Comments on: How's this for a new model? http://www.newmusicstrategies.com/2007/11/21/hows-this-for-a-new-model/ Music culture, strategy and thinking in the digital age Tue, 16 Mar 2010 14:40:06 +0000 hourly 1 By: Marc Chapter 9 http://www.newmusicstrategies.com/2007/11/21/hows-this-for-a-new-model/comment-page-1/#comment-1314 Marc Chapter 9 Fri, 21 Dec 2007 09:37:35 +0000 http://newmusicstrategies.com/2007/11/21/hows-this-for-a-new-model/#comment-1314 You still have an option with archive.org... You upload the files up there and leave them free for download?! You still have an option with archive.org…
You upload the files up there and leave them free for download?!

]]> By: Tom Cosm http://www.newmusicstrategies.com/2007/11/21/hows-this-for-a-new-model/comment-page-1/#comment-1315 Tom Cosm Fri, 14 Dec 2007 00:55:21 +0000 http://newmusicstrategies.com/2007/11/21/hows-this-for-a-new-model/#comment-1315 I don't think bandwidth costs are a realistic issue these days, I use http://www.bluehost.com and pay around 7us a month for 2048000 MB of bandwidth (and the same amount for storage space). I make my latest three songs available for direct link download at the top of my homepage, and these songs usually get between 3-4000 unique downloads per month, I can afford $7 a month for that kind of distribution - no problem. My back catalogue is available only to registered users (free and easy) which is to make sure the bulk of my music is only downloaded by those actively seeking it. The top three tunes do a very good job of grabbing peoples interest, and of course I encourage new users to pass the link/tune on if they enjoy it. I also offer other media, such as tutorial videos and Ableton Live "packs" ( http://www.ableton.com ) which can be up to 100 meg each, again all for free.. and I have only exceeded my cap once, when I had close to 7000 downloads of my first Ableton Live pack which was made freely available to those looking to jump start into the world of live laptop performance. That was one of the best promotional moves I have ever made, and it was worth the excess data 100 times over. So, I don't think bandwidth costs is a valid excuse for not direct linking high quality music. -Tom http://www.cosm.co.nz I don’t think bandwidth costs are a realistic issue these days, I use http://www.bluehost.com and pay around 7us a month for 2048000 MB of bandwidth (and the same amount for storage space).

I make my latest three songs available for direct link download at the top of my homepage, and these songs usually get between 3-4000 unique downloads per month, I can afford $7 a month for that kind of distribution – no problem.

My back catalogue is available only to registered users (free and easy) which is to make sure the bulk of my music is only downloaded by those actively seeking it. The top three tunes do a very good job of grabbing peoples interest, and of course I encourage new users to pass the link/tune on if they enjoy it.

I also offer other media, such as tutorial videos and Ableton Live “packs” ( http://www.ableton.com ) which can be up to 100 meg each, again all for free.. and I have only exceeded my cap once, when I had close to 7000 downloads of my first Ableton Live pack which was made freely available to those looking to jump start into the world of live laptop performance. That was one of the best promotional moves I have ever made, and it was worth the excess data 100 times over.

So, I don’t think bandwidth costs is a valid excuse for not direct linking high quality music.

-Tom
http://www.cosm.co.nz

]]> By: ed http://www.newmusicstrategies.com/2007/11/21/hows-this-for-a-new-model/comment-page-1/#comment-1313 ed Mon, 10 Dec 2007 16:34:59 +0000 http://newmusicstrategies.com/2007/11/21/hows-this-for-a-new-model/#comment-1313 the reason people have to use links that 'expire' is because the only other way is to pay for the bandwidth yourself. which most people can't afford to do - and if your download is successful then you're really screwed. it's all very well having a donation link to paypal, but until landlords offer a donation service, one can't afford to see whether people are prepared to donate! the reason people have to use links that ‘expire’ is because the only other way is to pay for the bandwidth yourself. which most people can’t afford to do – and if your download is successful then you’re really screwed. it’s all very well having a donation link to paypal, but until landlords offer a donation service, one can’t afford to see whether people are prepared to donate!

