DiY Report #78

November 9, 1998

Independent music promotion.

NOTE: This is published here for archival purposes. Most of the links, contacts and activities are historical (not active). -briyan 2023

NOTES

It’s hot. It’s really, really, hot.

PROMOTING YOURSELF

by Bryan Baker, GAJOOB Media

We are defining the future of independent music today. This is a unique period for independent musicians. With so many new avenues for promotion being open before us, it is suddenly in our own hands how music will be heard in the future. It will surely be different than it is today, but it will remain, as always, that those who work hard at getting heard will be the ones who are heard. It’s an old saying, but the squeaky wheel gets the grease. Keep your eyes open though, ‘cos it might not be the kind of grease you want.

Another old saying, “If you build it, they will come,” is complete crap, however. I hear from artists all the time about how they made their CD only to have a thousand copies sit gathering dust in a closet. Some of you may say that it’s simply the creating that matters. It makes no difference whether 1 or 1 million people hear your sounds. But I figure that artistic expression craves an audience for completion. Although it surely doesn’t follow that the greater the audience, the better the Art; I think that any artistic expression still craves an expanding audience.

I think those of you who create this stuff know what I mean and that’s why you’re reading this newsletter. GAJOOB exists to help you find an audience. I believe your audience is out there, you’ve just got to work to find it.

Finding your audience is not really any easier than it has been before, it’s just that the audience is more accessible to the average artist. More and better media are in our hands but we’ve still got to learn to implement them. And even if Art may abhor competition, the fact of the matter is that with thousands of artists all negotiating the complexities of promoting their own work, you’ve somehow got to find a way to have yours heard above it all. There are hundreds (probably thousands) of things you can do to promote your music right now. Most cost very little to implement and are within the reach of most of us, but necessarily doing more and more is gonna cost you. And the quantity is overwhelming.

And there’s the question of time. Who has the time to do all this? It’s a full-time job and more, isn’t it? Most of us have to deal with a “real job” on top of it all so there’s even more of a juggling act involved and it must really be impossible after all. Right?

Probably. I mean, let’s face it. How many musicians really make it? How many go from craving an audience to vice versa — the audience craving the music? Very, very few. But the overwhelming task and the even more impossibly overwhelming odds don’t matter when something inside you speaks and must be heard.

In future issues we will be looking hard at promotional markets, tools, alternative marketing methods and more. There will be more first-hand accounts of my own musical doings (maybe you can learn from all my stupid mistakes). Those of you visiting gajoob.com will see a more aggressive approach to music marketing there as well. It’s all about attracting your audience by learning about the available tools, accessing the various markets and succeeding on your own terms.

NEWS — ACTIVITIES — CONTACTS

ZENDIQ release INDIAN FIRE via the Internet. Fusion rock band Zendiq of Derby, England invite you to download free tracks from their self-produced album, now available in Real Audio format from the PLANET DADA STUDIOS website at:- http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/dragonheart. E-mail: Dragonheart@compuserve.com. Zendiq features Sean Woodward who is the Artist in Residence at PLANET DADA STUDIOS and also ARTIST OF THE MONTH at http://www.blindfrog.com.

Indie Productions is seeking a few more advertisers for their indie music catalogue/zine coming out in December. This is a great chance to get your band or company some added exposure for a low cost. Please visit http://www.ivs.net/indieproductions/ for our low ad rates. Anyone that purchases an ad before November 15th gets FREE URL submission to 500 search engines and links sites. You also get free URL submission when you join our discussion mailing list at http://www.onelist.com/subscribe.cgi/indieproductions so please stop by and join today. It’s FREE. Any bands interested in getting in our catalogue can submit a CD and press kit or bio to: Indie Productions, Catalogue Submissions, P.O. Box 507, North Uxbridge, MA 01538-0507.

http://www.alternativetentacles.com/ is here!!! Feel the need to get some great albums and annoy all your friends, relatives, congressmen, police, etc? The Alternative Tentacles Internet Invasion is here. Jello Biafra’s (of Dead Kennedys fame) record label now has a brand new website with secure online ordering, a huge bands section, a massive gallery, real audio song clips and more.

