Hi, recently a visitor to the site, and I’m happy to say a new fan, emailed me his ideas on the future of the music industry in terms of distribution and marketing. Mr. Grønvik originally wrote me because he is interested in copyright law reform and I put all my music in the creative commons on my home page. I’ll post his letter here and my response to see what you think…

Per Erik Grønvik writes (with permission):

I want your view on something:

Personally I think it should be a more modern government supported hosting community regulated by law. Where the music could be rated and found easily like spotify. But with no interruptions, the possibility to download (with torrent technology lowering hosting prices), easier layout, where the artist could write his own biography and website in the hosting community. The artist could also get feedback and help with his works.

Economic View:

The artist should have his own banners and cd selling on his own part and all income form the banners/cd should go to the artist himself. Ads on front page and forum should go to maintenance and the producer help for artists which cant afford it. Its also possible to add small advertisers in the rolling text/description of the mp3 files. A legal site download allows the amount of clicks on the download to be counted and the area of the downloads can be determined so the ad only gets to a certain area. This would make businesses more eager to pay for commercials. They can also target music which is popular in the certain area. In the download-able album zips and compilations zip files  it is possible to add trailers to the next movie going on cinema or a funny entertaining commercial by some product.

Social Perspective:

Everyone that wants to can be an artist as an hobby and earn money on it. The cultural value of the material doesn’t get lost or forgotten. People in poor countries like Africa which cant afford a studio recording, song pedagogy and all these things can still put out their music and earn money on it as long as they have some access to a computer and a microphone. People get access to different cultures. The artist should of course be free of the choice to put out material on the site or not, but in future he wont be able to compete without doing this.

Im not going to write everything because it’s a complicated matter and im involing everything from text to multimillion software, but how do you agree with this point of view concerning music so far? Counter arguments of anything is greatly appreciated.

Here is my response…

For a career musician with funds or technical skill I think it is in their own best interest to own their own domain and Website. That way long term fan base and mailing list is not wrapped up in the technology of a third party. That is why I do not use myspace, facebook or twitter to promote music, only my own site and mailing list. I have no desire to contribute to corporate domination.

Just look at the slow death of traffic at myspace and how much effort millions of musicians put in to building someone else’s business that will eventually go the way of Internet dinosaurs like Yahoo’s Geocities.

I think it would be truly beneficial to offer musicians their own Web site and domain with all the needed tools to build their own assets, and not the asset owned by a government or corporation. As a Webmaster you could get a reseller account at hostgator.com and offer free webdesign and domain name in exchange for a very low monthly hosting fee like $2 or even $.50 for someone in Africa or developing nations.

So I like your basic idea of offering an easy to use, non-technical platform where artists can earn money, but I think it should be set-up as something they truly own without being at the mercy of government funds, policy changes or corporate buyouts and bankruptcies.

What do you think? Am I being overly independent here, or just practical? Since writing my original response I have given this some thought. I am actually a huge fan of the the Internet Archive and the Creative Commons which is sort of like the governmental “non-profit” idea for hosting and distribution.

Once thing is for certain… the music business is in a massive state of flux. While many are lamenting the demise of the CD and record store, I’m thinking that the Internet rocks for the average musician, no matter how you slice it.

Peace,

Dan-O

After recently looking into buying a grand piano for a friend on eBay I became amazed that you can also buy historic antique violins. In fact I think this eBay Antique Violin section is probably the one single place in the world with the largest selection and accessibility to rare instruments for the best prices. You can email me at dano@danosongs.com if you have questions or need help.

Buying antiques has always been something that is enjoyed and practiced by people the world over. Antiques collections can be of anything, from paintings, to furniture, to jewellery – and musical instruments are no exception. Violins have long been an item of interest in antique collections especially for the music lover. Buying antique violins, with its many variations from the material used to the instrument’s maker, calls for patience and a certain level of skill in discerning which violins are worth buying or not. This guide provides you with a few tips and insights on how to purchase an antique violin.

