Archive for: music production
In interviews with both Pharell Williams of N.E.R.D (click on the tab for videos from the 23rd of Jan) and Neptunes fame (named best producer of the 00’s) Radiohead guitarist Ed O’Brien on the Midem blog, they both talk about how the music industry is going to have to accept the way people are consuming music on the web and adapt to it, essentially that there is no sense in victimising people for file-sharing and exchanging music on the internet. Williams describes file sharing as ‘taste-testing’ for music, increasing listener base and giving musicians greater audience reach.
O’Brien likens P2P file sharing to the ‘home-taping’ of the 80’s – suggesting, like Pharell, that it is a way of introducing new listeners to your music, who will then go on to buy concert tickets, merchandise or other music products, if they really like the music. He also cites services like Spotify as the more attractive answer to the ‘deeply unsexy, utilitarian’ file sharing websites – criticising the recording industry for not moving fast enough to create services that cater to consumers taste for easy access to digital music. He also stresses the importance of connecting with your fans, ‘building your tribe’, even for huge acts like Radiohead.
It’s Ableton’s 10th anniversary this year, and to celebrate the fact (and get more people using the r software 
they’re giving a discount of 20% on the Ableton Live 8 [down from 349 to 299 Euros]and Suite 8 [down from 549 to 449 Euros], with other price drops across the rest of their range. If you’ve been putting off a purchase, now might be a good moment to go for it, although if your budget doesn’t quite stretch that far, you can get hold of a new product called Ableton Live Intro, with limited functionality but still allowing 64 tracks and 12 effects for E99. All you really need is that and an SM57 and you’re ready to record your next stripped down masterpiece for sale via our music distribution service, and it’s so affordable that there’s no excuse for ripping or torrenting it – if everyone downloaded their software and content for free then how would you sell your music?
Sound on Sound reports that “Ableton have also announced the release date for Max for as the 23rd November 2009. Max for Live is designed to bring the power of Cycling 74’s Max/MSP modular programming environment to Live users, allowing them to build their own instruments and effects. Max for Live will be available from the Ableton web shop, at a cost 249 Euros for Live 8 users, and with a discount available for Max/MSP 5 owners. An independent web-group has already appeared for Max for Live at www.maxforlive.com, and was set up by an enterprising electronic musician called Clint, soon after the announcement of Max for Live at Namm in 2008.”
A community site for independent musicians, this site has a rather home-made feel, artists submitting grainy photos and live recordings. They do seem quite an active bunch, however, and it’s another place to introduce yourself to other artists for mutual support. They publish a regular newsletter, with music industry news and self development tools for artists and producers. They also have music sales onsite, so you can punt your physical product – we’re still here for all your digital distribution needs, though…
Sony’s Acid Planet is a website primarily intended for users of their Acid software. There’s a thriving community of electronic music producers there, with contests and song battles, track downloads from site users and Sony’s featured artists, a forum and music software downloads. If you are using Acid, (the software kind) or you’re an electro, dance or other solo producer then there’s a load of help here for you, and yet another forum for you to shout about yourself and promote your music. Of course if you happen to mention that we’re doing your digital distribution for you, then that would be lovely!
RecordProduction.com is a site built for and by producers. There’s a punt-load of video interviews with famous and well respected music producers, plus video and photo tours of their studios. If you want to know how your producing idol went about getting a particular sound, or worked on a particular song, or just to sneak a look at what bits of kit they’ve got in their studio, it’s worth browsing the videos to see if they’re there. There are loads of links to production job finding sites, tips and reviews on equipmen, plus good places to buy it. There’s also a forum where jobs and kit are posted and a load of other like-minded people to kick your music production ideas around with, and ask about music distribution, marketing, tech stuff etc. Go watch some videos and recommend us around!
If you’re in a band that’s just starting out, you know all about sending last minute text reminders to your friends, relling them to turn up to your gig. If you’ve had some success then you know the power of information and marketing, and if you’ve read our self-promotion guide you’ve hopefully got a list of your fan’s contact details that you’re building as time goes by; names, emails, mobile numbers… Good for you!
Now here’s a little tool to help you make use of that laboriously collected contact list: if you live in the States, that is. www.broadtexter.com allows you to send text messages to whole lists of contacts at once, so no more scrolling through adding everyone in your phone to the send list, and it also allows them to send messages and pictures back to your broadtexter page for other fans to look at. You can schedule text alerts in advance, and select only people in a certain region or group to recieve them. What’s more, it ties in with your social network profiles (facebook, myspace, bebo, xanga etc.). A pretty powerful tool for getting in touch with your fanbase and promoting your music, gigs and merchandise. Of course, we’d love it to work for you, so we can make you more money by distributing your music and making loads of sales!
We’re going to start blogging a little more about stuff off our own site that will be useful to you guys, the contributing artists. First up is this series of online lessons from the Berklee College of Music. There are a load of tutorials on different aspects of production, using different software like ProTools, Ableton, Reason, pointers on recording specific instruments and so forth. It’s all a little basic, as they want you to sign up to study at their nice expensive college, but it’s a good place to pick up some tips if you’re starting out with a new bit of kit.
http://www.music-production-school.com/
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