Musician would meet musicians. The way of a musician is often compared with a combatant’s one: He’s sometimes accompanied on scene by barbarians with deafened ears, who have forgotten nuances and harmony. No panic! You can leave frustration: explore your musical horizon and meet musicians of the whole world. to continue : http://www.mysic.com/gb/musicians.html. mysic, french meta-zine for musiclovers and musicians http://www.mysic.com.

Check out http://www.marcusmusic.com for Marcus Hicks’ Debut CD Release titled “Listen”. The site features song clips (real audio & .wav), CD art, studio photo, Equipment list, lyrics, information about the making of each song, purchase CD via mail order and secure credit card, reviews and more. Marcus is seeking other Indpendent sites/Artists to link to. Please either sign the guestbook (ie Fan Club) or send me an email if interested.

Hal Bringman Public Relations has launched an online networking area for members of the music and media industries, as well as for the general public. Insiderz.com offers two types of message boards — one for entertainment enthusiasts who have something to rant and rave about, the other for professionals looking to share information, gossip and industry digs, a la online music industry hangout and main competitor, the Velvet Rope. The general admission area provides music fans with the opportunity to spout off about their favorite, or least favorite, artists, as well as a chance tolearn about web sites and music showcases at the “Hype with Mite” section. Additionally, these visitors will have access to an employment section, and a gig listing service. Industry insiders who want to take advantage of the restricted areas need to apply for a password by filling out a user profile, providing a valid email address and waiting to find out whether their application has been approved. Upon approval, they will be able to read and post messages relevant to their fields of interest, unencumbered by administrative tools that restrict the free flow of information, according to Hal Bringman, Insiderz.com’s founder and principal of Hal Bringman Public Relations. The site promises that this area will be uncensored, and will allow members the chance to “take cheapshots and generally let it all hang out.” Operating under the slogan, “The buzz starts here,” the site provides visitors and members with the necessary anonymity to freely exchange ideas and swapinformation, according to Bringman.

The book “Music Law: How To Run Your Band’s Business”, published by Nolo Press contains forms for band agreements and many others.

Check out the FAQ on Adaptec’s (maker of Easy CD Creator) WEB page. It deals with how inproper digial audio extraction can cause a CD-R to sound bad in some people’s CD-ROMs http://www.adaptec.com/support/faqs/daeproblems.html

An invitation from Christopher Marz, Associate Editor of Mixx Magazine. I would like to cordially invite you to try the InterMixx MusicList! It’s FREE! The InterMixx MusicList is a global interactive email discussion group. It features many hundreds of members from the music industry such as Musicians, Managers, Publishers, Publicists, Entertainment Attorneys, Recording Studio owners, CD Manufacturers, A&R Reps, Promoters, Producers, and many, many more! The InterMixx MusicList is an instantaneous means of communication with key industry people on a daily basis. Your responses are automatically sent to all members by our powerful, specially modified listserv software, and it’s as easy as answering any email! We have configured the InterMixx MusicList to keep your email address confidential. You will be identified only by your name, unless you choose to publicize your contact info. This allows for extremely effective, immediate internetworking with people who would otherwise be almost inaccessible!!! Choose a regular membership and receive individual posts throughout the day, instantly! Or choose the Digest version to cut down on email traffic, and receive only one large post per day with all the day’s messages compiled for you! Get legal advice, contact info for clubs and music businesses,references for possible business associates and advice on your career. Trade valuable suggestions about all aspects of the music industry, recording tips, networking tips, important articles, emotional support, and more. Enjoy special discounts from Mixx Magazine and many of ourmembers such as Neato Label Maker, Sheppard Recording, Disc Makers and Superdups, to name only a few. Promote your band or business! Make valuable contacts and gain new clients, promote your upcoming shows, report on your recent recording endeavors, collect important contact info! The instantaneous communication to such a targeted group of people afforded by the MusicList is priceless… YET IT’S FREE TO TRY FOR TWO WHOLE MONTHS!!! If you are interested in joining the InterMixx MusicList, please reply to :MixxMag@InterMixx.com or surf to the InterMixx Webzine for more info at http://www.InterMixx.com.

