Ariel Publicity

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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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.

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http://ventvox.com/

We are devoted to the art of complaining, comparing, and discussing stuff. Being idle observers is not enough. We believe that ranting, raving, and whining is a freedom that we should all have and use often. Attitude is not necessarily a bad thing, so gather up opinions- coherent or not- and let us hear them

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

A: I enjoy Pitchfork, Each Note Secure, and Aquarium Drunkard.

Q: What inspired you to start the site?

A: I wanted to start Ventvox.com to express my views on music as well as see the feedback that others could provide.  I’m now shocked to find that not everyone always agrees with my opinion.

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

A: I think blogs, Internet radio and podcsts help Independent music reach a broader audience than it previously reached.

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

A: I didn’t expect my blog to take off initially because of the vast number of like-minded thinkers.  I differentiate my blog a bit by discussing art and culture.

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

A: The ultimate goal for my site would to be a larger readership and the addition of more staff to contribute articles.  Making some money through ad sales would also be beneficial.

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http://www.greenarrowradio.com

Green Arrow Radio is an open forehead music show. The show offers a bit of something new with a mixture of world beat and fresh jazz. Also, included is some soulful funk. The entire show is landscaped to change each week.

Q:  How long have you been broadcasting/blogging?

A:  I have been broadcasting in  community and college setting for over 6 years now and i have been “blogging” for about 4 of those years.

Q:  In your opinion, what does a good song need to consist of?

A: A good song needs to play well with others!

Q: What is your favorite band or favorite genre of music and why?

A: Such a difficult thing to narrow down since the desired sounds change constantly based on so many uncontrolled factors.  I don’t care much for assigning “genres” to art..either its for me or it isn’t….I guess if my life depended on answering this I would without hesitation say that Club d’Elf would be the band I call my favorite since they mix and blend so many varieties of sound into everything they do live or otherwise.

Q: What changes in content laws, broadcasting rights, etc. have affected you most?

A: You know, I think I just don’t like the meddling of authority on what I am supposed to form my own opinions about.  But as I pay attention to what is going on and follow it to the edges—-I just appreciate the opportunity to introduce people to new sounds that I just play along nicely to be able to share.  But ask me again some other time and I’m sure to have a different answer.

Q: A recent study found blogs to be more effective than MySpace in generating album sales, do you feel that that is a true statement?

A: Well, I hope that my efforts on greenarrowradio.com help generate listening ears which will turn into trying to find out more about the artist..including purchasing some of their art.  I see myspace for me as a great avenue to get people over to greenarrowradio.com and for me an easier way to check out music with the intention to purchase it … even if it is one tune at a time. More power to all these ways of supporting that something that does seem to unite many.

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http://www.erkfm.com

Weekly music podcast called “Erk FM” is dedicated to music and features about an hour’s worth of music per episode. It is produced in Sydney, Australia. It features a wide range of music from across the world. Erk FM is a proud member of the Association of Music Podcasting Erk also hosts a talk podcast called Erk Pod which is weekly as well.

Follow the podcast feeds on Twitter: http://twitter.com/channelerk

Q:  How long have you been broadcasting/blogging?

A:  I’ve been podcasting since May 2007. I’ve grown over the time adding a co-host to my original show, doing live shows and now I do 4 podcasts. I have a talk podcast (Erk Pod), music podcast (Erk FM), outdoor/mobile podcast (Echo Romeo Kilo) and Erk’s Blast From The Past (family/personal history). I’ve combined all 4 podcasts into a single site and feed (Channel Erk) as well as each site/feed. I even have my mum involved as a host on a new show as well!

Q:  In your opinion, what does a good song need to consist of?

A: A song for me has to be catchy. Usually the more guitar featured, the better! Maybe not to earworm level but if it is an earworm, it must be catchy!

Q: What is your favorite band or favorite genre of music and why?

A: I love rock, the more guitars the better.  However since I’ve been doing Erk FM, I’ve been listening to a wider range of music more often and have tried to mix it up for the Erk FM audience.

Q: What changes in content laws, broadcasting rights, etc. have effected you most?

A: As a podcaster approaching 2 years in the space, I understand what my limitations are. I know that I won’t be able to play Top 40 artists of today or yesterday. However people who aren’t in the space or are dedicated music podcast listeners probably assume that we can play those mainstream artists.

The artists I have played are very talented and need to be heard. I might not be able to hear them on my local radio station or buy them in my local store but thanks to music podcasters, they can be heard around the world.

Q: A recent study found blogs to be more effective than MySpace in generating album sales, do you feel that that is a true statement?