When it comes to buying an antique violin, there are several things that one must put into consideration. It is not as easy as buying an article of clothing – buying antique violins is best done when you know certain facts: who are the best violin makers? Where can you find good, quality deals? What makes one piece more expensive than another? These are just some of the things one can come across in the course of their purchase.

Let’s take a look at some of the points to be given attention to when it comes to buying an antique violin.

Luthier

In buying an antique musical instrument, the one who makes the item is always an important part to consider. Finding out who made the piece can definitely help you in determining the price that is right for the item. Here are some of the most famous luthiers:

1. Andrea Amati, born in 1511 and, in effect, was one of the earliest violin makers. Amati usually made instruments that came in pairs; one of his creations is the pair of instruments that was made during the 1960’s or 1970’s. This pair was for the court of Charles IV of France. Nowadays, very few violins of his can be found, but some can be viewed in some museums across the globe.

2. Nicolo Amati was born in 1596 and was among the great violin maker of the Amati Dynasty. Not only was he a master violin maker, he was a also a teacher of the craft to some of the great creators in time as well: Guiseppe Antonio Guarneri and Antonio Stradivardi, whose violins are still a most sought after commodity these days.

3. If you are a collector looking for really rare pieces, then you will certainly value anything from Guiseppe Antonio Guarneri. Born in 1698, this man was given the name “del Gesu” for the reason that he had signed all the violins he made with crosses. Most of his pieces deviated from his family’s method of making instruments and the result was violins that were truly in a class of their own. Nowadays, there are very few instruments by him to be found.

4. Probably the most famous violin maker in history, Antonio Stradivari was at first an apprentice to Nicolo Amati. He is the man behind Stradivarius violins. The years from 1714 to 1720 can be characterized as his “Golden Era” where he made his best work. These days, a Stradivarius violin can range from about $25,000 to over $200,000.

View these antique violin models on eBay

Of course, there were hundreds of other violin makers and it helps to do research on any name that you hear.

Sound

Another important consideration when it comes to buying antique violins is the sound that the instrument produces. A violin, no matter how finely made or restored it may be will have almost no value if the sound it creates is offensive or clearly off. It is important that it can still be played, otherwise, this will cause it to have less value.

Creation and Restoration

The methods and process of creating the violin is just as important as any other aspect you have to look at. Without a doubt, a hand-made violin will be of higher value than that which was produced in a factory. Of course, as time progressed, the levels of competency in violin making have expanded and there are more “assembly line” instruments existing as antiques. Where it was made also helps. A violin originating from the Italian city Cremona will certainly hold a high price, as it where the masters crafted their works and, to this day, is still a center for violin making. Although factory made violins may carry lower prices, you can still find good quality instruments of this kind, especially those made in Germany, America, or France.

Finding a piece by a master craftsman may be a 0% possibility, as violins from these creators are accounted for and most are in museums. Finding one with the label of a master luthier will most probably be a copy, as most tried to copy the patterns and style of the masters. These violins are patterned after the originals but though they have been fashioned this way, many of these kinds of violins hold significant value.

A lot of antique violins will have been restored and it is also important for you to determine the kind of restoration work that has been given to it. Any violin that is over 100 years old will no doubt have visited a luthier at least once. Sometimes, a violin might even be devaluated because of damages caused by an amateur luthier, so seek out professional advice on what kinds of treatment the violin has undergone.

Appraisal

If you are looking to get an opinion on the violin you are looking to buy (whether you want a fully detailed one or you just want to clarify some of your speculations on the item), it is always best to get an appraiser’s word in on the item. This will help you get a clear picture of how much the instrument is really worth and most reputable dealers will have their own appraiser at hand. Going to a local music store to get a valuation for an item is not the best way to get an accurate appraisal. It helps to gather all information that you can about the violin and share them with the appraiser. Any copies of documents that you may b able to obtain will certainly help a long way as well.

View appraised antique violin models on eBay

Buying antique violins is certainly not without the effort but the rewards of obtaining a beautiful musical masterpiece is undeniably unmatchable. Take the time to learn about the piece, ask all possible questions, and make the wisest and best investment possible.

Take care and all the best with picking out your violin!

