An insightful commentary from Slate, which points out that the new Billboard digital download chart could be toppled with only 1,500 paid downloads. Who’s gonna mobilize their fan base to make that happen?
Taste Tribes
I’ve been talking a lot about tastemakers lately, and now here’s a REQUIRED READING article about the evolution of that concept into Taste Tribes.
Natalie Merchant Pre-Order E-Mail
Folks, here is a textbook way to do this. Build up your database, then send a simple pre-order announcement with a little “somethin’ extra” to make the register pop. I can’t wait to see how this works… Natalie Merchant –…
Hot Music Career: Process Server
Seriously, if the RIAA would put this much energy into helping its members recruit stellar A&R staffs and invest in real artist development, we wouldn’t be in this mess.
Digital Distribution from CDBaby
Derek from CDBaby has just launched digital distribution services, acting as a broker to iTunes and Rhapsody. The service fee ($40 + a 9% commission) is more than fair, given the opportunity cost of having to get on to these…
Free Call with Bob Baker – Saturday, July 19
This just in from our friend David Hooper: At 5pm Eastern, on Saturday the 19th, I’ll be spending some time with Bob Baker and asking him YOUR questions about street promotion, getting more fans to your show, selling more CDs,…
2nd Annual Ear To Da Streets Music Producers Conference
2nd Annual Ear To Da Streets Music Producers Conference September 17 – 19, 2003 Conference Highlights Include: The GRAMMY Producers’ Panel (Sponsored by the New York Chapter) September 18, 2003 – 1:00 p.m. The Graduate Center at CUNY (City University…
McKee Goes Diving
Discovered this great write-up of Maria McKee’s new project. I remember recording her for World Cafe when her last album came out, and how her handlers at the label had NO idea what they were gonna do to make the…
Does your show look like this?
All I need is the hot asian guy to get the “I”.
I Am (Not) Shelby Lynne
Grammy winner Shelby Lynne, who has a remarkable tale to tell about major label relations, is coming to town. Here’s the rub — her old label still owns her domain name (shelbylynne.com) and is re-directing it to IslandRecords.com. Understandable, but…
Where Should We Go Next?
With Host Your Own Concerts nearing completion (at last, at last!), I’d like to play a little game with you. What kinds of products and services could you use (as an independent and/or emerging musician) that you haven’t seen offered…
Place Your Bets…
Pearl Jam may not know what they’re going to do, now that their deal with Sony is up, but whatever it is will be a good example for a lot of us to follow…