tag:unbelievablebeats.com,2005:/blogs/unbelievablebeats-com-blog?p=6UnbelievableBeats.com Blog2022-01-22T18:49:23-05:00Shaun FriedmanOriginal music production, remixes, covers, tutorials, and the like.Shaun Friedman UnbelievableBeats.comUnbelievableBeats.com falsetag:unbelievablebeats.com,2005:Post/68771462022-01-22T18:49:23-05:002023-10-16T10:44:49-04:00Clean Clean Clean! The Phenyx PRX-600 is a great mixer to record vocals into FL Studio or other DAWS<p>I put the <strong><a contents="Phenyx Pro PRX-600" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://amzn.to/3qU5DUi" target="_blank">Phenyx Pro PRX-600</a></strong> up against the XENYX802 and used them both in the same manner – as a mixer for recording rap vocals over my original instrumental beats. I use the Main out L mono on the <strong><a contents="Behringer&nbsp;XENYX" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://amzn.to/3IzmSjL" target="_blank">Behringer </a></strong><a contents="XENYX " data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://amzn.to/3IzmSjL" target="_blank"><strong>XENYX</strong> </a>and go Line input in the MBox soundcard, a setup I’ve used for over a decade. I did the same thing with the Phenyx Pro PRX -600, the only difference being I used the PHONES out on the PRX into the Line input on the MBox soundcard. The Mbox is a vessel and I do not use any gain on the soundcard. The Mbox becomes my laptops audio interface controlling audio inputs and outputs to speakers due to its great sound quality, headphone output, and monitor output into my speakers. <img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/771/53ded5bc7477e3e77f21784e403e69f276c81e3c/original/img-20220122-163446223.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_left border_none" alt="prx mixer settings" /></p>
<p>The <strong><a contents="PRX " data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://phenyxpro.com/9EO54K4-4Izqdg" target="_blank">PRX </a></strong>was incredibly quiet and had almost no noise while recording vocals – a tremendous feat and certainly had less noise than the Behringer. I am used to hearing clicks, the street, neighborly noise because I live in an apartment, and so forth, but it felt like I was in a library when I got ready to record vocals into FL Studio using the Phenyx Pro PRX-600. That feature only may be worth the fair cost. Even more, the physical 7 band equalizer sounded clean, and was nice to have a physical, connected feel to shaping your vocal sound. Regarding the settings on the PRX for vocals with a condenser microphone, I simply had the microphone plugged in the XLR slot in Channel strip 1 [and set to about 12 clock on channel volume], 48V button engaged, and 75% [aka three quarters turned on knobs] setting on Phones Out, Main out Left, and Main out Right. There is an Aux FX send I need to test, and I will soon use the PRX to record vocals on my next rap release. The result is clean recorded audio waveforms inside of the playlist in FL Studio. You may reference the picture of each “Phenyx vocal blog vox.” <img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/771/718005d93bf5b3195489dd569148fc03b8392a0e/original/img-20220122-164942302.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_right border_none" alt="" /></p>
<p> </p>
<p>The PRX also has a Bluetooth function, USB, and its own internal digital multi effects. Conveniently, there is handy dip and groove on the PRX where you can prop your Phone up vertically or Sideways Wide. That’s such an inspiring and practical feature! You can also reference the picture of the PRX sitting next to the XENYX to understand the PRX is more robust than the XENYX. I’ve used the <strong><a contents="Behringer&nbsp;XENYX" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://amzn.to/3IzmSjL" target="_blank">Behringer </a></strong><a contents="XENYX " data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://amzn.to/3IzmSjL" target="_blank"><strong>XENYX</strong> </a>for over a decade, but because of the almost nonexistent noise while recording vocals, it seems likely I’ll switch to the PRX. </p>
<p>I’m simply a solo artist who can use 1 channel for vocals, and the effects aux out to a lexicon effects processor. The PRX also includes 4 channels with a standard ¼” input or XLR input, for Guitars or other instruments. Inputs 5/6 have ¼” inputs only. I’m looking forward to using the PRX in my next official release. I know I’m going to utilize it because of the ridiculous quality and next to zero background noise.</p>
<p>Pics below -LINE IN to MBOX input 1 line in & PRX output into Mbox Soundcard with white BOSS guitar cable. </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/771/fdbf4d6303850abe89787888bbad96e23a5dd3eb/original/img-20220122-163353651-2.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_left border_none" alt="" /><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/771/c62e02f5bec9ddda87fa99281c5990a12df29587/original/img-20220122-162049043.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_none" alt="" /></p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Where can you purchase the PRX 600?</strong></p>
<p><a contents="Official Phenyx Pro Website" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://bit.ly/3GVD2TP" target="_blank">Official Phenyx Pro Website</a></p>
<p><a contents="Amazon" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://amzn.to/3qU5DUi" target="_blank">Amazon</a></p>
<p><a contents="" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://phenyxpro.com/9EO54K4-4Izqdg" target="_blank"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/771/bb4f55afade4a2a24a18ba7c0a3c7a7344c2b56c/original/phenyx-600-clean-image.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsImxhcmdlIl1d.jpg" class="size_l justify_left border_none" alt="Phenyx Pro Prx 600 clean mixer for rap vocals" /></a></p>UnbelievableBeats.com tag:unbelievablebeats.com,2005:Post/59940472019-12-05T17:25:13-05:002022-05-24T06:15:16-04:00Royalty Calculator Guide Chart<p><strong><span class="font_xl">Royalty </span></strong><span class="font_xl">Data </span><strong><span class="font_xl">Music </span></strong><span class="font_xl">Calculator</span></p>
<p>Please see a wonderful comparison chart from <a contents="ConsumersAdvocate" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://ConsumersAdvocate.org" target="_blank"><span style="color:#c0392b;">ConsumersAdvocate</span></a> for Findings and Information on the Music Streaming GAME in 2019. Plus a Royalty Calculator. It is quite hard to make a living with streaming income. With hard work, you can establish a foundation and nest egg of content, creating intellectual property and copyright passive income in perpetuity. </p>
<p>You can check out the Chart and Calculator here: <a contents="https://www.consumersadvocate.org/music-streaming-services#toc-fairness-in-royalty-payments" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.consumersadvocate.org/music-streaming-services#toc-fairness-in-royalty-payments" target="_blank">https://www.consumersadvocate.org/music-streaming-services#toc-fairness-in-royalty-payments</a></p>
<p><br> </p>UnbelievableBeats.com tag:unbelievablebeats.com,2005:Post/53837672018-08-11T16:13:26-04:002022-01-06T01:53:20-05:00The Wonderful Thinkers behind the FL Studio Cookbook<p>Who are the People behind the <a contents="FL Studio Cookbook" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://amzn.to/2vyD0yU" target="_blank"><span style="color:#2980b9;">FL Studio Cookboo</span>k</a>? </p>
<p>The <strong><a contents="FL Studio Cookbook" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://amzn.to/2vyD0yU" target="_blank"><span style="color:#8e44ad;">FL Studio Cookbook</span></a> teaches so much</strong> because it mixes Shaun Friedman with <strong>amazing viewpoints of intellectual reviewers</strong>, mixed with the direction of Packt Publishers in Mumbai and United Kingdom. </p>
<p>You’ll learn<strong> how to “make a beat</strong>,” – but the little nuances are most crucial. “Giving a Human Feel” is arguably the most important thing to do in music production. Hasn’t Wu Tang taught you anything? </p>
<p>The <a contents="cookbook" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://amzn.to/2vyD0yU" target="_blank"><span style="color:#2980b9;">cookbook</span></a><a contents="cookbook " data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://amzn.to/2vyD0yU" target="_blank"> </a>shows <strong>how to create your “beat,”</strong> mix your beat with EQ [equalization], Delay, Reverb etc., arrange your beat, add Midi virtual Instruments and use physical midi devices [volume slider, circular knobs, pads, buttons], Record Audio [vocals, guitar, keyboard, anything], create Automation/suspense, give that human feel, Mastering, and exporting to Wave, Mp3, and separate mixer tracks if needed. Volume and Panning are perhaps the most fundamental characters, which shape your musical canvas, and FL Studio makes them easy to access in the <strong>beat sequence</strong>r. </p>
<p>Keyboard shortcuts are tossed throughout. </p>
<p><strong>Esteemed reviewers</strong> are Bostjan Cigan, Xavier Durand-Hollis Jr, Rodney Hazard, Anish Patel, Shant Rising, and Jasper Staal.</p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/771/82b1e78042863c7c62a233d6dcfe78443ce030a1/original/fl-studio-author-credits.png/!!/b:W10=.png" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>UnbelievableBeats.com tag:unbelievablebeats.com,2005:Post/48382042017-09-05T16:54:19-04:002022-08-07T09:43:44-04:00New Track Release: 'Voice of Safe Haven' by S Dot Will aka Shaun Friedman [MP3 Download Through Podcast Below]<p>Peep some new hip hop from <strong>S Dot Will </strong>a.k.a. <strong>Shaun Friedman</strong> [Sept 5th, 2017 release]</p>
<p><span style="font-size: 16.8px;"><span class="font_xl">Download MP3 Voice of Safe Haven by S Dot Will at the bottom of these here Lyrics</span>:</span></p>
<p>Music Video - Voice of Safe Haven:</p>
<p><span style="font-size: 16.8px;"><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="aiU4USsidkM" data-video-thumb-url="https://img.youtube.com/vi/aiU4USsidkM/mqdefault.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/aiU4USsidkM?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="180" width="320" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></span></p>
<p>Lyrics:</p>
<p>The Bongos keep the percussion glued to form substance </p>
<p>Grip tight to your life, others try to swipe, don’t fumble it </p>
<p>But seems Mr. Yin and Miss Yang conspired to be </p>
<p>Cousin Karma’s always watching; 2pac said we all Bleed </p>
<p>The formula’s a mixture </p>
<p>Paint a perfect picture </p>
<p>Can’t have aces all the time; with patience you’re the Victor </p>
<p>And is Age just a number? </p>
<p>We make mistakes and blunders </p>
<p>But nowadays with one Slip, they wish to take you Under </p>
<p>The Blimp flies in clear skies above weird guys </p>
<p>Do you Fear Lies? Or ‘Necessary Evil’ for Disguise? </p>
<p>Trying to live in Equal Times on Planet Earth I stress </p>
<p>Now who’s with me? All you have to do is say yes </p>
<p>We’re living in history; time is passing Quickly </p>
<p>You think it’s liberating when I think they won’t miss me? </p>
<p>And would you please pinch me? I think I may be dreaming </p>
<p>Call me Mr. Friedman, That’s what they teach in Cleveland [Scheming on Beats] </p>
<p>The mic booth likes to make you face life’s truths </p>
<p>Better stay Astute or build a long list of “Oops” </p>
<p>Yet experience is Def the Best Teacher </p>
<p>Echo, through the, hall in your brain, ill Reverb </p>
<p>I’m seeking and freaking the funk </p>
<p>And I’m beating the chumps </p>
<p>And I’m bringing the ruckus I can’t get enough </p>
<p>Stuffin Turducken </p>
<p>I am not bluffing, Love me some Professor Clump </p>
<p>The sum of its parts, holds no candle to the whole </p>
<p>Do you agree with Synergy? Or would you, rather be, on your own? </p>
<p>Making sure my pen works, is there a way to defend Dirk? </p>
<p>I learned you’re not my friend so now we don’t have to pretend Jerks </p>
<p>Because without honesty the environment is trepid </p>
<p>I’m on to you, I hope you’re on to me, we’ve lost connection [check you off my check list] </p>
<p>No time for manipulation in 2017 </p>
<p>Nor your evil feeble deceitful persuasion </p>
<p>Better hope you can contain him [who?] </p>
<p>Better hope you can contain me </p>
<p>I set the pace, put on my game face, so angry</p>4:16UnbelievableBeats.com tag:unbelievablebeats.com,2005:Post/48285842017-08-28T12:49:24-04:002019-12-05T17:12:46-05:00Fugees The Score - One of Greatest Hip Hop Albums Ever<p>Fugees Album titled “<strong><a contents="The Score" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://amzn.to/2wMQGZj" target="_blank">The Score</a></strong>” is one of the best hip hop albums of all time. I know – this review is coming late – 2017 to be exact – but I’d like to start writing more and reviewing my favorite albums. The mid 1990’s had a sound and energy that seems hard to duplicate – I’m happy I was a teenager in the late 1990’s because it seems to be the “golden age” of hip hop – an obviously highly contested statement in its own right. </p>
<p>On to the Fugees – from the moment the album starts you can hear the crispy high end and smooth bass of the Intro track. I think it does “set the stage” so to speak because many other tracks include similar elements. </p>
<p>The 2nd track, “How Many Mics” starts out with what sounds like an Elephant or an Ocean, or some strange industrial noise. Lauryn Hill kills the beat and lets you know this is the type of flow you can expect on the entire album. When the album first dropped, the “in your face” type of flow she has & the skilled delivery was definitely one of a kind. You can’t fake talent – you either have it or you don’t. I believe there is a story behind that – one of the behind the scenes types of stories – but the short story is basically Wyclef heard Lauryn’s voice and flat out knew she was a star after one second. Wyclef has a happy go lucky/Cynic/Good Vibes/Freestyle sort of vibe on this track and throughout the whole album. Pras seems to connect it all with a straight up hip hop flow filled with metaphors and similes. The snare is so crispy on this track, along with the Kick Drum and bass. Simple elements that are mixed so well are incredibly pleasing to my ears. </p>
<p>The 3rd track, “Ready or Not” is one of their commercial successes, with a full scale and expensive music video. The song actually <strong><a contents="samples Enya" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://amzn.to/2wcHbkF" target="_blank">samples Enya</a></strong> – which is the haunting background harmony – but Holy Moses it fits so well. There is an art to sampling. This track gets it right. </p>
<p>The 4th track, “Zealots” samples The Flamingos and captures that 1959 sound. Of course, this is sampling done right, as the beat is awesome </p>
<p>The 5th track, “The Beast,” has an interesting mix of percussion, bongos, and funny hook. It simply has a different vibe than most hip hop tracks you’ll hear – maybe mostly due to the well placed kicks and bongos. </p>
<p>The 6th track, Fu-Gee-La is what put the Fugees on the map due to the amazingly grimy beat, hip hop vibe, and sick flows. The guitar noise that slides down and up is truly an ear pleaser. This is a song you bump when you have a great car system. </p>
<p>The 7th track has a vinyl type of vibe because of the “scratchy” record sound – but this is mixed with what sounds like a Mexican guitar and hip hop beat. This is an aggressive hook with Lauryn Hill nicely mixed in; I like how they made use of her voice on the hook. </p>
<p>“Killing me Softly” is track 8 and is basically an instant classic. There’s not much else you need to know here; Lauryn Hill completely murders the entire song. </p>
<p>“The Score” is track 9 and has all the hip hop elements a hip hop head would expect. The elements combine nicely and they skillfully resample some of their own verses. It also sounds like someone is humming. </p>
<p>Track 10, “The Mask,” feels like a nice house party or conversation with all 3 artists. There’s some funny story telling here about Burger King and what not. They seem to be in full swag mode here. </p>
<p>Track 11, “Cowboys,” is a lot of fun as you can tell by the hook. They take an angle of Cowboys and Desperados on this one and it feels like an awesome smoke session. You’ve got that interesting guitar/Sitar noise here again, with what sounds like trumpets during parts of the song. The open hi hat and snare rolls keep everything glued together nicely. </p>
<p>Track 12 pays <strong><a contents="homage to Bob Marley" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://amzn.to/2wbTehU" target="_blank">homage to Bob Marley</a></strong> and “No Woman No Cry.” I can actually remember hearing this as a teenager – I didn’t know what to make of it at first. The acoustic guitar is the bright shining star here because it’s a new spin on the old tune and keeps things moving happily along. </p>
<p>Track 13, “Manifest/Outro” uses the same guitar you heard in the Intro Track – it’s more sped up here in Track 13. Fans of Lauryn Hill will point out she murders this beat. </p>
<p>Track 14 remixes “Fu-Gee-La” as does Track 15. Track 14 has more of a laid back, chill vibe and track 15 has Reggae roots. </p>
<p>I am not sure what the final track represents.</p>UnbelievableBeats.com tag:unbelievablebeats.com,2005:Post/47553362017-06-23T16:23:34-04:002023-12-10T12:16:21-05:00How to Build a Website to Sell Beats Online [why Bandzoogle is so great]<p><a contents="Bandzoogle.com" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://try.bandzoogle.com/websites-for/beat-producers/?pc=unbelievable15" target="_blank">Bandzoogle.com</a> makes it incredibly easy to build and maintain a website; your website to be exact! The backbone of any website is the content contained within, and the Bandzoogle tools available make it incredibly easy to build your content and position other features and website pages exactly where you want them. Apologies to website creators out there, but we are now in the year 2017, where templates and admin platforms are preferred options to manage a website. Previously, if you wanted your designer to adjust something on your website, it involved a phone call or email directly to them or one of their assistants, who would then make a process of a single edit on a page an extremely painstaking process. Adding insult to injury, the prices for design or a single edit were probably appalling. </p>
<p>This doesn’t happen when you control your own website with Bandzoogle. At the coffee shop? Sign on and make an edit. 2 a.m. in the morning? Sign on and make that edit. Traveling? Sign on and make that edit. If you haven’t caught on by now, anytime you have access to an internet connection is a potential time to build or edit your website. You don’t need an army of people or someone speaking jargon to you about a website edit; all you need is Bandzoogle and a brain. Do you have a brain? Good. Do you want Bandzoogle? Read on..</p>
<p>Now, let’s start talking about some of the features and benefits of using Bandzoogle. As mentioned earlier, I still believe written content is king on any website, so we will review the <strong>Text feature</strong> on Bandzoogle first. Their <strong>text feature</strong> is very easy to work with and is similar to a “WYSIWYG” type of editor, which means “what you see is what you get.” When working with the text editor, you immediately have access to format using Bold or Italic font, a numbered or bulleted list, and the ability to add a link. If you click “Advanced Toolbar” on their text tool, you then get “the whole kitchen sink” of options which are size of text, color, alignment, inserting a picture, video, table, horizontal line, and the ability to use HTML source code. </p>
<p>The link feature is extremely helpful because you can link text or an image to an external site/page, one of your own existing pages, a file, an email address, one of your albums if applicable, or one of your music tracks if applicable. There is also an option that specifies whether or not to open in a new window. So, you are easily able to have a clickable link referencing and directing your visitors to wherever you want them to go! Writing about your next concert? It’s easy to direct visitors to any external ticket sale site. Referencing a <a contents="book" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1849694141?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creativeASIN=1849694141&linkCode=xm2&tag=shaunf-20" target="_blank">book</a>, external blog, or a cool product you started using? All fair game. Basically, you have discretion over your content and how you want your audience to interact with you, your site, and your links. In regards to using images, you can accomplish the same exact thing by adding the <strong>Image stand alone feature</strong> which is another option on your <a contents="Bandzoogle portal" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://try.bandzoogle.com/websites-for/beat-producers/?pc=unbelievable15" target="_blank">Bandzoogle portal</a>. Otherwise, you can use the Text function we just discussed, which is like a swiss army knife of website tweaking. </p>
<p>In regards to placing content, Bandzoogle has a drag and drop classic editor, or a newly rolled out visual editor. These are both incredibly easy to use. Once content is created, you can also move existing content to a different area on your page. In this manner, you can experiment and then find your optimal design. Generally speaking, content can fit inside 1/3 of a page, ½ of a page, the full page, or a combination of sorts where there is a side bar mixed with the main area. You can also have multiple design techniques on a single web page. This helps to layout your site with both content and aesthetic appeal. </p>
<p>Let’s take a look at a <a contents="real world example" data-link-label="Free Beats & Free Downloads" data-link-type="page" href="/free-beats-free-downloads" target="_blank">real world example</a> of my website layout with text, image, and links. The layout at the top of the page features a larger area on the left side, and then a small side bar configuration on the right. This is easily configurable inside of your Bandzoogle portal. The text has some unique words in bold to help Google know what my site is about and to stand out to users reading content. Any word in this text can be changed to a link if desired. There is also an Amazon advertisement I pasted in there, still functioning inside of Bandzoogle’s <strong>text feature</strong>. [Remember, within a text feature you can also use HTML and insert images if necessary.] You can think of the <strong>text feature</strong> as a blank space where you can basically add anything you want. </p>
<p>On the top right of the page, there is a text feature that only reads FL Studio Cookbook link. Beneath that, there is a standalone <strong>image feature</strong>. Take a look at the options shown below; this is the exact view I have when working with the <strong>image feature</strong> in my Bandzoogle portal. <br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/771/203bd3fe9587eee6d9324b1c7ba58340dcf5e98f/large/image-feature-function-of-man-with-hands-holding-book-links-to-amazon.jpg?1498247900" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><br>You can change the image, size, caption, link, and specify if the link opens in a new window or not. In this case, I am directing those that are interested in clicking on the link to my <a contents="Amazon book" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1849694141?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creativeASIN=1849694141&linkCode=xm2&tag=shaunf-20" target="_blank">Amazon book</a> page. </p>
<p>The middle area of the<a contents=" Free Beats Page" data-link-label="Free Beats & Free Downloads" data-link-type="page" href="/free-beats-free-downloads" target="_blank"> Free Beats Page</a> has free beats on the left and free loops on the right, in a more even looking layout. Both use the <strong>music function</strong> provided by your Bandzoogle backend manager. The <strong>music function</strong> has a plethora of global options as well as track options. Globally speaking, you can choose a track list or compact music player, the playback type, whether or not tracks start automatically, whether or not to shuffle tracks, and whether or not to loop when completed. You may also use a discount codes and download codes if needed, and can also link your PayPal account to receive payments. There is also a handy transaction history report, which is like an accounting report of all downloads and purchases. If you are selling physical products or merchandise or anything that is not an actual music track, you can use the <a contents="Store feature" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://bandzoogle.com/features/store" target="_blank"><strong>Store feature</strong></a> inside of Bandzoogle’s portal. I created some music themed <a contents="T-Shirts here" data-link-label="How do you measure up" data-link-type="page" href="/how-do-you-measure-up" target="_blank">T-Shirts here</a> if you'd like to take a look at what a Store feature could potentially look like. The options in a Bandzoogle store are customizable per your needs, so your store may hypothetically not look exactly like mine. </p>
<p>Regarding each individual music track, Bandzoogle has many options to choose from including track name, artist name, preview clip if applicable, allow a download or a sale, ISRC code if applicable, track notes, lyrics, ID3 tags, and how the track streams when shared. The download type can be free or paid, and you control setting a price or fans setting a price. Furthermore, you can require an email address to download a track which automatically adds said email to your mailing list! This makes it so easy to build your mailing list! While I’m mentioning it, we can take a closer look at building your mailing list through Bandzoogle’s tools. Furthermore, it’s important to remember that <strong>you can send out mass emails to your subscribers through Bandzoogle’s portal as well</strong>! </p>
<p>If you take a look at the <a contents="Free Remixes Page" data-link-label="Free Remixes" data-link-type="page" href="/free-remixes" target="_blank">Free Remixes Page</a>, there is a mailing list sign up form function provided by Bandzoogle. This is on the right side column of the page. You can use this wherever you want on your website, and on as many pages as you desire. I also have this on the <a contents="Lyrical Covers page" data-link-label="Lyrical Cover Remixes" data-link-type="page" href="/lyrical-cover-remixes" target="_blank">Lyrical Covers page</a>, among others. The Free Remixes page says “link up” and the Lyrical Covers page says “bridge the gap.” You can customize this message to your liking or use the standard one that Bandzoogle provides. I think this helps show my personality and welcomes others to join the mailing list. </p>
<p>Regarding selling beats, Bandzoogle recently partnered up with Airbit, formerly known as MyFlashStore. This is a third party beat selling platform, but as of June 2017, there is now a seamless integration between Airbit and Bandzoogle. So, for those who want their tracks on Airbit and want to develop their own main website, Bandzoogle is an awesome option. Speaking of seamless integration, Bandzoogle also offers <strong>external integration</strong> with Instagram, Twitter, Bandcamp, Topspin, PledgeMusic, Bandsintown, GigSalad Quote Form, and GigSalad Review. </p>
