New Media Pioneer: Mikel O.D. of Most People Are DJs Podcast

Most People Are DJs - www.mostpeoplearedjs.com

“Indie pop and skewed Intellect” is a weekly podcast and sometimes videocast that features music, interviews and opinions.  Most People Are DJs takes it’s name from the song of the same name by the Hold Steady and features the lyrics “Everyone is a critic and most people are djs.” The show is in it’s 4th year and is on it’s 200th episode.

Q: What has to be done in the technological sense to monetize music to a greater degree on the internet?

A. Stop with the DRM! I get 90% of my music from eMusic, because they have a great selection and no DRM. I have an iPod, a Creative Zen, and iRiver music devices plus I DJ as well, I need music to move around all of these and DRM just kills it for me. The other part is people just have to continue to get more comfortable buying digital music.

Q: Where do you see the next trend in social media? What else can be done in terms of having an online conversation? What is the next “What are you doing?” question?

I’ll be honest, I actually see there might be a backlash against social media. I’m still struggling with understanding the full purpose of social media. Social media is my way of creating new relationships and taking them offline or rediscovering old relationships. The next “What are you doing” question should relate to “what are you doing away from the computer that is contributing to improving the planet’s wellbeing”.

Q: What inspired you to start broadcasting/blogging? It that still your source of motivation?

A: The ease and the DIY sensibility of Podcasting that reminded me of the “hey day” of DIY zines back in the 80’s inspired me. You’ve got this group of people that want to communicate to the masses in their own, original way and podcasting is best delivery tool yet to get it done. I’ve had lots of other ideas about starting a new blog etc. but, I always come back to Most People Are DJs and the podcasting community.

Q: What are some things bands can do to get your attention to be featured on your broadcast/blog? Do you ever cover a band that you are not particularly fond of musically ?

A: Bands can listen to my show and email me tracks to mostpeoplearedjs@gmail.com. But, please listen to my show or read a few of my show notes first. After doing that you’ll catch on pretty quickly that I am not a DJ who plays “everything.” I’m pretty sincere with my show in only playing music I really like, which fits somewhere along the lines of “indie-electro-pop” with some “shoegaze” thrown in for good measure. There are lots of other shows with “free for all” formats and that’s fine for them but I always wanted people to be able to identify my show with a certain type of music that goes along with it.

Q: Will major labels ever be the gatekeepers again, or have they lost all of their power to the internet forever? Can they somehow return to prominence?

A: I’d say a large majority of the music I listen to for the last 20 years is not on major labels. They don’t really bear much importance with me. I’d like to see more bands figuring out their own path to promoting and releasing music. The bands that have done this successfully, i.e. Radiohead, Nine Inch Nails, etc. seem to reach a level of real satisfaction with who they are and their position in this music world for years to come. If you want to read a good book on major labels and working for one, check out “Rock On: An Office Power Ballad” by Dan Kennedy.