Ariel Publicity

http://greatunknownspresents.com
http://greatunknownsmusicexpose.com

Great Unknowns Presents is a music/talk show dedicated to spotlighting new music artists in the unsigned and independent industry. Each artist is interviewed for the spoken and written material to give you exclusive information about each music artist, because the audience deserves to know who they are listening too.
In conjunction to The Great Unknowns Presents is Great Unknowns Music Exposé. An online music magazine focused on featured interviews with the artists behind the music. Each artist is interviewed for the written material and published here. Each and every week, enjoy in-depth questions and unedited answers from the artists themselves.

Q) Tell us a little bit about your podcast. What inspired you to start it?

A) My podcast started as a hobby really. Originally, it was a class project for my journalism class. The podcast option was open to several ideas and I wanted to come up with something that would showcase my talent as a radio host, but also provide a service. Since radio is over done and played out by the “mainstream payola giants”, I wanted to feature artists that no one has heard of. If people had heard of these artists, I wanted to re-introduce these artists to other people. What started out as a mere college program turned into something much greater.
When I received an invite from Ariel Publicity and after I had won two prestige’s awards for best college podcast, I realized that this was more than just a project and I took it to the next level and I began to track my track statistics. With the help of Ariel Publicity, I began showcasing unsigned artists and I moved my show from a free podcast hosting site to a pay site for better quality and for more storage space. Since my very first show, I have been constantly improving my format and it has paid huge dividends and I created a huge following that went from 300 listeners per week to nearly 2,500 listeners per week. When I placed my podcast on iTunes, that was a major catalyst for the shows success and it has grown to a 40,000+ listening audience which is continuing to grow at a rapid pace.

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The Irish & Celtic Music Podcast

MARC GUNN, Award-Winning Celtic American Musician and Podcaster
Thank You for Listening to My Music –> http://www.marcgunn.com
and the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast –> http://celticmusicpodcast.com

Q) Tell us a little bit about your podcast. What initially inspired you to start it?

A) The Irish & Celtic Music Podcast is a twice monthly podcast featuring mostly independent Celtic music from around the globe. It began with a fascination of the podcast as a promotional tool for my band and for Celtic music at large. It started out as an extension of my Celtic MP3s Music Magazine.  Eventually it surpassed the magazine in popularity. I started it with my own desire to promote my own unique stylings of Celtic and folk music. Yet it is ultimately about helping independent Celtic musicians gain a greater voice in a noisy world.

Artists signed to major or even smaller labels usually have a promotional team out there spreading the word for them. I get a ton of CDs from such labels as Compass Records, which does a great service for the Celtic music world. But bands like Poitin, The Tea Merchants, Ed Miller, Maidens IV, Athas, Bedlam Bards, and The Rogues don’t have the money or resources to notify all the Celtic media about their music. I see my role as a facilitator to get their music in front of people who want to hear it. And I’m happy to say that I do just that.

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Indie on Air! & Music in Action w/ host “Classic”
The Voice of Independent Music featuring industry professionals & great indie music.
Indie on Air! broadcasts live every Friday 12:30pm CST from Chicago via the BlogTalkRadio platform
Music in Action broadcasts live every other Wednesday 2:00pm CST from Chicago via the BlogTalkRadio platform
Both shows are available 24/7 as an archive immediately following the live broadcasts.

www.blogtalkradio.com/indieonair
www.indieonair.com

Q) Tell us a little bit about your Internet radio show. What inspired you to start it?

A) I actually host 2 Internet music shows under the Indie on Air! banner. The original Indie on Air! is a weekly 1 hr show that features an interview with an industry professional and also great indie music from various artists within different genres. My second show is Music in Action, which is live bi-monthly and is also a 1 hr program. However, on this show I feature indie artists who are using their God-given talent to help others & increase awareness of specific social causes. This is a more in-depth interview where I play only the music of my guest and discuss their personal involvement in the issue at hand.

My inspiration to start both these programs came from following my heart & doing what I love. Plus, I believe it is a natural progression of my career path as I have managed venues as well as produced music events for many years. I have a degree in Restaurant, Hotel & Institutional Management from Purdue University.

Q) Why do you believe new media resources (i.e. blogs, podcasts, Internet radio stations) have become so popular? How have they been beneficial to artists? How have they been detrimental?

A) I liken new media resources to On-Demand TV. People want to read, watch & listen to what they want, when they want. Specifically most Internet radio shows are archived and available 24/7. This, obviously, allows greater flexibility for the listener.

