"Downloading music for free helps unheard musicians"
Copyright 2008 by John Durant

Downloading music for free can help aspiring unheard artists get much needed publicity, but only if you're downloading music that the artist has authorized for that purpose. Downloading free unauthorized copies of music that the artist only offers for sale is stealing, no matter how you want to justify it.

Most recording artists I know in this business aren't multi-millionaires. The cold hard reality is the vast majority of them have a hard time paying their bills just like anyone else. They work day jobs to make ends meet, and dream about the day when they might be able to work full time in the music business. Don't assume that all recording artists are consumed with greed, because most would be happy just to make enough money to consistently pay their bills.

People seem to think that by stealing an artists work they're somehow doing the artist a great favor by helping them to get noticed. If people were that sincere about promoting an artist they really liked, they'd join an artists fan club or Online Street Team. Most artists have MySpace Music accounts or websites where you can easily contact them, so why not just ask the artist first before you illegally download their songs, and let the artist make the decision whether or not to offer free copies to you for promotional purposes?

The answer to that question is simple; because people who download music illegally are just being selfish, and they really don't care about the artists at all. They just want to fill their Ipods and hard drives with great new music at someone else's expense, even though they'd be the first to cry to the police if someone was stealing from them. I think most people would be upset if I siphoned ten gallons of gas out of their car without their permission for "promotional purposes" so I could get to my next gig.

Downloading AUTHORIZED music for free can help unheard musicians to get noticed, and artists offer these free downloads at great expense to themselves. Most professional productions cost thousands of dollars; and even if an artist is signed to a major label, they usually have to pick up these costs themselves. The labels deduct these production and promotion costs from artists royalties and advances, and many artists end up walking away with very little or nothing, even if their album has a hit single.

As an independent artist, I don't mind offering my music to the public free of charge for promotional purposes, but I prefer to make the decision whether or not to give my property away for free.

"Great ways to promote your band"
Copyright 2007 by John Durant

Promotion is the key to the success or failure of any aspiring artist or band. Talent can get you noticed, but promotion is what sells CD's, digital downloads, and concert tickets. All you have to do is watch a few episodes of "American Idol" to see that even the "marginally talented" can be successful if exposed to a large audience.

Hiring a professional promoter or signing with a talent agency can really help jump-start your career. I suggest this route if you've already recorded and released a CD, and if you're ready to perform live on a regular basis. Most reputable promoters and agents work on a percentage, and you don't have to pay them up-front for their services. There are also companies who sell "promotion packages" for aspiring indie artists. It's important that you research these companies thoroughly before considering the use of their services. Always look at a promoter's total track record, not just the one or two "big successes" they've had. If a promoter only has one success out of one hundred, that adds up to a one percent success rate, and is probably not worth your time and trouble.

What if you're a recording artist or band trying to build a fan base on your own? How do you get exposure to the largest audience on a reasonable budget? Internet promotion is the most effective tool a band can use to get the "buzz" started. The first and most affordable way to promote yourself is to open a MySpace Music account. It's free of charge, and the format allows you to upload four songs to showcase your talent. You can also upload photos and videos of your band, which can really help you fine-tune and test market your image. MySpace Music gives you all the necessary tools to create a network of both fans and music industry contacts. You can build your fan base by "adding friends", and then keep them all informed of your performance schedule and other band info by using the "post bulletin" feature. This feature sends a message to all of your current "friends" simultaneously. They also provide a section that allows visitors to click on a link to your band's own website, which can help drive web traffic in your direction in an affordable way.

Artists now have the option to sell digital downloads directly on their MySpace Music site through the SNOCAP digital download service. You have to sign a contract to use this service, but you don't have to give up the rights to your music. SNOCAP receives a share of the proceeds from each download, which is currently forty-five cents per download. The artist decides how much profit they need to make above that forty-five cents. Most digital downloads are retailing for about ninety-nine cents, so the artist would be paid fifty-five cents per download. I just got an email yesterday that announced SNOCAP will be reducing it's share by six cents starting January 21st, which means more profit for the artist! MySpace Music combined with SNOCAP is an excellent way for Indie artists to enjoy affordable promotion and distribution of their original music worldwide.

WORD OF WARNING: I strongly urge any artist considering the SNOCAP service to review the contract in depth, because it is a legal binding contract that needs to be taken seriously. You may even consider having an attorney examine the agreement, so that you fully understand your legal obligations and liabilities before signing the contract. I also recommend that you follow this procedure with any online service that promotes or sells your original music. I've seen some bad contracts that basically give your music away for free, and there's very little you can do about it once you've signed.

Starting a band website is also necessary for Internet promotion. Your official website is your "home base" for artist promotion and merchandising. As I said previously, linking this site to your MySpace Music site can help drive web traffic in your direction. I designed my own site recently, and I've already had many visitors directed from the MySpace Music band website link. The website cost me less than $100(US)to publish, and is very inexpensive to maintain. I'm able to showcase a wider variety of music, and visitors also have access to my SNOCAP digital download store.

