasing the coordination of current identifiers. By creating a fully abstracted model built upon these components, digital downloads would be more easily enriched with metadata. Benefits would flow to all parts of the ecosystem, including business, technical, creative, and consumer. Business would be enhanced through a more powerful platform for innovation and a richer consumer experience. Technical advances would be fostered. The creative community would be properly acknowledged, and consumers would gain a deeper knowledge of the art they are supporting.

    See publication

  • Open Source Integrated Library Systems

    SLIS Student Research Journal

    One of the most fundamental decisions a library makes is choosing an integrated library system, or ILS. A public library can remove unwanted outside influence and save money by switching their ILS to free and open source software, or FOSS. This article is an examination of the progress made by FOSS ILSs to become not only contenders against proprietary systems, but also an appropriate choice for financial, functional, and philosophical reasons. Included is a timeline of published evaluations…

    One of the most fundamental decisions a library makes is choosing an integrated library system, or ILS. A public library can remove unwanted outside influence and save money by switching their ILS to free and open source software, or FOSS. This article is an examination of the progress made by FOSS ILSs to become not only contenders against proprietary systems, but also an appropriate choice for financial, functional, and philosophical reasons. Included is a timeline of published evaluations, the milestone of 14% adoption, a summary of the current landscape, and example implementation cases. A functional analysis shows why a public library can now safely make the switch. A philosophical analysis shows why they should do so. Finally, a proposal is made to “Buy Back America’s Libraries," and return ownership of the keystone of our public information infrastructure to the people.

    See publication

Courses

  • Advanced Topics in Library and Information Science (e-Portfolio)

    289

  • Archivists' Toolkit Training (from Northwest Digital Archives and the California Digital Library)

    -

  • Cataloging and Classification

    248

  • Digital Asset Management (Seminar in Library Management)

    282

  • Film and Media Collections (Resources and Information Services in Professions and Disciplines)

    220

  • Information Organizations and Management

    204

  • Information Retrieval

    202

  • Information and Society

    200

  • Metadata (Seminar in Contemporary Issues)

    281

  • Mobile Devices - Services and Applications (Seminar in Information Science)

    287

  • Online Social Networking: Technology and Tools

    203

  • Persistent Identifiers (Special Study)

    298

  • Preservation Management: Analog and Digital Preservation

    259

  • Reference and Information Services

    210

  • Research Methods in Library and Information Science: Action Research

    285

  • The Media Asset Management Marketplace (Special Study)

    298

Projects

  • Clients of Silent Way

    - Present

    Tony Brooke is proud to have engineered recordings for over five hundred clients. Explore the stories and technology behind the projects at this portfolio.

    See project

  • Discography of Tony Brooke

    - Present

    Tony is proud to have worked on over 110 releases, including two Grammy-nominated albums. Visit the Discography to explore audio, video, and production narratives.

    See project

  • Music Biz Conference Panel Moderator

    -

    Moderated panel titled "Interoperability: Less Talk, More Action" at annual Music Business Association conference in Nashville, as part of the "Metadata Summit" track. Covered the current data exchange landscape and what can be done to promote interoperability between parties in the delivery chain.

    See project

  • PotLuck Conference Keynote Panelist

    -

    Panelist on the keynote panel "Why Metadata Matters," on best data practices; technical aspects of release formats; standards; how organizations utilize data; laws; and more.

    Other creators
    See project

  • SF MusicTech Summit Panelist

    -

    Moderated the panel "MusicBrainz, Richer Metadata, and Solving the Credits Problem to Boost Sales."

    Other creators
    • Robert Kaye
    See project

  • Information Science Research Portfolio

    -

    Portfolio of master's research, articles, white papers, and technical guides.

    See project

  • SF MusicTech Summit Panelist

    -

    Moderated the panel "The Descriptive Metadata Problem: Where We Are Now and What The Standards Are Bringing," an open community conversation to discuss the latest developments. Covered persistent unique IDs, DDEX, best practices, and abstracted models of descriptive metadata.

    Other creators
    See project

  • Bandwidth Conference Panelist

    -

    Panelist for the "Bandwidth Conference." The panel was called "Your Band's Website," about the technical decisions behind online promotion. It was held at at the Apple Store in San Francisco.

    Other creators
    See project

Honors & Awards

  • Shirley Hopkinson Award in the Organization of Information

    San Jose State University School of Library and Information Science

    Awarded annually to the student who, in the opinion of the faculty, exhibits the most outstanding knowledge and ability in the field of the organization of information. The recipient must have completed a minimum of three graduate courses in classification, cataloguing, information retrieval and/or metadata with high academic achievement and exceptional professional promise. (One of six awards given to the 400-600 master's program graduates.)

  • Recorded Grammy nominated Richard Thompson album "Dream Attic"

    The Grammys

    2010 Grammy Nominee for Best Contemporary Folk Album

  • Recorded Grammy nominated Ramblin' Jack Elliott album "I Stand Alone"

    The Grammys

    2006 Grammy Nominee for Best Traditional Folk Album

Organizations

  • DDEX

    -

    - Present

    The Digital Data Exchange (DDEX) is a consortium of leading media companies, music licensing organizations, digital service providers and technical intermediaries. DDEX builds digital supply chain metadata standards.

  • The Recording Academy

    Voting Member

    - Present

    Elected five times to serve on the Board of Governors of the San Francisco Chapter of the premier music creator membership organization (2014-16, 2016-17, 2019-21, 2021-22, 2022-23). Actively advised regional activities to support the careers of artists, producers, and engineers. Chair of the chapter’s Producers & Engineers Wing Committee (2019-21) and member of the national P&E Advisory Council.

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