DIGITAL DOWNLOAD FOR BLUES

Hi,
I'm an italian Blues fan and in the same time promoter too.
I think that one of the best way for promoting the blues is sale of music ONLY by digital download on web .
What do you think ?
Thanks

Tags: blues, download, web

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Permalink Reply by Jim Moody on April 11, 2009 at 1:25pm

The best way too promote music is by free music downloads on the web. It is possible to steal music via the web by anybody that has any knowledge or desire to do so. It is imposible to stop it. If your music is good and you give it away you create fans that will ultimatley buy from you whether it is through paying for digital downloads or by coming to your show. At the show you can sell you merchandise. A physical digital copy. (CD) or T-shirt or collectors edition vinyl.

I'm of the generation that likes to own a physical copy. My generation is dwindling the younger generation collects tracks stored on their Ipod or computer. If they are a true fan on an artist they want to own everything. They will download the albums the live shows the out takes. You have to create a loyal fanbase whether it is blues or alternative rock.

I agree the best way to promote the blues or music of all genre's is via the internet. I just don't think you can only sell downloads to do it. The web is the new gateway to success. You no longer need radio or TV. You need to promote the blues through the social networking sites such as Ning, Myspace, Facebook, Twitter to name a few. Giving a way a great track that is truly outstanding is a business card for your band. How are you going to know if you like it if you don't hear it. The web allows people to hear you.

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Permalink Reply by Ferdinando on April 11, 2009 at 4:31pm

You idea is the same of mine.
I've wrote "sale" because I'm sure the real best way is a marketing mix between "free" and "sale" where in this case, the price is a real popular price.
I'm a web marketing 2.0 consultant so I understand very well this "promotion way".
Social network, video sharing, audio sharing etc. are the best "instruments" for this work so I hope the artists will understand too this way.
Thanks for your post.

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Permalink Reply by Magic Mike on April 12, 2009 at 1:43pm

I agree with you Jim, anyone who wants can have anything I have and share it with anyone they want. Come to my shows. I'll survive.

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Permalink Reply by Jim Moody on April 12, 2009 at 3:46pm

There are many blues based artists growing their fanbase by the web. There are many artists that are not willing to embrace it. They don't allow taping of their shows. Audio or Video. I don't know how many artists I have discovered surfing Youtube.

I am a promoter and when I get a routing opportunity the first thing I do is check out their web presence. Myspace page views and plays. How many friends they have. Do they have an active forum. I mean is their a buzz going on among their fans. Can they get the word out via their own email list about the show.

I try to populate emails lists or use a ticketing service that will blast the show to their list. I have found that a show can sell without any traditional advertising. Niche's acts are hard to sell to the general public. I'm not selling hamburgers I'm selling a little know delacacie.

You can hope to get some press from local media outlets which is not advertising but informing. Who the artist is why you might like to see the show even if you have never heard of him. I think web marketing and public relations are even more important than a booking agent now. A booking agent can only talk an artist into a market one time. If it doesn't sell you can't buy your way back in. So the show needs to sell the first time in.

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Permalink Reply by boogie on April 13, 2009 at 3:23am

Download Blues at

www.boogiesrecordshop.com

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Permalink Reply by Kool Breeze~ on May 27, 2009 at 1:47pm

I totally agree with Jim here, it is all about networking, marketing.. TEAM work!

I know when I look at a band to feature on my radio show. I look at the same things, do they follow thru... There are many bands out here that I don't get them, they put up their pages, like reverb, they send a "form letter" saying look at me, then when I do give them a listen and write them directly for tracks, they don't reply or follow thru. HELLOooo. Why send out these form letters saying look at me, be my fan if your not going to continue the process. I have actually learn that bands that use a canned letter don't work it, so now I use my time wisely and check out the ones that take the time to write a letter/request using their on personal touch. Same goes with the add friend button on My Space, they give you a space to write something there, use it. This takes a minute to do and makes it more personal, and it sends a message that, you take things to the NEXT STEP.

As far as media support, here is my take on media.. and how the Media - Artist relationship lacks or could improve..
Frankly, I give more airplay to the artist that give the support back, this is a TWO-WAY street here guys. You can't just send me your track then never hear anything from you again.. sorry they will get lost in the list of artist that give support back.
I try to let artist know they are on my play list, not for a thank you back, but for support. Send the message out to your fan base let them know they can hear you on KCOR, or what ever the station, keep a running list on your sites for stations. Put in your "mood message" hear my new release..blah blah on Kool Breeze & Sizzlin' Blues. Put the station or DJ's banner on your page. Make a comment on the DJ's page man your show rock thanx for including me in your playlist last night... whatever, but do something!
I spend hours getting ready for my live shows, making sure all the songs blend well to the next, making notes about the artist, where they are playing, or if they have a new cd coming out, or maybe hey that riff that so and so did there at the end. Whatever it may be I work it, there is more to support than just playing a song, or sending a song.
My point here is the relationship between the DJ & Artist doesn't stop at sending or receiving a CD . Send an extra CD so the DJ can give it away to a listeners. I do a chatbox during my live show where some of the listeners & artist come to chat, I can count pretty much on one hand the bands that take the time to come say hi, bands are missing a great operatunity here to build a lifetime fan, go and say hello spend 30 mins once a month and meet the people that are listening to your music, those few minute you take out of your time just got you a lifetime fan, that will make the 200 mile trip to see you live. That will tell their friend wow I heard this great band last night and talked to them, they will be in blah blah in Oct.. You get my point.

Give away a song this is one of the BEST things you can do, listeners will download and share what they found. For DJ like myself, I can download that song and play it on my show now, and not have to deal with the pain it is sometime getting music from bands. Trust me it is a pain sometimes too, I have a long list of artist I would love to include in my shows, that I am still waiting on that CD they said they was sending 3 months ago. Haha and don't even get me started on some of the Independent Labels, that don't acknowledge or support Independent radio as a viable platform for their artist and music.
Yes, and I do agree no matter how much support you give to a DJ, Label, Promoter & Artist there are some that just don't get the big picture here, they are too wrap in what they are doing. We are all a TEAM, working towards the same goals. Ego is a LOT of this business lets not fool ourself into thinking it isn't lol but it is the humble that truly taste success!

This is just a few things that I have learn in my short time in "digital realm" I try to take what I have learn from years of experience in commercial radio, as well as singing in bands for years too and apply it to good use in making this digital experience work for all of us. Hey I am still learning here, I am old school radio from the reel2reel & vinyl days. So who says you can't teach an ole'dawg new trick lol.

We have a great tool here in front of us, there are not limits to what we can do with it, and all it cost us is some time.
Thanx this was a great blog topic!
Breeze~