Dan-O

I was recently helping a friend pick out a Steinway grand piano and I could not believe that you can actually get the best prices at the this eBay piano section! This prompted me to take what I found and put all the models and costs and one place for the readers of my site. You can email me at dano@danosongs.com if you have questions about buying on eBay or need help picking something out.

Steinway & Sons is renowned worldwide as the best of the best when it comes to piano making. With 150 years of history in manufacturing pianos, Steinway & Sons have a vast array of piano models each designed for different uses and environments. Knowing and purchasing the right model can be difficult with such a wide selection to choose from. This guide will provide you the information you need on the different models available in the Steinway & Sons collection, their details and specifications, and even how much used models can be bought for.

When in the market for a good grand piano, you can’t get any better than Steinway grand pianos. The problem with buying a piano is that there are so many different models that it’s hard to choose the right one when you are no expert on the instrument. So continue reading and find out what makes each model so different from any other.

Concert Grand – Model D

• Also called D Grand, this model is the most common choice among musicians and musical institutes worldwide.
• At almost nine feet in length, this imposing grand piano can reach amazing bass octaves.
• This grand piano has a length of 274 cm, a width of 156 cm, and weighs at 480 kg.
• It comes in ebonized birch with a heavy-full bodied black or clear lacquer finish and solid brass hardware.
• A used Concert Grand – Model D will go for a price around $95,000.00.

View Models for Sale

Baby Grand – Model S

• Just barely over five feet in length, this grand piano is a perfect fit for home or apartment use with little room to spare.
• This grand piano combines compactness with amazing tones.
• This grand piano has a length of 155 cm, a width of 146 cm, and weighs 252 kg.
• It comes in ebonized birch, mahogany, or walnut with a heavy-full bodied black or clear lacquer finish and solid brass hardware.
• A used Baby Grand – Model S will cost at around $21,500.00.

View Models for Sale

Parlor Grand – Model A

• Also known as A Grand, this model is designed for use in school and musical institutions.
• The grand piano is ideal for practicing recitals in limited spaces.
• This grand piano has a length of 211 cm, a width of 148 cm, and weighs 345 kg.
• It comes in ebonized beech or maple with a heavy-full bodied black finish and solid brass hardware.
• United State models come in hand-rubbed lacquer finish while Hamburg models come in clear polyester.
• A used Parlor Grand – Model A can be bought for an average price of $37,500.00.

View Models for Sale

Musical Room Grand – Model B

• Also known as B Grand, this model is designed for professional recording studios, large homes, and recital hall auditoriums.
• This grand piano takes the middle ground approach in size and tone.
• This grand piano has a length of 211 cm, a width of 148 cm, and weighs 345 kg.
• It comes in ebonized birch, mahogany, or walnut veneer over birch with a heavy-full bodied black or clear
  lacquer finish and solid brass hardware.
• A used Musical Room Grand – Model B will have prices averaging at $70,000.00.

View Models for Sale

Small Concert Grand – Model C

• Also known as C Grand, this model is considered by many to be the finest design by Steinway & Sons.
• This grand piano is ideal for small concert halls and is favored by musicians worldwide.
• This grand piano has a length of 227 cm, a width of 155 cm, and weighs 400 kg.
• It comes in ebonized beech or mahogany with a heavy-full bodied black or clear polyester lacquer finish and solid brass hardware.
• New Small Concert Grand – Model C grand pianos can only be found in Hamburg.
• A used Small Concert Grand – Model C will cost at around $50,000.00.

View Models for Sale

Medium Grand – Model M

• Also known as M Grand, this model is a good fit for any musician’s home or apartment.
• This grand piano has a length of 170 cm, a width of 147 cm, and weighs 275 kg.
• It comes in ebonized birch, mahogany, or walnut veneer over birch with a heavy-full bodied black or clear lacquer finish and solid brass hardware.
• A used Medium Grand – Model M can be bought for around $26,000.00.

View Models for Sale

Living Room Grand – Model O

• Also known as O Grand, this model caters to all technical needs and is a fine choice for any music enthusiast.
• Almost six feet in length, this grand piano is perfect for music lovers faced with space limitations.
• This grand piano has a length of 180 cm, a width of 146.5 cm, and weighs 280 kg.
• A used Living Room Grand – Model O can be typically bought at $27,000.00.