The Internet itself has opened the entire globe as a potential target market for artists. A few of my guests have developed a niche for themselves overseas after being heard on the net. My shows themselves have a pretty decent fan base from the UK & Eastern Europe though I broadcast from Chicago. Therefore, my industry contacts have increased greatly since the inception of the shows.

The only detriment I can see is you may have to weed through unprofessional blogs, shows, music, etc. to find quality material. However, in my mind, the hunt is half the fun.

Q) Media 2.0 has changed the way artists communicate with fans. Where do you envision online communication going next? Any thoughts on what Media “3.0” will look like?

A) The “I Want it Now” reality in which we live leads me to believe that internet TV & live events broadcast via the internet will flourish. Also, mobile phone applications will improve to view & listen to events. This will allow one to sit on the beaches of Southern California & watch or listen to a live event in New York, London or wherever. It is all about convenience for the consumer.

I truly feel that Media 3.0 will reflect the aforementioned capabilities but in a more global & socially responsible sense. I envision communications being instantly translated to allow immediate & direct responses between individuals from different countries & cultures. Media 3.0 will help break down communication barriers & usher in a new global cohesiveness & understanding. With that in mind, I feel all the people of this planet will come to realize we are not that different. Then, we can focus on addressing social concerns & natural disasters in a more “globally aware” sense. People will learn that they need not rely on their governments or mainstream media so much. Entertainment, music & technology will be the bridge that brings the world together as one. In fact, it is already happening.

Q) What does an artist have to do to get your attention? Are their specific characteristics that you look for?

A) I tend to look for artists who are professional, polite & hard working. They must be timely with their responses to inquiries but also do as requested. If I ask for mp3’s, don’t send me mp4’s. However, I am just as apt to play music from a new teen band as a touring band. Excitement, enthusiasm & common courtesy go a long way. Another strong factor is a song needs to grab my attention quickly. I listen to so much new music it can be overwhelming at times. But, overall I am very easy to contact. Interested artists should submit “mp3’s” (lol) to me @: greenplanet219@yahoo.com.

Q) What do you ultimately hope to accomplish with your show?

A) Number 1, I hope to make people smile. I love to introduce my listeners to new artists they would probably never hear otherwise. There is nothing I like more than one of my listeners thanking me for introducing them to someone new.

Number 2, I hope my shows inspire others to follow their hearts & do whatever they love. Specifically, I hope Music in Action inspires artists to use their creativity to help others.

Personally, I hope the shows lead me to a larger platform, so I can reach even more people around the world. I also would like to work directly with an indie label or network that shares my visions & thoughts on music & where the industry is headed. We need more positive messages & programming in our On-Demand world.

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http://www.astralaudio.net

Q: How can contemporary artists make more money on the internet?

A: Models like what Radiohead, Nine Inch Nails, and Mark Mosher have given potential buyers a choice of what a particular song or album should be priced at. Their success along with keeping things drm free encourages fans to obtain works from the artists. Perhaps if artists gave fans the chance to rate individual songs or the entire album as a whole, then a higher rating could mean that fans are more likely to purchase the work. An option would be to cap the price at around $15.00 for the CD and $5.00 for the digital download. If the rating goes down, the cap should be lowered along side this.

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Q. What are your favorite blogs/audio blogs featuring new music do you like to visit?

A. Believe it or not I love BlogCatalogue.com. Blog Catalogue is a directory of just about every blog mentionable..  I usually go to the music section of blog catalogue and just enjoy the array of music blogs.   When it comes down to the nuts and blots of getting the latest on what’s happening in quality music blogs it’s the Hype Machine (hypem.com)

Q. What inspired you to start site?

A. WSF Radio is sponsored by AWM Records, Inc. The inspiration behind WSF Radio was the demand from independent artists who were looking for outlets, and platforms to be heard from.   Many may not know WSF Radio started out as a sports program which played indies music in between breaks..   It was not long before artists began to contact the station asking for reviews, and their music to be played on the station. The more I listened to music from the independent artists the more passionate I became for playing their music. I was totally floored at the sea of talent that was not being heard. WSF Radio actually stands for Worldwide Sports Fanatics. Moreover, the more I listed to the music the passionate and love to promote and support independent music just grew, in the midst of promoting independent music WSF Radio recognized the shows format needed to be completed revamped to the station which supports independent artists.

