Merrell Fankhauser’s “The Impact” Signature Guitars by Rock Creek
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Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Thursday, August 23, 2007
USA Songwriting Competition - Applications Do by November 9th
***************************************************************** USA SONGWRITING COMPETITION http://www.songwriting.net ***************************************************************** ***IAMA (International Acoustic Music Awards) ACCEPTING ENTRIES The 4th Annual IAMA (International Acoustic Music Awards) is now accepting entries. IAMA promotes excellence in Acoustic Music Performance and Artistry. Acoustic artists in various genres can gain exciting radio and web exposure through this competition. Participating sponsors include D'Addario Strings, New Music Weekly, Loggins Promotion, Airplay Only, Sonicbids.com, Acoustic Cafe Radio Show and XM Satellite Radio. IAMA is open to all independent artists and labels. Unlike other music industry competitions, IAMA focuses on developing new markets for Acoustic artists, labels and with or without CD releases. Past year's winners include Fertitta and McClintock, Jen Foster, Millish, David Francey, Zane Williams, Suzanne Teng, Dave Potts, Mother Jane, Kate & Kacey Coppola and more. Win prizes in 8 different categories: Folk/Americana/Roots, AAA/Alternative, Instrumental, Open, Bluegrass, Best Male Artist, Best Female Artist, Best Group/Duo. There will also be an Overall Grand Prize winner awarded to the top winner worth over US$11,000, which includes radio promotion to over 250 radio stations in US and Canada. Winning songs will be heard on radio! Winners and runner-ups will be featured on our CD compilation. Also, we feature up to 10 different artists get featured and promoted on IAMA website every month, which provides a review, ratings, CD information and more. Judging is based on excellence in music performance, songwriting/composition/song choice, Music Production and originality. (Please note that IAMA is a different competition from USA Songwriting Competition). All entries must be postmarked by November 9 or earlier. Ways to enter: ** For the regular entry form, please go to: http://www.inacoustic.com/entryform.html ** For online entries (powered by Sonicbids.com), please go to: http://www.sonicbids.com/iama2007 ===[ Sponsored in part by IBANEZ Guitars ]======================== Ibanez Acoustic Guitars... Diversity in Size, Sound, and Style. Ibanez has over 75 different acoustic guitar models in 12 very different body shapes to help you FIND YOUR VOICE. http://www.ibanez.com/acoustics/ ================================================================== PAST WINNERS & FINALISTS' UPDATES *Eric Roberts (1st Prize Winner (Open/AOG Category) of the 3rd Annual IAMA (International Acoustic Music Awards) has his song "Cella's Song" on heavy rotation on Sirius Channel 73. *Michele Vice-Maslin (2001 to 2003 USA Songwriting Competition 1st Prize Winner, 2004 to 2006 Finalist) had past hits and records with Nick Carter (Help Me, a Billboard Top 40 hit ), Eden’s Crush and American Idol finalist LaToya London. Her current projects include alt/rock artist Juliet Simms (Epic Records), Universal Classics Crossover artist Migg Ayesa (from ROCKSTAR INXS), WBS rock recording artist LALAINE, ,r&b/alt/pop I.D.(Sony BMG), American Idol Heartthrob & Brian McKnight protegee Ace Young and American Idol judge Randy Jackson’s new r&b girl group Hard Candy. Michele also holds the record of having a song in the finals for the past 8 consecutive years. She also tied the record of having the most songs in the finals in the 2006 competition with Barry Chung (Hong Kong). *Shirley Eikhard (2002 First Prize winner, Jazz & 2006 Finalist) had her hit song "Something to Talk About" performed by American Idol's most talked about star this season Sanjaya Malakar on 4/17/2007 and 4/18/2007. Her song was recorded by Bonnie Raitt and became Bonnie's biggest hit to date, receiving over 4 million airplays in USA alone. "Something To Talk About" won a Grammy Award in 1992, for Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female for Bonnie Raitt. Fantasia Barrino also performed the same song on season 3 on American Idol. Besides Bonnie Raitt, Shirley Eikhard's songs has been recorded by big name artists such as Cher, Emmylou Harris and Alannah Myles. *Ari Hest (2002 Honorable Mention Winner) has his new album released by Columbia Records and his songs have been receiving extensive radio airplay throughout US. He performed "live" on Sirius radio on 5/11/07 and his songs received airplay on Acoustic Cafe. ~Were you a past winner or finalist of the USA Songwriting Competition and have some interesting news on yourself? If so, please e-mail us at: info@songwriting.net ===[Sponsored in part by Loggins Promotion]================= LOGGINS PROMOTION is the leading radio promotion and marketing firm providing services to all genres of music. We operate at the highest level of efficiency and integrity, so that you receive maximum promotion, exposure, and attention. For further info: 888-325-2901 or email: promo@logginspromotion.com www.logginspromotion.com ================================================================== ** COMPILATION CD [sponsored by WWW.SUPERDUPS.COM] "NEW MUSIC NOW Vol 4" - THE USA SONGWRITING COMPETITION COMPILATION CD sponsored by SUPERDUPS.COM. USA Songwriting Competition's CD Compilation is out! It includes the top winners such as Vikki Simpson, The Waifs, Victoria Banks, Kimberly Bass, Jordan Zevon and more. Vol 1, 2 and 3 have been released to the music industry representatives. Watch out for the details of the CD in next month's email newsletter. http://www.cafepress.com/usasong ** COOL MERCHANDISE You can now purchase our cool USA Songwriting Competition T-shirts, Hats & other stuff online: http://www.cafepress.com/usasong ** CD RECYCLING INFORMATION Did you know each year, billions of CDs and DVDs are manufactured, while millions of these discs end up in landfills and incinerators? This is harmful to our environment. If you use, sell, promote, distribute, or manufacture compact discs, it is important to know how and where to recycle them. Compact Discs, when recycled properly, will stop unnecessary pollution, conserve natural resources, and help slow global warming. Learn how at: www.cdrecyclingcenter.org ===[Sponsored in part by New Music Weekly]====================== NEW MUSIC WEEKLY covers the radio and music industry within its weekly magazine, website, NMW-mail and fax services. NMW, built by radio stations who "break" the hits first, has become the standard for tracking radio airplay nationwide. For information visit: www.newmusicweekly.com or call 310-325-9997 ================================================================== *** Featured Performing Artists Spotlight Featured Artists of the Month are: ~Adrianne (Finalist, AAA/Alternative 3rd Annual IAMA & Grand Prize Winner 1999 USASC) ~Jeff Talmadge (Double Finalist, Folk, 3rd Annual IAMA) ~Barbara Gallagher (Finalist, Instrumental, 3rd Annual IAMA) For more details of the artists, please visit: http://www.inacoustic.com/artists2.html ===[Sponsored in part by D'Addario]============================== From the D'Addario-pioneered phosphor bronze acoustic strings to the world-famous XL electric strings, D'Addario has your instrumentscovered. Quality, consistency, and innovation make "The Player's Choice." ================================================================== *** MUSIC CONFERENCES, FESTIVALS & WORKSHOPS, ETC American Idol Auditions - American Idol Season 7 auditions is set to begin in San Diego, CA, on Monday, July 30, at Qualcomm Stadium and other cities such as: Dallas, TX (Monday, Aug. 6 at Texas Stadium), Omaha, NE (Friday, Aug. 10 at Qwest Center), Atlanta, GA (Tuesday, Aug. 14 at Georgia Dome), Charleston, SC (Saturday, Aug. 18 at North Charleston Coliseum), Miami, FL (Wednesday, Aug. 22 at AmericanAirlines Arena), Philadelphia, PA (Monday, Aug. 27 at Wachovia Center). For details, see: http://www.americanidol.com/ Summer NAMM Show (Music Trade show): July 27–29, 2007 (Austin, TX) http://www.summernamm.com/ Paul Reisler¹s Songcamps 2007 July 27- August 1, Hollyhock Songwriting Workshop€ Cortes Island, BC http://www.hollyhock.bc.ca August 13-16, Rocky Mtn. Folks Song School € Lyons, CO http://www.bluegrass.com POPKOMM Music Conference & Festival, September 19 - 21, 2007, Berlin, Germany http://www.popkomm.com ===[Sponsored in part by Loggins Promotion]================= LOGGINS PROMOTION is the leading radio promotion and marketing firm providing services to all genres of music. We operate at the highest level of efficiency and integrity, so that you receive maximum promotion, exposure, and attention. For further info: 888-325-2901 or email: promo@logginspromotion.com www.logginspromotion.com ================================================================== *RADIO STATIONS THAT WILL PLAY YOUR MATERIAL: XM Radio - XMU/The R.A.D.A.R. Report, airing Thursday 9pm USA eastern time http://www.radiounsigned.com Indie911 Radio & Podcast http://www.indie911.com WNCW - Isothermal College PO Box 804, Spindale, NC 28160 PH: 828-287-8000 x349 FX: 828-287-8012 Martin Anderson marting@wncw.org