Webdocs - complete with Soundcloud integration

Soundcloud announced as part of their soundcloud lab, integration with webdocs - an online document storage facility where pictures and sounds can be imported and hosted and then made into transferrable widgets like the one shown above. 

As well as being embeddable on other platforms like tumblr, blogger or you own webspace, it also features neat little app integration such as the twitter one above, or a countdown timer to your next gig. 

Check them out here:

http://www.webdoc.com

By Jez with 2 comments

How to get your music onto Beatport

If you make dance music then the chances are you've heard of "Beatport". In their own words:  "Beatport is the recognized leader in electronic dance music downloads for DJs and club music enthusiasts."  Whilst certainly not the largest online audio store they are certainly the most recognised.  They certainly have the power to make careers - with progressive house producer Deadmau5 and Steve Duda amongst those whose careers have been launched through the site.

Beatport are renowned as having a strict policy in regard to their record labels.  In order to launch a deal with them you have to either be a recognised label and have some marketing muscle behind you.  They rarely deal with "vanity labels" - those labels set up just to deal with one artist - unless you are the kind of artist who can guarantee large volumes of sales.  In addition they monitor all sales - if you're sales dip below $500 per quarter then the chances are they'll cull you from their roster.

By Jez with 59 comments

Shameless Plug: Ban this sick filth!

Indulge me if you will whilst i add a shameless plug to a new remix by one of my alter egos:  Ban This Sick Filth.

I've worked with AbandcalledQuinn before under the pseudonym Celebrity Murder Party - first under their single, the aptly named, "DIY".

ABCQ are self releasing their new single "Here's to Us" and their latest album "The Beggars Opera" on their own label Tromolo records.

A Band Called Quinn - Here's to Us - Ban this sick filth remix by banthissickfilth

This remix mashes together influences from The Specials,  Classical Composer Steve Reich and the heavy dubstep bass sound of Caspa - all with Louise's Debbie Harry-esque vocals on top.

Check out the interview and download the mp3 here:

http://peenko.blogspot.com/2010/08/scots-way-hay-30-band-called-quinn.html

By Jez with No comments

Free online mp3 hosting...

So you've written your magnum opus.  You've spent a long time recording it, mastering it, sweating over how it sounds and now you need to get it out there on the web.  You can either purchase some webspace and build your own webspace or use one of the many free mp3 hosting or distribution services.

Why host on a third party website and not your own space?    The main advantages are:

• Free - you don't have to pay hosting charges to an external company.
• Bandwidth - 1000 downloads won't impact on your own bandwidth keeping those costs low.
• Website integration - usually the hosting companies have some way for people to embed you songs on their website.
• Social networking - some of the sites such as soundcloud are integrated social networking sites in themselves allowing listeners to rate, download or connect with artists directly through the site.  You can mass mail followers and allow people to comment - enhancing your social currency.

here are some of the options currently available:

By Jez with No comments

Trent Reznor: What to do as a new / unsigned artist

In September 2009 Trent Reznor writing on the NIN forums outlined his thoughts on what unsigned bands should do if they're hankering after success in the internet age. We're using this to inform the different avenues and outlets we'll be looking into in the coming weeks. We'll also take a look at the different distribution methods and guerilla marketing techniques.

Here's what he had to say:

By Jez with 2 comments