<p>Regarding the actual theme of your website, the Bandzoogle portal has visual representations and examples of how various themes will look. Themes can be thought of as templates, which may include a header image, colors, textures, and suggested layout. Depending on your genre and the impression you want to give visitors, this obviously will vary individually. The cool thing is that once you test a theme, it adjusts your whole website and all pages in one fell swoop. From that point you may keep it as is, customize it a tad more [if you like the general theme], or revert back to your old theme. No theme change is destructive so there’s no need to worry. Previously saved themes are stored in your <em>My themes</em> area, so you can restore older ones if needed. </p>
<p>A website is something that is always in constant flux, or should I say <em>should be</em> in constant flux, because what’s optimal today may not be so optimal tomorrow. The <a contents="Bandzoogle platform" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://try.bandzoogle.com/websites-for/beat-producers/?pc=unbelievable15" target="_blank">Bandzoogle platform</a> offers all the flexibility you need to manage a well thought out website. The team at Bandzoogle is actually like a bonus; they are very helpful in help chats and in email. </p>
<p>In closing, I want you to type in the search term “free beats” in Google. I need you to read this very carefully after you see where UnbelievableBeats.com shows up in the search results. I am a top result on Google for the search term <strong>free beats</strong> and I have not spent a single penny on advertising the website. The Bandzoogle platform is a key factor in search result success. This is also due to the way Bandzoogle sets up their web pages and the way you can further customize SEO if needed. On every page you develop, you may edit the Title and where it shows up in your main menu. SEO information can then be automatically generated from your page content, or you can customize your Page Name and Page Description. On the global level of what Bandzoogle calls <strong>Site-Wide settings</strong>, you can add a <strong>website Icon</strong> which shows in various internet address bars, <strong>Footer Text</strong> like you can see on my site, and verification of your sitemap through Google Webmaster Tools.</p>
<p><a contents="Special Offer" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://try.bandzoogle.com/websites-for/beat-producers/?pc=unbelievable15" target="_blank">Special Offer</a>: 30-Day Free Trial on Bandzoogle and <a contents="15% off" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://try.bandzoogle.com/websites-for/beat-producers/?pc=unbelievable15" target="_blank">15% off</a> any first year Bandzoogle subscription.</p>UnbelievableBeats.com tag:unbelievablebeats.com,2005:Post/39263692015-11-20T19:29:46-05:002022-05-11T23:41:48-04:00How Ad Rev and YouTube Content ID work <span class="font_xl"><strong>The Hows and Whys of Ad Rev and YouTube Content ID</strong></span><br><span class="font_large">With notes and new opportunities w/ <strong>Google "Hosted" Ad Sense</strong> because they are all interrelated.</span><br><br><span class="font_regular">Mass Confusion. Irate Musicians. Angry YouTube Channel Owners. Copyright. Infringement. Monetization. Content. Welcome to the internet in the year 2015. This doesn't exactly sound like a fun party, but for good reason. Your ideas are at stake. Your recognition is at stake. Perhaps most importantly, revenue owed to you is at stake. <br><br>Personally, I am on the front lines of all of the above, because I have my own YouTube Channel named ShaunFriedman, in addition to having a website that offers beats for downloads, <strong><em>and </em></strong>in addition to having other publishers peddle my instrumental music across the globe. I have seen various claims on some of the videos I upload which include Sound Recording claims and Visual Content claims. YouTube Content ID claims are not just specific to Ad Rev; they are specific to any business or corporation or entity that partners with YouTube Content ID, and generally speaking, can claim copyright on Images, Movie Clips (Audio in the actual movie or the background music in the movie), TV shows, and of course, sound recordings.<br><br>This article will focus on the partnership of <strong>Ad Rev</strong>, <strong>YouTube Content ID</strong>, and <strong>YouTube channel owners/uploaders</strong>, though the concepts may be congruent with any entity that works with YouTube Content ID. I'll go through each topic in numbers, covering questions and concerns of <strong>music creators</strong> and <strong>YouTube creators</strong>, which often times are the same person, like myself :) YouTube <strong>channel owners</strong> are also a very important piece of the equation here, because when approved, they can monetize their own videos directly though <strong>YouTube Hosted AdSense</strong>, not to be confused with YouTube Content ID, but of course.<br><br><br>1.) </span><span class="font_large">"<strong>Can't I just apply to YouTube's Content ID Directly?</strong>"</span><span class="font_regular"> If you ever thought this, congratulations! Way to go directly to the source. After all, why would you need a middle man between yourself and YouTube Content ID? Unfortunately, I have heard rumors that YouTube's Content ID application process has gone dormant and is basically unattainable.<br><br>However, this didn't stop me from trying back in August of 2014. My information was successfully submitted directly to YouTube, and they closed their notification by saying "this is a beta program, and we're in an ongoing process of refining, improving, and scaling the system up to meet everyone's needs." All in all, it's probably a long shot to get approved directly, because YouTube works with <strong>major players</strong> like Warner Bros, Ad Rev, Audiam, CD Baby, Universal Music Group (UMG), Warner Music Group (WMG), and Sony Music Entertainment. (SME) These type of Behemoth companies have the rights to thousands upon thousands of sound recordings and media.<br><br><br>2.) </span><span class="font_large"><strong>How does <a contents="Ad Rev" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://cid.adrev.net/?r=2069" target="_blank">Ad Rev</a> work exactly?</strong></span><span class="font_regular"><strong> </strong>Ad Rev allows publishers and composers to upload music (music that you are the original owner/publisher/composer/rights holder of) into the Ad Rev system. Then, Ad Rev works directly with YouTube Content ID to find instances where your content is used on YouTube. Ad Rev is strictly a YouTube admin. It's a pretty robust system that <strong>will catch you</strong> if you use copyrighted material. As a member of Ad Rev, you can also submit <strong>DIRECT URLs</strong> of YouTube videos that use your music. Once a match is found, the YouTube channel uploader of said video will receive a notice that there is a copyright claim. Refer to below for what happens once there is a claim on your video.<br><br><br>3.) </span><span class="font_large"><strong>"Why are there claims on my Video?!? Now what!?"</strong></span><span class="font_regular"><strong> </strong>It's important to understand why there are claims in the first place. There would be a Content ID match or claim on one of your videos if you used copyrighted material from someone else. As mentioned above, this relates to all media including Images/Visual content, sound recordings, Audio Content (this type of claim happens with major movie publishers/studios), and more.<br>To avoid having a claim in the first place, you all have to do is make sure every single piece of anything used in your video is an original creation.<br>When you receive a <strong>claim</strong>, YouTube sometimes uses threatening language about losing your channel and so on.<br><br>You have a couple of choices at this point:<br>a.) Remove your video<br>b.) Accept the claim. Accepting the claim means that you <strong>NO LONGER</strong> can monetize your own video with Google Hosted <strong>Ad Sense</strong>. The little green money sign that usually is available for you to monetize with Ad Sense will <strong>disappear</strong>, and the advertising <strong>earnings </strong>made by your video<strong> will go directly to the Claimant</strong>. In the below example, Warner Music Group is now monetizing my Under the Bridge Hip Hop Remix. I have no qualms or anger to this because I clearly used audio from the Red Hot Chili Peppers. My YouTube account is still in <strong>good </strong>standing, and I have over 30 videos that are claimed by other entities. Accepting the claim means are you are Acknowledging third party content. Personally, in relation to the Under the Bridge video, I still list my website link in the description of the video, so at least I'm gaining <em>something </em>from the video. There are many different circumstances and scenarios relating to Copyright Claims and your YouTube channel, and when a particular video has gone "<strong>Viral</strong>," the ins and outs of all this hold a much greater stake.</span><br><a contents="" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=405uuJRrWlA" target="_blank"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/771/495fb3340a130c71055eb6e167347bfe91c06f7c/large/chili-peppers-image.png?1448050482" class="size_l justify_left border_" /></a><br><br><span class="font_regular">Maybe, as an actual YouTube channel uploader, you have a video of your Cat making scrambled eggs that has over 2 million views, but if your video uses a song from Elton John, you are now making Universal Music Group money, if you accept the claim and you don't delete your video.<br><br>In the Cat making scrambled eggs example, if you used background music from YouTube's Audio Library, you would have still been able to monetize your video <strong>directly</strong> with Google Hosted Ad Sense. This is clearly something all YouTube channel owners should be conscious of, because by the time it's potentially viral, it may be too late to go back and make changes. *However*, some songs affect your own advertising and monetization in various ways, so be sure to read carefully before using a music track. Also, terms can "automatically" change, muddying up the waters further.<br><br>Another option is to have an agreement with a song publisher or composer that implicitly states they CANNOT administer or claim the sound recording through YouTube Content ID, because IF they WERE ALLOWED, it would render your own monetization null and void (With Ad Sense) and the composer would be the only person making revenue off your video. <br>If there ever is a case where you know you agreed (in writing) to use a track without worrying about Content ID, you can provide the written specifics to YouTube, Ad Rev, or any company you are working with, and they can remove the Content ID claim for you. <br><br>Generally speaking, when issues arise over Content ID and Ad Rev, Ad Rev <em>can </em>remove claims or a composer or publisher can remove claims for you (by informing Ad Rev), once everyone is in agreement that the claim should truly be removed. This is also referred to as "White Listing" certain videos. You can also dispute claims directly through YouTube.<br><br>Ad Rev can also reassign ownership of music tracks. This can only happen if you have a written legal agreement that states why the ownership should change.</span><br><br><br><span class="font_regular">4.) </span><span class="font_large"><strong>Licensing and Distribution deals as a composer</strong></span><span class="font_regular"><strong>.</strong> When you sign (as a musician/composer) a distribution, licensing, publishing, or Record deal with a 3rd party, make sure you are the only Admin of your content on YouTube. In most contracts, you are granting them administration rights to all media available now or in the future. <strong>This means they are going to upload your songs to Ad Rev or Audiam directly!!! </strong>(unless they are a Behemoth that works with YouTube Content ID directly)<br><br>If they upload directly, you will receive your small cut (if that) after they receive their share directly from Ad Rev. This is true for indie bands, rap, and all genres of music. They might not even tell you about it at all. However, maybe this <strong>WAS </strong>part of your deal with them and you are comfortable with them collecting from ALL sources. Either way, make sure you are knowledgeable about YouTube Content ID. In a perfect world, you would negotiate terms in a licensing or distribution deal that states <strong>YOU ARE THE ONLY ADMIN of YOUR CONTENT ON YouTube</strong>. If that isn't an option, make sure you know what percentage you are getting through Content ID proceeds, if the entity you signed with actually tells you they are administering Content ID. <br><br><br>5.) </span><span class="font_large"><strong>Who pays more for administrating Content ID? Ad Rev or CD Baby?</strong> </span><span class="font_regular"> <br>Administering Content ID:<br>CD Baby pays out 50% as opposed to the 80% Ad Rev pays out.<br>CD Baby also offers a total distribution deal where they make your song or album available in a wide range of media, so it's important to weigh the pros and cons of each.<br>In a perfect world, you would be able to sign CD Baby's distribution deal where they do all the things they already do, with an addendum that states you are the only admin of your content on YouTube. <br><br><br>6.) </span><span class="font_large"><strong>What pays more?</strong> <strong>Ad Rev or Google Hosted Ad Sense?</strong></span><br><br><span class="font_regular">What pays more on a YouTube video? Ad Rev or Google Hosted Ad Sense? If you are a composer, YouTube channel creator, and Ad Rev member all at the same time, this question is pretty important to you.<br><br>Fundamentally, this is a question of what generates more: an <strong>Audio/Visual (standard Hosted AdSense)</strong> or a <strong>Sound Recording</strong>? (remember, accepting a sound recording claim makes you unable to monetize through Ad Sense, but what if the sound recording claim is your own self !?!?)<br><br>For example, let's say I post a tutorial about music production on my own YouTube channel that gets relatively popular. At that point, I could monetize directly through YouTube Hosted Ad Sense Monetization. (not to be confused with Content ID)<br><br>On the flip side, I could upload a new, original song I made to Ad Rev, embed the song in my tutorial video, and then have Ad Rev claim my own video and earn revenue from the sound recording.</span><br><br><span style="font-size: 16.8px;">YouTube Hosted Ad Sense is referred to as an Audio/Visual asset, and has demonstrated to earn 15% more than a sound recording (Ad Rev or any entity using Content ID) claim.<br><br>Per 1000 views on YouTube, a sound recording (Content ID) may generate $1.00<br>Per 1000 views on YouTube, your standard Google Hosted Ad Sense may generate $1.15<br><br>However, Ad Rev and other entities that work with Google have their own Ad Sense account, and there are sometimes higher quality ads through their network. So, it's not totally clear at this juncture. It is possible that a sound recording claim can earn more than a standard Audio Visual (hosted Ad Sense) and vice versa.</span><br><br><br><span class="font_regular"><span style="font-size: 16.8px;">7.) <strong>Multiple songs in a video vs. One Song in Video: YouTube Content ID</strong></span></span><br><span style="font-size: 16.8px;">If there is simply 1 song in a video, whoever you gave the admin rights to YouTube will be collecting off that song. (with an accepted copyright claim). <br>If, for example, there are 5 songs in a single video, it potentially could be the same entity collecting, but it could very well be 5 different entities, which in turn will split the ad share from the video.</span><br><br><br><span class="font_regular"><span style="font-size: 16.8px;">8.)<strong> SHARING</strong> REVENUE WITH MAJOR BEHEMOTHS!! Remixes and Covers. <br><b>New opportunities [Remixes & Covers!!!] through standard Google Hosted Ad Sense and YouTube Content ID!</b></span><br><br><span style="font-size: 16.8px;">While Hosted Ad Sense (YouTube monetization settings as a YouTube Channel uploader/owner) usually claims sampled & found material [Found with YouTube CONTENT ID], leaving you with no revenue stake, in some cases, you can actually <strong>SHARE </strong>revenue with Warner Chappell, Sony ATV, and any large company who partnerships with YouTube Content ID!!<br><br>In the picture [clickable] below, my Carry On remix with a Nate Ruess sample [subsequently matched and claimed by YouTube Content ID) has enabled me to <strong>Share </strong>with claimants below.</span></span><br><br><span class="font_regular">Monetization info: "You're sharing money generated from ads with the relevant artist or copyright owner."<br><br>I don't know why they accepted me to share with them, but as a composer that's pretty damn cool how the internet enabled revenue sharing with major players, and I never asked for permission in the first place. Maybe they're happy that my remix was decent and making them money so they wanted to give me a nod and include me on the action? On the not so glorious flip side, maybe it's just a google controlled ad network revenue setting. It is the use of copyrighted material, so I like to think the behemoths made the decision.</span><br><br><span style="font-size: 16.8px;"><a contents="" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-o3WgdBUe8" target="_blank"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/771/909ca7d718063883cd1c56963108fdee8b714ea4/original/carry-on-screenshot-shaun-friedman-remix-with-nate.png?1448063639" class="size_l justify_left border_" /></a></span><br><br><span class="font_regular">Another <strong>shared </strong>revenue example can be found here, which is an Alanis Morissette remix: <a contents="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJ75cTTiWRk" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJ75cTTiWRk" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/video_copynotice?v=xJ75cTTiWRk</a></span><br><br><span class="font_large">New Opportunities for <strong>COVERS </strong>on YouTube!!</span><br><br><span class="font_regular">Recently, a Parody I made with my buddy Travis was accepted to Share revenue through Google monetization.<br>As a YouTube channel owner, I was looking over the copyright claims, and I found a notification that said:<br>"<strong>Monetize my video. This is my cover of a song written by somebody else. Learn more</strong>."<br>So, it's definitely a <strong>cover </strong>of Nelly's Just a Dream, which we re-wrote to be "Just to Pee."<br>Just to Pee: <a contents="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLOYct7HLtE" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLOYct7HLtE" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLOYct7HLtE</a></span><br><br><span class="font_large"><a contents="" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLOYct7HLtE" target="_blank"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/771/dacd1b65858bc5d945b138df2c2f84a37860cc27/original/nelly-just-to-pee-google-youtube.png?1448065728" class="size_l justify_left border_" /></a></span><br><br><br><br>9.) <strong><span class="font_large">Types of Copyright Claims and examples in Content ID as YouTube channel owner</span></strong>.<br><br><br><strong>Example 1</strong>: Claimant was Warner Bros for a beat I made with an Austin Powers sample.<br>The content claim was "<strong>Visual</strong>" as my thumbnail and image throughout the entire video is an Austin Powers picture. <a contents="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8p6wV0klY8" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8p6wV0klY8" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8p6wV0klY8</a> - <br>So, I have successfully made "MC for Warner Bros" money, though I did get to use the sample, direct visitors to my website, gain subscribers, and remain in "good standing" with YouTube. <br>All in all, content ID really does protect creators. Nothing bad happened to be nor my channel. <br><br><br><strong>Example 2</strong>: A Biggie and 2pac Remix I composed and uploaded on my channel was Claimed by UMG [Universal Music Group], and was Blocked in Some Countries, the "some" which was only 1 country; Germany.<br><a contents="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SBDu1H5R7yA" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SBDu1H5R7yA" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SBDu1H5R7yA</a><br><br>I am unsure of what is actually claimed as I used verses from Biggie and Pac in "Runnin' (Dying to Live)" yet used a different instrumental.<br><br><br><strong>Example 3</strong>: 2pac and Eminem Remix: <a contents="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IxZv8O5QQck" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IxZv8O5QQck" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IxZv8O5QQck</a> - The Copyright claimant is "UMG" [Universal Music Group] <br>who matched with "Only Fear of Death - 2pac" - sound recording. This happened to be blocked only in Germany. In this example, the Content ID system identified 2pac, which has an acapella I used.<br>It does not appear as though the Content ID System caught my use of the instrumental "I'm not Afraid" by Eminem.<br><br><br>As you can see, there are many pieces and parts of the Google Content ID System. Each case is different because there many varying terms of agreements, many copyright owners, many YouTube channel uploaders, and many creative photographers and composers. Though people are frustrated about copyright claims, at its heart the system is truly trying to protect rights holders. <br> UnbelievableBeats.com tag:unbelievablebeats.com,2005:Post/34530102015-01-05T20:28:56-05:002022-03-28T16:46:18-04:00Review of: The Behringer XENYX 808 Mixer - home or liveI have had the Behringer <a contents="Xenyx 802 mixer" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000J5XS3C/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000J5XS3C&linkCode=as2&tag=shaunf-20&linkId=AUHLBOBKHXGQFHGI" target="_blank">Xenyx 802 mixer</a> since 2006. <br><br>Major gratitude to the forum admins in the <a contents="FL Studio" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://forum.image-line.com/" target="_blank">FL Studio</a> forum, who recommended the mixer to me after I told them I had to hook up a <a contents="condenser mic" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002QAUOKS/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B002QAUOKS&linkCode=as2&tag=shaunf-20&linkId=SQCIDSTLJEUT6GRL" target="_blank">condenser mic</a>, the <a contents="Roland Fantom" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000UZ61ZS/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000UZ61ZS&linkCode=as2&tag=shaunf-20&linkId=OQVGQ7HLO4I3SSYC" target="_blank">Roland Fantom</a> X-8 keyboard, the <a contents="Stanton T.80 Turntable" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0007ZIZFA/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0007ZIZFA&linkCode=as2&tag=shaunf-20&linkId=355RV344YA2PR7IP" target="_blank">Stanton T.80 Turntable</a>, and possibly a TV! (the audio output of anything on TV). <br><br>I also have the Mbox2, and I must say that the Pre-Amp inside the <a contents="Xenyx 802" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000J5XS3C/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000J5XS3C&linkCode=as2&tag=shaunf-20&linkId=AUHLBOBKHXGQFHGI" target="_blank">Xenyx 802</a> amplifies much better than the MBox2. The mixer, with the Phantom Power and XLR condenser mic plugged in, really makes recording vocals at home a clear quality. When doing this tactic, the Mbox2 only serves as a gateway into the computer (Where I record into FL Studio); it's input gain is completely turned down. The same thing goes for anything plugged into the Behringer Mixer like a Keyboard or Turntable; it seems to boost the audio power.<br><br>I recently utilized the FX Send and Return feature in the video: <a contents="Put the Gun Down Human Being" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0o64jeIjupA" target="_blank">Put the Gun Down Human Being</a> - The small echo is from an analog delay, and the DEEP PITCHED VOCALS on the HOOK is actually from the send/return feature. (a pitch shift fx of sorts) You can use this feature on the mixer for anything - many times these FX sends are a way to input some Reverb, Echo, Delay, Pitch, and other fun and interesting music/electronic effects. <br><a contents="" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000J5XS3C/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000J5XS3C&linkCode=as2&tag=shaunf-20&linkId=AUHLBOBKHXGQFHGI" target="_blank"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/771/d5ca788c246e3e6e35728d48a3a7fed497716844/medium/802-p0575-right-xl.png?1420508830" class="size_m justify_left border_none" alt="The behringer xenyx 802 mixer is of sturdy construction, solid electronics, nice controls and ability." /></a><br><br>The unit also has some RCA inputs, as well as a main out and control room out.<br><br>When using in conjunction with the computer, I simply use the main out of the mixer into the Mbox2, which connects via usb into the computer.<br><br>Maybe one down side regarding the mixer is the power plug in, which has to be fed into the back of the mixer. No biggie, but that part can get damaged; it is the only piece I have replaced on the mixer since owning in 2006. Actually, the only damage was to the metal prongs, so take a look inside and be sure not to abuse it. (I simply never knew they were there)<br><br>My buddy in Fort Wayne actually took this unit to a jam session with a band, and the results were pretty damn slick. So in a live environment, it definitely gets the job done. <br><br>Check out the <a contents="Xenyx 802 mixer for many applications" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000J5XS3C/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000J5XS3C&linkCode=as2&tag=shaunf-20&linkId=AUHLBOBKHXGQFHGI" target="_blank">Xenyx 802 mixer for many applications</a>, clear electronics, and a solid design. <br><br>The unit has a purple/blue laser when on.