Having your own website also provides more flexibility for site design and content. You can compile a mailing list, publish press releases, and include many other interesting features to keep your fans coming back for more. Also try exchanging web links with other artists, companies, and organizations to help support your networking efforts. Your website is a wise investment of both time and money that can be integrated into other promotional efforts when you're ready to take the next step.

Promotion is the key to success in the music industry. The competion for potential fans is hotter than ever, and the artist with the best promotional strategy usually wins! If you're an artist on the verge of stardom, or a band in the garage with big dreams and a small pocket book, promotion is one aspect of this business you just can't ignore. Creating great music is a good start, but the music business is all about business!

"How to find reliable band members"
Copyright 2007 by John Durant

It's Saturday night, a little after ten 'o clock at the Boogie Blues Bar, and your long-haired, leather-clad, heavily-tattooed lead guitarist comes stumbling in drunk with guitar in one hand, groupie in the other; he offers no explanation of why he couldn't make sound check by nine-thirty, and he really couldn't care less that the first set should have started ten minutes ago. The club manager is going crazy and the natives are restless; they've paid their cover charge, and they want music NOW!

There are ways to avoid this scenario and a lot of unnecessary headaches. There's nothing worse than having to accommodate band members who have massive egos combined with the reliability of a three year old. Finding a band member is almost like searching for a prospective marriage partner. Band members spend a lot of time together, so you need to find people who make themselves easy to work with. Touring band members have to live day after day in close quarters on a tour bus without killing each other. Even exceptionally talented people who cause conflicts just aren't worth the trouble.

It's hard to find folks that have the willingness to make compromises for the sake of the whole band. Bad habits are hard to break, and usually a lot of time has been invested before a band decides to unload a delinquent band member. I'd like to say that the more money a band makes, the more serious the band members will probably be, but that's really not the case at all. There are the folks that take their career seriously, and there are those who think the world owes them a living because they're so gifted. Supply and demand usually dictates how much nonsense other band members will tolerate to keep a band together.

Don't just judge a potential band mate by their skill level; get to know them on a more personal basis before getting into business with them. Don't be afraid to ask questions about possible substance abuse problems that could affect their performance and reliability. Talk to some of their previous band mates about possible issues which could be detrimental to your band. Personality clashes can kill even the most talented and successful bands.

You may want to consider drawing up contracts for band members so that your band isn't just a stepping stone for something better. There's nothing worse than putting in months of rehearsal and performance to tighten up the band, just to have one of your key members jump ship for greener pastures. If everyone is serious about working toward the same goals, then signing a binding contract shouldn't be a problem. Agents and labels make you sign contracts, so you need to get used to the idea anyway.

These are only a few tips about finding reliable band members, but sometimes experience is the best teacher when putting together and maintaining a successful band. Being part of a band can be a wonderful and rewarding experience if you're working with the right people. Good luck!

"The future of the music industry"
 Copyright 2007 by John Durant

The future of the music industry is a constant subject of debate among many of us who are trying to make a living in this business. Both major labels and independents are overhauling traditional business strategies to stay competitive in an industry that is changing by the day. A boom of Internet music sales and marketing has permanently affected the way record labels do business.

For many years, major labels have had a stranglehold on the industry, and have controlled most of the star-making machinery that propel artists to the top of the charts. They've acted as gatekeepers, allowing only a select few pass through to taste success. I firmly believe the face of this industry will dramatically change over the next few years.

Affordable recording technology has significantly leveled the playing field, allowing independent artists to produce music that can compete with most major label releases. Frustrated artists that have been rejected by major labels have decided to take matters into their own hands by creating their own recording, publishing and distribution companies. They efficiently utilize the Internet for networking, promotion and direct sales. Artists retaining full ownership of their songs can now keep a much larger share of their mechanical and performance royalties.

The one major cloud on the horizon that effects the entire music industry is the scourge of music piracy and file sharing. This practice has definitely ruined the careers of many promising artists, both signed and unsigned. Copy protection technology has come a long way, but it's still relatively easy to copy digital media and pass it on to others without any fear of facing serious legal consequences. It's heartbreaking to see talented new artists with a couple of major hits fall quickly into obscurity because of poor sales due to illegal file sharing.

I think the future of the music industry is generally bright, and will be accessible to more artists than ever. My vision of the new music industry combines the power and influence of the major labels with the creative entrepreneurial energy of successful independents. The competition will be fierce as usual, but competition can inspire both excellence and quality. Obscure artists can actually make a living being obscure, independents can succeed, and the major labels will continue raking in the bucks like they always have. The big winners will be music fans all over the world, who will enjoy a wider variety of great music during the greatest musical Renaissance in history!