The catch: the software that pays out those tiny sums doesn’t pay if a video is embedded. This means our label doesn’t get their hard-won share of the pie if our video is played on your blog, so (surprise, surprise) they won’t let us be on your blog. And, voilá: four years after we posted our first homemade videos to YouTube and they spread across the globe faster than swine flu, making our bassist’s glasses recognizable to 70-year-olds in Wichita and 5-year-olds in Seoul and eventually turning a tidy little profit for EMI, we’re – unbelievably – stuck in the position of arguing with our own label about the merits of having our videos be easily shared. It’s like the world has gone backwards.

Link: Open Letter From OK Go, regarding non-embeddable YouTube videos

via BoingBoing

The post Open Letter From OK Go, Regarding Non-Embeddable YouTube Videos appeared first on Graham English Blog Archives.

I think records were just a little bubble through time and those who made a living from them for a while were lucky. There is no reason why anyone should have made so much money from selling records except that everything was right for this period of time. I always knew it would run out sooner or later. It couldn’t last, and now it’s running out. I don’t particularly care that it is and like the way things are going. The record age was just a blip. It was a bit like if you had a source of whale blubber in the 1840s and it could be used as fuel. Before gas came along, if you traded in whale blubber, you were the richest man on Earth. Then gas came along and you’d be stuck with your whale blubber. Sorry mate – history’s moving along. Recorded music equals whale blubber. Eventually, something else will replace it.

Brian Eno in his studio. Photograph: Harry Borden

Link: On gospel, Abba and the death of the record: an audience with Brian Eno

via The Music Industry Report

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Enter: Imogen Heap. Some people may recognize Imogen as the beautiful vocalist of Frou Frou. Others may be familiar with her song “Hide & Seek” or the song she wrote for The Chronicles of Narnia, “Can’t Take it In.” But even if you’ve never heard of her, it’s time to pay attention — Imogen Heap is changing the way business is done. Or perhaps she’s just bringing music back to its roots — the relationship between musician and fan — and exploiting all the technical advantages available. In a time when some music industry veterans seem to be afraid of the way technology is changing their business, Imogen Heap is using these technological advances to her advantage.

Link: The New Music Business Model: Imogen Heap

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This was written on a bumpy Euro-bus ride across the wilderness – may ramble a bit but I think the point gets across.
TR

Link: my thoughts on what to do as a new / unknown artist

The post trent_reznor: my thoughts on what to do as a new / unknown artist appeared first on Graham English Blog Archives.

Here’s a pair of scripts to simplify posting videos to YouTube. If you’re a Mac user and post to YouTube regularly like me, you might find these time-saving scripts useful.

Calling all musicians: Join YouTube’s Symphony Orchestra. YouTube is offering musicians around the globe the opportunity to join a symphony orchestra via video through the world’s first collaborative online orchestra.

Google Friend Connect is now available and you might want to get your Google profile tidied up. You can connect to me on my sidebar.

Delicious Has A Brand New Audio Player For MP3 Bookmarks so now you should bookmark all your MP3s using delicious.

I’m accepting and sharing MP3s using SoundCloud. Anything you want me to hear? I can’t promise to comment or anything but I love to listen to new music.

Send me your track

On the music licensing front:
Songcatalog connects publishers, labels, independent artists and producers with companies looking to license music for commercial use.

WacBiz could use a website usability makeover and some proofreading, but it might be an avenue for licensing opportunities.

Rumblefish just joined YouTube. Submit you music here and you could get a piece of the action. They also place music in film, TV, video games, advertising and marketing campaigns, podcasts, video blogs, background usage, and more.

And when you need a music business contract…

The post From The Notebook 12-7-08 appeared first on Graham English Blog Archives.

This is a big day for DIY artists as it marks the first time that musicians not affiliated with a label or royalty collection agency can collect revenue direct from a free streaming music platform. We’re very proud to now offer DIY artists the same royalty opportunities as those presented to record labels acts.

Now’s the time to upload your music to Last.fm. Then sign up for the Artist Royalty Program in the Music Manager.

In other Last.fm news, subscribers have been given access to the new Last.fm beta, which includes a facelift and improved user experience. One notable benefit is when you make your music available to download free, it will be included in iTunes podcasts, reaching an even larger audience.

Great times for DIY artists!

The post A Big Day For DIY Artists appeared first on Graham English Blog Archives.

So let’s look a bit at the finances. If I can make about $5-$10 per download or directly sold CD, and I sell 1000, I clear a maximum of $10,000 for that year’s effort. That’s not a living. Let’s say, after 20 concerts I net about $10,000 for three to four months worth of full time effort. That’s not a living.

It’s not all doom and gloom for the fringe musician. But it does provide a realistic story from an avant garde artist trying to “speak my personal truth, regardless of the cost.”

Link

The post Tempered Enthusiasm For 1,000 True Fans appeared first on Graham English Blog Archives.

A creator, such as an artist, musician, photographer, craftsperson, performer, animator, designer, videomaker, or author – in other words, anyone producing works of art – needs to acquire only 1,000 True Fans to make a living.

If your “True Fan” will purchase everything you produce, or spend $100 a year, with 1,000 fans you can earn $100,000 a year. But you’re not limited to earning money from True Fans. Lesser fans will also purchase some of your material. Momentum could even kick in and get you that hit you’ve been wanting. But as you can see, a hit is not necessary to earn a respectable living as an artist.

There are some brilliant ideas in this article, 1,000 True Fans. Read it now!

The post 1,000 True Fans And The Long Tail appeared first on Graham English Blog Archives.

The post The Top 10 Music Social Networks appeared first on Graham English Blog Archives.

I plan to start reading it as soon as possible. I’m in the middle of The Zombie Survival Guide right now, obviously a more urgent read.

Link to announcement.

The post Gerd Leonhard’s Music2.0 Book Just Released appeared first on Graham English Blog Archives.