www.wncw.org We're always looking for new Americana, Rock, Singer/Songwriter and World music to play. WOJB - Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwa College 13386 W. Trepania Rd. Hayward, WI 54843 PH: 715-634-2100 FX: 715-634-4070 Nicky Kellar programdirector@wojb.org www.wojb.org We're one of the most diverse and popular stations in Wisconsin. WCH Radio GW Carver House, 3035 Bell Ave. St. Louis, MO 63106 PH: 314-718-7143 FX: 270-682-9474 John ODay wchradio1@lycos.com www.wchradio.com Features independent artists, both signed and unsigned from around the world. WCH Radio is sister station to The Wave, and is part of the Next Step Promotions Group. Our website is rich in content relative to the music industry. KRCK-FM 97.7 73-733 Fred Waring Dr. #201, Palm Desert, CA 92260 PH: 760-341-0123 FX: 760-341-7455 The Big KC kc@krck.com http://www.krck.com KRCK supports local talent and encourages independent artists. Rock & Alternative format. WRHO FM Hartwick College, 1 Hartwick Dr. Oneonta, NY, 13820O PH: 607-431-4555 FX: 607-431-4064 Alex Cameron wrho@hartwick.edu http://users.hartwick.edu/wrho Please send us your promo CDs. We play all genres of music, however we tend to lack in the Folk/Country/Jazz/Blues/ Classical/Spoken Word genres - so more of those genres would be greatly appreciated! WGRX FM 4414 Lafayette Blvd. Ste #100, Fredericksburg, VA 22408 PH: 540-891-9696 FX: 540-891-1656 Stephanie Taylor staylor@thunder1045.com http://www.thunder1045.com A mainstream Country station that mixes in Americana and Southern Rock. We air a two hour Americana/Bluegrass/Texas Country show on Sunday nights that incorporates independent artists. *The list of radio stations are brought to you by INDIE BIBLE. You can find the Indie Bible in these stores: Borders Books & Music, Barnes & Noble, Sam Ash, Virgin Records, Tower Records and Mars Music. All USA Songwriting Competition subscribers can get the $5 discounted Indie Bible. Go to: http://www.indiebible.com/usasong ===[ REFER A MUSICIAN FRIEND TO US ]============================== Tell a musician or songwriter to sign up for this FREE informative e-mail newsletter of USA Songwriting Competition with chock full of opportunities for the musician or songwriter, please e-mail them on where to sign-up: http://www.songwriting.net/join.html ================================================================== MUSIC RESOURCES *ASCAP http://www.ASCAP.com *Honc™ Australia - With the scarcity of legally available MP3’s, Honc™ aims is to match quality musicians with a music hungry public keen to adopt the new MP3 technology whilst staying within the bounds of the law. Stop by and create a free account. Upload your music to Honc™ and it will then be available for public download. http://www.honc.biz *Indiefi.com Custom Printing - T-shirts, Buttons, Stickers, Posters, Post Cards & More - High Quality Printing - Amazingly Low Prices - No Setup Fees - 100 Color T-shirts Only $390! http://www.Indiefi.com *AirplayOnly.com - available to Program Directors, Music Directors, Syndicate Radio, and Internet radio. Radio airplay is tracking using the STS technology. AirplayOnly is the music industry’s answer for fast, secure music delivery, enabling registered industry professionals, records labels, artist/bands to get their promotional music directly to radio as broadcast quality digital files. Airplay Only is a complimentary service to radio stations from a trusted name in radio airplay tracking...STS http://AirplayOnly.com *New Music Weekly http://www.newmusicweekly.com *Loggins Radio Promotion http://www.logginspromotion.com *Hal Leonard http://www.halleonard.com *Ibanez http://www.ibanez.com *Sony http://www.sonystyle.com *Livewire Contacts http://www.livewiremusician.com *IK Multimedia http://www.ikmultimedia.com *Onlinegigs - Onlinegigs Version 4 fully automates the booking and promotional process for bands, booking agents, record companies and music managers. Onlinegigs will do it all for you, from finding the right venue to automatically reminding your fans about upcoming performances right on their cell phones. http://www.onlinegigs.com ===[ To Advertise ]=============================================== To advertise in the newsletter, please e-mail: ira@songwriting.net ================================================================== Have a great summer and stay cool! ....Jessica Brandon, Artist Relations ~~ ******************************************************************** If you would not like to receive any more updates on any songwriting competitions or music news, or to unsubscribe, simply go to http://www.songwriting.net/join.html and click on "leave" This message is in full compliance with U.S. Federal requirements for commercial email under bill S.1618 Title 111, Section 301, Paragraph (a) (2) (C), passed by the 105th U.S. Congress and cannot be considered SPAM since it includes a removal mechanism. ******************************************************************** Jessica Brandon Artists Relations USA Songwriting Competition *World's Leading International Songwriting Competition* http://www.songwriting.net info@songwriting.net
The Buzz Factor
The Buzz Factor (Teleclass Tonight, Nashville-Asheville Sept Workshops)
From: Bob Baker (bob@thebuzzfactor.com)
Bob Baker’s http://TheBuzzFactor.com/
Marketing tips and self-promotion
ideas for indie music people just
like you — since 1995August 20, 2007
Two things you need to know about in this email:
- The no-cost teleclass I’m doing tonight
with Christine Kane starts at 9 PM Eastern.
See call-in details below.
- I have dates and venues locked in for two
inspiring workshops in two great cities
in one week in early September 2007.Please continue reading for more details …
Catch the Nashville-Asheville Workshop Tour
Thanks for all the wonderful venue suggestions
and offers to help that you sent me this past
week. I found and secured two great venues in
Nashville, TN, and Asheville, NC. Here are the
dates, locations, and topics:Thursday, Sept. 6
“7 Secrets to Low-Cost Music Promotion:
A Guerrilla Music Marketing Workshop”
Nashville Marriott at Vanderbilt University
2555 West End Ave
Nashville, TN 37203
7:00 to 9:30 PM
I’ll present this one solo (with a couple of
surprise guests) as I cover the nuts and bolts
of music marketing and reveal what I consider to
be the “7 secrets.” A fast-paced presentation,
interaction, and fun are guaranteed for all who
attend.Monday, September 10
“The Empowered Artist: How to Build & Promote
a Successful Indie Music Career”
Meeting Space below Mystic Journeys
333 Merrimon Ave
Asheville, NC 28801
7:00 to 9:30 PM
I will co-present this inspiring evening with
indie music phenom Christine Kane in the scenic
and creative surroundings of Asheville. I’ll mix
in my “7 Secrets to Low-Cost Music Promotion”
ideas with Christine’s empowering message and
insights into how she built a thriving music
career.Check the www.TheBuzzFactor.com home page
in the next day or two, when I’ll have a page set
up for advance registration to both workshops.
There will be some bonus goodies for people who
sign up early — so keep an eye on it over the
next couple of days.Join the Nashville or Asheville street team!
Have a suggestion for a local media contact?
Know someone with a mailing list of indie
musicians? Want to help distribute fliers in
the area? Have a creative idea for promoting
either event? Hit reply and let me know.I hope to meet you in person during one of these
September events.
Aug 20 Teleclass: How to Build an Indie
Music Career — Tonight!There’s a lot of buzz about this call. I hope
you can join us.On Monday, August 20, join me and my guest,
Christine Kane, as we deliver a teleclass called
“The Empowered Artist: How to Build a Music
Career On Your Own Terms.”
Christine is the living epitome of a full-time
empowered artist. She is a singer-songwriter,
performer, teacher and writer.Her songs have been recorded by country diva
Kathy Mattea and “Nashville Star” finalist Casey
Simpson, and she regularly headlines at major
events and festivals. The Washington Post
called her “a petite powerhouse of a singer.”During the Aug 20 conference call, Christine will
share her experiences of becoming a songwriter
and performer, and of starting her own business
to manage her growing career. We’ll discuss …
- the importance of intent, inspiration, and
action.- how to move through doubt, fear and other
obstacles that hold musicians back.- developing a music career action plan and
multiple streams of income.- how to take control of your career instead
of being a victim.- letting go of the “security” myth that keeps
people stuck in unfulfilling day jobs.- how to use creativity to design a more artful
and abundant life.The call will last an hour or so and have segments
for caller questions and interaction. Here are the
call-in details for this no-cost teleclass:Date: Monday, August 20, 2007
Starting time: 9 PM Eastern (6 PM Pacific,
8 PM Central)Dial-in number: 1-218-339-7800 (a Minnesota
number)Access code: (enter this number when prompted)
37251There’s no cost to access the call. Only your
regular long distance charges will apply. The
number of participants is limited, so call in
near the top of the hour to make sure you get in.
Do You Have It Yet?