<br><br><br><br><br> UnbelievableBeats.com tag:unbelievablebeats.com,2005:Post/34529822015-01-05T20:00:02-05:002018-04-07T13:49:13-04:00Direct Sound EX29 Review (professional headphones)Thumbs up to the Direct Sound EX29 <a contents="Professional Headphones" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002GZLY2/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0002GZLY2&linkCode=as2&tag=shaunf-20&linkId=DQ3LNAGTBMIVIOBP" target="_blank">Professional Headphones</a>. These were gifted to me while working at Sweetwater Sound in Fort Wayne Indiana. The owner of the headphones is quite the cool man, and gave our class (training class before hitting the sales floor) free pairs. I used them in a coffee shop where I created the foundation for what was to be my Deck the Halls <a contents="Christmas Remix" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ymm6-eDP8aI" target="_blank">Christmas Remix</a>; a competition at work where people submitted enough material for a double disc CD. I used the EX29 headphones to sample deck the halls, as well as add sub bass from Reason in the coffee shop @ Mocha Lounge (Fort Wayne, IN), sequencing in FL Studio. <br><br>In Fort Wayne, my buddy Matt Lowe who engineered @ Tree Sound Studios in ATL recorded most of my vocals. When I returned to Cleveland, the <a contents="EX29" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002GZLY2/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0002GZLY2&linkCode=as2&tag=shaunf-20&linkId=DQ3LNAGTBMIVIOBP" target="_blank">EX29</a>'s helped me again. The feeling around your head really shuts out the outside noise; this helps tremendously when recording vocals because the microphone won't pick up the leaking of the headphones...or as little as possible. <br><a contents="" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002GZLY2/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0002GZLY2&linkCode=as2&tag=shaunf-20&linkId=DQ3LNAGTBMIVIOBP" target="_blank"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/771/736cab91e08ac65f038f776756e0234ce8c50b94/medium/the-ex29-headphones.jpg?1420508922" class="size_m justify_left border_none" alt="The EX29's are sturdy headphones that keep outside sound out when mixing as well as not leak out when recording vocals " /></a><br><br>On the inside of the headphones, there is a RED color for the right side of your head, instantly squashing the left or right inquiry. ;)<br><br>I have used the amazing <a contents="Bose Quiet Comfort 2" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000MC4JAS/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000MC4JAS&linkCode=as2&tag=shaunf-20&linkId=5ZS7ZMBILQQRZAT2" target="_blank">Bose Quiet Comfort 2</a>, and the EX29's definitely cancel out much of the exterior noise as well.<br><br>There's a large sized cup for your ears and the headphones themselves are quite substantial in size, coming with a handy 1/4" adapter that SCREWS onto the tip of the standard 1/8" jack. (high quality as well). <br><br>Overall, although they came out of nowhere, I have exclusively used the EX29's to produce all of my material since 2011. <br><br>I consider them a blessing and they are legit headphones, whether you are mixing or recording vocals (extra bonus due to less leakage). They are made of quality components and I never had a single problem. <br><br>Pictured circa 2011; Fort Wayne, Indiana donning the EX29's.<br><a contents="" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002GZLY2/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0002GZLY2&linkCode=as2&tag=shaunf-20&linkId=DQ3LNAGTBMIVIOBP" target="_blank"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/771/acaebf03ec4d96773ac7712e229d24a12f868c9a/medium/shaun-on-microphone-lauten-oceanus-jpeg.jpg?1420506104" class="size_m justify_left border_" /></a><br><br><br><br><br><br> UnbelievableBeats.com tag:unbelievablebeats.com,2005:Post/28949352014-04-14T15:13:12-04:002021-09-02T18:07:21-04:00Get Your Website Reviewed at the ASCAP EXPO! <p dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="color:#000000"><span style="background-color:transparent">Bandzoogle is heading to Los Angeles! We’ll be at the </span></span><a href="http://www.ascap.com/eventsawards/events/expo/" style="text-decoration:none;" target="_blank"><u>ASCAP EXPO</u></a><span style="color:#000000"><span style="background-color:transparent">, reviewing websites live online for </span></span><a href="http://www.taxi.com/" style="text-decoration:none;" target="_blank"><u>TAXI</u></a><span style="background-color:transparent; color:rgb(0, 0, 0)">,</span><span style="color:#000000"><span style="background-color:transparent"> and giving a workshop at </span></span><a href="http://www.mi.edu/" style="text-decoration:none;" target="_blank"><u>Musicians Institute</u></a><span style="color:#000000"><span style="background-color:transparent">. Plus, we’ll be hosting a members meetup while in town. Here are all the details:</span></span></span></span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span style="color:#000000"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:16px"><strong>ASCAP EXPO April 24-26</strong></span></span></span></span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="color:#000000"><span style="background-color:transparent"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/helpdesk/6296ed21a0ef638cc4d5081b4a15aae071736d45/original/ascapexpo2014.jpg?1397502417" class="size_orig justify_left border_" alt="" style="height:125px; margin:0px 8px; width:125px" />The </span></span><a href="http://www.ascap.com/expo" style="text-decoration:none;" target="_blank"><u>ASCAP EXPO</u></a><span style="background-color:transparent; color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"> </span><span style="color:#000000"><span style="background-color:transparent">is one of our favorite conferences. Taking place at the Loews Hollywood Hotel, we’ll be offering free site reviews at our table, plus our CEO David Dufresne will moderate the </span></span><a href="http://sched.co/1f7k3F5" style="text-decoration:none;" target="_blank"><u>Website Demolition Derby</u></a><span style="background-color:transparent; color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"> </span><span style="color:#000000"><span style="background-color:transparent">panel:</span></span></span></span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><br><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="color:#000000"><strong>Website Demolition Derby</strong><br><span style="background-color:transparent">Thursday, April 24</span><br><span style="background-color:transparent">12:45pm - 2:00pm</span></span><br><a href="http://2014ascapexpo.sched.org/event/2d3601fafb704945eb54d6343c3e7d9e" style="text-decoration:none;" target="_blank"><u>Hollywood Ballroom #2</u></a><span style="background-color:transparent; color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"> </span><span style="color:#000000"><em>(2nd Floor (Mezzanine))</em></span></span></span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span style="color:#000000"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="background-color:transparent">This ever-popular session will offer live critiques of your website. The design, organization, content and functionality will be assessed. How does the website fit with the artist's overall online strategy, and how successfully does it achieve the artist’s goals? </span></span></span></span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span style="color:#000000"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="background-color:transparent">The panelists have worked with thousands of songwriters and musicians, from major label superstars to secluded basement composers. They are extremely knowledgeable about website best practices and deeply allergic to bad design, music that auto-starts, Flash widgets and unreadable fonts. </span></span></span></span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="color:#000000"><strong>Moderator: </strong><span style="background-color:transparent">David Dufresne (CEO - </span></span><a href="http://bandzoogle.com/" style="text-decoration:none;"><u>Bandzoogle</u></a><span style="color:#000000"><span style="background-color:transparent">)</span><br><strong>Panelists</strong></span><span style="background-color:transparent; color:rgb(0, 0, 0)">: </span><a href="http://ariherstand.com/" style="text-decoration:none;" target="_blank"><u>Ari Herstand</u></a><span style="background-color:transparent; color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"> </span><span style="color:#000000"><span style="background-color:transparent">(Songwriter, Artist, Actor, Blogger), Brian Schopfel (EVP, Business Development & Partner - </span></span><a href="http://theuprisingcreative.com/" style="text-decoration:none;" target="_blank"><u>The Uprising Creative</u></a><span style="color:#000000"><span style="background-color:transparent">), </span></span><a href="http://www.brianfelsen.com/" style="text-decoration:none;" target="_blank"><u>Brian Felsen</u></a><span style="background-color:transparent; color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"> </span><span style="color:#000000"><span style="background-color:transparent">(Composer, Entrepreneur), Dave Cool (Director of Artist Relations, </span></span><a href="http://bandzoogle.com/" style="text-decoration:none;"><u>Bandzoogle</u></a><span style="color:#000000"><span style="background-color:transparent">)</span></span></span></span></p>
<h3 dir="ltr"><span style="color:#000000"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><strong>Attending the ASCAP EXPO? Submit Your Website For Review!</strong></span></span></span></h3>
<p dir="ltr"><span style="color:#000000"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="background-color:transparent">Panelists have been instructed to be ruthless and leave all diplomacy aside, so if you’re courageous enough to submit your website for their scrutiny, send a note to Dave Cool: dcool[at]bandzoogle[dot]com</span></span></span></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#000000"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><em>PLEASE NOTE: You must ATTEND the panel to have your site reviewed. </em></span></span></span><br>
</p>
<p dir="ltr"><span style="color:#000000"><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><strong>Free Website Reviews at Bandzoogle Booth During ASCAP EXPO</strong></span></span></span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span style="color:#000000"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="background-color:transparent">If you would rather not have your website reviewed in front of an audience, that’s ok too. Drop by the </span><strong>Bandzoogle table between 9AM and 6PM </strong><span style="background-color:transparent">during the ASCAP EXPO and we’ll review your site, one-on-one. Plus, we’ll have plenty of free candy and t-shirts for members too!</span></span></span></span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><strong>Members Meetup in Los Angeles!</strong></span></span></span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="color:#000000"><span style="background-color:transparent">If you’re a Bandzoogle member in the Los Angeles area (or you’ll still be in town after the ASCAP EXPO), please join our Director of Artist Relations Dave Cool at the</span></span><a href="http://www.yelp.ca/biz/library-bar-at-hollywood-roosevelt-hotel-hollywood" style="text-decoration:none;" target="_blank"><span style="background-color:transparent; color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"> </span><u>Library Bar</u></a><span style="background-color:transparent; color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"> </span><span style="color:#000000"><span style="background-color:transparent">at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel for cocktails to talk music, comedy, and of course, websites. The best part? Drinks are on us! Plus, there will be free Bandzoogle t-shirts on hand:</span></span></span></span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="color:#000000"><strong><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/helpdesk/3dc04f771834abb8ea701157a371fd26b3ac91de/original/roosevelt-logo-web.jpg?1397502472" class="size_orig justify_left border_" alt="" style="height:93px; margin:7px; width:151px" />Sunday, April 27 @ 6pm</strong></span><br><a href="http://www.yelp.ca/biz/library-bar-at-hollywood-roosevelt-hotel-hollywood" style="text-decoration:none;" target="_blank"><u>Library Bar</u></a><span style="background-color:transparent; color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"> </span><span style="color:#000000"><span style="background-color:transparent">at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel (7000 Hollywood Blvd)</span></span></span></span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="color:#000000"><span style="background-color:transparent">Please</span></span><a href="http://www.eventbrite.ca/edit?eid=11275201431" style="text-decoration:none;" target="_blank"><span style="color:#000000"><span style="background-color:transparent"> </span></span><u>RSVP</u></a><span style="background-color:transparent; color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"> to confirm if you'll be attending.</span></span></span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="color:#000000"><span style="background-color:transparent">And if anyone's up for it, we might go bowling at</span></span><a href="http://www.bowlluckystrike.com/" style="text-decoration:none;" target="_blank"><span style="color:#000000"><span style="background-color:transparent"> </span></span><u>Lucky Strike</u></a><span style="background-color:transparent; color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"> </span><span style="color:#000000"><span style="background-color:transparent">afterwards.</span></span></span></span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="background-color:transparent; color:rgb(0, 0, 0)">We hope to see you there!</span></span></span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="color:#000000"><span style="font-size:16px"><strong>Free Website Reviews on TAXI TV!</strong></span></span></span></span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span style="color:#000000"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="background-color:transparent"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/helpdesk/a661b2ed2349b929a5973643b5c3e7603c090ad9/original/taxi-logo-sqr.png?1397502686" class="size_orig justify_left border_" alt="" style="height:101px; margin:7px; width:150px" />On Monday, April 28, Dave Cool will be joining TAXI founder Michael Laskow for a special edition of their weekly TAXI TV Songwriting and Music Business Show. Instead of critiquing songs, for this episode we’ll be reviewing artist websites. </span></span></span></span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span style="color:#000000"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="background-color:transparent">The show streams live online, so you can watch and participate from anywhere in the world:</span></span></span></span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span style="color:#000000"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><strong>Monday, April 28<br>
4pm (PDT) / 7pm (EDT)</strong></span></span></span><br><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="color:#000000"><strong>Link:</strong></span><a href="http://www.ustream.tv/channel/music-marketing-online" style="text-decoration:none;" target="_blank"><span style="background-color:transparent; color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"> </span><u>http://www.ustream.tv/channel/music-marketing-online</u></a></span></span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="color:#000000"><strong>Musicians Institute Workshop: How to Build Your Music Website</strong></span></span></span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="color:#000000"><span style="background-color:transparent">And finally, David and Dave will be giving a workshop at the </span></span><a href="http://www.mi.edu/" style="text-decoration:none;" target="_blank"><u>Musicians Institute</u></a><span style="background-color:transparent; color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"> </span><span style="color:#000000"><span style="background-color:transparent">in Hollywood called “How to Build Your Music Website”. Please note that this is open to students at MI only:</span></span></span></span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="color:#000000"><span style="background-color:transparent">Wednesday, April 23<br>
5:30PM-7:00PM</span></span></span></span></p>
<hr><p dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="color:#000000"><em>Let us know if you’ll be attending any of these events! Either in the comments below, by emailing Dave Cool (dcool[at]bandzoogle[dot]com), or let us know through </em></span><em><a href="https://twitter.com/bandzoogle" style="text-decoration:none;"><u>Twitter</u></a> <span style="color:#000000">or </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/bandzoogle" style="text-decoration:none;"><u>Facebook</u></a>.</em></span></span></p>UnbelievableBeats.com tag:unbelievablebeats.com,2005:Post/28949362014-04-11T15:19:58-04:002021-09-28T15:23:06-04:00Band Website Love: Treacherous Dogs<p dir="ltr"><span style="color:#000000"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><em>Every week, we highlight one of our favorite websites on Bandzoogle. </em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/helpdesk/8173854961884756006c249d87f5a7dfb0ff01fe/original/treacherousdogsphoto.jpg?1397243761" class="size_orig justify_right border_" alt="" style="height:147px; margin-bottom:8px; margin-top:8px; width:220px" /></span></span></span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="color:#000000"><strong>Who:</strong><span style="background-color:transparent"> Treacherous Dogs </span><br><strong>What:</strong><span style="background-color:transparent"> Indie Rock Band</span><br><strong>Where</strong><span style="background-color:transparent">: London, UK</span><br><strong>Why their website rocks:</strong><span style="background-color:transparent"> We love the header image that the Treacherous Dogs are using for their website, which looks great with one of our newest themes. We also love how they keep the design and content nice and simple throughout their site. </span></span></span></span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="color:#000000"><span style="background-color:transparent">On their </span></span><a href="http://treacherousdogs.com/photos" style="text-decoration:none;" target="_blank"><u>Photos</u></a><span style="background-color:transparent; color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"> </span><span style="color:#000000"><span style="background-color:transparent">page they have official promo photos, as well as an </span></span><a href="http://bit.ly/1nKCAYw" style="text-decoration:none;"><u>Instagram feed</u></a><span style="background-color:transparent; color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"> </span><span style="color:#000000"><span style="background-color:transparent">that helps keep the content fresh. And on their </span></span><a href="http://treacherousdogs.com/videos" style="text-decoration:none;" target="_blank"><u>Videos</u></a><span style="background-color:transparent; color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"> </span><span style="color:#000000"><span style="background-color:transparent">page, they’ve embedded nice large videos so that fans can watch them comfortably right on the site. Nicely done guys!</span></span></span></span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="color:#000000"><span style="background-color:transparent">Check it out at: </span></span><a href="http://www.treacherousdogs.com" style="text-decoration:none;"><u>www.treacherousdogs.com</u></a><span style="background-color:transparent; color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"> </span></span></span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><a href="http://www.treacherousdogs.com" target="_blank"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/helpdesk/8fc8f8bb19067a8e3d1ca34c24e86ef6e767cbff/original/treacherousdogs-home.png?1397243937" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" style="height:324px; width:600px" /></a></span></span></p>UnbelievableBeats.com tag:unbelievablebeats.com,2005:Post/28949372014-04-10T12:37:04-04:002022-05-30T15:20:25-04:00The Heartbleed Bug: Bandzoogle Accounts Safe<p dir="ltr"><span style="color:#000000"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="background-color:transparent"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/helpdesk/87bd47a8ab4d15f57580853acbfd89a10c9fb240/original/heartbleed.png?1397147523" class="size_orig justify_left border_" alt="" style="height:182px; margin:8px; width:150px" />As many of you may have heard, there is a bug affecting web servers called "Heartbleed" that can compromise your private data. </span></span></span></span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="color:#000000"><span style="background-color:transparent">We’d like to let you know that </span><strong>Bandzoogle sites were not affected</strong><span style="background-color:transparent">. Our e-mail server (Zimbra) was updated as soon as the bug was announced.</span></span></span></span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14px"><a href="http://mashable.com/2014/04/09/heartbleed-bug-websites-affected/" style="text-decoration:none;"><u>Mashable</u></a><span style="background-color:transparent; color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"> </span><span style="color:#000000"><span style="background-color:transparent">has a comprehensive list of sites that were affected (see the entire list </span></span><a href="http://mashable.com/2014/04/09/heartbleed-bug-websites-affected/" style="text-decoration:none;"><u>here</u></a><span style="color:#000000"><span style="background-color:transparent">).</span></span></span></span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span style="color:#000000"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="background-color:transparent">Several sites that musicians might use on a regular basis were potentially compromised. We recommend that you immediately change your passwords for the following sites if you have an account:</span></span></span></span></p>
<ul>
<li dir="ltr">
<p dir="ltr"><span style="color:#000000"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="background-color:transparent">Facebook</span></span></span></span></p>
</li>
<li dir="ltr">
<p dir="ltr"><span style="color:#000000"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="background-color:transparent">Instagram</span></span></span></span></p>
</li>
<li dir="ltr">
<p dir="ltr"><span style="color:#000000"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="background-color:transparent">Pinterest</span></span></span></span></p>
</li>
<li dir="ltr">
<p dir="ltr"><span style="color:#000000"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="background-color:transparent">Tumblr</span></span></span></span></p>
</li>
<li dir="ltr">
<p dir="ltr"><span style="color:#000000"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="background-color:transparent">Google / Gmail</span></span></span></span></p>
</li>
<li dir="ltr">
<p dir="ltr"><span style="color:#000000"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="background-color:transparent">Yahoo / Yahoo Mail</span></span></span></span></p>
</li>
<li dir="ltr">
<p dir="ltr"><span style="color:#000000"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="background-color:transparent">GoDaddy</span></span></span></span></p>
</li>
<li dir="ltr">
<p dir="ltr"><span style="color:#000000"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="background-color:transparent">Dropbox</span></span></span></span></p>
</li>
<li dir="ltr">
<p dir="ltr"><span style="color:#000000"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="background-color:transparent">Soundcloud</span></span></span></span></p>
</li>
</ul><p dir="ltr"><span style="color:#000000"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="background-color:transparent">If you are using the same password for your Bandzoogle account as with any of the sites listed above, we recommend to also change your Bandzoogle password, just to be on the safe side. </span></span></span>T<span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">o do this, login to your account and click ‘change password’ from your Account tab, </span></span></span><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="color:#000000">or use the 'Forgot password?' link at</span> <a class="external" href="http://www.bandzoogle.com/login" target="_blank">www.bandzoogle.com/login</a></span></span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="color:#000000"><em>- Team BZ</em></span></span></span></p>UnbelievableBeats.com tag:unbelievablebeats.com,2005:Post/28949382014-04-08T10:31:47-04:002018-06-10T14:04:52-04:0013 Topics That Musicians Can Easily Blog About<p dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="color:#000000"><span style="background-color:transparent"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/helpdesk/34b07a2c9d492799d9585bc87cb4f09f8468a98b/original/blog-typewriter.jpg?1396967418" class="size_orig justify_left border_" alt="" style="height:133px; margin:7px; width:200px" />There are plenty of reasons for musicians to blog on a regular basis. First and foremost, blogging is one of the best ways to</span></span><a href="http://bandzoogle.com/blog/index.cfm?showdate=9-01-2011" style="text-decoration:none;"><span style="background-color:transparent; color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"> </span><u>drive people to your website</u></a><span style="background-color:transparent; color:rgb(0, 0, 0)">. </span><span style="color:#000000"><span style="background-color:transparent">Every time you create a new blog post, it’s an excuse for you to invite fans to check out your website. </span></span></span></span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span style="color:#000000"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="background-color:transparent">Blogging also </span><strong>shows that you are active in your career</strong><span style="background-color:transparent">. If a potential fan visits your site, enjoys your music, and then sees that you have months of regular blogging under your belt, they might click on a few posts to get a better sense of your personality. If they really like what they read, you might have a fan for life.</span></span></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="color:#000000"><span style="background-color:transparent">Blogging is a great way for your fans to get to know you better. Reading about you and your art adds context to the music, and that’s how they’ll come to value it more. They might be fans of your music already, but if they become fans of you on top of that, then the music gains an increased perceived value. Our CEO David Dufresne likes to make the comparison of</span></span><a href="http://bandzoogle.com/blog/blogposts/is-your-music-in-an-art-gallery-or-at-ikea-24326.cfm" style="text-decoration:none;"><span style="color:#000000"><span style="background-color:transparent"> </span></span><u>having your music in a gallery versus at IKEA</u></a><span style="background-color:transparent; color:rgb(0, 0, 0)">.</span></span></span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span style="color:#000000"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><strong>Blogging is great for SEO</strong></span></span></span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span style="color:#000000"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="background-color:transparent">Improving your SEO (search engine optimization) is another great reason to blog. Simply put, the more you blog, the more Google can find you, and the higher in the search results you will potentially appear based on the keywords, titles and content of your blog posts.</span></span></span></span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span style="color:#000000"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="background-color:transparent">So what can you blog about? Here are 13 topics that musicians can easily blog about:</span></span></span></span></p>