CD KING! 1-50 CD Copies w/jewel case $5.00ea. 51-100 CD Copies w/jewel Case $4.00ea. 74min/650mb ea. CD No Minimum! Transfer from: CD, CD-R, DAT, Cassette, vinyl. You insert your own graphics and info. Call 804.648.0364.

I thought I would pass on some info and our web addy. I started this consordium about 2 weeks ago and have over 110 artists “joined”! We are always looking for more members and support. We have 5 CD compilations in “Bash & Pop”, “Heavy Ultra”, “Rap”, “Jazz” and the almighty “Techno” edition! Please if you can tell us what you think and if you all want; join. I would love to do some cross promotions too! Contact: Flo, Public Relations/Marketing Manager, 52nd stream media’s ArtistsUnitedAgainstInjustice. TO REGISTER TO BE THE FIRST KID ON THE BLOCK TO GET A FREE DIAMONDMM RIO MP3 PLAYER! goto: http://www.netcom.com/~towilflo/52.htm, Please follow the DiamondMM link 52 Times!

Just wanted to let you know that I have a web site for independent bands and musicians called Band+Aid. The address is http://members.xoom.com/BandAid. It contains band links, upcoming gigs, sound clips, classifieds, club lists, etc…

Shareware Music Machine (http://www.hitsquad.com/smm/) has expanded its range of music software and now has more than 1,500 titles you can download for free. As part of the expansion of what was already a huge site with over 12,000 web pages, Shareware Music Machine has expanded to providing news coverage of music software and related topics, so now you can find almost anything you need all on one site. An exciting feature of the news service is that you can submit an instant response or “letter to the editor” on any story and it appears right below the article on thesame page as soon as you hit the submit button without fear of an editorial interference – this makes for some very interesting responses.

We’re currently hosting The Wabbit Wadio Song Xchange: http://www.tagyerit.com/xchange.htm in real audio. The program offers anyone with 1 or 2 real audio files the opportunity to be added to the playlist by submitting the url location of the ra or rm file. Bands can visit the site to see how this works or email me at rich@tagyerit.com with the following information: your band name, band url, # 1 song title, real audio .rm (or .ra) url, brief song or band description, # 2 song title, real audio .rm (or .ra) url, brief song or band description.

bhoss’ song “1000 Years” (off the album “Trust Me” – you know, the one with the bolt) was featured this week in the WB network show “Hyperion Bay”. Contact: Deonne Kahler, bhoss, PO Box 40897, San Francisco, CA 94140-0897; voice/fax 510/758-7314; actionpatch@earthlink.net.

On Edge is a DIY punk band out of the Baltimore MD area. They have been together for about 2 years and have played in various MD clubs. You can check out sound clips at http://www.angelfire.com/md/OnEdge. Email: onedge@angelfire.com.

NO TYPE DRONES RELEASES TWO FULL-LENGTH ALBUMS IN MP3 FORMAT. This is the second press release from No Type. We have new albums up on the site & we’d like you to take a look. It seems like this whole MP3 thing is a new concept for a lot of people. But hey, weren’t we a bit skeptical when we first encountered compact discs? If you want to know how it works, just ask me. Also,don’t hesitate to contact me if you need any additional information on the label or one of our artists. I’ll be happy to answer any of your questions. Contact: David Turgeon, eerie@mnemonic.net; http://www.notype.com; phone: (418) 849-5760 . No Type is a contingent of artists from Canada and the United States, aiming to use the Web as a medium for free artistic experimentation. Although music is the current focus right now, literature and visual arts will soon also be represented on the site.

