New Sound Now - Tunecore, Pitchfork.tv, NIN Ghosts

March 6, 2008 at 6:36 pm (new sound now)

Show notes for the March 5th episode of New Sound Now:

Bumper music - Flowers Forever’s “Happy New Year“

Facebook hooks users up with band pages and itunes integration

Tunecore allows bands to upload and host albums for really cheap, as well as place them in itunes, Amazon, and other major outlets. They also print and sell CDs on the cheap.
Current TV launches 30 minute music show.
But then Pitchfork puts out a press release saying they’re launching an entire music channel, Pitchfork.tv

Free Music

After the Weather release a live EP on The Pirate Bay.

Nine Inch Nails release Ghosts I-IV, a 36 track instrumental record with a variety of payment options, one of them being part of the record for free.

Videos
The Charlatans - “Oh Vanity”
Buraka Som Sistema - Sound of Kuduro
The LK - “Stop Being Perfect”

3 Comments

  1. Peter Wells said,

    March 7, 2008 at 5:33 pm

    Thanks for the mention! It’s been great to have Reznor’s work go through us. And we only charged him the same as we charge anyone, which always stuns this industry. They just can’t believe digital distribution doesn’t require giving up rights or a percentage. I love the looks on peoples’ faces. :)

    Thanks again!

    –Peter
    peter@tunecore.com

  2. Shawn M. Smith said,

    March 7, 2008 at 9:59 pm

    Peter does good work. It’s a sound business model, but I wonder how much this helps smaller artists who still need to make some kind of profit to “pay for the time” even though they are just starting out. Have you found a lot of those people coming to you already?

    NIN can take a hit on a project; Trent’s loaded.

    I will have to touch base with him.

  3. Jake Smith said,

    March 14, 2008 at 7:59 pm

    Hey Shawn,

    I know what you mean about Trent’s ability to “take a hit”. Granted, all previously established artists with money to burn (aka Radiohead, Madonna) have an advantage over most start ups in terms funding studio time, marketing themselves and receiving press for their releases.

    What I feel TuneCore represents (and I do work at TuneCore, so I admit my bias), is a shift from an industry that had only one way in to new industry where everyone has a shot. On myspace, tons of unsigned artists get more daily hits than those with a major label behind them. Software recording programs like ProTools, Logic, and Garage Band have made it possible for anyone to record singles or entire albums for free or cheap.

    I am a songwriter/producer myself, and like most artists, I prefer the comfort and quality of a professional recording studio. However, my most successful friends made their records for next to nothing: One friend landed a gig on TRL with a DEMO track that made waves on MySpace and iTunes. The other friends are getting their self made CD re-released by Merge Records in April!

    Obviously, not everyone can money and fame from their music, but more and more often you will hear stories of artists finding success on their own terms. So tour tour tour, promote promote promote, and the next story could be yours.

    Feel free to contact me if you have any questions!

    -Jake
    jake@tunecore.com

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