<h1 dir="ltr"><span style="color:#000000"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:16px"><strong>13 Topics Musicians Can Easily Blog About</strong></span></span></span><br><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="background-color:transparent">Not sure what to blog about? Here’s a quick brainstorm of 13 things you can blog about that might help trigger even more ideas:</span></span></span></span></h1>
<ol>
<li dir="ltr">
<p dir="ltr"><span style="color:#000000"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="background-color:transparent">Preview an upcoming show</span></span></span></span></p>
</li>
<li dir="ltr">
<p dir="ltr"><span style="color:#000000"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="background-color:transparent">Review a recent show</span></span></span></span></p>
</li>
<li dir="ltr">
<p dir="ltr"><span style="color:#000000"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="background-color:transparent">Stories from the road</span></span></span></span></p>
</li>
<li dir="ltr">
<p dir="ltr"><span style="color:#000000"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="background-color:transparent">Behind the scenes at rehearsals</span></span></span></span></p>
</li>
<li dir="ltr">
<p dir="ltr"><span style="color:#000000"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="background-color:transparent">Songwriting process</span></span></span></span></p>
</li>
<li dir="ltr">
<p dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="color:#000000"><span style="background-color:transparent">Making of your </span></span><a href="http://bandzoogle.com/blog/blogposts/in-the-studio-dont-shut-out-your-fans-21593.cfm" style="text-decoration:none;"><u>album</u></a></span></span></p>
</li>
<li dir="ltr">
<p dir="ltr"><span style="color:#000000"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="background-color:transparent">Crowdfunding campaign</span></span></span></span></p>
</li>
<li dir="ltr">
<p dir="ltr"><span style="color:#000000"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="background-color:transparent">New gear</span></span></span></span></p>
</li>
<li dir="ltr">
<p dir="ltr"><span style="color:#000000"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="background-color:transparent">Other great bands/musicians in your local scene/genre</span></span></span></span></p>
</li>
<li dir="ltr">
<p dir="ltr"><span style="color:#000000"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="background-color:transparent">Music that’s inspiring you at the moment</span></span></span></span></p>
</li>
<li dir="ltr">
<p dir="ltr"><span style="color:#000000"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="background-color:transparent">Your crazy pet(s)</span></span></span></span></p>
</li>
<li dir="ltr">
<p dir="ltr"><span style="color:#000000"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="background-color:transparent">Passion outside of music (maybe you’re a big sci-fi geek, or have a favorite sports team)</span></span></span></span></p>
</li>
<li dir="ltr">
<p dir="ltr"><span style="color:#000000"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="background-color:transparent">An issue you care deeply about outside of music (the environment, human rights, etc.)</span></span></span></span></p>
</li>
</ol><p><em><span style="color:#000000"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">Note: If you do decide to start blogging, it’s really important to keep it up to date. Just as an updated blog can show that you’re active in your career, if your last post is from a year ago, it can create a negative impression. Focus on blogging regularly, rather than trying to make each post perfect.</span></span></span></em></p>
<h3 dir="ltr"><span style="color:#000000"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><strong>Photos & Videos</strong></span></span></span></h3>
<p dir="ltr"><span style="color:#000000"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="background-color:transparent">Some of you might be thinking “<em>Well, that’s sounds great, but I’m not good at writing blog posts!</em>”. That’s ok, your blog posts can contain mostly photos, or can even be videos. </span></span></span></span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span style="color:#000000"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="background-color:transparent">Whichever method you are most comfortable communicating with, go for it. The important thing is to post new content on your site on a regular basis where fans can gain some insight into your career and who you are as an artist.</span></span></span></span></p>
<hr><p dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="color:#000000"><em>What topics do you blog about? Let us know in the comments!</em></span></span></span></p>UnbelievableBeats.com tag:unbelievablebeats.com,2005:Post/28476242014-04-05T16:29:10-04:002021-08-14T14:32:22-04:00How I created my own music niche<img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/771/b3d1237d244f1ae51705dd75ddf399ed529e7e71/original/what-does-shaun-do-with-music.png?1396729732" class="size_l justify_center border_" />UnbelievableBeats.com tag:unbelievablebeats.com,2005:Post/28949392014-04-04T14:48:55-04:002021-09-11T14:08:39-04:00Musician Website Love: Michael St. George<p dir="ltr"><span style="color:#000000"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><em>Every week, we highlight one of our favorite websites on Bandzoogle. </em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/helpdesk/8be5c94c6e632d5596d576959681542c1d0d03bb/original/msg-1.jpg?1396637261" class="size_orig justify_right border_" alt="" style="height:303px; margin-bottom:7px; margin-top:7px; width:200px" /></span></span></span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span style="color:#000000"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><strong>Who:</strong><span style="background-color:transparent"> Michael St. George</span></span></span><br><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><strong>What:</strong><span style="background-color:transparent"> Dub Artist</span><br><strong>Where</strong><span style="background-color:transparent">: Hamilton, ON, Canada</span></span></span><br><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><strong>Why his website rocks:</strong><span style="background-color:transparent"> Michael St. George’s site features a great header image, and we especially love the description he includes with it: Dub Artiste - Poet - Playwright. You immediately know what Michael does when landing on his site.</span></span></span></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#000000"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="background-color:transparent">We also love that his <a href="http://www.michaelstgeorgedub.com/home" target="_blank">Homepage</a> features a short bio, regular updates on his blog, a site-wide music player, mailing list sign up, and social links. With the social links, he’s using our newest icons set, which automatically match the site’s design and look sharp on high resolution displays!</span></span></span></span><br><br><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="color:#000000"><span style="background-color:transparent">Check out his site at: </span></span><a href="http://www.michaelstgeorgedub.com" style="text-decoration:none;" target="_blank"><u>www.michaelstgeorgedub.com</u></a></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><a href="http://www.michaelstgeorgedub.com" target="_blank"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/helpdesk/bc7d6b947e74e735e52e07a6745e0fcb8823b8ef/original/michaelstgeorgehome.png?1396637190" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" style="height:394px; width:600px" /></a></span></span></p>UnbelievableBeats.com tag:unbelievablebeats.com,2005:Post/28949402014-03-28T12:02:41-04:002021-08-08T00:19:40-04:00Musician Website Love: Erica Perry<p dir="ltr"><span style="color:#000000"><em>Every week, we highlight one of our favorite websites on Bandzoogle. </em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/helpdesk/f2ad5348e53cbb5a9b3ef68a255b41812fbe3d36/original/2164008.jpg?1396017532" class="size_orig justify_right border_" alt="" style="height:240px; width:200px" /></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="color:#000000"><strong>Who:</strong><span style="background-color:transparent"> Erica Perry </span><br><strong>What:</strong><span style="background-color:transparent"> </span></span></span></span><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:14px">Country Bohemian Singer - Songwriter</span><br><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="color:#000000"><strong>Where</strong><span style="background-color:transparent">: </span></span></span></span><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:14px"> Leander, Texas</span><br><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="color:#000000"><strong>Why her website rocks: </strong></span></span></span><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px">Because it totally suits her style! Self-proclaimed 'Gypsy Soul', Erica found one our newest responsive themes to fit in line with her personality. With a little bit of sky whimsy, custom title font and really great vintage looking photography in the headers, Erica has made this template her own. </span><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:1.6em">The Home page is inviting to her fans with a nice hello message to her fellow HIPPIES. There’s also a section listing ways to connect to her by social media, radio tour and fun events. This website is a good example of how using professional photographs makes the difference between a pro and amateur look. </span><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:1.6em">As a bonus, Erica’s site looks great on mobile devices since she’s using one of our pre made templates. Beautiful job Erica!</span></p>
<div style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: normal;"> </div>
<div style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: normal;">
<span style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:14px"><span style="background-color:transparent">Check out her site at: </span></span><u><a href="http://www.ericaperrymusic.com" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">www.ericaperrymusic.com</a></u>
</div>
<div style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: normal;"> </div>
<p><a href="http://www.ericaperrymusic.com" style="line-height: 1.6em;" target="_blank"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/helpdesk/b489b84458a9b853b47efe082e4252c122963f6a/original/erica-perry.jpg?1396017521" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" style="height:412px; width:600px" /></a></p>UnbelievableBeats.com tag:unbelievablebeats.com,2005:Post/20544942013-11-15T10:14:28-05:002021-10-27T09:12:33-04:00It was never about a DAW for me - It was about creating music.<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 16.0px Helvetica">It was never about Fruity Loops for me, and never will be about Fruity Loops for me.</p>
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 16.0px Helvetica; min-height: 19.0px"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 16.0px Helvetica">I was born in 1981. My father produced jingles for commercials, put Cleveland on the map, excelled at jazz piano, and had a state of art studio in 1985. I was immediately mesmerized by the sounds programmed with a floppy disk and the Yamaha DX-7 Keyboard.</p>
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 16.0px Helvetica; min-height: 19.0px"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 16.0px Helvetica">Music is an art of expression. I have given my blood, sweat, and tears to this entity called music. It is the universal language and relates to both me and every human being around the world.</p>
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 16.0px Helvetica; min-height: 19.0px"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 16.0px Helvetica">It was never about a DAW for me. It was about CREATIVITY. It was never about the Pro Tools vs. Cubase battle for me. That was simply a vessel to create a final product. It was never about Ableton. It was never about Digital Performer. It was never about the never ending battle in forums and in person. It was never about Fruity Loops - the stigma of a DAW that is immediately dismissed as "not worthy." It was about finding the easiest and most user friendly process for my type of production. In my case, that usually means starting with drums, adding a baseline, and then adding many parts of percussion and additional harmonies.</p>
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 16.0px Helvetica; min-height: 19.0px"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 16.0px Helvetica">I ask you this: If you write a letter to someone, does it matter if it comes from Hotmail, Gmail, AOL, or another type of email program? No. Rather, it is about the content within the email and how it makes you FEEL.</p>
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 16.0px Helvetica; min-height: 19.0px"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 16.0px Helvetica">Music means creating something from nothing. Like a painter with a paintbrush on a blank canvas.</p>
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 16.0px Helvetica; min-height: 19.0px"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 16.0px Helvetica">I ask the world: Why be so obsessed with the Pro Tools vs. other software programs? I guess I can "sort of" understand those who say "these kids never learned an instrument." I can't really speak to that because I learned the piano and drums by ear, and then took that knowledge into the digital domain. I guess you can call me a hybrid of the analog and digital worlds. I am grateful that my dad "showed me the ropes" so to speak, using midi keyboards like Korg and Kurzweil, and manually playing in each harmony or drum pattern using a keyboard.</p>
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 16.0px Helvetica; min-height: 19.0px"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 16.0px Helvetica">I ran into somebody today who claimed I was "stuck in box" by using the FL Studio Program. I would argue that any thinking that claims I am stuck in box is exactly that: Stuck in a box. For me, it has NOTHING to do with the software DAW so to speak. Yes, the software FL Studio is good for me because it allows me to sequence quickly. But the underlying message I am trying to communicate is this: The most important part about composing music is NOT the software that you use. Certainly it can help in the process, and you should find the DAW that works best for you, but it is all about your own creativity. It's about how you add each section of your song, the harmonies you incorporate, and the way the melody or baseline makes you FEEL. </p>
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 16.0px Helvetica; min-height: 19.0px"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 16.0px Helvetica">Music makes you FEEL. It makes you FEEL when you hear it through a radio. It makes you FEEL when you are working out and listening to music on your iPOD. it makes you FEEL when you are dancing to music in a club. It PICKS YOU UP when you are feeling down. It motivates you. It connects you. It reminds you. It's your friend. It's the emotion that is indescribable. It is different for each person listening, yet it connects everybody.</p>
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 16.0px Helvetica; min-height: 19.0px"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 16.0px Helvetica">As producers, engineers, and composers, it is not about what DAW you use. It's about how you make your audience FEEL. If you can get your message across using Pro Tools, by all means use it. If you like Digital Performer like the famous composer Hans Zimmer, use it. If you like fruity loops, keep at it. If you like Cubase or Ableton, stick with what works.</p>
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 16.0px Helvetica; min-height: 19.0px"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 16.0px Helvetica">The main battle comes between each fellow producer. We are supposed to be making music that makes people FEEL. This was never a gimmick for me. I have seen the forums and I have seen the YouTube comments. Why do we have to battle with people that are using different DAWS? We should be encouraging people who are making music, not cutting them down because they use a certain DAW. Just because you use Pro Tools doesn't mean you are better than someone else. Rather, pro tools (in certain cases) may be a crutch to certain people, because they have no real creativity. It's like spraying Febreze instead of really cleaning your carpets: Your house still stinks and the spray is only a cover up. You will be exposed for who you are in due time. </p>
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 16.0px Helvetica; min-height: 19.0px"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 16.0px Helvetica">I can create in Pro Tools. I can create in Cubase. I can create in FL Studio. I can create in Ableton. I can create in Digital Pefrormer. I have been multi-tracking since I was 5 years old, using a Casio Sk-8. It was never about a DAW. It was only about creating. I can only shake my head in disbelief when I see or I am part of these arguments, which base themselves upon what DAW you are using, and not WHY you are creating music in the first place. For the LOVE. Not for a gimmick. Not for notoriety. For the love of music and creativity.</p>UnbelievableBeats.com tag:unbelievablebeats.com,2005:Post/19261382013-10-25T15:55:53-04:002018-04-07T13:53:29-04:007 Essential Elements for your Band’s Digital Press Kit<br><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">When creating your website, you have to </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">think about the different kinds of people that will be visiting </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">it. These can be your </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">current fans, potential new fans</span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">, as well as </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">media/bloggers, bookers and other industry people.</span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"> </span><br> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">For that latter group, they’re likely looking for different information than your fans are, and you have to be sure to make it easy for them to find it. This can best be done by adding a Digital Press Kit <a contents="section to your website" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://bandzoogle.com/blog/blogposts/the-magic-8-essential-menu-options-for-your-band-website-26224.cfm" target="_blank">section to your website</a>. </span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Here are the 7 essential elements to include in your digital press kit:</span><br><br><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">1. Bio</span><br> </p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">First and foremost, have your most current bio available. It would also be a good idea to have a few different versions of your bio, like an </span><a href="http://bandzoogle.com/blog/blogposts/creating-a-perfect-pitch--laser-focus-your-message-19981.cfm" style="text-decoration:none;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#1155cc;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:underline;vertical-align:baseline;">elevator pitch</span></a><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">, a short bio (1 paragraph), a medium bio (a few paragraphs) and a long bio (4+ paragraphs). This way you’ll have options for whatever needs the media or industry person might have. You can also include a downloadable pdf with all of the different versions of your bio on them. </span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">2. Images </span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">The next element to have in your digital press kit is a section with images available for download. Make sure some of these are </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">hi-resolution</span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"> in case the media person or festival programmer needs to use the image for print. You should include a few </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">different official photos</span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">, with </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">vertical and horizontal options</span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">, as well as </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">black & white versions</span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">. Be sure to also include the </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">image for your most recent album cover</span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"> as well. </span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">3. Music</span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Of course, you’ll need to have your music available to listen to. You should also make a few tracks available to download and/or embed, and if a media person wants to have a copy of your full album or EP, place clear information on who they can contact to get a copy. </span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">4. Video</span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Many blogs and media sites love to embed videos of the artists they’re covering to make the article more visual and engaging. Embed 2-3 videos in your digital press kit to make it easy to find a quality video that best represents your band, including at least one live video incase a blogger is previewing one of your upcoming shows. </span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">5. Press Articles/Reviews </span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">It wouldn’t be a press kit without some press, so post links to a few of your best reviews and interviews. Be sure to </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">pull the best quote from each review and include it underneath the link</span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">, don’t assume that people will click on each article and read them in full. You can spice up this part of your digital press kit visually by including the logos of the media source next to each article/review. </span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">6. Contact info </span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Even though you might have a “Contact” section on your website, include detailed contact info in your digital press kit to have everything in one place. Include an email address as well as a phone # where a media person or booker can reach you if they need to speak to you in a hurry. </span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">7. Social Links</span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">And finally, add your social links to the page so that if the media person or booker wants to quickly check out your social media presence, they have all the links right there. Don’t overdo it, you can simply list the social media networks that you are most active on. For most artists this would be Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. </span></p>UnbelievableBeats.com tag:unbelievablebeats.com,2005:Post/19113502013-10-23T15:29:30-04:002020-02-19T00:47:19-05:008 Road Safety Tips for Musicians on Tour<em>This is a guest from Darren Gallop. Darren is the CEO of <a contents="Marcato Musician" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://marcatomusician.com/" target="_blank">Marcato Musician</a>, a web-based artist management software. Darren is a former touring musician who gained lots of wisdom from pounding the pavement throughout North America. In this post he offers some great tips for musicians on how to stay safe while on the road. Enjoy!</em><br> <hr>Forget stage diving. It’s safe to say that driving from gig to gig is one of the most dangerous things most artists are required to do throughout their career. Traveling at speeds in excess of 100Km/h in a sheet metal/fiberglass box on wheels is something we all have become fairly comfortable with. The harsh reality is that one bad split second decision can instantly result in a life changing or even life-ending crisis. This was one of my greatest fears when I used to tour constantly in bands.<p>During my time on the road I have seen more accidents than I can count, numerous close calls and have even been involved in a few incidents. Luckily for my band mates and I, none of our experiences resulted in anything more than a wrecked band van and some minor cuts and bruises.</p>
<p>Here are 8 road safety tips for musicians on tour that I have compiled over the years from my traveling experiences (and from my short lived bus driver career in Western Canada… <a href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?screen_name=darrengallop" title="Tweet @darrengallop on Twitter!">tweet me</a> and I’ll tell you some stories). I hope some of this advice helps you all travel a bit more safely on your upcoming summer tour adventures:</p>
<h2>
<strong>1. </strong><strong>Is your van safe?</strong>
</h2>
<p>Have your vehicle periodically safety checked. We’re not talking about an annual or bi-annual motor vehicle inspection certificate (if that even applies in your province or country). I mean <strong>EVERY TIME</strong> you are about to leave for tour. When I was a bus driver we had to check fluids and tire lug nuts every day before we headed out on the road. This seems like overkill but at the same time it literally takes less than 5 minutes to do. Have you ever had a tire fall off while traveling at 100 Km/h? I have. It sucks!</p>
<p>Some of the areas that should be checked by your mechanic before you head out on tour include:</p>
<ul>
<li>All fluid levels</li> <li>Tires wear / Tire pressure</li> <li>Brakes and brake lines</li> <li>Tie rod ends and ball joints</li> <li>Tire lug nuts</li> <li>Glass</li> <li>Lights</li> <li>Wipers</li>
</ul><br><p>On a daily basis you should check the following (particularly if your van’s odometer reads like a phone number):</p>
<ul>
<li>Fluid levels</li> <li>Tires and pressure</li> <li>Lights</li>
</ul><br><h2>
<strong>2. </strong><strong>Exercise Careful Packing</strong>
</h2>
<p>The time that I did get into a van accident with my band we were lucky to be able to say that the only damage was to a piece of equipment. A ride cymbal or a guitar can be a lethal weapon inside a rolling van. It is important to securely pack your van every time. Ideally your van would have a separate compartment for gear, which is the safest way to check this one off. If this is not an option then be very smart about how you pack. Keep the sharper heavier items low and secured with other items. Use your common sense. Ask your self, how would this pack job fair out if we slammed into the back of another vehicle or if the van rolled over?</p>
<h2>
<strong>3. </strong><strong>Stay Clear of Drugs and Alcohol</strong>
</h2>