Check out our band, based in NYC – “The Messyheads” ( featuring John Connor of “The Golden Horde” & Emmaline Duffy-Fallon of “Engine Alley” both bands previously on U2’s Mother/Island Records.) for Audio (samples, links & clips), Bio/Info, Acoustic/Electric shows & more go to – http://members.aol.com/messyheads/messyheads.html.

due to the fact that radio pretty much sucks everywhere you go these days, we’ve taken it upon ourselves to start our own radio station. So, if you feel like checking out some cool music, head over to http://www.daisyradio.com.

Here’s the address of a new progressive rock label : http://members.xoom.com/Galileo_Rec/.

overhear is a new resource for Toronto and area indie artists. Find clubs that have open stage nights, indie record labels, college radio contacts and other resources to help promote your work. The artist listings range from one page pointing to your website, or a full listing with bio, song samples, lyrics, and a listing of upcoming performances. For details: http://www.overhear.com.

Songwriters and Recording Artists: Expose your talent to the music industry and the buying public worldwide in the World-Wide Record Gallery and the DemoZone. http://www.nashvilleinsider.com

Songwriters: Have your material demoed by a #1 award-winning music industry professional. for details visit: http://sony.inergy.com/SongDemo.

We are looking for independent composer/recording artists in the Greater Toronto area, Niagara Peninsula and Southwestern Ontario whose music can be classified as progressive or instrumental rock. We are forming an alliance to focus on marketing strategies – pooling resources and talentfor live performance. We are also seeking support musicians. Contact Steve Cochrane, Spirit Compass Music, Alliance of Independent Composer/Recording Artists, spiritcompass@globalserve.net, http://www.globalserve.net/~spiritcompass

You can find an article by Derek Sivers of CDBaby called “How to Trademark Your band name” at this website: http://www.hitme.net/useful/.

Serge Entertainment PR gives you access to all of the music industry’s top publishers, editors and journalists in print, broadcast and the Internet. We position you for success!! Visit our web site at http://www.serge.org/sepr.htm.

Audio Manufacturing and Printing are nothing new to us. AccuPress has been providing “Major Label” quality audio products to individuals and record companies for over 20 years. Our sales reps, design and production personnel will speak to you first hand to assure you that your finished project is as you imagined. Our CDs are manufactured using the latest mastering, stamping, and color screening equipment. Our cassettes are replicated by the highest qualified people in the business, using the latest duplication equipment. We guarantee our product 100% from defects within commercial standards. No need to send your project to various places from beginning to completion. AccuPress does it all. We would consider it an honor to help you turn your studio master into a project you can be proud of. CALL ACCUPRESS – 318-363-2104 or email: stuart@accupress.com.

There is a new issue of FREE AGENT available on the web… http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/mredacted. Issue #6 features MIKE ERRICO, KEVIN SLICK and JIM SHELLEY.

Musicians and industry professionals alike might be interested in a new book due in stores in November entitled “They Fought The Law – Rock Music Goes to Court”. The book has been described as Perry Mason-meets-Bill Joel in an account of the most famous lawsuits in rock history. Author Stan Soocher traces the difficulties rockers have faced in dealing with bad contracts, personnel problems, litigious fans, and crooked managers and accountants. The book pulls back the veil on the often shady business practices that characterize the rock world – and shows how some courageous artists have fought the system and won. Some of the stories include how Elvis’ estate battled against his longtime manager Colonel Tom Parker; how, for a decade, the Beatles fought their record label Capitol Records over millions of dollars in alleged royalties underpayments; George Harrison’s fight in the 1990’s against his ex-manager, Denis O’Brien; as well as lawsuits involving Michael Jackson, Judas Priest, Ozzy Osbourne, Roy Orbison, Billy Joel, the Shirelles, George Michael and more. More info is available at http://www.theyfaultthelaw.com.

