mike@arboractive.com has shared: What websites should I be on? (Part 2)

mike@arboractive.com wanted to share this with you:

What websites should I be on? (Part 2) http://newmusicstrategies.com/2008/06/08/what-websites-should-i-be-...

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Derek Sivers: how to call attention to your music

Me and Derek Sivers are like that! (makes gesture) He gave me some great advice and I'm sharing it with you:

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Derek Sivers / CD Baby <cdbaby@cdbaby.com>
Date: Wed, May 21, 2008 at 1:55 AM
Subject: Mike - how to call attention to your music
To: atwell.mike@gmail.com


Hi Mike -

Please bookmark this link that I think is important for every musician to have:

http://sivers.org/pdf/DerekSivers.pdf

In a quick light-hearted read, you will learn:
* how to call attention to your music
* how to get in Rolling Stone or play the biggest club in town
* why persistence is polite
* how to sell an average of 5 CDs per order
* why marketing costs nothing
* how two curious words can turn your career around
* the biggest mistake most musicians make

This is my best advice to help every musician sell more music, win more fans, and have the music business open its doors for you.

I kept everything intentionally non-genre-specific, so the same tips apply to country, klezmer, and classical.

I'm always trying to make it easier for musicians to make a living making music, so I hope this helps.

--
Derek Sivers, CD Baby, HostBaby
http://sivers.org http://cdbaby.com http://hostbaby.com

P.S.  It's free to copy forever, so please save it, share it, print it, or quote it on your own site.

~ Mike Atwell
Web Producer
arborActive Web Services
http://www.arboractive.com

On Time Management...

"I don't need time. I need a deadline." - Duke Ellington

You want to get something done?

Tell 20 people you are going to do it and let them hold you accountable!

We tend to pace ourselves according to our deadlines.

"I don't need time. I need a deadline."

Online Resource for Music Marketing

Hey everyone,
Bob Baker's website http://www.bob-baker.com/ is devoted to the DIY musician. There are a bunch of other links that focus on various aspects of the DIY Market. I subscribe to the podcast, as well (find it at iTunes: 'the buzz factor'). Also, check out his eBook on MySpace Music Marketing Strategies. I really appreciate his encouraging "you can do it" tone. Always just the 'kick in the pants' that I need to move forward.

But wait...there's more...
Attached is an eBook you'll find interesting. Call it creative thinking 101...

99%20Purple%20Cows (The author encourages sharing it with others)

Be blessed! Cory

Guerrilla Music Marketing on Last.fm : recommend your music

Here's a great example of taking your music to the people!

Yeah, I'm on Last.fm and I got this music recommendation out of the blue.

Maggot Brain's strategy: Invite everyone you can to listen to your music and ... give it away

It creates a buzz!

A site like last.fm lets you recommend music to others who like that style.

If nothing else it gets the music out there!

~ Mike Atwell
Web Producer
arborActive Web Services
www.arboractive.com

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Last.fm <no-reply@mailer.last.fm>
Date: Fri, May 16, 2008 at 5:52 PM
Subject: Maggot__Brain sent you a recommendation
To: atwell.mike@gmail.com


Hi watertower2100,

Maggot__Brain at Last.fm wants to recommend this album to you:

Maggot Brain - Second Chance
http://www.last.fm/music/Maggot+Brain/Second+Chance

Personal message:
Let us recommend you an Stoner/ Grunge/ Hard Rock Band. We hope you like it, if
so, you can DOWNLOAD. Please TAG it

Thanks,
Maggot__Brain

P.S. Here's what I'm listening to:
http://www.last.fm/user/Maggot__Brain/

----------- End Forwarded Message ------------

FYI: mp3 Quality Settings

Hey there,

Ever wonder what Bitrate you should choose when creating an mp3 copy of your CDs?

the bottom line: if you want quality over economy, go with the Variable bitrate

Constant Bitrate (CBR)
This is the default encoding mode, and also the most basic. In this mode, the bitrate will be the same for the whole file. It means that each part of your mp3 file will be using the same number of bits. The musical passage beeing a difficult one to encode or an easy one, the encoder will use the same bitrate, so the quality of your mp3 is variable. Complex parts will be of a lower quality than the easiest ones. The main advantage is that the final files size won't change and can be accurately predicted.

Average Bitrate (ABR)
In this mode, you choose the encoder will maintain an average bitrate while using higher bitrates for the parts of your music that need more bits. The result will be of higher quality than CBR encoding but the average file size will remain predictible, so this mode is highly recommended over CBR. This encoding mode is similar to what is referred as vbr in AAC or Liquid Audio (2 other compression technologies).

Variable bitrate (VBR)
In this mode, you choose the desired quality on a sqale from 9 (lowest quality/biggest distortion) to 0 (highest quality/lowest distortion). Then encoder tries to maintain the given quality in the whole file by choosing the optimal number of bits to spend for each part of your music. The main advantage is that you are able to specify the quality level that you want to reach, but the inconvenient is that the final file size is totally unpredictable.

