John Mellencamp and Stevie Nicks are the latest aging music stars to publicly express their distaste for the way the internet has changed the music industry. Mellencamp equated the web’s effect on music to “the atomic bomb,” and stated that it “destroyed the music business.” Nicks has recently claimed that “The internet has destroyed rock,” and went on to wonder how burgeoning bands expect to make it in the current climate. And, of course, we all remember Prince’s July claim that “The internet is over,” in response to being asked about how he planned to distribute his new music. (In a twist of sweet irony, Prince’s claims became a viral hit on the web.) Read more »
Has the Internet Really “Destroyed the Music Business”?
August 25, 2010{ 97 Comments }The Thing About Ping, Apple’s New Social Network
September 2, 2010{ No Comments }
Apple announced yesterday that they were launching a new social network called Ping which is integrated into their somewhat ubiquitous iTunes player. Ping allows for music fans and artists to interact and share details about their listening habits. This is another great way for musicians to market themselves, share content, display concert info, and boost sales (artist profiles link to iTunes artist pages). Unfortunately, Apple is currently only allowing artists to start profiles by “invitation only,” though anyone with an iTunes account is welcome to start a user profile. CD Baby is currently investigating the possibility of getting indie artists included to this new network and we’ll keep you posted.
Features According to Apple’s Website:
- “Follow your favorite artists with a click and become part of their inner circle.”
- “Get in on the action with artist photos and status updates. Even add comments to join the conversation.” Read more »
Facebook Ads in Plain English
September 2, 2010{ No Comments }
Social networking enthusiasts can sometimes get carried away with lingo, codewords, and confusing data-talk. Thankfully, music marketer Chris Rockett has written a great article for GenYRockStars.com about why, when, and how you should setup Facebook ads.
Want to grow your fanbase? Increase your sales? Get more people to your shows? Simple. The answer is Facebook ads. Check out Chris Rockett’s article HERE.
Don’t Consign Your Albums to Permanent Consignment: A Cautionary Tale
September 1, 2010{ No Comments }
A cautionary tale about selling your band’s album on consignment in record stores.
Guilty as charged! Record stores up and down the West Coast have agreed to sell my albums on consignment. More often than not, out of laziness, busy-ness, forgetfulness, or fear, I have failed to follow through. I’ve failed to check back in with the clerks or store managers to see if any copies had sold. I’ve failed at music biz 101. I just left money on the table.
One of two things happened:
1. I sold CDs and didn’t collect my percentage from the record store.
2. No copies sold by the consignment agreement’s expiration date and the store discarded them. In this case, I should’ve arranged to retrieve my CDs. After all, they cost me money to record, duplicate, and promote and I could potentially sell those same copies down the road at a live show. But no. Instead, they’re still sitting on the shelves or broken in the dumpster out back. Read more »
The Downtime Doldrums: Maximize Your Impact Between Releases
September 1, 2010{ No Comments }
I recently read Michael St. James’ article in Performer Magazine called “Out of Sight, Out of Mind” that is the perfect dose of inspiration for artists who feel like they’re on autopilot during the downtime. Just because you’re “in between” releases doesn’t mean you get to go on hiatus or vacation. Audiences’ attention spans are getting shorter and shorter and you want to keep your name fresh. There are plenty of things you can be doing to keep your fans engaged, invested, and eagerly anticipating your next move. Check out Michael’s article HERE for some ideas. And below are some thoughts I wanted to add to the mix.
1. Don’t Just Play Shows. Throw a Blowout Event! – The press is less likely to give you coverage while you’re between releases. But go big! Get a marching band on stage with you. Cover your favorite album front to back, note for note. Do a live-band karaoke show where your fans get to come up and sing YOUR songs while you back them up. Get the idea? Do something out-of-the-ordinary that gets people talking. Read more »
Caught in a Creative Rut? Collaborate and Cross-Promote at the Same Time
September 1, 2010{ No Comments }
A few years back, I was feeling like my band’s (Chris Robley & the Fear of Heights) live performances were getting a bit stale, at least for me, if not the audience. Same lineup. Similar set lists. Same venues.
Then one day a couple of MCs from Portland’s favorite hip-hop collective Sandpeople (yes, they’re named for the Tusken Raiders in Star Wars!) asked if I’d be interested in collaborating with them on a track for an upcoming record. As someone who occasionally puts on the “producer hat,” I was excited by this possibility. But it also got me wondering what would happen if I could convince them to rap on a couple tunes of MINE at an upcoming show. We’d previously worked with a flute quartet and members of a jazz big band, but never a hip-hop group! Read more »
Music Biz Update: Change Is In the Air
August 30, 2010{ No Comments }
That headline is hardly shocking, huh? But I did want to share 3 interesting articles that I saw this week concerning big cultural changes and how they alter the exchange of ideas surrounding music and its commodification.
1. Blog It: How the Web Changed Music Criticism- This article by Corey Crossfield was recently featured on Hypebot.com and talks about how criticism has changed from the heyday of Rolling Stone in the late 60′s/early 70′s to the current age of Stereogum and Pitchfork.
2. Platinum Is So Passe: in iTunes era, singles count- This article by Joseph Plambeck originally appeared in the New York Times and looks at how the Billboard charts and album sales are no longer valid statistics with which to analyze the financial success, fame, or impact of today’s artists. Read more »
Vimeo: A Worthwhile Alternative to YouTube?
August 27, 2010{ 19 Comments }
When it comes to online video, YouTube is clearly king. If you’re trying to reach the most viewers with the least amount of effort, it’s the way to go. So while there’s no mystery as to where the majority of the web’s video is viewed, it is worth discussing the contrast between YouTube and the internet’s other major video site, Vimeo. We’ve seen a lot of bands using Vimeo as the exclusive site for their music videos, and we started to wonder why. What advantages does Vimeo have over YouTube?
Less Clutter. Vimeo is strict about copyrighted content not making its way onto their site, and the lack of recycled clips makes for a much more streamlined viewing experience.
Cleaner Appearance. One of the big things you’ll notice initially about Vimeo is that the player is much different than YouTube’s. The controls fall away after you’re done using them, and just as quickly reappear when they’re needed again.
Great Customization Options. Vimeo’s embed code generator is highly tweakable, letting you adjust how much accompanying text and other content appears along with the video once it’s embedded on another site. You can also upload a photo to use as the preview image, so you’re not stuck having to choose between screen caps that aren’t always ideal.
Authenticity and Recording Technology
August 25, 2010{ 2 Comments }
Two interesting articles caught our attention this week that got all the recording geeks at CD Baby talking. The first is Neil McCormick’s analysis for Telegraph of auto-tune and whether its influence on pop music has been constructive or limiting. Check it out HERE. All you Bob Dylan fans, enjoy!
The second article is called “10 Recording Bloopers That Made the Album” from HomeTracked.com. This article lists a number of technical/engineering and performance goofs in popular songs. Squeaky bass pedals. Dropped tambourines. Bad punch-ins. Tape speed wobble. Etc. Read more »
Opportunity Knocks & Wants You To Play In Front of 100,000 People (and it all started with our $5 bin!)
August 25, 2010{ 7 Comments }
Most times, good things happen in strange ways. Years ago, LA-based CD Baby artist James McKenna had placed one of his albums in CD Baby’s $5 Sales Bin. Australian football commentator Dennis Cometti discovered the music online and purchased James’ CD. Here is what followed, in Dennis’ words:
“I really liked it, and after a couple of months of listening I emailed and told him so. About 6 months later I was in LA with my family and gave him a ring. We caught up, one thing led to another and I agreed to finance an album for him. The album was called ‘I Am’. Read more »