View Models for Sale

Professional Model 1098

• This upright piano features quality tones and quick response times.
• At almost four feet tall, this upright piano allows for unrestrained musical creativity.
• This upright piano has a height of 118 cm, a width of 148 cm, and weighs 218 kg.
• It comes in ebonized birch, mahogany, or walnut with a heavy-full bodied black or clear lacquer finish and solid brass hardware.
• New Professional Model 1098 upright pianos can only be found in the United States.
• A used Professional Model 1098 can usually be found for sale at around $9,500.00.

View Models for Sale

Professional Model V-125

• This upright piano is considered one of the best of Steinway & Sons upright pianos.
• This upright piano offers quality tones, durability, and stability.
• This upright piano has a height of 125 cm, a width of 152.5 cm, and weighs 267 kg.
• It comes in ebonized beech with a heavy-full bodied black or clear polyester lacquer finish and solid brass hardware.
• New Professional Model V-125 upright pianos can only be found in Hamburg.
• A used Professional Model V-125 can be bought for around $12,500.00.

View Models for Sale

Purchasing a grand piano will all boil down to space and tones. Most will sacrifice sound tones for a smaller space, but there are a few that still maintain the sound quality of larger models even with a smaller frame. Brand new grand piano prices will depend on dealers at the eBay piano section.

All the best with your piano purchase.  Like I said, contact me if you need any advice with buying on eBay if you are new to it.

Dan-O

Hey, I remember when I was looking into music schools for audio and production. Since then I have learned allot about various options and ended up recorded tons of music that I offer royalty free on my home page and writing my SongMix Method eBook. Here is a bit about some of the schools I checked out.

Pursuing a career in music and entertainment is definitely something exciting. With the growth of all the technology today, the music being produced in the industry is something completely different from the days of old – everything is fresher, of higher quality, and is always aimed to be better than the last creation. Because of this, professions in this field require the most skill from any individual working as an audio engineer or in sound production, and choosing the school to get the education from is no joke. This guide provides you with insight on the top music production schools and audio recording schools around the country to further help you with that critical, life altering decision.

Nowadays, music and sound production is already a recognized field. There are tons of career opportunities for those who are naturally interested and inclined to creating and engineering music – whether it be for musicians in their albums, scores in a movie, or the soundtrack of a commercial. In this profession, it’s all about creating something that can outdo the others before it and that all boils down to skill. But how exactly does one gain all that needed skill and training? The answer is: the education you receive.

So what exactly are those schools that are note-worthy? Here’s a few of the top music production schools open today:

1. Institute of Production and Recording

The Institute of Production and Recording started in 2002 with four founders: Terry Mhyre, Jack Robinson, Lance Sabin, and Tom Tucker, Sr. There are two core programs in the school, namely the following: Associate in Applied Science Degree Program for Music and Entertainment Business and the Associate in Applied Science Degree Program in Audio Production and Engineering. IPR also offers certification courses and programs in Digidesign which are designed to build proficiency in using Pro Tools System, and an Apple Logic Pro Certification Training to get proficient in Logic Pro.

More Details: Learn more about IPR by calling 612-375-1900 or 1-866-477-4840 toll free. IPR can be found Washington Avenue North in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

2. Musicians Institute

The institution is a music production school that offers students programs that can help build careers in the professional recording industry. MI incorporates its comprehensive, in-depth education with state of the art labs and studios. Aside from audio and music production, they also tackle post production in film and television. Studios at MI are updated, state of the art and use equipment such as Neve, SSL, DigiDesign, and Neumann.

More Details: Tuition fees vary per program and information on courses can be downloaded or ordered by calling 1-800-255-PLAY for Domestic and 1-800-462-1384 for International calls. The MI campus can be found at 6752 Hollywood Boulevard, Hollywood, California.