~ Mike Atwell
Web Producer
arborActive Web Services
www.arboractive.com

FastForward: Digital Downloads

From joedai!

	Table of contents: Indie Does Digital Digital Download Glossary IMWS Studio Spotlight Spotlight: Indie-Music.com Sell your music on DigStation IMWS Northeast Winner Crowned Need CDs for the holidays? Get a FREE Catalog!
A recent report indicates that digital download sales are up 106% from last year, represent 11% of music sales worldwide, and add up to $945 million. Digital distribution is big money, and when labels see a loss of revenue from a product they own the rights to, they will try to find ways to recoup and limit their losses. The issue of digital downloads is also a hot topic among independent artists, though the conversation has a different timbre. The indie argument centers more on the value of publicity versus lost revenue. Independent artists, as a general rule, have a grassroots revenue stream: gig revenue combined with CD, t-shirt, and merch sales represent a large bulk of the money an independent musician can hope to earn, and most of these sales come through hand-to-hand sales at gigs. Certainly CD sales through web storefronts and band web sites can play a significant role in sales, but indie artists often have little to lose when it comes to digital piracy. For most indie artists, the goal is to increase awareness, attract fans, and create a buzz. Read the full article here Digital Download Glossary Learn to speak digital DRM or Digital Rights Management: Any of several technologies used by publishers (or copyright owners) to control access to and usage of digital data (such as software, music, movies, etc.) and hardware, handling usage restrictions associated with a specific instance of a digital work. DRM techniques include Microsoft's PlaysForSure, Apple's FairPlay, watermarking, and fingerprinting. Most internet music stores employ DRM to restrict the usage of music purchased and downloaded online. Read the full glossary here IMWS Studio Profile: Northeast '06 Big Sky Audio October 1, 2006 marked Big Sky Audio's 15th anniversary, and finds owner Drew Raison enthusiastic about what's lined up for the future. Prospective Broadway deals have the potential to change the landscape of the studio's business model, and the current spate of projects keeps Raison optimistic and proud of Big Sky's ability to remain a recording facility catering almost exclusively to music production. Read the full profile here Fast Forward Spotlight Build A Buzz at Indie-Music.com Since 1996, Indie-Music.com has been serving the independent music community with streaming audio, podcasts, reviews, a huge industry search directory, and success-building resources. The web site offers a wealth of information to artists trying to survive and thrive in today's competitive music industry. Learn more at Indie-Music.com
We've taken the liberty to send this to you at peterjoe@gvsu.edu because you volunteered this address to us. If you have received this message in error, we apologize. To be removed from this mailing list, click here. This is an automated mailing. Responding to this email will result in an error. Please direct any questions or comments to questions@discmakers.com.
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FastForward: Back to School

from joedai:

	Table of contents: What I Learned at Grammy Camp From Indie Rocker to NY Doll IMWS Southeast Studo Sponsor IMWS News Flash Selling downloads just got indie Get a FREE Catalog!
This year marked the second annual Grammy Camp, a 17-day interactive experience held in July in the Los Angeles area. A group of 77 students, ages 15-19, assembled on the campus of Citrus College and other local venues. As the business guy, I presented a seminar called Doing the Numbers: Setting Realistic Personal and Financial Goals in the Music Business. We also did an exercise to set goals in three critical areas: creative, financial, and personal. Here are some memorable examples (paraphrased): I want to write 50 new songs in the next six months I want to make music my career I want to balance my life so I don't get burned out on music That last point struck a chord with me, and it raises a pertinent question: How do you stay involved with music as a career without getting jaded, tired, spoiled, frustrated, or worse? Read the full article here 6 Degrees of Steve Conte From indie rocker to New York Doll A quick glimpse at Steve Conte's musical resume doesn't give him away as a struggling indie artist. He was signed to Mercury Records with Company of Wolves; he's recorded with Maceo Parker, Billy Squier, and Peter Wolf, among others; he's been Paul Simon's rehearsal body double; he's toured with Willie Nile (among others); and he's currently a member of the resurrected and critically embraced New York Dolls, accented with four writing credits on the Dolls' new album. Read the full article here IMWS Studio Profile: Southeast '06 Ledge 7 Studios Tony Copley, who owns and operates Ledge 7 Studios in Dallas, GA, is working to establish more than just a local studio that caters to independent artists. With the Ledge 7 Entertainment Group, Copley is developing an integrated model that combines the studio, a management arm, and a record label. Read the full article here Disc Makers-TAXI Seminar Winner Congratulations to Lee Bailey and Delonso Barnes, winners of the Disc Makers/Taxi Roadshow Giveaway. Lee and Delonso each won airfare, lodging and admission to the 2006 Taxi Road Rally in Hollywood CA.
We've taken the liberty to send this to you at peterjoe@gvsu.edu because you volunteered this address to us. If you have received this message in error, we apologize. To be removed from this mailing list, click here. This is an automated mailing. Responding to this email will result in an error. Please direct any questions or comments to questions@discmakers.com.
7905 N. Rte 130, Pennsauken, NJ 08110 2006 Disc Makers, 1-866-249-2373, http://www.discmakers.com/