Musician Magazine has announced the launch of the 1999 Best Unsigned Band Competition a/k/a the BUB open to all unsigned bands and artist of all genres who are urged to submit a two-song cassette to be judged by a preliminary panel of editors and writers of major music publications. Six finalists will then be submitted to a panel of music executive industry experts. All entries must be postmarked by December 31, 1998. For more information or an entry form, visit Musician’s web site at http://www.musicianmag.com.

Alexei Skorzov of Khabarovsk, Russia is seeking music news and CDs to augment his radio program in Russia. You can email Alexei at Skorzov@master.khv.ru for more info and an address to send your material to for airplay.

There is a new jazz web site headed up by jazz musicians and businessmen which has quickly become the definitive resource for the San Francisco Bay Area’s jazz scene and culture. The site is run by Jeff Bordes, John Van Berkum and Darren Phillips who have over 30 years combined experience in music, sales, marketing, pr, journalism, retail, instruction and performance. It features CDreviews, concert calendars, links, feature articles and interviews on jazz artists, both local and national. You can find the site at http://www.bayjazz.com. Email: dphillips@bayjazz.com.

YGMTV is looking for mostly Punk music videos to show in New York City. Send all VHS tapes to: YGMTV, PO Box 589, NY, NY 10014.

JOIN THE INTERMIXX MUSICLIST. Want to have the ears of HUNDREDS of local and regional musicians and music industry professionals every day? Join the InterMixx MusicList! It’s FREE and all you need is email! The InterMixx MusicList is like a 24-7 Music Seminar! Featuring hundreds of musicians, A&R Reps, Managers, Promoters, Entertainment Attorneys, Recording Studio Owners etc… Get legal advice, promotional tips, advertising advice, emotional support, recording info, AND promote your gigs and CD releases to the industry pros! Call 1 800 MIXX MAG or just surf to http://www.InterMixx.com

“What I Hate About Recording: Producers and engineers who use meaningless words to make their clients think they know what’s going on. Words like “punchy,” “warm,” “groove,” “vibe,” “feel.” Especially “punchy” and “warm.” Every time I hear those words, I want to throttle somebody.” (Taken from http://www.sanctionmusic.com/sanction/albini.html.)

There is an unbelievable Indie resource called In You Eye located at http://www.inyoureye.com/directory.html which has a database of labels, zines, radio stations, and clubs in the US that are Indie Friendly. You can search by state and genre of music among other things. Definitely worth checking out.

Kids Internet Radio (PO Box 1801, Idyllwild, CA 92549; (909) 659-2308) can be found at http://www.kir.org.

San Diego Writers has info on classes, readings, links to writing related web sites and are looking for more stuff. We’re also adding a Locals Only section for local writers, editors, etc. If you’re out there, check out http://www.sandiegowriters.org.

Small Publisher’s Co-oP can handle both newsprint and white stock paper. They do b&w glossy covers as well. They also do spot colors. Here’s the website for them. It’s quite dated but gives you the basic idea with them, and Scott does answer his email quickly for more info. Here’s the website address… http://www.spco-op.com/

Intellektual Spew ‘zine Web Site: http://members.xoom.com/IntSpew/. #5 is out!!! It features interviews completed with: Incantation, Pessimist, Morticite, And Oceans, Brutalized ‘zine, Sculptured, Damaged, Mental Home, Avulsed, Boobie Hatch, Assück, Rotten Sound, Martyr, Arch Enemy, Odes of Ecstasy, Deaden, The End Records and Scepter. First 25 get a The End Records compilation CD with their order of #5.

WTTU’s Metal Work…Extremity on the Radio Air Waves: http://www.cookeville.com/users/bart/index.html.

REVIEWS

Me & Jeremy

May Day, May Day

For those of you in an endless pursuit and crafty guitar pop, overloaded with melody and thoroughly engaging songs you can play reputably, finding yourself humming the tunes throughout the day, this’ll do the job just fine. Me & Jeremy has an unaffected affectation (if that makes any sense) that fits perfect. Someone even said one of their songs reminded them of the Scooby Doo theme songs. Good stuff! [MEDIUM: CD. PRICE: ?. TRADE: No. CONTACT: Mark Houlihan, Me & Jeremy, 1001 24th St., Watervliet, NY 12189, USA; PHONE: 518-273-7657; EMAIL: mhoulih2@nycap.rr.com; URL: http://www.meandjeremy.com.]