<p>Obviously your driver should be sober. This one is a no brainer. Another thing to also be cautious of is hangovers. If your driver partied like a rock star late into the evening the night before then there is no way he will be operating at 100% the next morning for that long drive to the next town. It makes sense for your driver or drivers to chill on the substance use. If there are a few drivers amongst your group that like getting messed up periodically then maybe taking turns would be the best bet. Just make sure that someone is being conscious and responsible with this stuff – a license suspension for impaired driving (or worse) can make future touring an even bigger headache.</p>
<h2>
<strong>4. </strong><strong>Drive according to conditions</strong>
</h2>
<p>While I write this blog it is spring in Canada so the chances are slim that black ice and snow will be on the radar in the near future. However wind, rain and fog are common all year long and are worth being cautious of. If it’s pouring out your visibility is reduced, there is risk of hydroplaning and you have reduced stopping time. Take it down a few notches to compensate for these conditions. Keep your eye on the weather and leave early so you give yourself the time to drive safely. And again, this is where good tires, lights and wipers can mean the difference between getting there or not.</p>
<h2>
<strong>5. </strong><strong>Be Aware of Fatigue</strong>
</h2>
<p>This is a major issue on the road with a band. Late nights and long drives are par for course so driver fatigue is likely to be an issue at some point in your tour. It is important to make sure that there is someone who has enough rest to drive all of the time. In the booking and planning stage of your tour it is important to make an agenda that is actually attainable. This can even become more of an issue when mixed with <strong>#3</strong> <strong>“Drugs and Alcohol”</strong>. Again, just be aware of this. Don’t subject yourselves to these high-risk situations.</p>
<h2><strong>6. Ride with a co-pilot</strong></h2>
<p>I always designated the passenger seat for the ‘co-pilot’. This person’s job is to stay awake, operate the GPS (or if you’re old-school then read the map), DJ the van stereo, talk to the driver and make sure he or she is holding up ok.</p>
<h2>
<strong>7. </strong><strong>Be Prepared for Emergency</strong>
</h2>
<p>In the event that you do run into issues on the road you should have the gear to cope with your emergency. Your road safety and first aid kit should include:</p>
<ul>
<li>BOOSTER CABLES</li> <li>FLASHLIGHT (batteries included)</li> <li>Warm clothing</li> <li>Reflective Road Triangles</li> <li>First aid kit</li> <li>Cell phone</li> <li>Flares</li>
</ul><br><h2>
<strong>8. </strong><strong>Get AAA, CAA or another Roadside assistance program</strong>
</h2>
<p>These programs are cheap and they pay back on hotel discounts alone. The major advantage to these memberships is that if you run into van problems you just call them and they send someone to help you. Changing a tire on the side of the highway on a rainy day can be very dangerous or at the very least a total pain in the ass. <a href="http://www.marcatomusician.com">Marcato Musician </a>powered rockers <a href="http://www.thestanfields.ca">The Stanfields</a> learned this lesson the hard way and were stuck with a massive towing bill <a href="http://bit.ly/KvVcfR">when their van broke down in the Rocky Mountains</a>.</p>
<p>In conclusion, it’s important to be conscious of the dangers involved with being a touring musician. There is nothing that can ruin a tour faster than a motor vehicle accident or breakdown and of course it can do more than just ruin the tour! Don’t let an avoidable accident be the end of your music career. Have fun and play safe!</p>UnbelievableBeats.com tag:unbelievablebeats.com,2005:Post/18798112013-10-18T16:13:41-04:002021-12-03T09:15:28-05:004 Tips for Setting Up the Calendar Page on Your Band’s Website<img src="//content.bandzoogle.com/users/StateofIndie/images/content/calendar.jpg" class="size_orig justify_left border_" alt="" height="149" width="125" />If fans should be able to find detailed information about your upcoming shows anywhere, it should be on your own website. We feel it’s important enough to have a Calendar page (which you can also call “Tour” or “Events” or “Shows”) as <a target="_new" href="http://bandzoogle.com/blog/blogposts/the-magic-8-essential-menu-options-for-your-band-website-26224.cfm">part of your main menu</a>. That way, no matter where a fan is on your site, with one click they can find your upcoming dates. <br><br>
So when organizing your website, be sure to make that information easy to find. Some bands place a widget somewhere on their Homepage, but once a fan clicks away to another page on your site, the information becomes less easy for them to find again, if they even noticed it in the first place.<br><br>
Other bands place a calendar widget in a sidebar that appears on every page. Although this is better than simply embedding a widget on the Homepage, it can cause clutter on other pages where that information isn’t relevant. Plus, you can do so much more with a dedicated Calendar page.<br><br>
Here are 4 tips for setting up your Calendar page to make sure that fans, industry, and media have all the information they need: <br><br><h3>1. Add Relevant Show Info</h3>
Of course it all starts with having the info that people need to know about your upcoming shows:<br><br><b>Date</b>: Include the day, date, and year.<br><br><b>Time</b>: Besides when the show starts, you can also add details for when the doors open, and when exactly you’re scheduled to go on.<br><br><b>Venue</b>: The venue name, address, link to the venue’s website, and link to a map and/or directions to get there. You could also mention if there is parking at the venue.<br><br><b>Ticket Info</b>: How much is the show? Is it pay at the door? Can tickets be purchased in advance? If so, include a link to buy tickets.<br><br><b>Other Info you can include</b>: <br><ul>
<li>Info about other bands with links to their websites</li>
<li>Is the show All Ages?</li>
</ul><br><h3>2. Important Dates to Include</h3>
Besides your “regular” shows at music venues and bars, it’s important to include these other dates:<br><br><b>Private events</b>: Although your fans can’t go, it shows people that you’re active and open to performing private functions, which can be good paying gigs. <br><br><b>House Concerts</b>: Sometimes house concerts can be invite-only, but again, it’s important to show your activity, and lets people know you’re available for house concert gigs.<br><br><b>Conference showcases</b>: Though not open to the public, when bookers visit your website, having conference showcases listed looks good. Also, for industry people at the conference, they’ll sometimes want to get details about your showcase, so it's a good idea to list it on your website. <br><br><b>College & University Gigs</b>: Once again, it might be the case that these are not open to the general public, but it’s important to list them to show that you’re getting hired by colleges & universities. This could help lead to more college & university gigs, which tend to be well paid. <br><br><b>Fundraising Events</b>: If you’re playing an event to raise money for a charity or an organization you support, list those shows as well. It shows that you’re active in your community and are willing to play benefit shows, which can make for feel-good stories in the media, and lead to increased exposure for your band.<br><br><b>Previous dates</b>: Although not necessarily relevant for your fans, it can be a good idea to list your previous events to show bookers/festivals/media how active you are. This could be a full list of your previous events, or you could simply highlight some of your bigger shows.<br><i><br>
Important note: If you don’t have any upcoming dates, <b>don’t leave your calendar page blank</b>. Let people know what you’re up to by adding a message saying that you’re currently booking shows, writing material for a new album, in studio, etc. <br></i><br><h3>3. Spice up the Page: Add Visuals</h3>
Many websites that have a calendar page simply have a listing of upcoming dates, which definitely serves the purpose of the page, but you can make your live shows even more enticing by adding visuals. <br><br>
The first thing you can do to make your calendar page more visually appealing is to include a show poster/image for each upcoming show. You can also <b>add some of your best live photos to the page</b> to give fans an idea of what the experience of seeing you live is like. Gal Holiday’s Shows page is a nice example of this: <a href="http://www.galholiday.com/shows" target="_new">www.galholiday.com/shows </a><br><br>
Even better than adding some live photos? <b>Add your best live video</b> to your Calendar page. Maybe a friend of one of your fans is checking out your page to get details on the show and decide if they’re going to attend. A great live video might help get that person to leave the comfort of their home to come check out your set.<br><br>
More importantly, bookers will often visit the Calendar page of an artist’s website to see their activity and make a decision whether to book them or not. A good quality live video can say a lot to a booker about the level of performance you can offer and the experience you’ll give to the audience. <br><br><h3>4. Add a Call-to-action</h3>
Last but not least, you should add a call-to-action to your calendar page. A call-to-action is meant to direct people to do something specific while on the page. For your calendar page, you could <b>add a call-to-action encouraging people to contact you</b> for booking information, and mention what type of gigs you’re available for (private events, fundraisers, house concerts, etc.), then provide a link directly to your Contact page.<br><br>UnbelievableBeats.com tag:unbelievablebeats.com,2005:Post/18560112013-10-15T15:49:14-04:002021-09-10T11:00:05-04:00Bandzoogle at Folk Music Ontario Conference This Week!<img src="//content.bandzoogle.com/users/StateofIndie/images/content/FMO_logo-300.png" class="size_orig justify_left border_" alt="" height="53" width="150" />This week our Director of Artist Relations Dave Cool is attending one of his favourite conferences, Folk Music Ontario (formerly OCFF). The conference takes place October 17-20 at the Delta Meadowvale Resort and Conference Centre in Mississauga, Ontario.<br><br>
This annual conference brings together festival programmers, agents, managers, folk musicians, and other key players in the Canadian folk, roots, and traditional music community for a series of workshops, panels and of course, music showcases. <br><br>
Dave will be moderating a panel as well as offering free website reviews while there. Here are all the details:<br><br><b>How to Not Go Crazy on the Internet / Image-Based Marketing<br>
Saturday, October 19<br>
3:30 – 5:00 pm</b><br><br>
Does your Facebook status still say “Happy New Year 2011!”? Do you really need to be Instagramming your road food? Do you need to post gig shots every single night? Do you need a Tumblr page AND a Facebook page AND a band website AND an Instagram account, etc.? This panel will help guide you through what you should and should not be doing online and how to best manage yourself on the Web.<br><br><b>Panelists:</b><br><br>
Dave Cool - Moderator<br>
Cindy Doire<br>
Amanda Rheaume<br>
Rob Wozny<br><br><br><b>Exhibit Hall - Free Website Reviews<br>
Friday, October 18: 12:30pm – 2:30pm<br>
Saturday, October 19: 12:00pm – 2:00pm</b><br><br>
On the Friday & Saturday of the conference we’ll have a table set-up at the Exhibit Hall offering free website reviews to musicians. Come by to say hello, get your website reviewed, have some free candy, and if you’re already a member, pick up a free t-shirt too!<br><br><hr><i>Stay tuned to our blog, as well as our </i><a href="https://www.facebook.com/bandzoogle" target="_new"><i>Facebook</i></a><i> and </i><a href="https://twitter.com/bandzoogle" target="_new"><i>Twitter</i></a><i> pages for more updates about upcoming events we're attending this Fall! </i><br><br>UnbelievableBeats.com tag:unbelievablebeats.com,2005:Post/18399722013-10-12T14:36:34-04:002013-10-12T14:36:34-04:00Hans Zimmer time and Inception RemixI recently finished a Hans Zimmer remix. The track is titled "time" from the Inception Soundtrack starring Leonardo Dicaprio. The piano from Hans and the Christopher Nolan movie made for a great film, and this remix could be viewed as a tribute to that. It also explores the realm of dreams, inception, extraction, feelings, and the like.<br><br>What is the most resilient parasite? Bacteria? A virus? An intestinal worm? An idea. Resilient... highly contagious. Once an idea has taken hold of the brain it's almost impossible to eradicate. An idea that is fully formed - fully understood - that sticks; right in there somewhere.<br>
<iframe width="420" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/c_4OlDcvt8Y" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>3:58UnbelievableBeats.com tag:unbelievablebeats.com,2005:Post/18343942013-10-11T16:57:56-04:002021-08-03T13:02:00-04:00Bandzoogle Eurotrip: CEO David Dufresne heads to MaMA in France & WOMEX in Wales Our CEO David Dufresne is off to Europe for 10 days to attend a couple of conferences. First he’ll be in Paris for the <a target="_new" href="http://www.mama-event.com/fr/accueil/bienvenue-actus.html">MaMA</a> Festival & Convention (October 16-18), then he’ll head to Cardiff, Wales for <a target="_new" href="http://www.womex.com/">WOMEX</a> (October 23-27). Here are the details:<br><br><b><img src="//content.bandzoogle.com/users/StateofIndie/images/content/MaMA_logo-125.jpg" class="size_orig justify_left border_" alt="" height="125" width="125" /></b>
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MaMA Festival & Convention<br>
Paris, France<br>
October 16-18</h3>
David will be speaking on two panels at the <a href="http://www.mama-event.com/fr/accueil/bienvenue-actus.html" target="_new">MaMA</a> Conference:<br><br><b>Website Demolition Derby<br>
Thursday, October 17<br>
10:30 - 11:30PM</b><br><br>
The <a href="http://www.mama-event.com/en/convention/derby-de-demolition-de-sites-internet.html%20" target="_new">Website Demolition Derby</a> returns to MaMA. David will lead this panel along with Virginie Berger (France, marketing expert and founder of <a href="http://dbth.fr/" target="_new">DBTH</a>), which will also include speakers Jérôme Coic (France, Deezer - Artist Marketing Manager) and Philippe Giard (France, The Orchard - Interactive Marketing Manager). <br><br>
Attendees will witness live critiques of band websites: The site's design, organization, content and functionality – all will be assessed. How does the website fit with the artist's overall online strategy (Youtube, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc…)? How good it is towards achieving certain goals? How can it be improved?<br><br><br><b>Rise and Fall of Start-up Businesses<br>
Friday, October 18<br>
10:30AM - 12:00PM</b><br><br>
David is a featured speaker on this panel moderated by Virginie Berger (France, marketing expert and founder of <a href="http://dbth.fr/" target="_new">DBTH</a>). Other speakers include Fran Cowan (United-Kingdom, Marketing specialist), Guillaume Jouannet (France, Evergig - CEO), Olivier Lacourt (France, Discograph - Director), Emmanuel TELLIER (France, Télérama - International correspondent). <br><br>
The <a href="http://www.mama-event.com/en/convention/rise-and-fall-grandeur-et-decadence-des-start-ups.html%20" target="_new">panel</a> will discuss how start-ups have been changing the landscape of the music industry, as well as exploring why some succeed while other fail, and questioning how many will still be around in the long term. Should be a lively discussion. <br><h3>
<img src="//content.bandzoogle.com/users/StateofIndie/images/content/womex_logo.jpg" class="size_orig justify_left border_" alt="" height="120" width="125" /><br>
WOMEX<br>
Cardiff, Wales<br>
October 23-27</h3>
After Paris, David heads to Cardiff, Wales for the <a href="http://www.womex.com/" target="_new">WOMEX</a> Conference. WOMEX is a festival, conference and networking platform for the world music industry. Although not speaking on a panel, David will be on hand to talk about Bandzoogle and give free website reviews to anyone that asks. If you’ll be attending the conference and want to get your site reviewed, email him at david[at]bandzoogle[dot]com<br><br>
You’ll also be able to find him at the <a href="http://www.rockpaperscissors.biz/" target="_new">RockPaperScissors</a> booth, as Bandzoogle is presenting the release of the “World Music Directory” eBook at WOMEX, which was put together by RockPaperScissors. We’ll send out a link to the eBook through <a href="https://www.facebook.com/bandzoogle" target="_new">Facebook</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/bandzoogle" target="_new">Twitter</a> once it’s been released. <br><br><hr><br><i>Stay tuned to our blog, as well as our <a href="https://www.facebook.com/bandzoogle" target="_new">Facebook</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/bandzoogle" target="_new">Twitter</a> pages for more updates about upcoming events this Fall including in Toronto, and Los Angeles! </i><br><br>UnbelievableBeats.com tag:unbelievablebeats.com,2005:Post/18261312013-10-10T15:46:13-04:002021-09-09T12:46:55-04:00The Myth of the Overnight Success<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"><img src="//content.bandzoogle.com/users/StateofIndie/images/content/sixfigurebookcover.jpg" class="size_orig justify_left border_" alt="" height="197" width="150" />This is an excerpt from David Hooper’s book ‘Six-Figure Musician – How to Sell More Music, Get More People to Your Shows, and Make More Money in the Music Business’, which you can get for FREE here: </span><a target="_blank" style="text-decoration:none;" href="http://www.musicianbook.com" data-link-type="url" data-link-label=""><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#1155cc;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:underline;vertical-align:baseline;">www.musicianbook.com</span></a><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"> </span><br>
<p style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;" dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">David has been involved in music marketing since 1995, and this new </span><a target="_blank" style="text-decoration:none;" href="http://www.musicianbook.com" data-link-type="url" data-link-label=""><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#1155cc;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:underline;vertical-align:baseline;">book</span></a><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"> is filled with tons of helpful information for musicians. You can follow him on Twitter at </span><a target="_blank" style="text-decoration:none;" href="https://twitter.com/davidhooper" data-link-type="url" data-link-label=""><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#1155cc;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:underline;vertical-align:baseline;">@DavidHooper </span></a><br>
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<hr><br><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">People who have won a big lottery prize (between $50,000 and $150,000) are twice as likely to file bankruptcy than the general population. That’s what a 2010 paper published by researchers at Vanderbilt University, the University of Kentucky, and the University of</span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"> Pittsburgh says.</span><br>
<p style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;" dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">The researchers in this study looked at two groups of lottery winners: those who won between $50,000 and $150,000 and those who won more modest prizes of $10,000 or less. Five years afterward, the <strong>big winners were the ones more likely to have filed for bankruptcy</strong>.</span></p>
<p style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;" dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">How is that possible?</span></p>
<p style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;" dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Lack of financial literacy. In other words, these people simply lacked the skills to effectively handle money.</span></p>
<p style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;" dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">If you’re looking to be wealthy, odds are that you’ll be much more successful with a “get rich slow” method, such as consistent saving or investment, since doing things this way will allow you to develop the skills needed to keep that money.</span></p>
<p style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;" dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">The same concept applies to your music business.</span></p>
<p style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;" dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">We’ve all seen the “YouTube sensations,” the reality show winners, and the one-hit wonders who seemingly come out of nowhere. They’re everywhere. Then they vanish.</span></p>
<p style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;" dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Why?</span></p>
<p style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;" dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Like most lottery winners, very few of the musicians who come out of nowhere with viral videos or promotion thanks to mass media have the things needed to keep that momentum going.</span></p>
<p style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;" dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Things like:</span></p>
<p style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;" dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">• more than one good song or funny video</span></p>
<p style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;" dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">• knowledge of who their fans are or what motivates them to</span></p>
<p style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;" dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">take action</span></p>
<p style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;" dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">• the experience to know what works (and what doesn’t) when it</span></p>
<p style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;" dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">comes to marketing music</span></p>
<p style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;" dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">These are the things that automatically come with time while you’re working on getting noticed. So while it might seem like there are periods in your career where absolutely nothing is happening, <strong>the skills you’re learning during these times are actually some of the most important ones </strong>you’ll need to help you forge a long-lasting career. </span></p>
<p style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;" dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">For example, <strong>experience dealing with the media, building long-lasting fan relationships, and doing business tasks are all skills you will need for a sustainable music career</strong>. You don’t automatically get these when you have success straight out of the gate. The majority of the time, they are earned through hard work—usually during the early stage of a career.</span></p>
<p style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;" dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">For an up-and-coming artist, <strong>every media opportunity is important</strong>. Even the small, seemingly insignificant interviews are what will prepare you to handle the future interviews that will be seen or heard by a large audience. Like what an open mic night or talent show is to performing on stage, an interview on a small podcast or radio or television station is a great place to learn what works and what doesn’t when it comes to working with media.</span></p>
<p style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;" dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Want to see something painful? Some of the best examples of interviews gone wrong are YouTube sensations and reality show contestants who, without any training or experience, suddenly find themselves on major talk shows like Ellen, whatever Anderson Cooper is doing, or Live! with Kelly and Michael.</span></p>
<p style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;" dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"><strong>Be thankful you have the opportunity to get your media skills together before the whole world is watching</strong>.</span></p>
<p style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;" dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Beyond developing the skills to work with media, as a “get rich slow” artist working your way up, you learn how to work with and develop relationships with fans. Fans are the foundation for a solid career, and your relationships with them are paramount for a long-lasting career.</span></p>
<p style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;" dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Like any relationship, <strong>the best relationships with fans are those built over time</strong>. While a big radio hit can bring a lot of people to your shows or sell a lot of albums in a short amount of time, long music careers happen when fans have an opportunity to experience your music in several different ways, over a long period of time.</span></p>
<p style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;" dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">For example, if a fan hears your music at a high school dance, sees you play live while in college, then hears you again a few years later at a wedding, your music is being attached to several memories this person has. Th at is much more powerful than hitting big via a television show or short-lived radio hit, where you and your music connect in a very limited way.</span></p>
<p style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;" dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Going about your career in a slow and steady way also lets you learn various business skills you might not have the opportunity to learn if, at the very beginning of your career, everything suddenly takes off . This will help you to hire quality people for these jobs when you eventually start to outsource them, because, having done the jobs yourself, you’ll be able to assess who is capable of doing them.</span></p>
<p style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;" dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">There are exceptions to every rule. While there have been some very successful artists born from reality television shows and contests like American Idol who have gone on to build strong music careers, this is not the norm. <strong>If a long-term music career is your goal, you’ll have a better chance of achieving it through slow and consistent improvement over time than through anything else.</strong></span></p><br>UnbelievableBeats.com tag:unbelievablebeats.com,2005:Post/17996142013-10-07T14:37:45-04:002022-03-02T10:51:06-05:00Yes, You Need a Videos Page on Your Band’s Website<img src="//content.bandzoogle.com/users/bztest1/images/content/video_player.jpg" class="size_orig justify_left border_" alt="" height="128" width="150" />It’s no secret that video is one of the most popular content formats online. So a <b>great way to keep fans on your website is by embedding videos</b> on your site. In fact, we think videos are important enough to have their own page on the main menu of your website (Read our post: "<a target="_new" href="http://bandzoogle.com/blog/blogposts/the-magic-8-essential-menu-options-for-your-band-website-26224.cfm">The Magic 8: Essential Menu Options for Your Band Website</a>")<br><br>