Derek Sivers, president of CD Baby, called it
“The most directly applicable, start-tomorrow,
creatively inspiring book I’ve ever seen on
promoting your music!”Joe Taylor Jr., author of Grow Your Band’s
Audience, said, “When you’re ready for a Master
Class on self-promotion, grab Bob Baker’s
Guerrilla Music Marketing Handbook. There’s a
reason this has gone to multiple editions!”
The new revised and updated edition of the
Guerrilla Music Marketing Handbook features
four new chapters on Internet and Web 2.0 music
promotion. Get more details here:
www.bob-baker.com/buzz/music_marketing.htmCheck out screen shots of the book in the movie
The School of Rock here.
Until next time … make music, connect with fans,
get out there and promote yourself!-Bob
Please visit my web sites:
- TheBuzzFactor.com
- MusicPromotionBlog.com
- Bob-Baker.com/podcast
- MusicMarketingBooks.com
- MySpaceMusicMarketing.com
- MusicMarketingInsiders.com
- FullTimeAuthor.com
You can also find me at these sites:
- MySpace.com/thebuzzfactor
- YouTube.com/user/MrBuzzFactor
- Flickr.com/photos/bob-baker
- Twitter.com/MrBuzzFactor
- Facebook.com/profile.php?id=605029417
To Start getting The Buzz Factor, send an e-mail to
addme@thebuzzfactor.com with “Send Me the Buzz” in
the Subject line. Or visit http://TheBuzzFactor.com/To Stop getting The Buzz Factor, use the Cancel link
at the end of this e-mail. Or send an e-mail to
cancel@thebuzzfactor.com with the words “Cancel Buzz”
in the Subject line.To Change the e-mail at which you receive this
e-zine, use the Change link below.
PO Box 43058
St. Louis, MO 63143
Phone: (314) 963-5296
The Buzz Factor (Aug 20 Teleclass, Bob in Nashville/the Carolinas)
From: Bob Baker (bob@thebuzzfactor.com)
To: sdcinternetics@msn.com
Bob Baker’s http://TheBuzzFactor.com/
ideas for indie music people just
like you — since 1995August 15, 2007
Hey, I’ve got two quick things for you in this
email. One, I invite you to join me during an
inspiring teleclass this Monday, Aug 20. Two, I
want your advice and help as I plan two live
workshops in Nashville and somewhere in North
or South Carolina in early September.Please read on for details …
Aug 20 Teleclass: How to Build an Indie
Music CareerOn Monday, August 20, join me and my guest,
Christine Kane, as we deliver a teleclass called
“The Empowered Artist: How to Build a Music
Career On Your Own Terms.”
Christine is the living epitome of a full-time
empowered artist. She is a singer-songwriter,
performer, teacher and writer.Her songs have been recorded by country diva
Kathy Mattea and “Nashville Star” finalist Casey
Simpson, and she regularly headlines at major
events and festivals. The Washington Post
called her “a petite powerhouse of a singer.”During the Aug 20 conference call, Christine will
share her experiences of becoming a songwriter
and performer, and of starting her own business
to manage her growing career. We’ll discuss …
- the importance of intent, inspiration, and
action.- how to move through doubt, fear and other
obstacles that hold musicians back.- developing a music career action plan and
multiple streams of income.- how to take control of your career instead
of being a victim.- letting go of the “security” myth that keeps
people stuck in unfulfilling day jobs.- how to use creativity to design a more artful
and abundant life.For a sample of Christine’s philosophy and attitude,
here are a couple of inspiring blog posts you
should check out:Getting Discovered, Getting Discouraged, and
Getting a ClueHow to Play for 5,000 People Who Have No Clue
Who You AreThe call will last an hour or so and have segments
for caller questions and interaction. Here are the
call-in details for this no-cost teleclass:Date: Monday, August 20, 2007
Starting time: 9 PM Eastern (6 PM Pacific,
8 PM Central)Dial-in number: 1-218-339-7800 (a Minnesota
number)Access code: (enter this number when prompted)
37251There’s no cost to access the call. Only your
regular long distance charges will apply. The
number of participants is limited, so call in
near the top of the hour to make sure you get in.
Help Me Plan and Promote a Workshop in
Nashville and in North or South CarolinaI’m always encouraging artists to ask their fans
for help — to get gigs, to attend shows, to start
street teams, etc. Well, I’m going to practice
what I preach and ask you for your help.Here’s the deal: Pooki (my girlfriend) and I will
drive to Sunset Beach, North Carolina, to attend
her daughter’s wedding, which takes place on
Saturday, Sept. 8. On the way, I’d like to stop
in Nashville and present a workshop the evening
of Thursday, Sept. 6.We’re already looking into some venues there,
but if you have a stellar idea for a room or group
that would like to have me speak that night,
please reply right away to this email or send
a message to MrBuzzFactor@gmail.com.Also send an email if you are just interested in
attending or helping me promote a Nashville event
on that date. I’ll put you on a list of special
people to contact — and I’ll be eternally
grateful for your support.Also, after the wedding, I’m up for doing a second
workshop, but my plans are less concrete about
this one. I could do one in or around Sunset Beach
on Sunday, Sept 9. Or do one somewhere on the
way back the evening of Monday, Sept. 10.I have some friends in Asheville, North Carolina,
so that’s a possibility. And it would be fun to
call the whole thing the Nashville-Asheville tour
If you have suggestions for the Myrtle Beach area,
Asheville, or anywhere in between, please reply
and send me your best ideas.
New at the Indie Music Promotion Blog …
- New Podcast: Music Business Team Reality Check
- The Power of Music Themes
- Shocker: Local Indie Music Stores Grow
Read them at www.MusicPromotionBlog.com
Until next time … make music, connect with fans,
get out there and promote yourself!-Bob
- TheBuzzFactor.com
- MusicPromotionBlog.com
- Bob-Baker.com/podcast
- MusicMarketingBooks.com
- MySpaceMusicMarketing.com
- MusicMarketingInsiders.com
- FullTimeAuthor.com
- MySpace.com/thebuzzfactor
- YouTube.com/user/MrBuzzFactor
- Flickr.com/photos/bob-baker
- Twitter.com/MrBuzzFactor
- Facebook.com/profile.php?id=605029417
To Start getting The Buzz Factor, send an e-mail to
addme@thebuzzfactor.com with “Send Me the Buzz” in
the Subject line. Or visit http://TheBuzzFactor.com/To Stop getting The Buzz Factor, use the Cancel link
at the end of this e-mail. Or send an e-mail to
cancel@thebuzzfactor.com with the words “Cancel Buzz”
in the Subject line.To Change the e-mail at which you receive this
e-zine, use the Change link below.
PO Box 43058
St. Louis, MO 63143
Phone: (314) 963-5296
The Buzz Factor
The Buzz Factor (Teleclass Tonight, Nashville-Asheville Sept Workshops)
From: Bob Baker (bob@thebuzzfactor.com)
Bob Baker’s http://TheBuzzFactor.com/
ideas for indie music people just
like you — since 1995August 20, 2007
Two things you need to know about in this email:
- The no-cost teleclass I’m doing tonight
with Christine Kane starts at 9 PM Eastern.
See call-in details below.
- I have dates and venues locked in for two
inspiring workshops in two great cities
in one week in early September 2007.Please continue reading for more details …
Catch the Nashville-Asheville Workshop Tour
Thanks for all the wonderful venue suggestions
and offers to help that you sent me this past
week. I found and secured two great venues in
Nashville, TN, and Asheville, NC. Here are the
dates, locations, and topics:Thursday, Sept. 6
“7 Secrets to Low-Cost Music Promotion:
A Guerrilla Music Marketing Workshop”
Nashville Marriott at Vanderbilt University
2555 West End Ave
Nashville, TN 37203
7:00 to 9:30 PM
I’ll present this one solo (with a couple of
surprise guests) as I cover the nuts and bolts
of music marketing and reveal what I consider to
be the “7 secrets.” A fast-paced presentation,
interaction, and fun are guaranteed for all who
attend.Monday, September 10
“The Empowered Artist: How to Build & Promote
a Successful Indie Music Career”
Meeting Space below Mystic Journeys
333 Merrimon Ave
Asheville, NC 28801
7:00 to 9:30 PM
I will co-present this inspiring evening with
indie music phenom Christine Kane in the scenic
and creative surroundings of Asheville. I’ll mix
in my “7 Secrets to Low-Cost Music Promotion”
ideas with Christine’s empowering message and
insights into how she built a thriving music
career.Check the www.TheBuzzFactor.com home page
in the next day or two, when I’ll have a page set
up for advance registration to both workshops.
There will be some bonus goodies for people who
sign up early — so keep an eye on it over the
next couple of days.Join the Nashville or Asheville street team!
Have a suggestion for a local media contact?