]]> By: Darren Nelsen http://www.newmusicstrategies.com/2007/11/21/hows-this-for-a-new-model/comment-page-1/#comment-1310 Darren Nelsen Thu, 06 Dec 2007 14:56:31 +0000 http://newmusicstrategies.com/2007/11/21/hows-this-for-a-new-model/#comment-1310 Just curious why you guys are using expiring links to distribute your music. It's self defeating. I've gone to both Suburban Home Recordings and Rich Batsford sites to hear the music (and I'm very willing to pay if I like it!) But you've shot yourselves in the foot because your links don't work and I'm unlikely to come back in a week to see if they do. Why not just offer straight links to your files (without all this expiring garbage) and a PayPal donation page to accept payments? Just curious why you guys are using expiring links to distribute your music. It’s self defeating. I’ve gone to both Suburban Home Recordings and Rich Batsford sites to hear the music (and I’m very willing to pay if I like it!) But you’ve shot yourselves in the foot because your links don’t work and I’m unlikely to come back in a week to see if they do.

Why not just offer straight links to your files (without all this expiring garbage) and a PayPal donation page to accept payments?

]]> By: Rich Batsford http://www.newmusicstrategies.com/2007/11/21/hows-this-for-a-new-model/comment-page-1/#comment-1312 Rich Batsford Thu, 22 Nov 2007 10:32:54 +0000 http://newmusicstrategies.com/2007/11/21/hows-this-for-a-new-model/#comment-1312 Problem with Yousendit is that the file has an expiration - and that link has expired. Ive been using a similar site www.senduit.com to offer free downloads of my album of contemporary piano music ("utterly spellbinding" Birmingham Post!) for some time, but the link has to be renewed and replaced once a week. What I havent really done yet is pasted a link for the page http://www.richbatsford.com/?page_id=5 around the web a lot and sendt it around via email. I would think some sort of hopefully viral style email with an MP3 sample embedded in it might be the way to go. Of course a major issue is taking the time to do these things. I may pursue this more on my forthcoming break in the sun. In the meantime I have had an encouraging chat with my target label "Just Music" who have said that - were they to take an interest in releasing my music - they wouldnt mind at all that I had been distributing myself in the meantime - theyd just ask me to stop doing so as and when they make me an offer. Now to send that CD .. Rich Xx Problem with Yousendit is that the file has an expiration – and that link has expired.

Ive been using a similar site http://www.senduit.com to offer free downloads of my album of contemporary piano music (“utterly spellbinding” Birmingham Post!) for some time, but the link has to be renewed and replaced once a week.

What I havent really done yet is pasted a link for the page http://www.richbatsford.com/?page_id=5 around the web a lot and sendt it around via email.

I would think some sort of hopefully viral style email with an MP3 sample embedded in it might be the way to go.

Of course a major issue is taking the time to do these things. I may pursue this more on my forthcoming break in the sun. In the meantime I have had an encouraging chat with my target label “Just Music” who have said that – were they to take an interest in releasing my music – they wouldnt mind at all that I had been distributing myself in the meantime – theyd just ask me to stop doing so as and when they make me an offer.

Now to send that CD ..

Rich
Xx

]]> By: aron http://www.newmusicstrategies.com/2007/11/21/hows-this-for-a-new-model/comment-page-1/#comment-1311 aron Thu, 22 Nov 2007 05:07:41 +0000 http://newmusicstrategies.com/2007/11/21/hows-this-for-a-new-model/#comment-1311 Giving music away is a great way to promote yourself and a cheap way to discover what your key demographics are if you take the time to set it up this way. Why not "give" music away in exchange for doing a 10 question survey? If someone you give it to identifies with your music they will spend money on you and spread the "idea" of you. If they don't like it you've lost nothing. So it doesn't matter if you choose to give it away or sell it, what matters is that you have a way to monetize the relationship once it is established. Giving music away is a great way to promote yourself and a cheap way to discover what your key demographics are if you take the time to set it up this way. Why not “give” music away in exchange for doing a 10 question survey?
If someone you give it to identifies with your music they will spend money on you and spread the “idea” of you. If they don’t like it you’ve lost nothing. So it doesn’t matter if you choose to give it away or sell it, what matters is that you have a way to monetize the relationship once it is established.

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