However, many musician websites either don’t have a Videos page, or simply send people away to YouTube. Having a “Videos” section on your site with embedded videos <b>allows you to</b> <b>curate which videos people see</b>. With YouTube, there might be hundreds of live videos filmed by fans that might not be the greatest quality. Embedding videos on your site allows you to control the video content that visitors will see so you can put your best foot forward. <br><br>
And remember, <b>once you send someone away to YouTube, you’ve lost them</b> from your website, and you've sent them away to a site that is filled with distractions. YouTube is a noisy site with tons of ads and lots of other unrelated videos to watch (cats videos anyone?). In today’s music industry, a fan’s attention is the most precious and scarce commodity. Don’t waste it!<br><br>
Here are some tips for setting up a Videos page on your website:<br><br><h3>Organize the Videos</h3>
Embedding video on your site allows you to showcase your best quality videos in a controlled environment, but chances are you have several different types of videos to choose from. Similar to how you would <a href="http://bandzoogle.com/blog/blogposts/essential-tips-for-using-photos-on-your-band-website-26982.cfm?showdate=7-01-2013" target="_new">organize photos</a> on your website, create different galleries for each type of video and post a few for each category. For example, you could create separate galleries for Official videos, Live videos, Cover songs, etc.<br><br>
For more ideas on the types of videos you can create, check out the blog post “<a href="http://bandzoogle.com/blog/blogposts/musicians-8-killer-costeffective-videos-to-add-to-your-youtube-strategy-27111.cfm" target="_new">Musicians: 8 Killer, Cost-Effective Videos To Add To Your YouTube Strategy</a>” <br><br><h3>Don’t Overdo it</h3>
Remember, the <b>point of embedding videos on your site is to curate the content</b>, so don’t overdo it. Having too many videos creates a similar problem for the visitor as going to YouTube: which video should they watch? <br><br>
Plus, embedding tons of videos on your page really slows down your site, taking more time to load, and chances are a person is not going to keep scrolling down and down to find more videos. Having between 2 and 8 videos embedded on your Videos page is probably the sweet spot. <br><br>
With fewer videos, you should also take advantage of the design flexibility you have with your own website and <b>embed large videos</b>. Don’t make people watch tiny videos on your site, or worse, force them to click away to YouTube to see large versions. Give them nice big videos to watch right on your website.<br><br>
If you really want to lots of videos on your site, one option is to create a playlist for specific types of videos and embed the playlists onto your site. Not sure how to create a YouTube playlist? Read this post: <a target="_new" href="http://bandzoogle.com/blog/blogposts/how-to-add-a-video-playlist-to-your-band-website-26041.cfm?showdate=1-01-2013">How to add a video playlist to your band website</a><br><br><h3>Add Context: Titles & Descriptions</h3>
By posting videos on your website, it also allows you to add context to them. Sometimes embedded videos from YouTube don’t show the video titles, so <b>first make sure you add a title for each video</b>. <br><br>
Then to really add context, <b>write a description for each video, telling the story behind it</b>. Is it for a cover song? Why did you choose that song? Is it an original song? From which album? Where was the video shot? By who? Did anything funny happen during the shoot? Is there anything you’re particularly proud of with this video? Give people as much information as you can to encourage them to click play. <br><br><h3>Keep it Fresh</h3>
And finally, <b>don’t let your Videos page go stale</b>. Have a new official video? Add it to the top of the page. Older videos feeling a bit stale? Filter them out. That being said, if you have older videos that are still getting lots of views, by all means, keep them on your site, but if you have videos that are performing better and need the space on your site, don't be afraid of doing a little cleanup on your Videos page on a regular basis. <br><br>
Your website should not be static. You should update your site on a regular basis to give fans a reason to keep coming back, so you’ll gain valuable data about where they’re coming from, get them signed up to your <a href="http://bandzoogle.com/blog/blogposts/musician-website-quick-fix-5-add-a-mailing-list-signup-24263.cfm" target="_new">mailing list</a>, and shopping in your Store. Videos are a great way to <a href="http://bandzoogle.com/blog/blogposts/hub--spokes-the-key-to-driving-fans-to-your-band-website-25260.cfm" target="_new">drive fans to your site</a>, so make sure you’re using them to drive people to your own site, and not a site you don’t own or control. <br><br>UnbelievableBeats.com tag:unbelievablebeats.com,2005:Post/17973082013-10-03T14:45:18-04:002017-01-14T10:31:06-05:00How to Record and Release Cover Songs: An Interview with HFA<a target="_new" href="http://www.harryfox.com/"><img src="//content.bandzoogle.com/users/bztest1/images/content/hfa_logo2-125.jpg" class="size_orig justify_left border_" alt="" height="125" width="125" />HFA</a> provides rights management, licensing and royalty services for the music industry. With over 46,000 music publishing clients, HFA issues the largest number of licenses for the use of music in both physical and digital distribution formats. HFA also serves the D.I.Y. market with <a target="_new" href="http://www.harryfox.com/public/songfile.jsp">Songfile®</a>, the company’s fast and easy online licensing tool. <br><br>
We interviewed HFA’s Director of Marketing & Communications, Dalita Keumurian, to find out more about Songfile and the process of recording and releasing cover songs.<br><br><b>Q: So let’s start from the beginning. What does HFA do?</b><br><br>
HFA represents publishing companies for mechanical licenses in the U.S. A mechanical license grants the right to reproduce a copyrighted musical composition on CDs, records, tapes, and certain digital configurations like digital downloads. <br><br><a href="http://www.harryfox.com/public/WhatdoesHFAdo.jsp" target="_new">HFA’s services</a> include issuing licenses and collecting and distributing royalties on behalf of its music publishers. HFA also makes sure that publishers are properly paid for the uses of their copyrighted musical compositions. <br><br><b><br>
Q: What is Songfile and why was it created?</b><br><br>
HFA’s online mechanical licensing tool, <a href="http://www.harryfox.com/public/songfile.jsp" target="_new">Songfile</a>, was created to cater to the DIY market. A <a href="http://www.harryfox.com/public/DoIneedaMechanicalLicense.jsp" target="_new">mechanical license</a> is required when an artist wants to record and distribute a song he or she did not write. Songfile makes it easy for artists to obtain the proper <a href="http://www.harryfox.com/public/MechanicalLicenseslic.jsp" target="_new">mechanical licenses</a> to release these cover songs in physical or digital formats.<br><br><br><b>Q: Are there fees associated with using Songfile?</b><br><br>
Royalties for mechanical licenses obtained through Songfile are set at the current statutory rate plus an HFA processing fee. <br><br><br><b>Q: What formats can licenses be obtained for?</b><br><br>
Users can obtain mechanical licenses for physical releases, such as CDs, cassettes, or LPs, as well as digital formats such as digital downloads, ringtones, and certain types of interactive streams. <br><br><br><b>Q: Are there any minimum/maximum reproductions for licenses?</b><br><br>
For physical releases, digital downloads and ringtones, Songfile can be used to get mechanical licenses for up to 2,500 units. Songfile can also be used to license up to 10,000 interactive streams.<br><br>
If a user needs licenses for more than 2,500 units, we suggest setting up a Licensee Account with HFA. More information can be found on that <a target="_new" href="http://www.harryfox.com/public/Licenseehfa.jsp">here</a>.<br><br><br><b>Q: Is there a set price for licenses, or do they vary?</b><br><br>
The cost to use the Songfile service is $16 per song (plus the statutory mechanical rates). If a user licenses more than 5 songs in one transaction, the processing fee is reduced to $14 for each additional song (i.e. for songs 6 and up). <br><br>
The statutory rate is set by section 115 of the U.S. Copyright Act. The current statutory mechanical royalty rate for physical recordings and permanent digital downloads is 9.1 cents for recordings of a song 5 minutes or less, and 1.75 cents per minute or fraction thereof for those over 5 minutes. You can find more information <a href="http://www.harryfox.com/public/StatutoryReports.jsp" target="_new">here</a>. You can also check out our online <a href="http://www.harryfox.com/public/RoyaltyRateCalculator.jsp" target="_new">mechanical royalty calculator</a>. <br><br><b><br>
Q: Are any other licenses needed to release a cover song?</b><br><br>
If an artist is releasing a straight cover song (a version of a composition that he or she did not write) in one of the formats listed above only a mechanical license is needed. <br><br><br><b>Q: Do artists still need to obtain licenses if they are not going to sell the recording of the song(s)?</b><br><br>
Unless an artist is creating a recording covered under the <a href="http://www.copyright.gov/title17/92chap1.html#107" target="_new">fair use section of the U.S. Copyright Act</a>, he or she needs to obtain a license for recordings regardless of whether he or she is selling them. It can be kind of a gray area, so we advocate artists licensing their cover songs even if they’re not intended for profit. If artists don’t obtain licenses, the original songwriter(s) won’t be paid.<br><br><br><b>Q: Are the licenses immediately available, or is there a processing delay when using Songfile?</b><br><br>
Licenses purchased through Songfile are available in 24 hours or less. Most are processed in as little as 10 minutes! <br><br><br><b>Q: Which territories are covered by licenses obtained through Songfile?</b><br><br>
Different countries have different mechanical licensing laws. Songfile mechanical licenses are only valid for uses manufactured and distributed in the U.S. and its territories. <br><br><br>
For more information about HFA visit <a href="http://www.harryfox.com" target="_new">harryfox.com</a>. You can also find them on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/harryfoxagency" target="_new">Facebook</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/harryfoxagency" target="_new">Twitter</a>.<br><br>UnbelievableBeats.com tag:unbelievablebeats.com,2005:Post/17973092013-09-30T17:23:03-04:002023-12-10T12:02:59-05:00Bandzoogle CEO David Dufresne Speaking at SF MusicTech Summit! <img src="//content.bandzoogle.com/users/bztest1/images/content/sf_musictech-125.png" class="size_orig justify_left border_" alt="" height="125" width="113" />Our CEO David Dufresne is on his way to San Francisco for the 14th <a target="_new" href="http://www.sfmusictech.com/">SF MusicTech Summit</a> which happens on Tuesday, October 1 at Hotel Kabuki. Billing itself as the “best deal-making environment for music & technology”, the SF MusicTech Summit brings together visionaries in the music/technology space for a day of panel discussions, talks, and meetings. <br><br>
David will be speaking on a panel called “Creating Artist Platforms” which includes a who’s who of artist platforms:<br><br><b>Creating Artist Platforms<br>
10:40 - 11:40am</b><br><b><br>
Panelists:</b><br><br>
David Dufresne, Bandzoogle<br>
Mike Doernberg, ReverbNation<br>
Shamal Ranasinghe, Topspin Media<br><br><b>Moderator</b>: <br><br>
J Sider, BandPage<br><br><br>
If you’re attending the summit, please pass by and say hello to David. He’ll also be in San Francisco for a few days of meetings. With our full membership just about migrated to our shiny new 2.0 platform, look out for a series of announcements about new partnerships and integrations in the coming months. It’s going to be an exciting year here at Bandzoogle!<br><br>
You can follow SF MusicTech Summit on Twitter at <a target="_new" href="https://twitter.com/SFMusicTech">@SFMusicTech</a> and our CEO David Dufresne at <a target="_new" href="https://twitter.com/daviddufresne">@daviddufresne</a><br><br><hr><br><i>Stay tuned to our blog, as well as our <a target="_new" href="https://www.facebook.com/bandzoogle">Facebook</a> and <a target="_new" href="https://twitter.com/bandzoogle">Twitter</a> pages for more updates about upcoming events this Fall including in Toronto, Paris, Wales, and Los Angeles!</i><br><br>UnbelievableBeats.com tag:unbelievablebeats.com,2005:Post/17973102013-09-27T18:14:55-04:002017-01-14T10:31:06-05:00Musician Website Love (Pop Montreal Edition): Corinna Rose<i>(Almost) Every week, we highlight one of our favorite websites on Bandzoogle. </i><img src="//content.bandzoogle.com/users/bztest1/images/content/corinna_rose.png" class="size_orig justify_right border_" alt="" height="226" width="150" /><br><br><b>Who</b>: Corinna Rose <br><b>What</b>: Singer-Songwriter <br><b>Where</b>: Montreal<br><b>Why her website rocks</b>: We love the simple and modern look of Corinna Rose’s website. She uses an excellent professional photo for her header image that compliments the branding of her latest album really well. Speaking of her latest album, Corinna does a good job of advertising it on her Homepage, letting fans know where they can find it. <br><br>
Something else that Corinna Rose does really well is keep her blog updated with her latest news. Right away you see that she recently won the <a target="_new" href="http://www.jlsc.com/winners/2013a/winners.php">John Lennon Songwriting Contest</a> (congrats!) and is playing twice during the <a href="http://popmontreal.com/" target="_new">Pop Montreal Festival</a>. Great job with the site Corinna, we hope the shows this weekend go well!<br><br>
Check out her site at: <a href="http://www.corinnarose.com" target="_new">www.corinnarose.com </a><br><br><i>Speaking of Pop Montreal, we’ll be offering free website reviews for musicians Saturday from 2:00-5:00pm in the Artist Lounge at Pop Quarters, come by and say hello: </i><a href="http://bit.ly/1eC6jTe" target="_new"><i>http://bit.ly/1eC6jTe</i></a><br><br><a target="_new" href="http://www.corinnarose.com"><img src="//content.bandzoogle.com/users/bztest1/images/content/corinna_rose_header.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="424" width="600" /></a><br type="_moz">UnbelievableBeats.com tag:unbelievablebeats.com,2005:Post/17973112013-09-25T17:57:32-04:002021-07-22T11:34:15-04:00Bandzoogle Hosting Website Demolition Derby at Berklee College of Music<img src="//content.bandzoogle.com/users/bztest1/images/content/berklee-college-logo-125.jpg" class="size_orig justify_left border_" alt="" height="110" width="110" />Next week Bandzoogle is headed to the Berklee College of Music in Boston. Our Director of Artist Relations Dave Cool and Director of Business Development Julian Ilson will be on hand to review websites as part of our signature “Website Demolition Derby” event. <br><br>
Here are the details:<br><br><b>Website Demolition Derby <br>
Tuesday, October 1<br>
6:00pm-8:00pm<br>
Media Center (150 Mass. Ave)</b><br><br>
Here’s the plan:<br><br>
* <b>Inspect</b>: Design, organization, content, and functionality of a website will be assessed.<br>
* <b>Deconstruct</b>: Reviews will be ruthless and diplomacy will be left aside.<br>
* <b>Upgrade</b>: Learn about website best practices and how to improve your own website.<br><br>
This event is presented by The Learning Center & The Career Development Center and is a <b>FREE event for Berklee students</b>. <br><br>
To be considered for the live critique, please email your websites (open to all student performers, composers, businesses, engineers, etc) to: cdc@berklee.edu<br><br>
We'll also be taking website submissions live from the audience, so bring your URL and your own site could be demolished live!<br><br><hr><i>Stay tuned to our blog, as well as our <a target="_new" href="https://www.facebook.com/bandzoogle">Facebook</a> and <a target="_new" href="https://twitter.com/bandzoogle">Twitter</a> pages for more updates about upcoming events this Fall including San Francisco, Toronto, Paris, Wales, and Los Angeles!</i><br><br>UnbelievableBeats.com tag:unbelievablebeats.com,2005:Post/17973122013-09-23T17:08:32-04:002021-10-19T12:11:16-04:00Website Demolition Derby at Pop Montreal + Members Meetup!<img src="//content.bandzoogle.com/users/bztest1/images/content/pop_montreal-125.png" class="size_orig justify_left border_" alt="" height="124" width="125" />Many people don’t realize that Bandzoogle was actually founded in Montreal. Although our staff is located throughout North America and parts of Europe, founder Chris Vinson still lives in the Montreal area, and CEO David Dufresne lives right in the heart of the Plateau Montréal. So we’re thrilled to be involved this year with one of the largest festivals in the city, <a target="_new" href="http://popmontreal.com">Pop Montreal</a>.<br><br>
Pop Montreal is taking place September 25-29, and Bandzoogle is participating in the <a target="_new" href="http://popmontreal.com/symposium-about/">Symposium</a> for the first time this year. We’ll be offering free website reviews as well as hosting a Website Demolition Derby. Plus, we’re organizing a Montreal members meetup event this week, here are all the details:<br><br><h3>Website Demolition Derby</h3>
The Website Demolition Derby takes place at Pop Quarters (3450 St. Urbain) on <b>Thursday, September 26 at 12:15pm</b>. Equal parts panel discussion and live critique of musicians’ websites, participants discuss how musicians can use websites, social and other digital media most effectively, while providing live critical assessments of attendee submitted websites.<br><br>
Our CEO David Dufresne will host the panel which includes panelists Stacey Wilhelm (SXSW), Greg Pymm (Pymm.com), and Greg Ipp (Unfamiliar Records/StageBloc). <br><br><b>Facebook Event:</b> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/198894723618690/" target="_new">https://www.facebook.com/events/198894723618690/ </a><br><br><b>Submit your website URL for review:</b> dcool[at]bandzoogle.com <br><br><h3>Free Website Reviews During Pop Montreal!</h3>
We’ll be offering free website reviews for musicians at Pop Quarters (3450 St. Urbain) on <b>Thursday, September 26 (2:00-5:00pm) and Saturday, September 28 (2:00-5:00pm)</b>. Just visit our table and Director of Artist Relations Dave Cool will go through your website to assess its design, organization, and content, as well as give you some tangible ideas on how to improve it. Plus, we’ll have free candy and some free shirts for members too!<br><br><h3>Bandzoogle Montreal Meetup!</h3>
<img src="//content.bandzoogle.com/users/bztest1/images/content/laika-125.png" class="size_orig justify_left border_" alt="" height="51" width="125" />Members and friends of Bandzoogle are invited to a <b>meetup at Laïka (4040 St-Laurent) at 5pm on Friday, September 27th</b>. Montreal based Bandzoogle staff, including CEO David Dufresne and Director of Artist Relations Dave Cool will be on hand to greet members, quickly demo Bandzoogle’s new 2.0 system, talk about our projects and chat about music, and websites. There will also be free shirts for members, and free drinks too. We hope to see you there!<br><br>UnbelievableBeats.com tag:unbelievablebeats.com,2005:Post/17973132013-09-19T15:27:47-04:002021-09-27T16:43:18-04:00Bands: How To Guard Your Gear On Tour<i>We're in Nashville this week for the Americana Music Conference (details </i><a target="_new" href="http://bit.ly/17UlkJv"><i>here</i></a><i>). So we decided to feature another post by one of our favorite bloggers, Nashville based Wes Davenport. Wes is a music marketer, blogger, and publicist. He writes about ways modern musicians can thrive at </i><a target="_new" href="http://wesdavenport.com"><i>wesdavenport.com</i></a><i>. Follow him on Twitter </i><a target="_new" href="https://twitter.com/wesdavenport"><i>@wesdavenport</i></a><i> for more music industry insights.</i> <br><br><i>Nothing can derail a tour quite like getting your gear stolen. In this post Wes offers some practical advice for securing your gear while on tour. Enjoy!</i><br><hr><br><img src="//content.bandzoogle.com/users/bztest1/images/content/bandago.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="352" width="600" /><br><br>
Too many times, we see heartbreaking news of our favorite musicians getting their gear stolen after a gig. Imagine putting all your mind, body, and soul into a performance, only to come down and discover you've been robbed. Personally, it makes me sick and angry. <br><br>
To make sure this doesn't happen to you, I asked musicians how they secure their gear to ward off robbers. <br><br><h3>Park Safe</h3>
Parking in well-lit areas is a good common practice. <a target="_new" href="http://black-cadillacs.com/">The Black Cadillacs</a> guitarist John Phillips says, "We try to be conscious of our surroundings and park in places that are well-lit and populated." <a target="_new" href="http://vinylthief.com/">Vinyl Thief</a> drummer Andrew Broadway agrees. "Honestly, parking location is super crucial. We park close to parks or hotels a lot. So is lighting. Don't park on a dark street."<br><br><h3>Certain Tips Are Outdated</h3>
Don't hide your keys in the vehicle. That includes above your tires, around your gas tank, in the center console, or under floor mats. These hiding spots are so well-known, they don't do you any good. Would you still hide your house key under your doormat? <br><br><h3>Lock Your Doors</h3>
<img src="//content.bandzoogle.com/users/bztest1/images/content/lock-van-doors.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="399" width="600" /><br><br>
It's obvious, but it has to be said. Phillips took his van's locks one step further. "Our locks are designed to make them difficult to cut through. This is mostly a deterrent, because if someone had the know how and determination to get in our trailer, they probably could."<br><br>
Enough deterrents add up, though. Locking your doors is the easiest one.<br><br><h3>Unload Your Gear</h3>
It seems like good common sense to keep your gear close to you at all times. <a href="http://wildcubmusic.com/" target="_new">Wild Cub</a> lead singer Keegan DeWitt points out the impracticality of this. <br><br>
"It's really pretty tough to expect bands to load/unload all of their equipment into whatever house they may be shoving into night-to-night. When you are already throwing 5 people on a floor, adding the gear is almost impossible, especially in a large city where you may be forced to park blocks and blocks away."<br><br>
Do the best you can. On nights you can unload your gear, do it. Other times, it's more practical to leave gear in the vehicle. <br><br><h3>Drive a Modified Van</h3>
Jay Ollie Stone says, "Don't drive round in a van with your band name plastered all over it." Though it may be tempting to promote your brand this way, the risk may outweigh the costs.<br><br>
Did you buy a used van from a church or retirement community? Instead of plastering your name and logo all over it, leave it looking like a flower delivery truck or other organization that is less likely to be robbed.<br><br>
DeWitt found an effective rental solution through <a href="http://www.bandago.com/" target="_new">Bandago</a>, a van rental company. "They convert the back of the van into a windowless cargo hold with a recessed lock that can't be busted open. That's the best solution."<br><br><h3>Get Insured</h3>
Insurance is another cost, but it's one that will keep you sane. You're paying for peace of mind. Though insurance companies can't replace the sentimental value of your favorite guitar, they can ease the financial burden. <br><br>
Pay close attention to deductibles, the amount you pay out of pocket when you file a claim, and premiums, the amount you pay every billing period. <br><br>
An alternative or supplement to insurance is an emergency fund. Instead of paying premiums, you can put funds into a savings account. Or you could have a smaller emergency fund to cover your insurance policy's deductible. Pick a method that works for your financial situation. <br><br><h3>The Numbers Game</h3>
Worrying about your gear getting stolen shouldn't keep you up at night. Theft is a numbers game. By taking all of these precautions, your gear will be a much less attractive target. And even if you suffer a loss, you will be equipped to deal with it and get back on the stage in no time. <br><br>UnbelievableBeats.com tag:unbelievablebeats.com,2005:Post/17973142013-09-16T18:07:37-04:002021-09-30T15:27:14-04:00Bandzoogle CEO David Dufresne to Speak at Chicago Music Summit<img src="//content.bandzoogle.com/users/bztest1/images/content/chicagomusicsummit.jpg" class="size_orig justify_left border_" alt="" height="108" width="150" />The very first <a href="http://chicagomusicsummit.org" target="_new">Chicago Music Summit</a> is happening this Friday, September 20th. Presented by the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, this new music industry conference will feature more than 20 panels and over 100 speakers, including a keynote address by Chicago native, hip-hop artist Common. <br><br>
Our CEO David Dufresne is among those music industry professionals who has been invited to speak at the event. Here’s where you’ll be able to find him:<br><br><b>Website Demolition Derby<br>
Friday, September 20<br>
11:30am-12:30pm</b><br><br>
David will host and moderate a Website Demolition Derby where he will be joined by Brian Schopfel (Co‐Founder, Eyes & Ears) Jamie Ludwig (Rock Editor of ChicagoMusic.org) and Joe Delci (Webmaster, CIMM Fest). The panel will offer live critiques of band websites, where each site’s design, organization, content and functionality will be assessed. The event takes place at the Claudia Cassidy Theater (2nd Fl. North) Chicago Cultural Center (78 E. Washington). <br><br><br>
*Please note: The Chicago Music Summit 2013 is actually at capacity and registration is closed. However, a limited number of badges will be available on a first-come, first-served basis beginning at 8:30am on the day of the event. <br><br>
And although David will only be in Chicago very briefly, hopefully he’ll get a chance to enjoy some <a href="http://www.choosechicago.com/articles/view/CLASSIC-CHICAGO-FOODS/366/" target="_new">classic Chicago foods</a> while he’s there...<br><br><hr><i>Stay tuned to our blog, as well as our <a href="https://www.facebook.com/bandzoogle" target="_new">Facebook</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/bandzoogle" target="_new">Twitter</a> pages for more updates about upcoming events this Fall including in Montreal, Boston, Toronto, Paris, Wales, and Los Angeles!</i><br><br>UnbelievableBeats.com tag:unbelievablebeats.com,2005:Post/17973152013-09-13T16:37:33-04:002021-07-17T13:14:15-04:00Conference Website Love: San Diego Music Thing<i>Every week, we highlight one of our favorite websites on Bandzoogle. </i><br><br><b>What</b>: San Diego Music Thing<br><b>Where</b>: San Diego, CA<br><b>Why their website rocks</b>: We’re in San Diego for the <a target="_new" href="http://sandiegomusicthing.com">San Diego Music Thing</a>! We love this conference and we also love their website. It has a great custom design, with an excellent header image with the dates of the conference right on it. Their Homepage has their latest news, a mailing list signup, social links, and does a great job of highlighting their featured speakers Kim Gordon (Sonic Youth) and Mike Herrera (MxPx).<br><br>