Know someone with a mailing list of indie
musicians? Want to help distribute fliers in
the area? Have a creative idea for promoting
either event? Hit reply and let me know.I hope to meet you in person during one of these
September events.
Aug 20 Teleclass: How to Build an Indie
Music Career — Tonight!There’s a lot of buzz about this call. I hope
you can join us.On Monday, August 20, join me and my guest,
Christine Kane, as we deliver a teleclass called
“The Empowered Artist: How to Build a Music
Career On Your Own Terms.”
Christine is the living epitome of a full-time
empowered artist. She is a singer-songwriter,
performer, teacher and writer.Her songs have been recorded by country diva
Kathy Mattea and “Nashville Star” finalist Casey
Simpson, and she regularly headlines at major
events and festivals. The Washington Post
called her “a petite powerhouse of a singer.”During the Aug 20 conference call, Christine will
share her experiences of becoming a songwriter
and performer, and of starting her own business
to manage her growing career. We’ll discuss …
- the importance of intent, inspiration, and
action.- how to move through doubt, fear and other
obstacles that hold musicians back.- developing a music career action plan and
multiple streams of income.- how to take control of your career instead
of being a victim.- letting go of the “security” myth that keeps
people stuck in unfulfilling day jobs.- how to use creativity to design a more artful
and abundant life.The call will last an hour or so and have segments
for caller questions and interaction. Here are the
call-in details for this no-cost teleclass:Date: Monday, August 20, 2007
Starting time: 9 PM Eastern (6 PM Pacific,
8 PM Central)Dial-in number: 1-218-339-7800 (a Minnesota
number)Access code: (enter this number when prompted)
37251There’s no cost to access the call. Only your
regular long distance charges will apply. The
number of participants is limited, so call in
near the top of the hour to make sure you get in.
Do You Have It Yet?
Derek Sivers, president of CD Baby, called it
“The most directly applicable, start-tomorrow,
creatively inspiring book I’ve ever seen on
promoting your music!”Joe Taylor Jr., author of Grow Your Band’s
Audience, said, “When you’re ready for a Master
Class on self-promotion, grab Bob Baker’s
Guerrilla Music Marketing Handbook. There’s a
reason this has gone to multiple editions!”
The new revised and updated edition of the
Guerrilla Music Marketing Handbook features
four new chapters on Internet and Web 2.0 music
promotion. Get more details here:
www.bob-baker.com/buzz/music_marketing.htmCheck out screen shots of the book in the movie
The School of Rock here.
Until next time … make music, connect with fans,
get out there and promote yourself!-Bob
Please visit my web sites:
- TheBuzzFactor.com
- MusicPromotionBlog.com
- Bob-Baker.com/podcast
- MusicMarketingBooks.com
- MySpaceMusicMarketing.com
- MusicMarketingInsiders.com
- FullTimeAuthor.com
You can also find me at these sites:
- MySpace.com/thebuzzfactor
- YouTube.com/user/MrBuzzFactor
- Flickr.com/photos/bob-baker
- Twitter.com/MrBuzzFactor
- Facebook.com/profile.php?id=605029417
To Start getting The Buzz Factor, send an e-mail to
addme@thebuzzfactor.com with “Send Me the Buzz” in
the Subject line. Or visit http://TheBuzzFactor.com/To Stop getting The Buzz Factor, use the Cancel link
at the end of this e-mail. Or send an e-mail to
cancel@thebuzzfactor.com with the words “Cancel Buzz”
in the Subject line.To Change the e-mail at which you receive this
e-zine, use the Change link below.
PO Box 43058
St. Louis, MO 63143
Phone: (314) 963-5296
The Buzz Factor (Aug 20 Teleclass, Bob in Nashville/the Carolinas)
From: Bob Baker (bob@thebuzzfactor.com)
To: sdcinternetics@msn.com
Bob Baker’s http://TheBuzzFactor.com/
ideas for indie music people just
like you — since 1995August 15, 2007
Hey, I’ve got two quick things for you in this
email. One, I invite you to join me during an
inspiring teleclass this Monday, Aug 20. Two, I
want your advice and help as I plan two live
workshops in Nashville and somewhere in North
or South Carolina in early September.Please read on for details …
Aug 20 Teleclass: How to Build an Indie
Music CareerOn Monday, August 20, join me and my guest,
Christine Kane, as we deliver a teleclass called
“The Empowered Artist: How to Build a Music
Career On Your Own Terms.”
Christine is the living epitome of a full-time
empowered artist. She is a singer-songwriter,
performer, teacher and writer.Her songs have been recorded by country diva
Kathy Mattea and “Nashville Star” finalist Casey
Simpson, and she regularly headlines at major
events and festivals. The Washington Post
called her “a petite powerhouse of a singer.”During the Aug 20 conference call, Christine will
share her experiences of becoming a songwriter
and performer, and of starting her own business
to manage her growing career. We’ll discuss …
- the importance of intent, inspiration, and
action.- how to move through doubt, fear and other
obstacles that hold musicians back.- developing a music career action plan and
multiple streams of income.- how to take control of your career instead
of being a victim.- letting go of the “security” myth that keeps
people stuck in unfulfilling day jobs.- how to use creativity to design a more artful
and abundant life.For a sample of Christine’s philosophy and attitude,
here are a couple of inspiring blog posts you
should check out:Getting Discovered, Getting Discouraged, and
Getting a ClueHow to Play for 5,000 People Who Have No Clue
Who You AreThe call will last an hour or so and have segments
for caller questions and interaction. Here are the
call-in details for this no-cost teleclass:Date: Monday, August 20, 2007
Starting time: 9 PM Eastern (6 PM Pacific,
8 PM Central)Dial-in number: 1-218-339-7800 (a Minnesota
number)Access code: (enter this number when prompted)
37251There’s no cost to access the call. Only your
regular long distance charges will apply. The
number of participants is limited, so call in
near the top of the hour to make sure you get in.
Help Me Plan and Promote a Workshop in
Nashville and in North or South CarolinaI’m always encouraging artists to ask their fans
for help — to get gigs, to attend shows, to start
street teams, etc. Well, I’m going to practice
what I preach and ask you for your help.Here’s the deal: Pooki (my girlfriend) and I will
drive to Sunset Beach, North Carolina, to attend
her daughter’s wedding, which takes place on
Saturday, Sept. 8. On the way, I’d like to stop
in Nashville and present a workshop the evening
of Thursday, Sept. 6.We’re already looking into some venues there,
but if you have a stellar idea for a room or group
that would like to have me speak that night,
please reply right away to this email or send
a message to MrBuzzFactor@gmail.com.Also send an email if you are just interested in
attending or helping me promote a Nashville event
on that date. I’ll put you on a list of special
people to contact — and I’ll be eternally
grateful for your support.Also, after the wedding, I’m up for doing a second
workshop, but my plans are less concrete about
this one. I could do one in or around Sunset Beach
on Sunday, Sept 9. Or do one somewhere on the
way back the evening of Monday, Sept. 10.I have some friends in Asheville, North Carolina,
so that’s a possibility. And it would be fun to
call the whole thing the Nashville-Asheville tour
If you have suggestions for the Myrtle Beach area,
Asheville, or anywhere in between, please reply
and send me your best ideas.
New at the Indie Music Promotion Blog …
- New Podcast: Music Business Team Reality Check
- The Power of Music Themes
- Shocker: Local Indie Music Stores Grow
Read them at www.MusicPromotionBlog.com
Until next time … make music, connect with fans,
get out there and promote yourself!-Bob
- TheBuzzFactor.com
- MusicPromotionBlog.com
- Bob-Baker.com/podcast
- MusicMarketingBooks.com
- MySpaceMusicMarketing.com
- MusicMarketingInsiders.com
- FullTimeAuthor.com
- MySpace.com/thebuzzfactor
- YouTube.com/user/MrBuzzFactor
- Flickr.com/photos/bob-baker
- Twitter.com/MrBuzzFactor
- Facebook.com/profile.php?id=605029417
To Start getting The Buzz Factor, send an e-mail to
addme@thebuzzfactor.com with “Send Me the Buzz” in
the Subject line. Or visit http://TheBuzzFactor.com/To Stop getting The Buzz Factor, use the Cancel link
at the end of this e-mail. Or send an e-mail to
cancel@thebuzzfactor.com with the words “Cancel Buzz”
in the Subject line.To Change the e-mail at which you receive this
e-zine, use the Change link below.
PO Box 43058
St. Louis, MO 63143
Phone: (314) 963-5296
The Buzz Factor
The Buzz Factor (Teleclass Tonight, Nashville-Asheville Sept Workshops)
From: Bob Baker (bob@thebuzzfactor.com)
Bob Baker’s http://TheBuzzFactor.com/
ideas for indie music people just
like you — since 1995August 20, 2007
Two things you need to know about in this email:
- The no-cost teleclass I’m doing tonight
with Christine Kane starts at 9 PM Eastern.