A: I know there is a lot of music on Myspace but myself and others have found the Myspace experience very frustrating. I’d rather find my music to play on a podcast with a company like Ariel Publicity/Cyber PR rather than Myspace. I hate referring people to Myspace as a band’s only web presence.

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http://www.rockandrollreport.com

“Playing indie and unsigned rock and roll that is sadly neglected by commercial rock radio”. Come check us out on MySpace at http://www.myspace.com/rockandrollreport

Q:  How long have you been broadcasting/blogging?

A: I have been blogging on The Rock and Roll Report since 2003 and podcasting with the Rock and Roll Report Podcast since November 2007. The blog has now evolved to include over 20 people from around the world who are passionate about rock and roll and want to spread the word to as many people as possible. In addition to the blog and podcast I host a monthly radio show on CKUT 90.3 FM in Montreal and we will soon be kicking off Rock and Roll Report TV in the next few weeks.

Q:  In your opinion, what does a good song need to consist of?

A: To me a great song has to have energy and has to induce me to turn up the volume knob as it is playing along. Great rock and roll has the undeniable effect of causing you to drum on your steering wheel while driving, air drum at concerts and pretend you are Jimmy Page in your living room while the music blasts out at ear splitting intensity on the home stereo.

I am also a sucker for a melodic hook and harmonizing vocals. At the end of the day, what I want most out of a song is to have it make me smile. Fortunately there is still tons of rock and roll that does that for me!.

Q: What is your favorite band or favorite genre of music and why?

A: I don’t really have any one favourite band anymore but I would have to say that the band that pretty much hooked me into rock and roll at an early age was the Rolling Stones. They have all the ingredients that make rock and roll so much fun and they really touch all the cornerstones from straight up boogie woogie rock and roll to soft lilting ballads to punkish blasts of fury to sneering sexual tinged sonic onslaughts. They were the first band that I didn’t have to think about. I just “got them” from my first listen. Then I heard the Ramones and all bets were off! Since then I have pretty much enjoyed everything from hard rock to punk to power pop to heavy metal and everything in between. It is why I refer to the Rock and Roll Report as a ‘niche-free” zone!

Q: What changes in content laws, broadcasting rights, etc. have effected you most?

A: Since I always ask for permission from the artists to play their music on the show and since I only play bands and artists that are either unsigned or on independent record labels I can’t say that content laws have affected me too much. I have only been turned down twice for permission to play a song on the Rock and Roll Report Podcast and both times by a label even though the artists were all for it. I

have been looking into starting a streaming radio station but the current complexities of webcasting royalty rates are making me take a wait and see attitude before I make any commitments there.

Q: A recent study found blogs to be more effective than MySpace in generating album sales, do you feel that that is a true statement?

A: That’s not surprising as MySpace is so huge and everybody is automating their comments, etc that it is becoming difficult to sort through all the bands on the site. The thing that is great about bloggers and podcasters and the point I always make to labels hesitant about getting involved is this. Would you not prefer to have a blogger or podcaster who is obviously enthusiastic about a band play a track from them on their podcast or write about them on a blog to be listened to or read by possibly thousands of music fans who

(a) trust that blogger/podcaster’s opinion and

(b) want to hear new music and support great music? I think the answer is an unqualified yes!

Podcasts and blogs in my opinion work together with musicians unlike mainstream media in that we actively promote music because we are passionate about it. On the Rock and Roll Report we always make sure that we link back to a band’s website or MySpace page and try to include links to Amazon, iTunes or CD Baby where available so that music fans can buy the music of the artists we feature.

I liken the Rock and Roll Report to an entree. We offer you a taste of all this amazing music and you can then decide if you like it or not. If you like it we offer you an easy way to buy the music and support the bands and we are not shy in emphasizing that fact! The nice thing about all of this is that the bands get real feedback and support in either people buying their music and merch or going to their shows and the fans get to discover amazing new music and aren’t force fed the same 50 songs every day like on on the radio. It’s a win-win situation for all involved.

While there are tons of great automated music discovery services out there, I still believe that what people enjoy most and what traditional radio has lost is having somebody you trust turning you on to great music with honesty and passion. And while there is a saying that “content is king” I tend to believe that “context is king.” A good podcaster or music blogger can not only introduce you to great music but can put that introduction into a context that is both entertaining and informative and that is why this is all so much fun and so powerful for record labels and musicians that want to get their music listened to instead of “consumed.” Really when you think about it, because the cost of entry is so low in starting a blog or podcast, it brings power back to the people and allows passionate music fans to simply spread the word to other passionate music fans about great music they think they might like. And that’s why it is so effective..

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