We especially love the <a target="_new" href="http://sandiegomusicthing.com/bands.cfm">Bands</a> page on their website. It provides links to a page for each band performing during the festival, which includes a photo, bio, video, and links to the band’s website and social media. Very nicely done! <br><br>
Check out the site at: <a target="_new" href="http://sandiegomusicthing.com">www.sandiegomusicthing.com</a> <br><br><h3>Also: Website Demolition Derby + Free Website Reviews!</h3>
For any musicians attending the conference, we’re hosting a Website Demolition Derby on Saturday, September 14, at 12:15PM where we’ll be reviewing websites live in front of an audience.<br><br>
We’ll also have a booth at the tradeshow during the conference where we’ll be offering free website reviews. You can come see us Friday, September 13 between 10am - 5pm and Saturday, September 14 from 10am to 3pm. Hope to see you there!<br><br><a href="http://sandiegomusicthing.com" target="_new"><img src="//content.bandzoogle.com/users/bztest1/images/content/sdmusicthing-600.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="438" width="600" /></a><br><br>UnbelievableBeats.com tag:unbelievablebeats.com,2005:Post/17973162013-09-12T07:59:38-04:002021-09-17T13:08:58-04:00Bandzoogle Heads to Nashville for Americana Conference + Member Meetup!<img src="//content.bandzoogle.com/users/bztest1/images/content/americanamusic_logo.jpg" class="size_orig justify_left border_" alt="" height="114" width="125" />We’re heading back to the <a target="_new" href="http://americanamusic.org/about-conference">Americana Music Conference</a> in Nashville, which takes place September 18-22 at the Sheraton Nashville Downtown Hotel. Bandzoogle CEO David Dufresne and Director of Artist Relations Dave Cool will be attending the conference to present a Website Demolition Derby, offer free website reviews, plus host a meetup for Nashville members. Here are all the details:<br><br><h3>Website Demolition Derby</h3>
On Wednesday, September 18 at 3:30PM, David Dufresne will lead the Website Demolition Derby panel, along with Dave Cool, Charles Alexander (Outside the Box Music) and Tommy Stalknecht (Music City Networks). The interactive session will offer live critiques of artist websites where the site's design, organization, content and functionality will be assessed. It should be a lot fun, we hope you’ll attend and submit your site for review!<br><br><h3>Free Website Reviews at Exhibit Hall</h3>
Bandzoogle will also have a booth at the Exhibit Hall during the Americana Conference. So if you’ll be at the conference, please pass by to say hello and get your site reviewed. Here are the Exhibit Hall hours:<br><br><b>Wednesday, September 18: 1PM-4PM <br>
Thursday, September 19: 2PM-5PM<br>
*Friday, September 20: 2PM-5PM</b><br><br>
*We’ll also be offering free website reviews next to the Registration desk of the conference on Friday, September 20 from 10AM-1PM. <br><br><h3>Bandzoogle Nashville Meetup!</h3>
While we’re in town we’re going to host a little meetup event in Nashville. Members and friends of Bandzoogle are invited to meet at the Sessions Lobby Bar of the Sheraton Nashville Downtown Hotel at 6pm on Friday, September 20th. There will be free shirts for members, and some free drinks too. We hope to see you there!<br><br><hr><i>Stay tuned to our blog, as well as our <a href="https://www.facebook.com/bandzoogle" target="_new">Facebook</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/bandzoogle" target="_new">Twitter</a> pages for more updates about where we’ll be this Fall (hint: Chicago, Montreal, Boston, Toronto, Paris, Wales and Los Angeles!)</i><br><br>UnbelievableBeats.com tag:unbelievablebeats.com,2005:Post/17973172013-09-06T16:13:00-04:002021-10-10T11:29:39-04:0010 Lessons Bands Can Learn From Sales People to Get More Shows & Deals<b><i>This is a guest post from Marcus Taylor</i></b><i>, a musician and founder of a number of music industry projects, including </i><a href="http://www.musiclawcontracts.com" target="_new"><i>Music Law Contracts</i></a><i>, </i><a href="http://www.themusiciansguide.co.uk" target="_new"><i>The Musician’s Guide</i></a><i>, and </i><a href="http://www.musicjobboard.com" target="_new"><i>Music Job Board</i></a><i>.</i><br><br>
I don’t consider myself a sales person by any means, but having founded a handful of businesses, including <a href="http://www.ventureharbour.com" target="_new">a digital marketing agency</a>, and various music related websites, I’ve pushed myself on several occasions to become well versed in sales. <br><br><img src="//content.bandzoogle.com/users/bztest1/images/content/sale.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="338" width="600" /><br><br>
The reason I’m passionate about sales is because <i>everything</i> is sales. Booking shows, agreeing contract terms, building fans, closing deals, persuading your better half to do the washing up. Everything is sales. So what can artists, specifically, learn from the World of sales to get more shows, fans, and opportunities? <br><br><h3>#1 – Measure your progress & improve day-by-day</h3>
Just like athletes, the best sales people measure their progress day-in and day-out. By measuring incremental changes in their performance they’re motivated to constantly improve their game. Whether it’s the time taken to close a deal, or the conversion rate of getting through to the right person of the phone, great salespeople track everything that’s important to them.<br><br>
As an artist, you should be tracking what’s important to you and improving it day-in and day-out. What if you tracked the number of gigs you applied for and the number that turned into real opportunities everyday? You’d surely see patterns that would enable you to book gigs more efficiently and effectively. <br><br>
The key here is that you must improve every day. If you’re not measuring anything, you’re blind. Start tracking what’s important to you and the improvement will take care of itself. As William Edwards-Demming said, “What gets measured gets managed”.<br><br><h3>#2 – Ask better questions</h3>
Many sales people are obsessed with ‘closing’ i.e. taking a deal from open to closed. However, I’ve become to respect another school of thought that suggests that if you ask the right questions in the first place, there’s no need to work hard at closing deals – they’ll naturally close.<br><br>
I’ve learned that if you drill down three layers with your questioning you will often reveal the truth behind someone’s real thoughts. When a promoter says “We’d love to have you play at our show”, don’t stop there. They might just be saying that to keep you happy. Ask “Would it be okay for us to pencil a date in the diary for us to play here?” – if he or she starts umming and ahhing you’ll know that their first response wasn’t genuine. <br><br>
Alternatively, they might say “actually, we’re fully booked for the next few weeks and it’s not me who you need to speak to”. So you realise that you’ve gone from being almost certain of having a new show to not being anywhere near having a one, plus you’re speaking to the wrong person. In this instance your third layer of questioning may be “Would you mind if I gave the person who books bands a call and mentioned that you’d be interested in having us play?” – “sure”.<br><br><h3>#3 – Set goals and make them the only important thing</h3>
There’s a lot of talk about goal setting in the music industry, and it’s all great advice. I’m a big fan of having a vague and extremely ambitious 5-year goal (which will inevitably change, but encourages long-term thinking), a 1-year goal (which doesn’t change), and then four quarterly goals, which will put you on track to hit your 1-year goal.<br><br>
The important thing once you set your quarterly goal is to make it the only important thing. If you achieve anything at all in the next 3 months, it must be this goal.<br><br>
You goal can be anything, from booking a certain number of shows per quarter, to getting a certain number of fans on the mailing list, or achieving a set of specific goals (e.g. build a new website on Bandzoogle, update the EPK, finish album & distribute it to iTunes). If you don’t have any goals in place, I recommend writing them down now. <br><br><h3>#4 – Coffee is for closers</h3>
In the movie <a target="_new" href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0104348/">Glengarry Glen Ross</a>, the main character (Ricky) refuses to let his sales people drink the office’s coffee unless they close their deals – “Coffee is for closers” he remarks. While this may be a slightly extreme, rewards are a fantastic incentive for improving your game, so long as they’re used sensibly. I know companies where the sales people are rewarded less than 1% of any new deals they close, which is hardly going to motivate anyone (a $1,000 bonus if you bring in $100,000 worth of deals?!)<br><br>
Once you’ve set yourself some goals, decide on how you’re going to reward yourself if you complete them. Maybe it’s a new guitar, or a new cymbal, if you get 30 shows booked in the next six months.<br><br>
Make your rewards worth hustling hard for.<br><br><h3>#5 – You need someone on your side</h3>
This is extremely important to understand. You may have the best music in town, and the promoters you’re speaking to may be looking for a band just like yours for an upcoming festival, however if they’re not on your side, you won’t get the gig.<br><br>
There is only one thing that you absolutely must have in every situation to win a deal, gig, or any form of opportunity. You must have someone on the other side rooting for you. This brings up the importance of not getting arrogant / complacent. I know far too many artists who get cocky about their music, and believe that promoters should be coming to them. <br><br>
It’s exactly when artists start to think like this that opportunities begin drifting downstream to the artists who have made the effort to build a connection. Writing great music is important, but in the World of making things happen, it’s second to building relationships. <br><br>
A caveat that I should mention is that a lot of artists outsource this duty to booking agents, managers, agents etc. That’s absolutely fine, of course. Just remember – your managers and agents are getting you deals because they’re forming relationships and getting someone ‘on their side’.<br><br><h3>#6 – Be honest, inwardly and outwardly</h3>
One of the best traits of a great sales person is genuine honesty. If you want to be great at booking shows, negotiating deals, and getting opportunities for your music, you should be brutally honest. <br><br>
In my personal experience, I’ve found that the more honest I am, the more I get my self into trouble, but the more people begin to respect you. I’ll say great things about my competitors, because in reality they are great. I’ll tell clients to go for the cheaper option, or to go with a different company if we’re not quite right. Conventional wisdom suggests that these things are crazy, but ultimately it’s just being honest – and when it comes to sales, honesty is a rare commodity that carries enormous value.<br><br>
When you’re booking shows, negotiating with sponsors, labels, agents, or whoever you might be dealing with, give them the full picture. Be brutally honest, and earn their respect. <br><br><h3>#7 – Stand out from the crowd</h3>
If I receive one hundred demos on my doorstep this month, how do I pick the one artist to headline a show I’m booking next month? I certainly won’t listen to each demo (not enough hours in the day). The honest answer is I don’t really know how I’d pick, but if one of those one hundred demos stood out I’d be more likely to pick them.<br><br>
I’m not just talking about packaging. I’m guessing most artists wouldn’t follow up on their demo (when I used to manage a record label I’d receive virtually no follow-up calls from demos), so perhaps that’s a way to stand out. Or you could be really different – send the promoter a text message? In a World dominated by email and phone calls, the smallest differences make a big difference.<br><br><h3>#8 – Is there any reason this wouldn’t happen?</h3>
I have to take my hat off to <a href="http://twitter.com/noahkagan" target="_new">Noah Kagan</a> for this tip. The final thing you should ask when negotiating a deal is “Is there any reason why this wouldn’t go ahead?” or “What are the risks of this not happening?”<br><br>
If you’ve negotiated well and asked all of the right questions, there should be no reason why it would not go ahead. However, they may reveal a number of obstacles preventing you from getting what you’re after. Ultimately, it’s better to learn this now rather than weeks or months later. <br><br><h3>#9 – Know your next action</h3>
Who are the next 20 people you must contact to push your band forward? If you don’t know the answer to this question, stop reading, open a spreadsheet, and write the names of 20 people / companies who you need to contact next. Tie this in with your quarterly goal – who are twenty people who could improve the likelihood of smashing your quarterly goal?<br><br><h3>#10 – Follow up</h3>
What’s the secret to making things happen? Following up. It’s amazing how many times people don’t follow up after a productive chat. Worse yet, when a promoter says “get back in touch in four months”, and then nothing.<br><br>
This may seem controversial or even clinical, but I recommend that bands use a <a target="_new" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Customer_relationship_management">CRM</a> system of sorts to keep track of this stuff. If someone says “get back in touch in 11 months and 3 days” I do – because I have a system in place that doesn’t allow me to forget this stuff. If you don’t want to use a CRM, then there are plenty of good tools like <a target="_new" href="http://www.rememberthemilk.com/">Remember the Milk</a>, or <a target="_new" href="http://www.followup.cc/">Followup.cc</a>, which are handy ways to remember to follow up.<br><br>
I’d say the benefit of a CRM is that you can connect opportunities to people in your database, and then export them to Mailchimp for email marketing. It’s a great central hub for managing your fans, and your industry contacts.<br><br><b>Conclusion</b><br><br>
Sales and sales people, in particular, have a bad wrap. We often associate them with snake oil salesmen, and sleazy car dealerships. In reality, we’re all sales people, trying to artfully compromise and get what we want, while helping others get what they want.<br><br>
I hope this post has provoked a few thoughts, and whetted your appetite for improving your game when it comes to getting more opportunities for your music.<br><br>
If you enjoyed it, please pass it on to anyone else who might find it useful. If you have any questions or want to keep in touch with me, my Twitter handle is <a target="_new" href="http://www.twitter.com/marcusataylor">@MarcusATaylor</a>.<br><br>
Image Credit: <a target="_new" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/gerardstolk/6587076433/sizes/z/in/photostream/">GerardStolk</a><br><br>UnbelievableBeats.com tag:unbelievablebeats.com,2005:Post/17973182013-09-04T19:20:10-04:002023-12-10T12:00:08-05:00[VIDEO] See Bandzoogle CEO David Dufresne on LAMC Panel: DIY 2.0Back in July our CEO David Dufresne spoke at the <a href="http://www.latinalternative.com/" target="_new">Latin Alternative Music Conference</a> (LAMC) in New York City. The panel was called “<b>DIY 2.0: Tools for the Nueva Generacion</b>” and explored the tools available to diy artists today and how they can use them to move their career forward. <br><br>
David was a panelist along with Carolina Arenas (<i>BMI</i>), Pili Montilla (<i>“Te Para Tres” on WAPA-TV</i>), Kendel Ratley (<i>Kickstarter</i>), Tony Van Veen (<i>CD Baby/Disc Makers</i>) and Megan West (<i>SoundCloud</i>).<br><br>
Watch the entire panel below. Thanks to <a href="http://www.latinalternative.com/" target="_new">LAMC</a> for posting it!<br><br><iframe width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/4_nxH0jmlbw" allowfullscreen=""></iframe> <br type="_moz">UnbelievableBeats.com tag:unbelievablebeats.com,2005:Post/17973192013-09-03T19:37:18-04:002017-01-14T10:31:07-05:00Fall Music Conference Season Begins with Website Demolition Derby at San Diego Music Thing!<img src="//content.bandzoogle.com/users/bztest1/images/content/San_Diego_Music_thing_2013.jpg" class="size_orig justify_left border_" alt="" height="125" width="125" />We’re getting ready to hit the road for a series of conferences this Fall, and it all starts with a trip to Southern California for the <a href="http://www.sandiegomusicthing.com" target="_new">San Diego Music Thing</a> September 13 & 14 at the Sheraton Hotel in Mission Valley (1433 Camino del Rio South). <br><br>
Dave Cool and Allison from Support will be on hand at the conference, where Bandzoogle will have a booth at the tradeshow and Dave will be moderating a panel. Here are the details:<br><br><h3>Website Demolition Derby</h3>
On Saturday, September 14 at 12:15pm, Dave will moderate this session that includes panelists Michael Schneider (Bandpage), Corey Denis (Toolshed), and Rynda Laurel (1968 Media). They’ll offer live critiques of artist websites where the site's design, organization, content and functionality will be assessed. Be sure to sign-up in advance <a target="_new" href="http://sandiegomusicthing.com/workshops.cfm">here</a> to get your site reviewed.<br><br><h3>Free Website Reviews at Tradeshow</h3>
Bandzoogle will also have a booth at the tradeshow during San Diego Music Thing where Dave and Allison will be offering free website reviews. So if you’ll be at the conference, please pass by to say hello and get your site reviewed. Here are the tradeshow hours:<br><br><b>Friday, September 13, 10am - 5pm <br>
Saturday, September 14, 10am - 3pm </b><br><br>
For more information about the San Diego Music Thing, go to their awesome (Bandzoogle-powered) website: <a href="http://www.sandiegomusicthing.com" target="_new">www.sandiegomusicthing.com</a> <br><br><hr><i>Stay tuned to our blog, as well as our <a href="https://www.facebook.com/bandzoogle" target="_new">Facebook</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/bandzoogle" target="_new">Twitter</a> pages for more updates about where we’ll be this Fall (hint: Nashville, Boston, Toronto, Paris, Wales and Los Angeles!)</i><br><br>UnbelievableBeats.com tag:unbelievablebeats.com,2005:Post/12185462013-07-18T07:08:54-04:002013-07-18T07:08:54-04:00Business: Maximizing Profits, Squeezing the all mighty dollarDerek Sivers, founder of <a href="http://www,cdbaby.com" target="_new">C.D. Baby</a>, is claiming all long as you are profitable in your business and money is in the bank, you don't have to necessarily squeeze every penny out of every corner. More specifically, you don't have to speak the "corporate jargon" that comes from those with MBA degrees, who talk of maximizing profits, growth, and other terms of the like. Derek says that as long as you are happy, you don't have to go to those extremes. He compares it to the mob, and when they ran the city of Las Vegas. All the mob cared about was that more money was coming in than coming out. They didn't care for the nitty gritty details. When corporations bought up the casinos from the mob, there was suddenly a .25 cent charge to get ketchup on your hotdog! That is the beef that Derek Sivers has with corporations who try to maximize profits. I could see his point of view. Micromanaging isn't the best tactic because it may cramp your employees and they may not enjoy the workplace. This is a very fine line. In business, the main point is to make money? Right. Or is the main point to be happy? We all know you need money to live. Derek himself has been wildy successful. I find it convenient that someone who is well off and with plenty of money in the bank is the one claiming you don't need to maximize profits. I can see both sides of this story. It definitely varies upon the business structure you have and the segment you are in. Raising .25 cents to put ketchup on a hot dog might just alienate your customers staying at the hotel and put a bad taste in their mouth. <br><br type="_moz"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/GFRLSAPnIG0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>UnbelievableBeats.com tag:unbelievablebeats.com,2005:Post/8478422013-05-30T14:10:24-04:002018-10-04T10:58:52-04:00Mac's, Audio, Snotty attitude and arrogance What is with the Mac and PC battle? Specifically, why do people think that having a Mac is a necessity for creating any type of decent audio. The only argument they may be applicable is for recording live instruments. If you are recording a guitar or "miking" up an amplifier, it could be greater quality to go straight into Pro Tools, Logic, or even Garage Band! (haha, bet I got you there!). Yes, for straight drum set and live bands that may be better. The rest of the spectrum is even. And the rest of the spectrum can only constitute electronic music and all of its counterparts. It all depends on how you compose and the workflow that suits you best. From cubase to reason to reaper to pro tools to ableton live, the DAW race is a tight battle indeed, with the Mac or PC platform at the top of the plateu. I say it's pure marketing genius by Steve Jobs, to make products that really are of superior quality. That's why I believe the audio is better on Macs. Is it the platform or the DAW? Or a mixture? Audio on a Mac seems of higher quality and the internal parts and chasis of the whole computer have better parts than PCs. Then again, Pro Tools is said to have the exact same Algorhythm as iTunes. Same thing with garage band and logic. Notice these are all Mac. They have a whole structure of audio programs and a cult like status. That being said, 99% of my catalog has been done on a PC. I use the combination of FL Studio and Reason. I use Reason's synths within FL Studio and it is extremely powerful. Oh no, Mac's are making me feel bad again...<br>UnbelievableBeats.com tag:unbelievablebeats.com,2005:Post/7715772013-05-18T11:43:34-04:002017-02-02T00:51:48-05:00Colbie Caillat, P!nk and Nate Ruess, Billy Joel RemixesI recently made 3 sampled instrumentals as well as a lyrical cover for all 3. These include Billy Joel's Uptown Girl located here: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vw089Y8lZfY" target="_new">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vw089Y8lZfY</a>, Colbie Caillat's Realize located here: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBzUwkHuPoU" target="_new">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBzUwkHuPoU</a>, and P!nk and Nate Ruess's Just Give me a Reason located here: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKYfzfcNz_c" target="_new">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKYfzfcNz_c</a>. I got the main melody from Billy Joel's tune and it was a little tough to work with at first. The high end was pushing through the mix to hard, so I used a high pass filter to turn the sample into something more workable. I also included sub bass from FL Studio and the plugin called 3XOSC. The drum fill has a couple samples at the end of the final bar, and it definitely has a hyped feel. I was always inspired by Realize by Colbie Caillat, and I loved the line, "Didn't I, Didn't I tell you?" when the guitar plucks along. I got that sample along with chopping the end of the outro into 4 pieces. The P!nk and Nate Ruess song came out pretty cool because of the clear piano sound mixed with sub bass from Reason. The drum kit is part of <a href="http://www.globalheatwave.com" target="_new">GlobalHeatWave.com</a> and was an MPC kit. There is a interesting hi hat pattern, snare hit, and open hi hat included in the drum pattern. In addition to these remixed instrumentals, I put lyrics to every one of them. I used the lyrics "uptown girl" a lot in the Billy Joel Lyrical version here: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1z8VAA8Rmk" target="_new">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1z8VAA8Rmk</a>. The Colbie Caillat lyrical version is here: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWersZemt3o" target="_new">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWersZemt3o</a>, and the P!nk and Nate Ruess lyrical version is here: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJzYai2PvBI" target="_new">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJzYai2PvBI</a>. The P!nk song was particularly fun to write lyrics to and the hook was fun to work with as well.2:55UnbelievableBeats.com tag:unbelievablebeats.com,2005:Post/5392642013-04-16T03:37:21-04:002022-04-23T06:06:10-04:00How to Edison, sample, sequence, mix, record, & Master in FL StudioI recently recorded a 57 minute screenshot tutorial covering the many aspects of music production. In this particular <a target="_new" href="https://www.youtube.com/ShaunFriedman">YouTube</a> video, I go deep "behind the scenes" of my Alanis "Hand in my Pocket" remix and demonstrate how to use Edison, which is the main editor I use during sampling. This entails getting a seamless loop, finding the tempo, embedding the tempo information in the sample, and saving it on your computer or dragging it into your project. I also review many aspects of mixing, mostly demonstrating the importance of cutting low frequencies and boosting your high frequencies on vocals, hi hats, and other instruments. I review how to set up a reverb send as well as work with delay. I show how to manipulate a sample on the piano roll and how to set up the sample to be "useable" in music production. I also review what automation means and how to use it. The video concludes showing the master track effect chain consisting of the TLS Maximizer and the <a target="_new" href="http://www.bbesound.com">BBE D82 Sonic Maximizer</a>. In short, the video reviews tips and tricks in the FL Studio <a target="_new" href="./beatsinstrumentalslicensingstore.cfm">music production</a> environment. The video would be handy for any type of music genre, but certainly focuses on electronic and hip hop production. <br><br type="_moz"><center><iframe width="420" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/E7E02FH7X6w" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></center>3:16UnbelievableBeats.com tag:unbelievablebeats.com,2005:Post/5249162013-04-13T20:50:00-04:002021-09-10T18:13:30-04:00Alanis Morissette: Hand in my Pocket Lyrical Remix interpretation The song, "Hand in my Pocket," by Alanis Morissette is definitely a classic written by one of the most talented songwriters to grace god's green earth. I started off by taking the intro sample in addition to the outro harmonica samples. I wrote my entire verse and recorded it, along with sequencing and sampling the entire instrumental mix. After listening in the car, I knew I had to deliver a better product. I spent an