3. The Los Angeles Recording School

The Los Angeles Recording School began in 1985 and was at first a job training school for recording engineers. The school aims to provide its students with the best training and education on today’s industry’s constantly changing equipment and techniques through a faculty of experienced engineers and music industry professionals. The LARS program concentrates on music production, digital recording, and audio post-production for film and television. The school also allows students to attend on either a full time or part time basis, with an average of 25 or 19 hours each week, respectively. The program is available for $22,220 for domestic students and $23,220 for international students.

More Details: The LARS campus is located on 6690 Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood, California and can be reached at 888-688-5277 (toll free) or 323-464-5200.

4. Columbia Academy

Since 1967, Columbia Academy has been providing high quality education to students considering a career in the music and entertainment industry. Columbia Academy provides courses that train students in the fields of broadcasting arts, music recording, sound design, post production audio, and video and film production. The school facilities include 3 recording studios to accommodate the courses’ hand on training and practical applications. In the Columbia Academy program, students may choose between two streams, whichever suits them best – either music recording or post production for film and television. The Recording and Sound Design Program runs for 11 months (44 weeks), with supervision from instructors who have earned years of experience in sound design. The program is comprised of four modules that are made up of 80 hours of combined classroom theories, practical instruction, and supervised hand on lab/studio time. Classes run 5 times a week, 4 hours a day.

More Details: The Columbia Academy is located on 1295 West Broadway, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Admissions may be contacted at 1-800-665-9283 or through email at administration@columbia-academy.com.

Choosing who to provide you with the best education for your future career is no easy task, especially with all the audio production schools to choose from nowadays. For the serious student looking to pursue a career as a music or audio engineer, or any track in sound production, the most important thing is to find a school that offers a comprehensive curriculum and extensive training to get you experienced in all aspects of music production. And in this constantly evolving field, it is crucial to look amongst all the audio engineering schools for an institution with programs that can keep up with the changing times.

The task of choosing your music producing school is no joke. It’s an important decision that will greatly affect your future career. Read up, ask questions, call offices and make the decision that’s right for you.

I hope that helps you with choosing the best school!

Peace,

Dan-O

Hi, I offer my music royalty free under the creative commons so people can use it for background music on videos or on their myspace or facebook profile. Here is a guide on how to use my music or any MP3 in your videos.

Gone are the days when the Internet was merely for research purposes. The emergence of Web 2.0 has given Internet users a whole lot more freedom in terms of the mediums through which they can express themselves. In particular, video is increasingly becoming a focal point of Internet use. Yet, with the myriad of different innovations surrounding video technology, it is sometimes hard to figure out even the simplest of things, such as adding music to your videos. This guide provides you with simple, step-by-step instructions on how to do just that – add music tracks or background music to your videos for YouTube and other video sites.

YouTube and Google Video are two of the popular websites for video sharing, but there are also a slew of other sites where users can upload videos they create or videos they want to share, such as Metacafe and DailyMotion. Now, how do you go about adding music to the videos you upload to these sites? Read on to learn how you can do this in just several simple steps.

There is a plethora of software out there that can be used to add music to videos, such as Adobe Premiere and Final Cut Pro. But of course, not all users can afford to purchase programs like these, especially as they are geared more toward the professional user. But the regular or casual user need not despair! The good news is that there is a very useful tool that comes free with Windows, with no additional software purchases needed. Windows Movie Maker is a simple video editing application that is installed by default on Windows machines. This tool makes adding music and editing videos a breeze. Just run it and you’re good to go!

So how exactly do you add music to a video clip? It’s actually pretty simple. Here’s a guide to help you get started with adding music to your videos.

1. Run Windows Movie Maker, and open a new project.

2. Click File, and then Import into Collections (alternatively, just press “Ctrl+I”) to import the media files (videos, music, images).

3. Once the files are imported, you simply drag them onto the timeline utilized by Movie Maker (at the bottom part of the window).

• Using the timeline, users can conveniently add visual effects (such as fade-in effects) to the video, which is located on the “Video” bar.
• To add music to the current video, simple drag the appropriate music file to the “Audio/Music” bar. Using the timeline allows the user to adjust when the music will start, or synchronize it with video. You can also set the music fade in or fade out, in addition to setting volume levels (in case you want it to play more in the background)
• Users also have the option to add narration to the video, if they have a microphone connected to their system.