See call-in details below.
- I have dates and venues locked in for two
inspiring workshops in two great cities
in one week in early September 2007.Please continue reading for more details …
Catch the Nashville-Asheville Workshop Tour
Thanks for all the wonderful venue suggestions
and offers to help that you sent me this past
week. I found and secured two great venues in
Nashville, TN, and Asheville, NC. Here are the
dates, locations, and topics:Thursday, Sept. 6
“7 Secrets to Low-Cost Music Promotion:
A Guerrilla Music Marketing Workshop”
Nashville Marriott at Vanderbilt University
2555 West End Ave
Nashville, TN 37203
7:00 to 9:30 PM
I’ll present this one solo (with a couple of
surprise guests) as I cover the nuts and bolts
of music marketing and reveal what I consider to
be the “7 secrets.” A fast-paced presentation,
interaction, and fun are guaranteed for all who
attend.Monday, September 10
“The Empowered Artist: How to Build & Promote
a Successful Indie Music Career”
Meeting Space below Mystic Journeys
333 Merrimon Ave
Asheville, NC 28801
7:00 to 9:30 PM
I will co-present this inspiring evening with
indie music phenom Christine Kane in the scenic
and creative surroundings of Asheville. I’ll mix
in my “7 Secrets to Low-Cost Music Promotion”
ideas with Christine’s empowering message and
insights into how she built a thriving music
career.Check the www.TheBuzzFactor.com home page
in the next day or two, when I’ll have a page set
up for advance registration to both workshops.
There will be some bonus goodies for people who
sign up early — so keep an eye on it over the
next couple of days.Join the Nashville or Asheville street team!
Have a suggestion for a local media contact?
Know someone with a mailing list of indie
musicians? Want to help distribute fliers in
the area? Have a creative idea for promoting
either event? Hit reply and let me know.I hope to meet you in person during one of these
September events.
Aug 20 Teleclass: How to Build an Indie
Music Career — Tonight!There’s a lot of buzz about this call. I hope
you can join us.On Monday, August 20, join me and my guest,
Christine Kane, as we deliver a teleclass called
“The Empowered Artist: How to Build a Music
Career On Your Own Terms.”
Christine is the living epitome of a full-time
empowered artist. She is a singer-songwriter,
performer, teacher and writer.Her songs have been recorded by country diva
Kathy Mattea and “Nashville Star” finalist Casey
Simpson, and she regularly headlines at major
events and festivals. The Washington Post
called her “a petite powerhouse of a singer.”During the Aug 20 conference call, Christine will
share her experiences of becoming a songwriter
and performer, and of starting her own business
to manage her growing career. We’ll discuss …
- the importance of intent, inspiration, and
action.- how to move through doubt, fear and other
obstacles that hold musicians back.- developing a music career action plan and
multiple streams of income.- how to take control of your career instead
of being a victim.- letting go of the “security” myth that keeps
people stuck in unfulfilling day jobs.- how to use creativity to design a more artful
and abundant life.The call will last an hour or so and have segments
for caller questions and interaction. Here are the
call-in details for this no-cost teleclass:Date: Monday, August 20, 2007
Starting time: 9 PM Eastern (6 PM Pacific,
8 PM Central)Dial-in number: 1-218-339-7800 (a Minnesota
number)Access code: (enter this number when prompted)
37251There’s no cost to access the call. Only your
regular long distance charges will apply. The
number of participants is limited, so call in
near the top of the hour to make sure you get in.
Do You Have It Yet?
Derek Sivers, president of CD Baby, called it
“The most directly applicable, start-tomorrow,
creatively inspiring book I’ve ever seen on
promoting your music!”Joe Taylor Jr., author of Grow Your Band’s
Audience, said, “When you’re ready for a Master
Class on self-promotion, grab Bob Baker’s
Guerrilla Music Marketing Handbook. There’s a
reason this has gone to multiple editions!”
The new revised and updated edition of the
Guerrilla Music Marketing Handbook features
four new chapters on Internet and Web 2.0 music
promotion. Get more details here:
www.bob-baker.com/buzz/music_marketing.htmCheck out screen shots of the book in the movie
The School of Rock here.
Until next time … make music, connect with fans,
get out there and promote yourself!-Bob
Please visit my web sites:
- TheBuzzFactor.com
- MusicPromotionBlog.com
- Bob-Baker.com/podcast
- MusicMarketingBooks.com
- MySpaceMusicMarketing.com
- MusicMarketingInsiders.com
- FullTimeAuthor.com
You can also find me at these sites:
- MySpace.com/thebuzzfactor
- YouTube.com/user/MrBuzzFactor
- Flickr.com/photos/bob-baker
- Twitter.com/MrBuzzFactor
- Facebook.com/profile.php?id=605029417
To Start getting The Buzz Factor, send an e-mail to
addme@thebuzzfactor.com with “Send Me the Buzz” in
the Subject line. Or visit http://TheBuzzFactor.com/To Stop getting The Buzz Factor, use the Cancel link
at the end of this e-mail. Or send an e-mail to
cancel@thebuzzfactor.com with the words “Cancel Buzz”
in the Subject line.To Change the e-mail at which you receive this
e-zine, use the Change link below.
PO Box 43058
St. Louis, MO 63143
Phone: (314) 963-5296
The Buzz Factor (Aug 20 Teleclass, Bob in Nashville/the Carolinas)
From: Bob Baker (bob@thebuzzfactor.com)
To: sdcinternetics@msn.com
Bob Baker’s http://TheBuzzFactor.com/
ideas for indie music people just
like you — since 1995August 15, 2007
Hey, I’ve got two quick things for you in this
email. One, I invite you to join me during an
inspiring teleclass this Monday, Aug 20. Two, I
want your advice and help as I plan two live
workshops in Nashville and somewhere in North
or South Carolina in early September.Please read on for details …
Aug 20 Teleclass: How to Build an Indie
Music CareerOn Monday, August 20, join me and my guest,
Christine Kane, as we deliver a teleclass called
“The Empowered Artist: How to Build a Music
Career On Your Own Terms.”
Christine is the living epitome of a full-time
empowered artist. She is a singer-songwriter,
performer, teacher and writer.Her songs have been recorded by country diva
Kathy Mattea and “Nashville Star” finalist Casey
Simpson, and she regularly headlines at major
events and festivals. The Washington Post
called her “a petite powerhouse of a singer.”During the Aug 20 conference call, Christine will
share her experiences of becoming a songwriter
and performer, and of starting her own business
to manage her growing career. We’ll discuss …
- the importance of intent, inspiration, and
action.- how to move through doubt, fear and other
obstacles that hold musicians back.- developing a music career action plan and
multiple streams of income.- how to take control of your career instead
of being a victim.- letting go of the “security” myth that keeps
people stuck in unfulfilling day jobs.- how to use creativity to design a more artful
and abundant life.For a sample of Christine’s philosophy and attitude,
here are a couple of inspiring blog posts you
should check out:Getting Discovered, Getting Discouraged, and
Getting a ClueHow to Play for 5,000 People Who Have No Clue
Who You AreThe call will last an hour or so and have segments
for caller questions and interaction. Here are the
call-in details for this no-cost teleclass:Date: Monday, August 20, 2007
Starting time: 9 PM Eastern (6 PM Pacific,
8 PM Central)Dial-in number: 1-218-339-7800 (a Minnesota
number)Access code: (enter this number when prompted)
37251There’s no cost to access the call. Only your
regular long distance charges will apply. The
number of participants is limited, so call in
near the top of the hour to make sure you get in.
Help Me Plan and Promote a Workshop in
Nashville and in North or South CarolinaI’m always encouraging artists to ask their fans
for help — to get gigs, to attend shows, to start
street teams, etc. Well, I’m going to practice
what I preach and ask you for your help.Here’s the deal: Pooki (my girlfriend) and I will
drive to Sunset Beach, North Carolina, to attend
her daughter’s wedding, which takes place on
Saturday, Sept. 8. On the way, I’d like to stop
in Nashville and present a workshop the evening
of Thursday, Sept. 6.We’re already looking into some venues there,
but if you have a stellar idea for a room or group
that would like to have me speak that night,
please reply right away to this email or send
a message to MrBuzzFactor@gmail.com.Also send an email if you are just interested in
attending or helping me promote a Nashville event
on that date. I’ll put you on a list of special
people to contact — and I’ll be eternally
grateful for your support.Also, after the wedding, I’m up for doing a second
workshop, but my plans are less concrete about
this one. I could do one in or around Sunset Beach
on Sunday, Sept 9. Or do one somewhere on the
way back the evening of Monday, Sept. 10.I have some friends in Asheville, North Carolina,
so that’s a possibility. And it would be fun to
call the whole thing the Nashville-Asheville tour
If you have suggestions for the Myrtle Beach area,
Asheville, or anywhere in between, please reply
and send me your best ideas.