JMundok

Artichoke

I keep wanting to play this one again (I’m on round 5 now), ‘cos I know there’s much more here than meets a first impression. Influences I hear are Pink Floyd, Peter Gabriel, and the other guy who calls himself J (Shrimper-type songwriter stuff). Honest alienation crawling back to a womb that’s never there. J’s album has a definite hometaper feel, although only some of it was recorded on his 4-track at home; and Susanne is a strong presence of keyboards and Xylophone (vocals too?). “You and Me” is my favorite of a bunch of tracks you can take home and call your very, very own (it’s personal, ya know). Put JMundok on your list of must-haves. [MEDIUM: CD. PRICE: $10ppd checks payable to J Mundok. TRADE: Query. CONTACT: Jack Kettle Records, PO Box 955, Murfreesboro, TN 37133, USA; PHONE: 615-220-1144; EMAIL: kettle@mindspring.com; URL: http://www.mindspring.com/~kettle.]

EHI, Hal McGee, Separation

Homemade Alien Music

Those familiar with the work of these three artists will find this CD offers no surprises, rather it gives many of us longtime fans a sonic blast on pristine compact disc format (although McGee’s tapes have always maintained impeccable standards). The sounds here team with distortion, humming, ringing feedback and space-time delirium artifacts that may or may not be homemade, may or may not be alien and may or may not be music. [MEDIUM: CD. PRICE: $8.00. TRADE: Yes. CONTACT: Hal McGee / HalTapes, 1909 SW 42 Way, Apt. E, Gainesville, FL 32607, USA; PHONE: 904-336-7915; EMAIL: hal6963@aol.com.]

Anthony Rochester

Greatest Hits and Memories – LIVE!

This one’s not a live recording, despite the title; just the sounds you get when you squeeze the sonic juices from one Anthony Rochester. Firmly in the lo-fi pop domain and taunting us with ripe instrumental breaks here and there, all while delivering some crafty songs with enough diversity and playful invention to make it all very interesting. I’m saying to myself, “Can’t wait to hear some more.” [MEDIUM: cassette. PRICE: ?. TRADE: No. CONTACT: Anthony Rochester, 36 Baynton St., Kingston 7050, Tasmania, Australia; EMAIL: arochest@postoffice.utas.edu.au; URL: http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Arena/4174.]

Kevin Slick & Kevin Dremel

Lullaby Music

Kevin Slick has been making a huge assortment of independent recordings down through the years. Like many longtime hometapers with a large catalog of releases, you find all sorts of influences throughout his many tapes and CD’s. This CD was recorded with Kevin Dremel on vocals (Slick plays the remaining instruments) and is just a real pleasure from start to finish. The CD evolves around a musical theme and carries a strong Far Eastern influence, while Slick’s soft acoustic guitar is plucked and easily comforts. Perfect for a child’s nighttime slumber (or yours). High recommendation. [MEDIUM: CD. PRICE: ?. TRADE: No. CONTACT: Kevin Slick, Nu Vu Du, 23 S. Princeton Ave. , Swarthmore, PA 19081, USA; PHONE: 610-338-0564; EMAIL: zslick@aol.com.]

Cubic Feet

Inside Rail

Cubic Feet combines a natural sort of heavy guitar rock with bits of rockabilly, twang and other roots rock to come up with something definitely refereshing. Mark Davison’s vocals are strong and carry the songs along with Woody Lissauer’s dead-on guitar chops. If you like roots rock with a modern sound, Cubic Feet delivers. [MEDIUM: CD. PRICE: ?. TRADE: No. CONTACT: Meteor Records, PO Box 387, Brooklandville, MD 21022, USA; PHONE: 410-252-2094; FAX: 410-252-2218.]