additional 2 or 3 hours at the coffee shop, sampling vocals from Alanis and more harmonica sections. I came home and re-did the vocals. I don't actually have an interface right now- this song was recorded with a Rode Condenser NT1A into a behringer mixer XENYX802. The main outs of the mixer go into the stereo mini input jack of my dell laptop computer, and I use ASIO4all as the audio "soundcard" if you will. The vocals sound pretty crisp and there was definitely some latency while recording, but that could have helped the vocals to "sit" more in the "groove" of the mix. I worked pretty hard on the overall final product and hope listeners enjoy. <center><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/g0heSzaJ-lI" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></center>3:16UnbelievableBeats.com tag:unbelievablebeats.com,2005:Post/4325192013-03-28T12:38:21-04:002020-03-31T06:25:35-04:00Instruments vs. Electronic vs. Learning vs. Producing in digital ageThere is a huge ongoing battle concerning the methods of learning to produce music. I've seen it in the forums and it's very prevalent on YouTube. The argument is about the benefits of learning music on a guitar, piano, flute, drum set, etc (anything in the physical world where you are reading music and playing an actual instrument) vs. the new method of learning music mostly with a computer. The computer has virtual instruments inside of it, as well as a piano, so you are able to make electronic music easily while including the aforementioned <b>Virtual</b> flutes, pianos, drums, strings, and as many synths as you want. I think as long as you are able to blend notes, sounds, rhythms, and harmonics, the method of producing doesn't benefit one or the other, and there are many ways to get to a final good mix. It seems like the older generation or people that actually learned a "real" instrument have beef with the teenagers and D.J.'s on YouTube that are merely "pushing buttons" on an MPC, drum machine, ableton controller, or using any DAW without "learning music" the proper way. And within that statement lies my beef. There is no "proper" way to learn music. Every journey will be different and the way in which you learn will be different. I did learn the piano by ear as well as the drums, and now I mostly use FL Studio and Reason on my computer to produce music. I don't read music all too well. I just use my ears and blend the notes and textures as I see fit. While it's nice to strum or play a real instrument, the sound is still heard and the inspiration is still there. As far as live playing, yes, there is a certain magic that happens as a band comes together or while jamming on open mic night. I do see the purity of music in that regard. That is the human aspect coming into play. I have made hundreds of hip hop beats while sitting alone with a computer and headphones. It simply isn't in the same ballpark as jamming with other musicians. As far as sequencing, I can play a live drum set and I have also programmed hundreds of beats in FL Studio by using the step sequencer and clicking with my mouse. With FL Studio, I can actually do more complex patterns and pick from thousands of .WAV samples to fill in my kicks, hi hats, snares, and all percussion. In the electronic world, I add my own baselines, pick out my own instruments, and mix the entire song on the computer. As long as you can ignore some of the digital and robotic aspects of using a computer to program and sequence drum sounds, the inspiration is still there. This is why when I actually burn a song onto a C.D. and play the finished song in my car, it's one of the greatest feelings in the world. That's why I believe it is not important how you "learn" music. As long as you understand the underlying principles, a new age digital producer learning on an MPC or pads and triggers of some sort isn't any less worthy than a guitar player. It doesn't really matter if you can read music, and this fact has been proven for a while now. What matters is the final result and how it makes you feel. The computer is the vessel to get to the final moment of a finished song. Music is an art of expression. I think anyone on YouTube is a musician no matter how they learned. Now, if they never ever pick up an instrument, yes that is bad! But there is no side that is "evil." Perhaps it's best to have a nice balance of both worlds. Learn the real instruments and learn the digital computers as well. Then you can mix both of them regardless. Every single computer program has the ability to record outside audio. This means you can record your guitar, drums, vocals, or any instrument you want, and have other sounds be electronic if you desire.UnbelievableBeats.com tag:unbelievablebeats.com,2005:Post/2980672013-02-04T08:59:04-05:002017-02-01T20:18:13-05:00Alicia Keys Superbowl hip hop Remix: National Anthem - 3/4 TimeI was looking for a moment of goosebumps before the superbowl and Alicia Keys delivered. She played a beautiful white Yamaha piano and sang the national anthem before the Ravens and 49ers kicked off. Towards the end of the song, she went into a nice little 3/4 time on the piano which really added some originality to the piece. I took it step further and made a hip hop remix out of it. I used the korg 05r/w for a flute sound and added a bunch of percussion and fx in FL Studio. I also added a couple pianos to excentuate the pattern she came up with. I recorded Alicia from the audio output of my Samsung T.V. <br><br type="_moz"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/oC_UJjsSN3o" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>2:56UnbelievableBeats.com tag:unbelievablebeats.com,2005:Post/2920562013-01-29T04:10:00-05:002021-09-20T15:26:04-04:00Korg 05R/W Synthesis Module <img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/771/2bf5a6200dd1c4837e7ac192dac68f4dd9223233/medium/Korg-05RW.jpg?1380651958" class="size_orig justify_left border_" alt="" height="225" width="300" />I recently received a nice gift from my dad - the Korg 05R/W. I used this sound module as a teenager in my dad's analog studio. I'm really excited to explore the 236 sounds and use this little puppy as my "secret weapon." The sounds are very good and consist of ambient patches, organs, drums, and ethnic variations. I looked up the PDF on google and found a quick start and user manual <a target="_new" href="http://www.korg.co.uk/support/downloads/x5_05rw_dl.php">here</a>. I'll probably use this module when writing songs for film and tv licensing because I want to be original as possible and this will help the creative pallete.UnbelievableBeats.com tag:unbelievablebeats.com,2005:Post/2649622012-12-11T12:35:00-05:002017-02-01T19:43:27-05:00The Piano Hyphy Smoke Beat - Non Malicious Water Pipe This beat has a sampled loop from a vinyl record that is sped up and hard to hear. I was dealing with pre-done wave chords and other effects, so it was almost a miracle that they came out in key. I added my favorite piano from Reason - the NNXT piano that loads as soon as you load up NNXT. The hyphy trumpets and violins give it another crazy feel...but I love anything with piano.<br><br><br type="_moz"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1Y-wGSHIw-0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>3:15UnbelievableBeats.com tag:unbelievablebeats.com,2005:Post/2597762012-12-01T03:39:25-05:002017-02-01T19:38:05-05:00Hawaii Chant Remix E Ho Mai My good friend Danny came into town recently and we hit up the lab. He is one of those rare people that has a love of video, audio, and the arts, so we got to crackin' on making some beats. While most people just talk about collaborating on a beat, I knew Danny was serious. He lives in Hawaii and we attempted a remix on the chant titled "E Ho Mai." The beat was drafted pretty quickly and it was mostly a creative session. If any words came out wrong in the song, we meant no disrespect to Hawaii. I think Danny knew the words corrrectly but I may have had a little trouble - I am the last verse.<br><br type="_moz"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/223E9wmBjQ0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>2:13UnbelievableBeats.com tag:unbelievablebeats.com,2005:Post/2506202012-11-13T03:35:44-05:002017-02-01T19:28:50-05:00Lisa Loeb Remix - "Stay" If the beginning guitar in the song "Stay" by Lisa Loeb doesn't give you chills, then you just aren't human. Well, maybe not so extreme, but the beginning of the song and the whole song in general is definitely a classic. Her lyrics also fit amazingly into the structure of the song. To make a long story short - this song is fantastic. I wanted to sample some of the guitar here, and try one of my lyrical interpretations. This is when I draw on the main theme or message of the song, and then put my own spin on it. This case was a little different. I took the position as her boyfriend that wanted her back. There are many interpretations of her original lyrics, mostly that she is somewhat scared or unsure and wants to leave her boyfriend. She discovers she made the wrong choice because as she says, "I missed you." She thought she could leave but she missed him. My job here is to tell her that I still want her, while using her original lyrics in my own point of view.<br><br type="_moz"><iframe width="420" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KEhSABQLKdo" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>2:26UnbelievableBeats.com tag:unbelievablebeats.com,2005:Post/2405962012-10-25T15:50:00-04:002017-02-01T19:18:31-05:00Adele Remix: Skyfall (James Bond Theme 2012) I recently got inspired by the piano at the beginning of Skyfall as well as the lyrics. I sampled the piano, did some time stretching, set up the drum beat, added a bassline, arranged the song, mixed each track, and had my dad add a piano solo. I also did what I call a "lyrical interpretation," where I go off what the artist and songwriters already mentioned in their lyrics. In this one I used alot of what Adele said and only changed things up a little. I was in the studio for a good 4 hours or more, which went through the night until 1 or 2 in the morning. That tends to happen when you get inspired! The free track is available here: <a target="_new" href="./freeremixes.cfm">Skyfall Mp3 - Adele Hip Hop Remix</a> or just look below the video to get the Mp3 or Podcast to your iTunes library!<br><br><br type="_moz"><iframe width="420" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KbtIZjQ6bH8" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>UnbelievableBeats.com tag:unbelievablebeats.com,2005:Post/546572012-07-16T10:45:00-04:002012-07-16T10:45:00-04:00My Studio Signal Chain and where all my sounds are coming from I've got the studio setup in the basement with all the same casts of characters. I have revamped the signal flow a little bit though. My Dell Laptop i5 is the hub, which has a USB breakout with 4 connections. Connected to the four slots is the Digi Design MBox 2, Roland Fantom X-8 USB, External Hard drive, and Dell printer. The other remaining USB ports on my computer are for the mouse and ilok key. I have the digital SPDIF output from the Roland Fantom X-8 hooked up to the MBox 2's digital SPDIF input. The Stanton Turntable is connected to the Behringer XENYX802 Mixer (RCA left and right outputs into 1/4" left and right inputs on the behringer mixer). The Mixer's Main outs go from Left and Right 1/4" outputs into the Line Level input of the MBox2. In this way, anything connected to the mixer (stanton turntable, microphone, Roland Handsonic 10, or Television) can be ran line out from the mixer into the line in of the digi design MBox2. I also have monitors and a headphone output. The creative possibilities are endless as my sound pallete includes .WAV drum kits in FL Studio, Sytrus in FL Studio, Alieno VST, other free VSTS, Reason, All sounds from the Fantom X, all old Vinyl Records for sampling, The Roland Handsonic 10, the microphone, and even the T.V.UnbelievableBeats.com tag:unbelievablebeats.com,2005:Post/1896832012-07-14T09:20:00-04:002012-07-14T09:20:00-04:00I missed a Day! Friday the 13th! Oh Well! (Damn)I missed a day of blogging yesterday but I have a good excuse - I had no internet access! I have been busy relocating yet again. The Fort Wayne trip was okay but nothing special. Sure, it was a good "learning experience," but I'm not too hyped on that either. My next project is going to be the Red Hot Chili Peppers Under the Bridge Remix. I have some sections I sampled and I really wanna get deep into this one. I'm not going to export the project after working on it for a few hours; I am going to continually revisit the song and make it a banging remix!UnbelievableBeats.com tag:unbelievablebeats.com,2005:Post/1888442012-07-12T07:25:00-04:002013-10-03T10:17:36-04:00My turntable is ready! Vinyl is Fun! (And sounds better than digital) I got the email from Morrison today, owner of <a target="_new" href="http://www.neatneatneatrecords.com/">Neat Neat Neat Records</a> in Fort Wayne. I am grateful that he told me everything is working on the Stanton T.80. He's got a pretty cool shop as well. There are high end turntables for sale as well as many vinyl records. Vinyl is vintage and vinyl is cool. There is just something special about spinning records on turntables. It's a physical substance you can hold in your hand, feel, and see the cool artwork on the record casing. This is something that Mp3s and digital computers can never touch. The best part is that vinyl SOUNDS better than digital because it was recorded with analog equipment. I hope kids today realize they can still buy vinyl records, that they hold value, and that they sound awesome.UnbelievableBeats.com tag:unbelievablebeats.com,2005:Post/1886282012-07-11T15:39:00-04:002012-07-11T15:39:00-04:00The case of the missing power chords. What are the chances?I lent my buddy my behringer XENYX802 Mixer so he can practice with his band. The mixer has been returned to me but I was informed he still needed to retreive the ac power adapter. He seems to be built on integrity and told me that he would pick it up for me and return it. If I had to, I would have picked it up because I understand it's easy to forget a power chord. However, if it was his OWN mixer, do you think he would have forgotten it in the first place? Furthermore, my Stanton T.80 turntable was dropped off at a record store to get fixed by the owners "guy." I emailed the owner and asked if he had a status because I was leaving in a couple days and needed to get it back. He told me it can sometimes take 10 to 15 working days. I told him that I hope we can work it out, and that I thought it would be a shorter time. Low and behold, the turntable shows up the next day, I receive a phone call and email from the owner, and it didn't even need a new motor. I arrive to the record store and he turns the platter to show me that it is in working condition. (How do I really know this without plugging it in and then turning it on?) I ask him where the power chord is and then the bad vibes start coming. He calls his "guy," who clearly lost the chord and tells me I can take the turntable now or tomorrow, when he will BUY me a new chord. He says it works because the guy tested it, so I ask him how could he test it without the power chord? He was already frustrated, so he said I can come back tomorrow and pick up both items. I hope the turntable works when I plug the thing in. And I hope he buys the power chord. This all started because I thought the motor was dead, but it looks like a case of cleaning out some dust from the inside parts. I'm power chorded out.UnbelievableBeats.com tag:unbelievablebeats.com,2005:Post/1879192012-07-10T07:24:25-04:002012-07-10T07:24:25-04:00The S2 and Apple Operating Systems I installed the hardware and software for the Native Instruments S2 onto my dell laptop. Everything was working fine, but I knew that I really wanted to hook it up to my Mac. It's a little more portable although it's a regular MacBook from 2009. After trying to install Traktor on the Mac, it said that I needed operating system 10.6!! I currently was using 10.5.8. All of this is a little confusing to me - I then did a little research and found out about Snow Leopard and Lion. What's wtih Mac's and these animals anyways? I had to order Snow Leopard in the mail (they are sending me a DVD), and then I should be able to use my S2 with my Mac. UnbelievableBeats.com tag:unbelievablebeats.com,2005:Post/1875182012-07-09T06:20:00-04:002019-09-22T02:13:33-04:00Red Hot Chili Peppers - Under the Bridge Hip Hop Remix?I arrived to Mocha Lounge today at 11:15 a.m. I am most likely going to try and remix "Under the Bridge" by the Red Hot Chili Peppers. I pretty much have the format set. I will use FL Studio to sample and sequence the song. I may also use Reason Rewired to gain access to sub bass and other patches picked for harmonies. FL Studio will have some hip hop kits, maybe even the ones from <a target="_new" href="http://www.globalheatwave.com">Global Heat Wave</a>, and I will mix and do a basic master of the song in FL Studio. After all of this is done, I will export the .wav file and import it into Pro Tools. Pro Tools is the spot where I will do the vocal recording. A crucial step before this, and after the new instrumental remix is made, is adding my own "lyrical interpretation." I have done this already with "Best of My Love" by the Eagles and "Let it Be" by the Beatles. I look at the original lyrics and write my own spin on it, while still using some of the original lyrics. It's nice to have an engineer (Matt Lowe) that worked @ Tree Sound Studios in Atlanta, Georgia. Once the instrumental is imported into pro tools and new lyrics are written, it will be time for the vocal performance! UnbelievableBeats.com tag:unbelievablebeats.com,2005:Post/1873062012-07-08T07:39:25-04:002012-07-08T07:39:25-04:00The S2 - Spinning hip hop from Midwest and Dirty South! Looks like I'm going to combine my midwest hip hop with my buddies library of dirty south hip hop. This really should be a good mix of styles. He doesn't know much about the midwest scene, and I don't know much about the dirty south. Of course there will be artists from the East and West, but I think this should be good. I'll have to transfer some of his songs onto a mac external hard drive.UnbelievableBeats.com tag:unbelievablebeats.com,2005:Post/1871222012-07-07T06:40:00-04:002012-07-07T06:40:00-04:00Music Influences: Do not get diluted and follow trends People usually ask me my music influences, and the answer remains that I'm not totally sure. I realize that my style was shaped and molded by the 1980s from music like Debbie Gibson, Bobbie Brown, and James Taylor. Also Madonna, James Brown, Color Me Badd, and Vanilla Ice. Through the 1990s I got into Live, Offspring, Nirvana, Soundgarden, and many hip hop and R&B acts. The fact remains that I love the beats created by artists like Eminem, DMX, Outkast, Sublime, and Beastie Boys, I'm not sure who was the true songwriter and producer in all of these cases, but I do know I like how their music makes me feel. I like the production from songs like "Summertime" by Sublime, "Slippin" by DMX, and the whole Album from Outkast's ATLiens. Most of these are smooth tracks with hard hitting drums and nice harmonies. That's pretty much what I do when I am producing, but I always strive to find an original edge. This could be a sound used in a new way, or a percussion hit played a few octaves higher or lower. The one thing I am trying to do is find originality. You should find this while browsing through the <a target="_new" href="./beatsinstrumentalslicensingstore.cfm">beats and instrumentals</a> licensing store. Something that really hit home was a comment by renouned guitaritst Adrian Blue. His inspiration comes from technology because of the sound creation and unique sounds. He doesn't listen to other music that much so it won't seep into his own music. Music is his own personal world. Also, Frank Zappa is someone who is working on his own music all of the time, constantly, or else it gets diluted and you start to follow trends. This is what I am after. I don't want to follow trends and I don't want my music diluted by others. I had a base that shaped me and now I can branch off into new creations. I also don't listen to other music that much; Adrian Blue confirmed the reason why. And everything made sense.<br>UnbelievableBeats.com tag:unbelievablebeats.com,2005:Post/1867962012-07-06T04:20:00-04:002012-07-06T04:20:00-04:00How to YouTube Properly Many videos on YouTube are flat out not posted the proper way for optimal traffic and results. For some people, they may not care. Others are trying to get views yet still don't do some very easy steps.<br>
1.) Title your video correctly and something with keywords that will attract users and show up in search engine results.<br>
2.) Use the description area to link to a website.<br>
3.) Select the best thumbnail picture to attract your audience.<br>
4.) Tag your video properly with tags that are relevant.<br>
5.) Post a video response on a relevant video. In this way, you can piggy pack on a video with millions of views. Sometimes you will get lucky and your video will be automatically approved. Other times, you have to wait to get approved by the video owner.<br>
You can post a "video response" by clicking where you normally would post a text response, and like magic, the video response button appears.<br>
6.) Your video must have high quality video and audio. Users judge a video based on the audio (even though they might not realize it) after a few seconds.<br><br><br type="_moz">UnbelievableBeats.com tag:unbelievablebeats.com,2005:Post/1865112012-07-05T06:50:00-04:002012-07-05T06:50:00-04:00Selling "music instruments" on Craigs ListI'm getting out of Fort Wayne soon, so I'm doing the Craigs list "selling thing." So far I posted a Boss TU-80 guitar tuner/metronome, a Korg PitchClip, some Martin strings, a Boss 1.5m guitar cable with gold connectors, and a Marshall 50th anniversary daily planner. I am thinking of selling my Roland Fantom X-8, which was used on some of the <a href="./freebeatsfreedownloads.cfm">free beats</a> and maybe a couple of the ones from the <a href="./beatsinstrumentalslicensingstore.cfm">music licensing store</a>. I also have some M-Audio speakers I am thinking of getting rid of. UnbelievableBeats.com tag:unbelievablebeats.com,2005:Post/1861192012-07-04T07:05:00-04:002012-07-04T07:05:00-04:00DJing hurts my neck and back! Well, I set up the Native Instruments S2 last night, and my neck and back hurt after 5 minutes! lol. Apparently I may have to raise where the controller sits to alleviate my symptoms. Much respect to DJs who can stand up like that for a 4 hour set or more. I think I will spin my <a href="./beatsinstrumentalslicensingstore.cfm">beats and instrumentals</a> because I know my own arrangements so well. I want to get into other genres, but it will take time.UnbelievableBeats.com tag:unbelievablebeats.com,2005:Post/1857912012-07-03T03:40:00-04:002018-05-12T07:57:16-04:00Producer to DJ? I have been producing original music from scratch since age 5 or 6. Currently at age 31, I will soon attempt the leap from producer to DJ. It seems to me that in most cases (i.e. Dr. Dre), DJ's are the ones who make the transition - but it's from a DJ to Producer. Deep inside of me I don't like the fact that being a DJ simply plays songs, while producing from a blank canvas is just that - creating! I'm sure I can bring originality to my sets, learn the energy from the crowd, and overall have more networking opportunities while DJing. Producing music at home can be solitary, while DJing is anything but that. I have the Native Instruments S2 controller and the Traktor Kontrol F1, and it's time for me to practice, practice, and practice!<br><a target="_new" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0VJm0mi7aUc&feature=plcp"> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0VJm0mi7aUc&feature=plcp</a> - Ean Golden Depeche Mode Live RemixUnbelievableBeats.com tag:unbelievablebeats.com,2005:Post/1853922012-07-02T04:55:00-04:002012-07-02T04:55:00-04:00Stanton T.80 turntable - Motor Out!Sampling old vinyl records from my father's generation has a certain "spice" to it. It's just more fun. I have crates of vinyl records from the baby boomer generation in which I sample certain sections, loops, and phrases of the song. I love finding the key of the song and adding my own drums, bassline, and harmonies on top of it. I brought my turntable from Cleveland back to Fort Wayne and as soon as I turned it on and pressed play it died! The motor must be shot. I am going to find out if I can fix it from <a target="_new" href="http://www.neatneatneatrecords.com">NeatNeatNeatrecords.com</a>, but I'm not sure how expensive it is to fix a motor. Either that or get a new turntable.UnbelievableBeats.com tag:unbelievablebeats.com,2005:Post/1851872012-07-01T04:20:00-04:002018-04-14T00:44:50-04:00Miktek Microphones There are many microphones to choose from when thinking about recording your drum set, vocals, or any musical instrument. Miktek mics are used up and down Nashville Music Row in Tennessee, and are a great choice. They use very beautiful sounding and expensive American made transformers while collecting parts from all over the world including China, Germany, and Austria. The end result is a sweet sounding vintage tone which has been very well received.<br>
<iframe width="420" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/YuxhxTHilu4" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>UnbelievableBeats.com tag:unbelievablebeats.com,2005:Post/1825812012-06-23T05:10:00-04:002012-06-23T05:10:00-04:00Gear Fest 2012 Sweetwater Sound is having their annual Gear Fest today. I feel a little bit "geared out" when I see the mobs of people. Sometimes too much talking is done over "gear," and there isn't much creating. With all the new technology out there, this is expected. From the audiophiles, to the guitarists, to the singer/songwriters, to the DJ's, to everything - the music industry is a huge beast. UnbelievableBeats.com tag:unbelievablebeats.com,2005:Post/595592012-06-22T13:50:00-04:002017-02-01T14:55:39-05:00Let it Be Hip Hop Remix Video This is one of my only, if not the only, music video. I sampled Paul McCartney's song "Let it Be," or should I say "The Beatles?" Not sure who owns the publishing rights to this song because the beatles had lots of drama with that. At any rate, I sped up the main piano, added sub bass, added some drums, and chopped up some cool breaks from their song. I added my own "lyrical interpretation." People remix music all the time. Why not remix lyrics?<br>Free Mp3 here: <a data-link-label="Free Remixes" data-link-type="page" href="/free-remixes" target="_new">Let it Be Hip Hop Remix</a><br><br type="_moz"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/T4K9p14-u0Q" width="560"></iframe>UnbelievableBeats.com tag:unbelievablebeats.com,2005:Post/1520132012-03-27T21:50:00-04:002021-08-14T02:50:29-04:00Music is the TicketMusic is the Ticket: an original production about how music makes me feel as I get in tune with the beat. Music does so many things to us. It is what "emotions" sound like. I remember writing part of this song in my car; pen and pad with the instrumental bumping through the speakers.<br>Free Mp3 Here: <a data-link-label="Shaun's Songs" data-link-type="page" href="/shaun-s-songs" target="_new">Music is the Ticket</a><br><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/sxdALcQ_jZs" width="560"></iframe>UnbelievableBeats.com