New at the Indie Music Promotion Blog …
- New Podcast: Music Business Team Reality Check
- The Power of Music Themes
- Shocker: Local Indie Music Stores Grow
Read them at www.MusicPromotionBlog.com
Until next time … make music, connect with fans,
get out there and promote yourself!-Bob
- TheBuzzFactor.com
- MusicPromotionBlog.com
- Bob-Baker.com/podcast
- MusicMarketingBooks.com
- MySpaceMusicMarketing.com
- MusicMarketingInsiders.com
- FullTimeAuthor.com
- MySpace.com/thebuzzfactor
- YouTube.com/user/MrBuzzFactor
- Flickr.com/photos/bob-baker
- Twitter.com/MrBuzzFactor
- Facebook.com/profile.php?id=605029417
To Start getting The Buzz Factor, send an e-mail to
addme@thebuzzfactor.com with “Send Me the Buzz” in
the Subject line. Or visit http://TheBuzzFactor.com/To Stop getting The Buzz Factor, use the Cancel link
at the end of this e-mail. Or send an e-mail to
cancel@thebuzzfactor.com with the words “Cancel Buzz”
in the Subject line.To Change the e-mail at which you receive this
e-zine, use the Change link below.
PO Box 43058
St. Louis, MO 63143
Phone: (314) 963-5296
Indie Promotions Company
To D-Town Records:
I’m writing to encourage you to consider our *combined* promotion
and publicity services, which include; radio, television, print, Internet,
satellite, etc for your new music release.
Additionally, we provide tracking, follow-up, and make strong efforts
to get our clients on-air radio interviews, television interviews and
station ID checks, as well as print media interviews.
2007 marks our 17th year in business, and you can see what a few
of our musician clients as well as radio station personnel say about
our results at http://www.MuBiz.com/tstimnls.html
We also publish The B# Newsletter, which currently has over 2,000
independent and unsigned musicians subscribed to it. These
musicians find our newsletter’s Music industry knowledge and
experience, which is presented through our informational articles
and tips, extremely beneficial in making their music careers highly
successful in both exposure and sales worldwide.
See what a select few of our musician readers (who also include
College Music professors) say about our newsletter’s content at
http://www.MuBiz.com/writetst.html. You can also visit the
newsletter to sign up at http://yahoogroups.com/group/bsharpnews
Our combined promotion and publicity rates are only $175 per
week, which can be paid weekly, with no minimum number of
weeks required. The services you will get include:
* Worldwide radio promotion
* Worldwide video promotion (if you have a video)
* Worldwide print media publicity
* On-air radio interviews via telephone
* On-air station ID checks
* Print feature interviews
* Print music reviews
* Tracking and follow-up
______________________________________________________
[---NEW PROMOTION/PUBLICITY ALTERNATIVE AVAILABLE---]
(Same low weekly rate/Different methodology)
We now have a *new* promotion/publicity campaign that allows
recording artists who produce commercial genres of music to
get their music into record pools and select print newspapers
for advertising. Such commercial genres include; Blues, Country,
Electronic, Hip Hop, Rap, Metal, Pop, Rock, Urban & R&B. In
short, any music that is performed in night clubs.
Record pools are organizations that deejays join in order to get
music from labels and artists to play in their night clubs and on
their radio station specialty shows.
In exchange for deejays getting this music, musicians are
guaranteed to have their music playing in nightclubs in
approximately 7-10 days, whereas, radio airplay can be a “hit
and miss” process, and often more “miss” than “hit,” especially
with commercial radio stations.
In fact, record pools are one of the few areas, if not the *only*
area in the music industry where there is a “guarantee” that
your music will be played.
People go to nightclubs, hear and like your music while in the
club and will, naturally, go to http://www.iTunes.com or other
digital music download sites when they return home to buy
your digital music downloads.
Most who want your music will go there because it gives
them instant access to your music while eliminating their
need to wait until the next day to try to get your music at a
retail store, or even order your CD online and still wait for it
to arrive in their mail.
Therefore, it is vitally important that recording artists who are
interested in utilizing this particular promotion with us already
have their music available at iTunes.
As for print newspapers, we will place ads for your music in
select weekly music and arts & entertainment newspapers,
again, directing readers to iTunes to purchase your downloads.
In many instances, if not most instances, this particular type of
promotional/publicity campaign is far more effective and produces
results much faster for commercial music genres than even our
above radio promotion campaign.
If you have questions regarding this promotion process through
record pools and print newspapers, please feel free to email
them to me.
Note: For recording artists who would like to utilize both the
radio promotion *and* the record pool promotion, I will split the
record pool promotion cost in half.
In advance, thank you.
~ Kenny Love, President (MuBiz.com)
A subsidiary of The KEL Group
P. S. Even if you decide to not work with us on promotion and
publicity of your new project release, we strongly encourage
you to review the music business and industry links below,
whereby, you are certain to discover, at least, one area of
interest that can dramatically assist you in improving your
music career.
___________________________________________________________
1. http://www.MuBiz.com
(MuBiz.com Hqtrs.)
2. http://www.MuBiz.com/KL-ProPer.html
All About Me (Professionally & Personally)
3.http://www.MuBiz.com/12-StepProg.html
The Highly Popular 12-Step Program To Music $ucce$$!
4. http://www.MuBiz.com/vsm.html
Virtual Sheet Music
5. http://prweb.com/releases/2006/10/prweb466569.htm
(Billboard News on The B# Newsletter)
6. http://prwebpodcast.com/releases/pod466569.htm
(My Billboard Radio Interview)
7. http://www.MuBiz.com/aboutMuBiz.html
(MuBiz.com’s Mission Statement)
8. http://www.MuBiz.com/mc101.html
(Music Business Contracts For All Your Music Needs!)
9. http://www.MuBiz.com/licensingyoursongs.html
(How To Get Your Music On Film & TV Soundtracks)
10. http://www.MuBiz.com/MultiSpeak.html
(This is THE Single Most Important Link for Doubling,
Tripling & Quadrupling YOUR Music $ales INSTANTLY!)
11. http://www.MuBiz.com/services.html#RECORD_PROMOTION
(MuBiz.com’s Promo/Pub.)
12. http://www.MuBiz.com/GigPromo.html
(MuBiz.com’s Gig Promo)
13. http://www.MuBiz.com/services.html#Video_Scripting
(MuBiz.com’s Video Scripts)
14. http://www.MuBiz.com/RecordLabel-BizPlan.html
(An Indie Record Label’s Fool-Proof/No-Fail Business Plan)
15. http://www.MuBiz.com/UM.html
(The Ultimate Metronome!)
16. http://www.MuBiz.com/Finalized.mp3
(MuBiz.com’s Radio Commercial)
17. http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/bsharpnews
(The B# Newsletter)
18. http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/klmb101
(MuBiz.com’s Online Classes)
19. http://www.MuBiz.com/klmuzres.html
(My Music Resumé)
20. http://www.MuBiz.com/writeres.html
(My Writing Resumé)
21. http://www.MuBiz.com/hiphopbts.html
(Huge Library of Hip Hop Beats)
22. http://www.MuBiz.com/proprod.html
(Get the secrets of leading studio producers)
23. http://www.MuBiz.com/Bandit.html
(Here is the inside info on getting signed to record labels)
24. http://www.MuBiz.com/musiclicense.html
(Here’s how to get your music on movie & TV soundtracks)
25. http://www.MuBiz.com/zzounds.html
(Lowest Priced/Highest Quality Equipment For: Musicians & Singers!)
26. http://www.NysaLove.com
(Original Art work for your CD Cover or Music Business)
27. http://www.MuBiz.com/StunRing.html
(Be Safe & Protect Yourself On The Road, At Gigs & On Tour!)
28. http://www.MuBiz.com/schgrant.html
(Want A Music Degree, But Think You Can’t Afford College? Think
Again!)
29. http://www.MuBiz.com/lifegrant.html
(Starving Musician? Never Heard Of It! What’s That? Click
the above link to learn how you can get FREE money from
the government for your music career without the need to
get a boring suicidal day job!)
30. http://www.MuBiz.com/4life.html
(Life’s All-Problem-Solving Resource!)
31. http://www.MuBiz.com/OnlineGigs.html
(Book Your Own Gigs & Get Gig Offers)
32. http://yahoogroups.com/group/klmb101
(Online “Real-Time” Music Business Class!!!)
33. http://www.MuBiz.com/F4.html
(Absolutely FREE Digital Electronics!)
34. http://www.MuBiz.com/bb-bf.html
(Bob Baker’s Masterpiece On Taking Advantage
Of & Effectively $elling Music on MySpace)
35. http://www.MuBiz.com/MusicBlogPower.html
(Learn HOW to Blog Your Music To Riche$!)
36. http://www.MuBiz.com/viralmusic.html
(Increase Your Music Buyers Dramatically!)