Q. What do you think is the impact of blogs, internet radio, and podcasts on independent music?

A. Blogs, internet radio, and podcasts on independent music really are the wave of the 21st century. I really believe internet radio and podcasts have a positive impact on independent music.   These vehicles such as blogs, and podcasts, and internet radio have really created a media to propel independent music into the spotlight versus in years past podcasting was rare. However, these instruments became popular, and gave independent artists a stronger sense of control over their destiny. With the changes in how the music industry has changed I tend to believe more consumers want an alternative music source such as independent music.   Every artist should have a blog, fans love blogs, and blogs is the connection between the artist and their fans. Independent musicians should go after every internet radio station that’s on the web. Internet radio is taking over, and more people are using, listening, and love internet radio more than ever before.

Q. When you started your station, did you anticipate that blogs would have such an upscale trend as it does now?

A. When the station first started the trend of blogs were growing, and we could see the direction of were blogs were headed, but we did not anticipate how quickly blogging would skyrocket, and literally become a household word.

Q. What are the ultimate goals you wish to achieve through your site?

A. Our ultimate goal for WSF Radio is to have our own independent network channel on Blogtalkradio.   Although having our own station to serve independent music does give artists exposure; moreover by having our own network channel it will create greater exposure for artists by having a permanent front page ad on the Blogtalkradio website. We foresee our site as the place where new artists become discovered.   We are working hard on branding our site as the platform where independent artists are pushed to the next level in their music career.

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http://www.suchcoolstuff.net

Celebrating Independent Artists

1. What are your favorite blogs/audio blogs featuring new music do you like to visit?

You know, it’s funny. I don’t really read any music-related blogs on a regular basis. I’m a bit of a chronic Googler, and that’s how I find most new (and new to me) music, both for my blog and for my own enjoyment. I read other blogs regularly, particularly in the left-leaning political and feminist blogosphere, but I’m pretty fickle when it comes to subscribing to blogs about the arts.

2. What inspired you to start site?

I very briefly tried to run an Etsy shop, but I found I was far too lazy to keep it up. One of the biggest challenges I had was getting my name out there, so when I decided to start a blog with the idea of profiling things I enjoy in general, I quickly saw that I could use it to help other artists promote themselves and their small businesses.  Then I e-mailed a few artists I admired and got things moving. Initially I profiled only visual artists (painters, photographers, fashion designers, etc), but I really wanted to expand to include music.

I’ve been quite literally surrounded by music all of my life.  My father was a studio musician for years, and my uncle was played with Dobie Gray in the 70’s.  My sweetheart is also a professional musician, so our house is filled with music all the time.  It was only natural for me to want to expand my blog to include music.  Much like the artists I began Such Cool Stuff! with, I started by e-mailing musicians I admire, and before I knew it things really took off.  I love playing my small part in helping artists of all types get their name out there.

3. What do you think is the impact of blogs, internet radio, and podcasts on independent music?

It’s just huge. This is a frequent topic of conversation in our household.  With this new media there is a lot more access to the public than you had back in the day. Anyone (like me!) can start a blog and become an instant media outlet, and smaller artists have a greater chance to get their name out there.  On the downside, with the pool of both talent and media so large now it will take an extra measure of effort for those who do gain exposure to make it meaningful.

One of the things I mourn about the way new technology is impacting the industry is that the digital availability of music has pretty well killed the concept of the album. I’ve always been a big fan of looking at an album as a whole, as a story with a beginning, middle, and end. Now with things moving to a digital format, that’s being lost.  Every track needs to be able to stand on its own. There aren’t any B-sides now in the traditional sense.  Such a shame. My favorite songs have typically been the B-sides.

4. When you started your station, did you anticipate that blogs would have such an upscale trend as it does now?

I actually only started the blog about a year ago, so there hasn’t been that much of a change for me personally. I do think it’s astounding to look at the way the internet has changed our lives on a massive scale. Just twelve years ago I’d never even used the internet. Now I use it for pretty much everything, and whole industries have had to change everything about the way they do business.

5. What are the ultimate goals you wish to achieve through your site?

Such Cool Stuff! has always been fairly experimental. I started it without a clear idea of where it was going, and the direction has proven to be ever-changing. It’s a hobby for me (my day job is in a very different industry), so I have the luxury of letting the current take me where it wants to go with regard to the blog. I’m excited to see where we end up!

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