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Looper's Delight
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Remco, I really don't think your topic is so "off" as all of that... In a message dated 12/18/01 7:48:32 AM, crossfate@zonnet.nl writes: >I've got an off topic question concerning a CD release. I'm in the process >of releasing my first indie-solo album (about next month). Are there any >Loopers out there who have similair experiences and have tips/hints for >me? I'm looking for (online) magazines/radioshows etc. that review >ambient/ >loopy music. Any help would be greatly appreciated. I'm totally in the >dark when >it come to promotion. I hardly qualify as an expert in this. I only released my first commercially available CD in July. But I sort of started this thread, so I feel responsible. If I happen to say something really stooopid please forgive and excuse. Well, the sort of music you are creating/recording matters a lot. It'll probably be of only marginal value to send a CD of ambient music to a death-metal e-zine or radio program specializing in polka music (unless you happen to be into ambient death-polka ... hmmm... sounds kinda interesting). But that's a no brainer. Search the web for radio stations that have shows featuring your sort of music and fire off a CD addressed to the "music director" of that show. You don't HAVE to know the name of the individual (but it sure helps if you can find a specific contact name). Include a little "press" blurb with a polite, professional request for consideration (remember they are doing YOU the favor, not the other way around) and don't forget to give them an easy way to send notification back to you should you get lucky. E-mail is wonderful. It costs them no postage to send you a playlist and (if they're feeling generous) some nice words about what they think of your music. The minuscule label my CD came out on gets e-mailed playlists all of the time and forwards them to me. I belong to ASCAP and want to keep track of these so I can possibly have whatever tiny little bit of money paid me from this that I can (however insignificant). Joining an organization like ASCAP is pretty painless and has the added benefit of making you look more like a professional when sending out promotional materials. It's something to consider at least. I'm glad I did it. Maybe it'll help you. So far as I can tell, public radio stations (NPR, etc.) associated with institutions of learning (colleges and universities) are more agreeable to putting unsolicited, submitted material on the airwaves. If your music is of a little more adventurous, left-of-center, underrepresented variety this usually directly speaks to their own "mission statements." And, at the same time, some young underpaid (or even volunteer) DJs are often secretly dying to put something new, different, maybe even a little "dangerous" before their listeners. Of course, there are some who are only out to put on the best "alterna-corporate rock" soundtrack for their buddies at the next frat party -- who knows. It can work both ways. But I'd count on college radio anyway to deal better with something "new" if that's what you do. And, don't underestimate foreign radio stations. I'm continually surprised by how much more adventurous people are elsewhere in terms of the different things they are willing to expose themselves to and try. Perhaps I shouldn't be. We seem to be such lemmings here in the USA sometimes that it saddens me. Of course the messages and reviews that may come back to you will come in a language that you may not speak...but so what. I'm thrilled that scattered little groups of people from Bosnia to Brisbane are hearing my music. It's a kick. My CD went out to a mailing list carefully collected over the years by the individual that runs the label: Southern California avant garde trumpeter Jeff Kaiser. He is my good friend and he has asked that I not share his mailing list with anybody. So indeed, I won't. Sorry. But it shouldn't be to hard to start carefully generating your own mailing list. It's all a matter of research and the web is the single greatest new tool for research I can imagine. The information is all there if you know the right questions to ask. And, if you got my e-mail the other day that started this thread you got a list of 17 radio stations (and the cities that they're in) that play some pretty doggone weird stuff. It shouldn't be too hard to put the pieces together and find the addresses for these stations online (and the names of various radio shows, DJs and music directors). That was sort of part of my intention in "sharing the joy" the other day...hint, hint. So, what's the benefit in getting radio airplay? Well, honestly, not a lot more than the "thrill" of having gotten it (so far for me anyway). The label I'm on doesn't have big-league distribution. And, to make matters worse, the "shopping mechanism" on their website has been down for a month. But I can definitely see a real peak in interest reflected in the "stats" for my MP3.com web page after every occasion my music has been played somewhere. My CD came out in July and the tracks up there have already had over 600 downloads. There is a definite pattern of "spikes" in interest following broadcasts. So I have to believe that a few of those are turning into customers ... or might at some point (especially if they can begin buying the CD with a credit card again at the label's website). I hold out no more hope for it than that. I'll never be a rich and famous at this. It's too late for me in that regard anyway. I'm not young and pretty anymore -- I'm a 48 year old white male and getting older all of the time -- no changing that. Also, I'm an amateur ... in the best sense of the word. The original root word "ama" comes from the Latin word that means love: amor. An amateur is a person who does something for the love of the thing itself -- and that's me. Of course it would be nice to be "surprised" by fame and fortune. But I can hardly expect it at this point. I've gotta find my motivations elsewhere (or be open to them finding me). Besides I have a pretty interesting "day job." I hope this is of some help. Best, Ted Killian www.mp3.com/TedKillian www.pfmentum.com/flux.html www.mp3.com/Ophelia_Pancake