37. http://www.MuBiz.com/mustsee.html
(Musicians’ Must-Have Survival Products)
38. http://www.MuBiz.com/services.html#CD_COVER
(CD Cover Concepts)
39. http://www.MuBiz.com/KLFiction.html
(My “Other” Life)
***********************************************************
More Humor, Please…
“The Case Of The Great CD Cover Mystery”
http://www.MuBiz.com/CDMystery.html
“Nightmare on L Street”
http://www.MuBiz.com/nightmare.html
Scary Review 1 (“I Know What Your Music Did Last Summer”)
http://www.musicdish.com/mag/index.php3?id=2132
Scary Review 2 (I Know What Your Music Didn’t Do Last Summer”)
http://www.musicdish.com/mag/index.php3?id=4780
“Attack of the Killer Musicians!”
http://www.musicdish.com/mag/index.php3?id=4525
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Build Your Own Music Studio
Over the past year, we have taken our desktop computer and added just enough to make a very decent yet remarkably affordable music recording studio out of the same machine where my daughter can play with her Webkinz and my husband can get the latest cricket match results.
There aren’t many industries where the products keep getting better AND cheaper, and I am glad to witness that this is the case with technology, electronics and software. What I wish to provide here is a brief summary of my studio components, with some general guidelines for configuring your own studio. This is my modest set up, yet you could bypass commercial software by using open source software for recording, such as Audacity.
A computer with a cd and dvd burner to make discs of your music along with extra storage as in an external hard drive is a good idea. Any speakers you can add will be better than what ships with the computer. And finally, as for equipment and instruments, decide what you wish to record and get a mic and audio interface that will accommodate that. For me, guitars and other plucked string instruments are my forte. I use a MIDI keystation to play my virtual synthesizers now, after trading in my Korg N264 workstation. (Those sounds are featured primarily in the music category titled Mixed-Use Melodies on Music As Metaphor.) Two of the guitars plug directly into the audio interface. The mic is for recording my classical guitar. Testing, testing. Please stand by.
Hardware:
E-machine desktop computer C2782 ($500) pimped up with an extra 1GB RAM (about $40) and an added DVD-RW ($80)
Maxtor 150GB external hard drive, ($50 after rebate) from CompUSA
Unknown brand of powered speakers ($35)
Software:
Cakewalk’s Sonar Home Studio XL
Sony’s Acid XMC
Instruments and Equipment:
t.c. electronic konnect 8 audio interface and Sterling Audio FET Condenser Mic (both $0, after trading in my Korg N264 for these two essential pieces at Guitar Center)
M-Audio keystation 49e MIDI controller keyboard (a hand-me-down gift from my brother; new about $99)
Line Six Variax electric guitar ($289, from 8th Street Music)
Ovation Applause (Applause is the “value line” of Ovation guitars by the Kaman Company) acoustic/electric guitar (a one time great deal from Costco$99)
And finally the one thing that has been with me since my undergraduate music school days- my 1982 Robert Ruck classical guitar (priceless).
Please feel free to add to these studio suggestions or ask questions in Comments .
Comment
Michelle— I love your web site and your music. Would it be possible to provide a link to a long-playing compilation of some of your songs, so that I could listen to them on my computer continuously while I’m working? It’s such beautiful, peaceful stuff. Thanks from a big fan.
— Ellen Lupton · 22 July 2007 · #
What I would love to provide is a way for a viewer to make her own compilation on the fly and listen while doing whatever else on the web. That’s the way I’ve used FineTune or Pandora. I’ll do some research. Meanwhile, thanks for listening and for the continuous encouragement!
— Michelle Qureshi · 22 July 2007 · #
Hey, I just had one question, on your computer, what sound card is in it. Are you using an aftermarket card for recording, or just the factory installed, and if factory, how’s the quality?
— DIYHarlequin · 12 August 2007 · #
Factory installed is not sufficient. I bought an audio interface with quarter inch inputs for guitar/keyboard and xlr for mic inputs (with phantom power). Also, the audio interface is external so conceivably I can use it with both my desktop and laptop.
— Michelle Qureshi · 12 August 2007 · #
SDC’S RECAP ON GETTING STARTED WITH YOUR RECORDING LABEL
SDC InterNetics Magazine
By Wendy Day
In this column last month, we discussed the importance of having great music that will sell outside of your circle of friends, choosing the single based on reaction from local DJs and retailers, owning only two or three markets at first in which to release and work your record, and timing as the most important element in the success of your project (after good music that is). When your project is pressed up it should have a bar code (UPC Codes can be ordered through 937.435.3870–this takes a minute, so call months in advance) so it can be recognized for SoundScan. This is the “fingerprint” that tells you how many records have been sold at retail stores who use the SoundScan bar code scanning system, which SoundScan, Inc claims to be 85% of the stores selling urban music (I disagree, I find a tremendous amount of independent retailers to be without SoundScan). Most of the better distribution deals through larger/major labels have been given to labels who have been able to prove through SoundScan that they’ve sold 60,000 units and more. Master P sold 75,000 units on his own prior to Priority picking him up, Do Or Die sold 60,000 singles– SoundScan– before the Rap-A-Lot deal, Cash Money sold between 25,000 and 125,000 on nine releases before their groundbreaking deal with Universal, and DJ DMD sold 66,000 before Elektra scooped him up (all substantiated by SoundScan). Bar codes and pressing up units costs money which leads to the topic of this column: financing. Unless you are independently wealthy or a, uh, street entrepreneur, you need to have a plan that covers your expenses. So let’s focus on getting that plan together to get the paper.
The most effective thing to do is to make a list of all the stuff you need to put out your record from studio costs to artist advances (pay your fucking artists), pressing costs, mastering costs, artwork, phone calls, one sheets, posters, flats, postcards, promotional tours, t-shirts, stickers (if necessary), shipping, etc. Go through the steps mentally of what you’ll have to do to press up and promote your record in the target area you’ve chosen. Find out if you need to hit someone off with some loot to work radio (college radio, underground, and mix show), or to hire someone to be in charge of retail–from putting your record in the stores to collecting the money after it sells (the hard part). Do you have a street team or should you hire one? A seasoned professional in most areas will cost you $500 to $1,500 depending on how big each market is–and be careful, I’ve seen many, many people pay street teams who have done nothing and then blamed it on the record. The plus to hiring a professional street team is that you are using their juice, connections, and experience to accomplish your goals. If money is a problem, you can do it yourself, but I find the extra juice is worth that little bit of loot. My personal choice for street teams is Jellow from Ch’rewd Marketing (www.chrewd.com) in Chicago, who has street teams in most markets around the country (or at least 30 cities/towns). Jellow is a no bullshit guy and be prepared to pay up front. I trust him, he has never let me down or made me look bad to anyone I’ve ever referred.
After you’ve made a list of everything you need, price it out. Call around to different places to get price quotes and ask how long it takes. For example, if you’re pressing CDs and cassettes
call a bunch of places for prices, like DiscMakers, Rainbo, Pen + Pixel, Promotion Express, Music Connection, Universal Duplicating, etc. There are a bunch of pressing plants who
advertise in Billboard magazine in the classified section. Make sure you ask how long it will take and ask how long reorders take too (11 days is a realistic number). Might as well ask them how the prices change for reorders. The price should drop a bit as your quantity increases.
I asked a few smaller labels how much they pay to press a CD and got a variety of different answers ranging from 80 cents per CD (Wow!!) to $1.50 per CD. Cassettes also had a varied range: from 65 cents a unit (incredibly good!) to $1.00 a cassette. Those who offer vinyl for mix shows quoted me prices of $1.00 to $1.25 per record. Bear in mind that length of music changes the cassette price, amount of colors in the artwork affects all prices, amount of pages in the liner notes affects prices, etc. When I asked these same smaller labels how many pieces they ordered to begin with, most CDs were around 5,000 units (depending on the size of the markets), vinyl was about 500 (that may be a minimum order amount for pressing), and cassettes were between 1,000 to 2,500 depending on the markets and type of music. Music in Houston moves CDs 3 or 4 to 1 over cassettes; in NY CDs outsell cassettes only 2 to 1. Keep in mind the amount of time your reorders will take and order accordingly. Make certain you have enough money to repress, as it takes awhile for the stores to pay you unless you have a runaway hit, in which case you can eventually get the stores to pay for the product up front. When CWAL released Do Or Die’s Po Pimp, it blew up so fast and hard that stores were paying up front and reordering weekly (they moved about 60,000 singles between February and July just in Chicago). Once demand has developed the entire balance shifts–the label gains leverage. With leverage you’re controlling shit!