4. Once the music has been added, you simply save the project (usually as a new video file) in the format of your choosing.

• YouTube works with a lot of video formats, and some of the most common are .AVI files (which might be the same file type as your source video), although YouTube allows users to upload other popular video file types, such as .WMV, .MOV, MPEG, .MP4, DivX, .FLV, and .OGG files.

5. Once you have saved the project, you are now ready to upload your new video, with your own choice of music, to the video sharing site of your choice!

Adding music to your YouTube videos and videos for other sites is actually a whole lot simpler than you used to think. With a simple and easy-to-use tool, any Windows user can easily add music to their videos.

I hope you have fun with your video projects and stay in touch!

Peace,

Dan-O

Hey, lots of people use my royalty free music on Myspace, Facebook and YouTube. You can get my mp3s here and check out this guide if you want to learn how to add tracks to your profile. I also have a guide on how to add music to a youtube video.

The rise of social networking sites has allowed Internet users to connect with their friends and make new ones. These sites even allow users to share their musical preferences with their contacts. The current generation of social networking sites, such as MySpace and Facebook, allows users to add music to their individual profiles and share this with their network. If you’d like to add your favorite song to your profile, all of the information you need to do so can be found in this guide. In particular this guide lists the precise instructions for adding music to your MySpace and Facebook profiles.

The two most popular social networking sites, MySpace and Facebook, both use different methods adding music to your profile. Follow the step-by-step instructions listed here and you’ll have your favorite jams embedded into your social network site profile in no time!

Add Music to Myspace

Adding music to MySpace is pretty simple, as the site has a built-in function for sharing music.

1. First things first, log-in to MySpace and access your profile.

2. Once in your profile, click on the “Music” link. You’ll be taken to the MySpace Music page, where you can search for the background music you’re looking for.

• A multitude of genres are represented, and there are options to search by artist profile (even allowing you to search by the artist’s country, or even state), song title, etc.
• There are also options to see the top artists, music videos, and featured playlists. You can check these out too. Featured playlists are a feature that allows you to see (and listen!) to what your favourite artists and celebrities are listening to.

3. From the search results, you can play the song, add it to your profile or to a playlist, or purchase the song from AmazonMP3 (the download partner of MySpace).

• If you selected an artist’s page among the results, you can click on them to see their page, and play, add, or purchase their music from there.

4. Now you’ve got the song added to your profile, so when people check out your MySpace page, they can listen to the playlists you are sharing!

Add Music to Facebook

Facebook, on the other hand, does it a little differently. You’ll have to add a music application, such as iLike, or Last.fm, in order to play music. But it’s also pretty easy! We’ll be using iLike as the main example, as it’s also the most popular music app on Facebook.

1. From your Facebook home page, use the search function to look for the music app of your choice, or go directly to the app’s profile page (if you know what you want to use already). iLike (http://apps.facebook.com/ilike/) and Last.fm (http://apps.facebook.com/lastfmmusic/) are two of the very popular choices, and they are highly recommended.

• If you’re searching for these, from the results, click “Applications” tab to see only the apps. Look for the match, and click “View Application” to be taken to the app’s profile page.
• You’ll now be taken to the app’s home page, where you can check out a brief background on the app you’re about to use. More information about it, such as user reviews and ratings, can be found on this page. When you’re ready to add the app, click the “Go to Application” button on the upper right hand side of the page.

2. Once you’ve chosen the app you want to use (you can add both if you want!), allow the app to access your profile for it to work properly.

3. iLike lets you add songs, videos, and artists to your profile easily. Once you’ve added it, it asks you if you want a box to show up on your profile’s Wall or Info tab, or on your Boxes tab.

• Regardless of where you want it on your profile (you can also add a separate Music tab if you want), you can easily search for, and add music and artists to your profile!
• The music will be shared with your network, and anyone who visits your profile or the appropriate box can play the music, add it to their own iLike, and even purchase the song from Amazon or iTunes.

