What to do with all these tunes?

I'm pondering starting a netlabel to distribute tunes by myself and some friends. Distributing mp3s/WAVs for free seems to be the way to go, because then there's none of the hassle of setting up an actual business. However, the main thing I don't like about 'free' distribution is the idea that the music is valueless - in a certain way perhaps placing the music for sale somewhere would be a good way to encourage more people to steal it? At least then they'll be listening to it, so I'm not too fussed about that. The aim of the game is to get some listeners. I think we've got some really good stuff, so it seems a shame to just have it all sat here on my hard drive.

I'd like to have the music located somewhere (probably a .com) that it is discoverable beyond soundcloud/myspace, and packaged up into individual releases. As well as sending out to radio stations and DJs, I would then do some light, non-spammy promotion around forums and my facebook network etc to announce each new release/mix/video/whatever. I'd like to keep it low key, this music is meant to be underground after all. Most of all I'd like to get some of our material out to real music listeners, not just other producers on forums and so on. I'm very aware of treading the fine line between shoving stuff in people's faces (not good), and being practically invisible (as now, also not ideal).

I'm a bit of a long time lurker/sniper around here, so posting a thread is unusual for me. I'd really like some advice from any of you who've done something similar, or who have come to the same situation and perhaps done something different? I know some of you have done this sort of thing already, so how did it go, how is it going? Thanks chaps.

I think you should send me a PM with a link to some of the tracks....I may well have an outlet for them if they are indeed good...

  On 3/9/2010 at 3:00 PM, BCM said:

I think you should send me a PM with a link to some of the tracks....I may well have an outlet for them if they are indeed good...

PM sent

safe

  On 3/9/2010 at 2:43 PM, esquimaw said:

I'm pondering starting a netlabel to distribute tunes by myself and some friends. Distributing mp3s/WAVs for free seems to be the way to go, because then there's none of the hassle of setting up an actual business. However, the main thing I don't like about 'free' distribution is the idea that the music is valueless - in a certain way perhaps placing the music for sale somewhere would be a good way to encourage more people to steal it? At least then they'll be listening to it, so I'm not too fussed about that. The aim of the game is to get some listeners. I think we've got some really good stuff, so it seems a shame to just have it all sat here on my hard drive.

 

I'd like to have the music located somewhere (probably a .com) that it is discoverable beyond soundcloud/myspace, and packaged up into individual releases. As well as sending out to radio stations and DJs, I would then do some light, non-spammy promotion around forums and my facebook network etc to announce each new release/mix/video/whatever. I'd like to keep it low key, this music is meant to be underground after all. Most of all I'd like to get some of our material out to real music listeners, not just other producers on forums and so on. I'm very aware of treading the fine line between shoving stuff in people's faces (not good), and being practically invisible (as now, also not ideal).

 

I'm a bit of a long time lurker/sniper around here, so posting a thread is unusual for me. I'd really like some advice from any of you who've done something similar, or who have come to the same situation and perhaps done something different? I know some of you have done this sort of thing already, so how did it go, how is it going? Thanks chaps.

I completely understand your dilemma. I'm in the same boat myself. I'm probably going to end up just running a bandcamp page or something. Unless someone can suggest a net label that might be interested in my kind of sounds.

Like you, I hate just throwing my tracks around because it is really pointless, and pretty much always comes off as spammy. As you said there is a very fine line, but at the same time I want to get my stuff out there to be heard.

send demos and links to myspaces etc to:

polymod@envmod.com

peace.

I've just been investigating the combo of digital-tunes.net and soundcloud - this looks like exactly what I'm after. I'm a confirmed soundcloud fanboy, so this looks pretty sweet. This would fulfil the 'having it for sale somewhere' part of my idea. I love that you can automatically import soundcloud sets as a release.

  On 3/9/2010 at 6:51 PM, Hautlle said:

I'm probably going to end up just running a bandcamp page or something.

Do it, it's dead easy and you get dollars for your stuff ! Everyone's a winner