After you’ve figured out how much money it’s going to cost you to put out your record, now comes the fun part. Make certain you figure in your own cost of living; in case you don’t have a 9 to 5 to support you, you”ll need to eat while you’re working your record. At least until retail starts paying. If you’ve enlisted the help of a distributor like Southwest and/or Select O Hits, you might just get paid every 30 or 60 days after the first 120 days. This is the place where I see most small labels fail. They can’t afford to repress until they get paid for what they’ve already delivered, but they won’t get paid for what they delivered until they deliver the new shipment. If you get hemmed up here, it could kill your project. Rather than lose out here, don’t start something you can’t finish. The more demand there is for your product the more power you have to set favorable terms when you come to a regional distributor. In a perfect world, you set the terms and they come to you. You control this by selling units. The more risk a distributor takes with your product, the less favorable the deal will be for you. By proving your record can sell, you are reducing their risk before they get involved. This is why you’d want to go directly to retail as opposed to signing up a distributor from the beginning. If you do go with a regional distributor, when figuring out how much money they owe you, take “reserves” into consideration. When you ship to a distributor they hold back some of your money for product that the stores may return in the future. Reserves are usually held 18 months and are 20% to 25% of your loot.
If you need to raise capital from investors, that’s a little trickier. There are a few places to turn for help. I have found the SBA (Small Business Administration) very helpful in terms of networking and finding information. To actually get investors to believe in you and support you, you must have a tight business plan outlining what you plan to do and why someone should invest in you. There are two places that can help you set up your business and get you information regarding investors, business plans, and tax structures: the SBA (www.sba.gov or 800-827-5722) and SCORE (www.score.org), which is Service Corps of retired Executives–they are volunteer retired executives who are happy to help up and coming companies through business counseling. For writing a business plan (something every company should have whether raising capital or not), there are many books that are helpful. I like the Palo Alto computer software program called Business Plan Pro which leads you step by step as you plug in the key information. Other sites that I’ve heard about (but never been to) on the web are: American Express Small Business Exchange (www.americanexpress.com/smallbusiness); Get Smart (www.getsmart.com) which is geared to financing your business; and Association For Independent Music (www.afim.org) which is a trade organization for independent record labels (the convention every May is amazing for information and meeting regional and smaller distributors!!). If you don’t have access to the internet at the crib, you can hit any Kinko’s (it normally costs $12 an hour and $1.50 per page to print out what you want to keep) or a local library (may be free in your area) to access the web.
This series will continue in every issue of Murder Dog and will contain information on pressing, street teams, distribution, foreign licensing, overseas distribution, artist development, flow of product, retail and radio, artist imaging and more. Each issue will also answer two specific questions sent in by our readers. Although questions can not be answered individually, they should be directed to Rap Coalition at 111 East 14th Street, #339, New York, NY 10003. And remember, if you don’t own your own shit, you’re just a sharecropper.
Q. How do I do specific research on which markets to target with my project?
A. One of the helpful attributes of SoundScan is that it breaks sales figures into the top 100 markets for rap music sales, so if you want to find out how many records Goodie Mob has sold in Chicago, Atlanta, or Flint Michigan and you have a friend who works for a record label that subscribes to SoundScan or if you have good game, you can get relatively accurate numbers. This will tell you what artists, who have a similar sound to your project, are selling and what their top markets are (or at least a similar audience–for example, someone who buys Outkast might also buy Goodie Mob, so to determine where to sell a Goodie Mob album you might look at SoundScan numbers for Outkast, at least until your project begins to break in key markets and then you chase those markets). Provided your own market is realistic for the type of music you are putting out, it is important to own your own hometown market. It is important to add a couple of markets close enough to work from home, unless you can afford to spend time on the road in each market. With Crooked Lettaz we started in Jackson, MS (where the group is from), owned that market, and then expanded into Louisiana and Alabama.
Q. How do I find out what radio stations are playing my record and how do I get SoundScan to count my record sales?
A. I call this “fingerprinting.” For radio, you submit your record (in all song versions) to BDS on cassette or CD, and they count the number of the reporting stations who spin your record. The record must spin for at least two minutes in the version that’s fingerprinted, so if it’s slowed down or sped up or mixed with another song, it won’t count. Radio promotion departments at larger record labels subscribe to BDS and are able to pull up results daily of their records’ BDS. So when DJ DMD’s 25 Lighters was getting 350 spins at mix shows throughout the South, Elektra Records was able to pull up the stations and exact figures of how much play it got at each reporting station. For example, we were able to see an exact physical number of how many times The Box (KBXX) in Houston, KKDA in Dallas, and WBLX in Mobile played the song each week without physically being in each marketplace. To get your songs “fingerprinted,” send a note listing the names of each song (A side and B side of RADIO singles), the name of your record label, and the type of music that it is, with the copy of the songs you want “fingerprinted” to Broadcast Data Systems; 8100 NW 101st Terrace; Kansas City, MO 64153. It’s free to get listed and counted, but you must be a subscriber to access the results.
To be tracked at retail, you send a copy in each format you are selling (each must have its own separate bar code): vinyl, CD, and cassette, to SoundScan and they fingerprint the bar code on the packaging. It’s free to get listed and counted, but you have to be a subscriber to access the results. Every Wednesday, SoundScan updates their sales figures and those sales determine the ranking of the Billboard charts (sometimes they add radio play to determine the ranking of certain lists like the Hot R&B chart). The easiest way to be counted at SoundScan stores is to call SoundScan at 914.328.9100 and ask for a TITLE ADDITION SHEET and then fax your commercial CD, Cassette, and vinyl bar code on their special form to 914.328.0234 (this is the fax number only).
Wednesday, August 8, 2007
7th Season CD - Liquid Water Is Here
Liquid Water
Independent Records (2007)
Sound Clips1 Liquid Water
2 Ocean Of Time
3 Freeway
4 Apart From Here
5 Broken Artist
6 Control Me
7 Damaged
8 My Only Honor
9 April
10 Nine To Five
11 Machine
12 Wherever
Liquid Water is a collection of distinctive and irreplaceable songs, a work of talented musicians and clearly good friends. After their breakout album, “Fall Within,” the artists have perfected their style and are ready to give their old fans something to look forward to, and show their new fans just what they’re made of. The excitement of the performers shines through the melodic and energizing guitar solos and pumping bass riffs, while the clean and honest drum beats lead one song through to the next and leave you wanting more. This versatile rock band will nourish your interests and will surprise you with their uplifting contemporary style in a world of stamped music.
http://theseventhseason.net
info@theseventhseason.net
Press kit http://www.sonicbids.com/TheSeventhSeason
MySpace http://myspace.com/theseventhseason
CD “Liquid Water” (2007) @ Apple iTunes
CD “Liquid Water” (2007) @ amazon.com
CD “Liquid Water” (2007) @ cdbaby.com
CD “Transposition” (2006)
DVD “Transposition” (2006)
CD “Fall Within” (2003)
Sam Sparro orbits into our stratosphere like a messenger from the future
Sam Sparro Keeps the End of Summer Blues at Bay with Black & Gold
Debut EP out August 21 on Modus Vivendi Music
Sam Sparro orbits into our stratosphere like a messenger from the future sent to hold off the end of summer blues with one last wild party. As he says in the lead track “S.A.M.S.P.A.R.R.O.” of the EP Black & Gold, out August 21 on Modus Vivendi Music, he has a lot to say and a lot to do.
In “S.A.M.S.P.A.R.R.O.,” Sam blasts through the sound barrier on an incessant meladrone beat, brandishing a vocoder to synthesize his voice, shrouding the purity of his lush, soulful instrument to minimize the impact upon ears dulled by lesser pop singers. He’s the dance scene shepherd preparing to lead us to sounds and places we long to go.
And so the road is paved in Black & Gold. The journey is ours for the taking, led by the cunning musicologist out to show us a good time. Through six brisk tracks, Sam thrusts into the limelight sounds and textures at once foreign and familiar – ’70s soul grooves, ’80s freestyle beats, ’90s garage – cornerstones from the heydays of youth when idealism ruled and our personal soundtracks reflected the upward trajectory of our lives. Like a cheeky historian, Sam culls the archives of forgotten record bins and coaxes his findings in unexpected ways – creating an infectious musical soundscape loaded with sex appeal.
And soon we are enraptured, knowing full well how his heart beats.
Then he opens his mouth and the soul speaks. We are Chaka-d by the beauty of his R& B stylings, momentarily thrown back to a sugar shack in the Bayou where honey-suckled voices reigned supreme. Sam is smooth, delicious and all too good for us. “You must have thought I was a snack because your sticking to me like cling wrap,” he croons on “Cling Wrap,” knowing full well that by the time we reach this point, the penultimate track on the EP, he so has us craving more…and fearing that the party may soon end.
Jim Markunas
Digitally Gorgeous/Gorgeous PR
7551 Melrose Ave, Ste. 7
Los angeles, CA 90046
p: 323.782.9000
c: 310.926.7191
www.GorgeousPR.com
www.Myspace.com/GorgeousPR
www.MusicPlusTV.com/GorgeousPR
