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Giving away music Vs CD releases for income.
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Product_Placement
Product Placement
Started Topics :
10
Posts :
100
Posted : May 23, 2009 23:59:33
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So I'm contemplating just giving away my music for free rather than working with labels.
I guess why I'm thinking like this is that I eventually want to make a career out of it and never have to work a normal job (every artists dream) and live of the income from gigs etc.
my thoughts are as followed...
Pros for Give Aways:
Better publicity, more people will be hearing your music because they won't have to pay for it.
People are going to pirate anyway, so it might be easier not going against the grain here.
Psytrance is such a small genre that its pointless trying to make money off CD sales.
I will retain 100% ownership of the tracks even though they are made public.
More gigs because more people will be exposed to my music.
Self perpetuating advertising @ $0 cost
Pro Label
More $ CD sales, but seriously how much?
Label tag can help get you gigs
Label pays for advertising
Ok im really struggling to think of more pros here....
Anyway, would like to hear anyones thoughts on this, especially people who are established artists and are living primarily from the income from their music.
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Axis Mundi
Axis Mundi
Started Topics :
75
Posts :
1848
Posted : May 24, 2009 00:23
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I'm living in Europe now (I'm American) and thus am relying on bookings as a significant part of my income. It's going well now, but honestly there's no telling how long it will last especially when winter comes along and there are less parties. I know a few artists more well known and successful than me who have tried and failed. So I think until you're able to ask for a huge amount per booking (so you can save) I'd be cautious about putting all your eggs in this basket if I were you.
Personally I think giving your music away definitely has its benefits and I enjoy doing this but it's probably a good idea to consider releasing at least some of it on compilations and what not also. Don't just follow one road... that's my humble opinion.
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Kane
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
23
Posts :
1772
Posted : May 24, 2009 02:45
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I'm going to do it anyway. I'm not making music for other people, it's just something that I like to do. I don't like having to buy CDs just to get the full quality files that I can keep and listen to for the rest of my life. It's annoying to have to pay so much for the CD and a ton of money in shipping from Germany every time I want new music when the artist isn't getting that much from it anyway.
I saw a great alternative to this whole mess a few days ago. Someone set up a page where you can listen to the entire album (streaming or MP3 download) and get the FLAC or WAV files by making a Paypal donation. You eliminate all of the usual production costs, you can advertise by spending your time directly (myspace, facebook, PMing people here, whatever you want), and you let the people who want to support you financially pay you what they can afford to or what they think the music is worth. The most important part is that anyone can hear your work for free, very easily and legally. I would gladly give up $1,000 or so if it means another 5,000+ people will hear my work.
 You believe in the users?
Yeah, sure. If I don't have a user, then who wrote me? |
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Gaiana
Started Topics :
2
Posts :
59
Posted : May 24, 2009 13:29
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Why not do both?
Some tracks for CD releases, which are mainly promotional anyways these days, and other tracks you just "leak" into the scene.
The main point is getting the music to the people, and imho the whole concept of labels and CD releases is a bit outdated.
A lot of people don't mind paying for the music, but it is the ease of downloading which they prefer.
I think internet distribution is the way of the future, where people will pay for each individual track (once payments through internet becomes easier too.. no creditcards or paypal hassles), and the larger part of the proceeds will go straight to the artist.
www.myspace.com/gaiana_25 |
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faxinadu
Faxi Nadu / Elmooht
Started Topics :
282
Posts :
3394
Posted : May 24, 2009 13:41
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Wizack Twizack
Wizack Twizack
Started Topics :
239
Posts :
3486
Posted : May 24, 2009 13:49
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On 2009-05-24 13:29, Gaiana wrote:
Why not do both?
Some tracks for CD releases, which are mainly promotional anyways these days, and other tracks you just "leak" into the scene.
The main point is getting the music to the people, and imho the whole concept of labels and CD releases is a bit outdated.
A lot of people don't mind paying for the music, but it is the ease of downloading which they prefer.
I think internet distribution is the way of the future, where people will pay for each individual track (once payments through internet becomes easier too.. no creditcards or paypal hassles), and the larger part of the proceeds will go straight to the artist.
