There’s an interesting new trend in spam protection that impacts the results you could be getting from your e-newsletters. I often encounter bands that, desperate for attention, add folks to their mailing lists without permission. Ideological issues aside, there’s a…
Who’s disrupting the market in your hometown?
In the presentation I give at conferences and seminars about hosting house concerts, I note that many music lovers (especially folks who are old enough to own their own homes) are getting tired of shabby rock clubs. Too often, I…
Are you in a music supervisor’s jukebox?
Wired and some other publications are getting around to covering a trend we’ve known about for years. Companies like Pump Audio make blanket licensing deals with independent musicians, then including pre-licensed works in a catalog for use by directors and…
back from mini-hiatus
…been totally absorbed on a client’s recording project for the past few days. If you’ve sent me messages or left me voice mail, I’m back on the case.
Grey’s Anatomy music supervisor blogs her decision-making process.
More and more of our clients and members ask me how to get songs placed in television or film. Because directors and music supervisors need songs that “fit” a scene or a series, they’re not so concerned about whether an…
The Arctic Monkeys sell out a 2,000 seat arena — with only one EP.
I have been harping for what seems like years about the fact that you do not need to sink piles of cash into studio recordings before growing your audience. Here’s new proof. With only one “official” single on the market,…
If You’re Using a Free Web Host for Your Band’s Website, Your Fans Won’t Find You
I’ve written before about the phenomenon of bands relying solely on a MySpace or a Soundclick website to make information accessible to their fans. Today, there’s more news to discourage you from relying on free hosting sites. Specifically, if you’re…
Rob Thomas Remembers the Struggle
Even a record that goes on to sell ten million units (like the Matchbox 20 major label debut) can start out by selling only 600 copies. It takes time and patience, as Thomas attests. Track these topics:
Return of the Monster Music Marketing Conference Call!
Almost two years ago, David Hooper and I hosted a conference call where we vowed not to shut up until we answered everyone’s questions. So, we went for almost SEVEN HOURS. You can see some of the callers’ comments here.…
Ben Gibbard Interview
Here’s a great interview with Ben Gibbard from Death Cab for Cutie that addresses the only way you should consider getting signed by a major label — once you’ve got enough audience to know that you’ll make good on the…
Some good ink for GarageBand.com
Right now, the latest iteration of GarageBand.com is a great way to connect with other musicians, but very few members of your perfect audience use it. That’s because so few American audience members actively seek out new music on their…
When you’re dropped from this label, you’re REALLY dropped.
The Inc. (formerly Murder, Inc.) fights allegations of money laundering, shady accounting, hidden files… and one guy that was found in a vacant lot “embedded with nails.” We knew that keeping margins high in the record label business was tough,…