4. Using iLike’s search function, you can look for your favourite artists. The search results easily display tracks and videos from that artist, which you and your network can play, add to iLike, or purchase.

5. An additional feature of iLike is the ability to “dedicate” a song to people in your network. Simple click “Dedicate,” and follow the instructions to dedicate that track.

iLike also has several other useful features:

• The Concerts tab shows you a calendar with the schedule of gigs of your favourite artists (or your friends’ favourite artists)
• The Charts tab reflect what music is most popular on Facebook, on iLike.com, and also among users of the iLike Sidebar for iTunes/Windows Media Player, so you can see what a lot of people are listening to!
• The Free MP3s tab gives downloadable music from unsigned artists matched to your favourite artists based on the community rating system on GarageBand.com, so you can discover new music
• Quizzes are a platform for users to test their music know-how, with various topics like “name that band” quizzes, genre quizzes, etc.

5. Now that you’ve added this app to your profile, play around with it and share and discover new music with your network. Tinker around with the other customizations available, and enjoy the music!

Adding music to your social networking site is a great way to make your musical preferences known to your entire network and to make new friends who share the same taste in music as you. Simply follow the instructions provided in this guide and you’ll find that adding music to your MySpace and Facebook profile is a breeze.

I hope this helps! Let me know if you have any questions.

Peace,

Dan-O

If you are tired of sending out myspace friend requests and sending show announcements to the same old mailing list, then I put together a list of automated promotion services that let you sit back and let others do the work. There are a few excellent online companies that can get direct media exposure for your new music.

If you are wondering how to promote your music, successful online music promoters outsource and do not try to do the management of everything on their own. After doing this for a long while that is one of my best tips - use tools that do not require you to do grunt work.

MusicSubmit.com - Set up a page and upload your best tunes. Then they send out your package directly to various web-based music media. This works great if your music is top notch and fits with an internet-friendly niche like rock, pop, hip hop or techno. Seems expensive, but not so much when you compare it to postage!

Taltopia.com - Just upload your material and let the fans do the work of up grading or downgrading you.  If your good and you get enough votes you can get featured without lifting a finger. Its kind of like GarageBand.com but with a wider audience than the indie music crowd. Its one of the Websites that are free to join and participate.

OurStage.com - Fans get free music to download and can also judge which songs they like from each artist. Then the bands win prizes based on how many votes they get. This is a great way to get exposure for your independent act without having to do much other than uploading your tracks and creating a profile.

SonicBids.com - Connects bands with concert promoters and venues. They have many legitimate gigging opportunities from colleges to festivals. Like other services I list here there is a cost ($5.95 per month + submission fee), but I strongly encourage you to consider the costs of postage and your time. I have no doubt that the costs you will incur trying to track down a great gig can be much more than SonicBid’s fee. They key here is to focus on what you do best - creating and recording music - not making endless calls and trips to the post office.

Yahoo Search Ads - Trying to sell a cd or get mailing list signups? Try placing ads in search engines. Google Adwords is a crowded expensive program but Yahoo search adverstising is still cheap. You would not believe how many people search “New rock music” just to see what comes up in a search engine. Just put the right keywords in your ad and you are all set.

GoDaddy.com - Your own domain and Website should be the cornerstone of your music Web promotion - not myspace. Go Daddy customer service is excellent and a domain and hosting is just too cheap to make any excuses. Then use their hosting connection to install a Wordpress blog and use feedburner to deliver it via email. Then you have a free service to build a mailing list to sell your CD and hopefully many other products through.

The key here is to use reliable, automated marketing systems that add far more value to you than what you pay for them. Doing that can take you out of the realm of being a local musician to becoming a globally known artist all over the Web.

The key here is to direct people to your Website and build your band’s mailing list with fresh new fans who are desperate for new music. Stop promoting myspace and facebook and giving these sites free content to build their empires. Start building your own web-based indie music business. If you do give away music for free then at least get people to come to your own Website to get it!

Let me know if you have any questions about music promotion, I’d be glad to help. All the best with your music.

Peace,

Dan-O