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yea i agree there.
the money from cd releases is small potatoes anyway, and it wont pay ur rent and bills.. and its not like u release 3-4 tracks every month anyway.. i see the releaseing part just as a funbuisniss. I rather put my music on a cd then just straight to the net. But sooner or later they all end up on the same sites anyway. If u wanna live on this, make sure u have alot of nice gigs everymonth and put all the time u have promoting yourself all over the place.
Still there is artists that wont give away their tracks cuz they spend a certen amount of hours in the studio for less then 300€ or something, cuz thats what they've been doing 4 years ago when there was more lables willing to actually pay for the music. I understand those ppl tho. But i think then u will endup with alot of tracks in ur studio only. For me its not that big deal. I rather have fun on gigs getting payed, then saving my tracks for some lable who can pay me what i have as principle
bOm..
For Contact & Bookings:
Wizack_Booking@hotmail.com
www.soundcloud.com/wizack_Twizack
New Album Out: Wizack Twizack - IV (Ovnimoon Records 2011) http://www.beatport.com/#release/wizack-twizack-iv/387698 |
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Product_Placement
Product Placement
Started Topics :
10
Posts :
100
Posted : May 24, 2009 15:02
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I see what u mean.
Although.
Im not as established yet as yourself Wizack Twizack, your name can simply sell the music, which is eventually the optimal place to be.
However, for me, I'm not quite there yet. Though, I believe I have a great collection of music (www.myspace.com/productplacementccr) but I think im just lacking the promotion needed for success that a free giveaway approach might deliver.
The way I see it is that, if gigs make far more money than releases, and releasing ur music for free will reach a larger audience including promoters, therefore more possibility for gigs.
I dunno, sometimes I think that alot to do with peoples success in the psy industry is because of pirated music, not to say I wouldn't deny I a legit release I just think maybe going with a free approach might be beneficial, like I said earlier, go with the grain of piracy not against it...
I guess then once your established, you could just sit back and not really have to worry so much about chasing labels and promoters for business. |
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Nectarios
Martian Arts
Started Topics :
187
Posts :
5292
Posted : May 24, 2009 15:44
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Quote:
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On 2009-05-23 23:59:33, Product_Placement wrote:
Pros for Give Aways:
Better publicity, more people will be hearing your music because they won't have to pay for it.
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yes
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On 2009-05-23 23:59:33, Product_Placement wrote:
People are going to pirate anyway, so it might be easier not going against the grain here. |
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yes
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On 2009-05-23 23:59:33, Product_Placement wrote:
Psytrance is such a small genre that its pointless trying to make money off CD sales. |
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yes
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On 2009-05-23 23:59:33, Product_Placement wrote:
I will retain 100% ownership of the tracks even though they are made public. |
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you would do so either way
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On 2009-05-23 23:59:33, Product_Placement wrote:
More gigs because more people will be exposed to my music. |
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if the music is good enough
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On 2009-05-23 23:59:33, Product_Placement wrote:
Self perpetuating advertising @ $0 cost
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yes
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On 2009-05-23 23:59:33, Product_Placement wrote:
Pro Label
More $ CD sales, but seriously how much? |
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the label would be lucky to break even with the cost, especially for a new artist
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On 2009-05-23 23:59:33, Product_Placement wrote:
Label tag can help get you gigs
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If your music is good enough to interest a label with a respectable name
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On 2009-05-23 23:59:33, Product_Placement wrote:
Label pays for advertising
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What better advertising than giving it away for free, but do it on a site that has the biggest draw
We released our first LP for free, simply because no one knows who we are and wanted the maximum exposure we can get at this early point. Its going well since 7877 people from all over the world have bothered to download the LP, since the 15th of April 2009 that it got released.
We also have a tune going on a compilation that you have to pay to get the CD, so we are doing both, but I don't really rate the conventional model of selling music, its all going to be free sooner or later, so its better to start exploring the benefits of giving our music away for free and working this model, into our benefit.
Just want to say that I don't want making psy-trance tunes my primary income, ever. Trance music is very personal to me and I always want to make what ever I want without worrying about fitting the profile of some label that I want to release with.
