An interesting blog post over at the Future of Music Coalition digs into the lessons learned and suggested strategies of the Humble Music Bundle that launched last year.
Product bundling — along with strategic timing, live and variable pricing and charitable giving — are providing a range of incentives for potential customers to support artists and developers.
See the key takeaways after the jump.
Hope you had a good week & it wasn’t too hard waiting around for these great new releases…
Harry Fraud - High Tide EP
Harry Fraud is a Brooklyn Bred producer who has worked with all your favorite rappers (Rick Ross, Wiz Khalifa, Juicy J, Mac Miller, Bun B, & Pusha T to name a few). His obscure sample-based beats have turned ears in both hip hop & indie circles. This free mixtape has verses from French Montana, Tech N9ne, & Earl Sweatshirt amonst others - check it out!
Maya Jane Coles - Everything - Blond:ish Remix
Maya Jane Coles is one hot commodity, with her much anticipated debut album, “Comfort” dropping later this month on her label I/AM/ME. Couple this with a huge touring schedule, and you’ve got a star in the making. Check out her website and download Blond:ish’s remix of her tune “Everything”, dancefloor tested by one of London’s most promising DJs.
Divine Fits - Chained to Love / Ain’t That The Way
The Divine Fits are a rock supergroup whose members include Britt Daniel of Spoon, & Dan Boecknerof Wolf Parade. They’re coming out with a 12” & giving away both rollocking songs from it. The catch is that you have a 50/60 chance of getting either one, so try your luck and see what you get.
Direct-to-fan is based around the connection between artists and their fans. Artists can now directly interact with their audience using social networks such as Facebook, providing the opportunity to target the widespread promotion of upcoming shows and releases.
One way of doing this is to create an independent tab on your Facebook profile to allow purchasing from right inside your fan page by using our Spinshop online store. Each Topspin account includes a customizable store on a static URL, where you can direct fans to purchase items directly. Embed this store right on your fan page to start taking sales in minutes.Using this simple method, you’ll be able to put your offers where your fans are
Download the instructions here: http://t.opsp.in/FBSpinshop
This is an important time in the history of music. Today, all aspiring artists have the same tools to build their fan base, market their work, and sell directly to fans via the Internet if they choose not to take the traditional route of signing to a label. And even if their goal is to get signed, just look at the huge amount of artists that are discovered solely because of their online presence alone.
But having the ability to access these tools is much different than actually knowing how to use them. And with that in mind, our partners at Music Ally are offering a new course designed to bring the company’s expertise to the DIY musicians sector with a focus on Digital Marketing.
The first, and most important step in building a great direct to fan relationship is to create something that people want.
Comedians Jon Oliver (of The Daily Show and Community fame) and Andy Zaltzman have done just that with their podcast The Bugle. The satirical news and comedy podcast has been released weekly since 2007, and over the course of the show they developed a true connection to their listeners – creating inside jokes, running gags, and a consistently funny 45 minutes of banter every week. (They coined the term “fuckyoulogy,” which is basically a piece of writing damning someone hated upon their death.)
But despite a strong and loyal fan following, missing from this was any kind of merchandise or store. So when Jon and Andy finally set up a webstore using Topspin, the pent-up demand elicited an overwhelming response.
What’s free, fun, and rhymes with croquet? That’s right, its free music friday!
by Dick Fink (@dickfink)
Paper Lions - At Long Creek
Paper Lions are a band from Canada’s Prince Edward Isle - and being surrounded by water definitely influences their sound. “At Long Creek” features layers of vocal harmonies over a strumming acoustic guitar. If you dig Fleet Foxes you’ll definitely like this song.
The Veils - Through The Deep, Dark, Wood
“Through The Deep Dark Wood” is a rollocking jam of guitar, tamborine, and pounding drums. The band is known for their possessed live performances, and this song definitely lets you see just how that would work.
Vokab Company - Float Away
At this point your dad, grandma, and dog are all familiar with the wubs & womps of dubstep. Vokab Company has been mixing electronic sounds and rap since 2006 - and their music has been featured in commercials from Kia and Southern Comfort. If you like rap & dubstep, but don’t want to choose between genres then this is the song for you.
Jensen Reed - Rocketship
Jensen Reed’s song rocketship was written in partnership with the American Foundation For Suicide Prevention to raise awareness. The song and video are a poignant reminder of those who have lost and been lost due to suicide. Despite the sad subject matter, its quite a beautiful song, so check it out.
Previous