We had our first live 8 days ago, and there is interest from people I talk to on the net to play more gigs, but nothing confirmed yet, so I can't come to solid conclusions on this early stage about how good it is for gigs to give the music away for free.
And this relevant thread is a great opportunity for some more shameless self-whoring.... download our debut free LP http://www.ektoplazm.com/free-music/disco-hooligans-clear-skies/
Peace out.
http://soundcloud.com/martianarts |
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*eLliSDee*
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
40
Posts :
671
Posted : May 24, 2009 20:41
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everyone is on more or less on the same page.
i'll take the same route.
publish alot of free ones (get exposure / promote uR self).
maybe send a "respectable lable" your work. (I certainly think its good enough Product.)
for me,
i'm going to focus on doing innovative live sets. <-This is probably the best way to get people taking. maybe even cut some CDs to sell by a stand for a small amount @ the gig. spread it around.
I dont think i'll be able to quite my day job anytime soon.
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PoM
IsraTrance Full Member
Started Topics :
162
Posts :
8087
Posted : May 24, 2009 21:38
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Quote:
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On 2009-05-23 23:59:33, Product_Placement wrote:
Pros for Give Aways:
Better publicity, more people will be hearing your music because they won't have to pay for it.
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maybe i m wrong but imo selling tracks to labels such as hommega/3d vision/parvati (just to name a few )you get a LOT more exposure than giving away free tracks .
now for living from your music if it s not successfull enought don t be afraid making some comercial music just for the money, it still fun to do. |
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onionbrain
Onionbrain
Started Topics :
25
Posts :
316
Posted : May 24, 2009 22:01
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"maybe i m wrong but imo selling tracks to labels such as hommega/3d vision/parvati (just to name a few )you get a LOT more exposure than giving away free tracks . "
this is the big point. the music will spread with piracy, but releasing it associated with this label's name (or in your case, Cosmic Conspiracy) gives you a lot of exposure! |
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Product_Placement
Product Placement
Started Topics :
10
Posts :
100
Posted : May 25, 2009 07:56
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Quote:
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On 2009-05-24 22:01, onionbrain wrote:
"maybe i m wrong but imo selling tracks to labels such as hommega/3d vision/parvati (just to name a few )you get a LOT more exposure than giving away free tracks . "
this is the big point. the music will spread with piracy, but releasing it associated with this label's name (or in your case, Cosmic Conspiracy) gives you a lot of exposure!
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I guess so, but not all big labels will a) suit ur style or b) accept you to begin with.
cosmic conspiracy and electric powerpole records have been really good to me, however releases are too far inbetween as you could imagine (one every 6 - 8 months or so) and this is too slow for exposure.
maybe i just need to reach out n send more demos haha, i have been quite lazy in that respect  i think i just figure they (labels) will come to me if they like my music - im realising im wrong, if u want something u have to go get it! |
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x-rayz
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
11
Posts :
576
Posted : May 25, 2009 09:54
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Product_Placement
Product Placement
Started Topics :
10
Posts :
100
Posted : May 25, 2009 14:24
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So i signed up with http://www.audiojelly.com today, going to start uploading tracks tomorrow for an EP for sale!  lets see how it goes! ill log my process and keep u guys updated, im actually pretty excited to see how it goes! |
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Spindrift
Spindrift
Started Topics :
33
Posts :
1560
Posted : May 25, 2009 14:43
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On 2009-05-24 15:44, disco hooligans wrote:
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On 2009-05-23 23:59:33, Product_Placement wrote:
I will retain 100% ownership of the tracks even though they are made public. |
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you would do so either way
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That is hardly true.
Yes, you always own the copyright, but with most labels you sign away distribution rights to the label and usually performance rights to royalty organisations.
So you might own your tracks, but without permission you are not allowed to make a copy of your CD to a friend, sell copies yourself at a party, play the tracks in public or have the tracks in a player on your website.
I would not call that 100% ownership.
OT: I must say I very much enjoyed "clear skies"...I very rarely find morning music I really like, but your stuff is excellent...I hope it lands you lots of gigs!
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« .....www.ResonantEarth.com..... »
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http://www.myspace.com/spindriftsounds
http://www.myspace.com/resonantearth |
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