Digital Audio Insider -- the economics of music and other digital content

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Digital Audio Insider is David Harrell's blog about the economics of music and other digital content. I write from the perspective of a musican who has self-released four albums with the indie rock band the Layaways.

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November 16, 2007

A Couple New Sites
by David Harrell

KnowTheMusicBiz.com is a new resource/community for musicians that covers the business aspects of the music industry, with a focus on the "do it yourself" approach. At this point, much of the content is simply links to other sites, but it's a nice collection of material relating to booking gigs, promotion, and online distribution. And it looks like musician John Doe will be a regular contributor with a "WWJDD" column/blog. Update: KnowTheMusicBiz founder David Rose sent me an e-mail, noting that much of the site's content is actually in its business wiki section.

Then there's a site that's received a lot of attention this week -- RCRD LBL. While the concept of "ad supported" music has always seemed off to me (Spiral Frog, etc.), I like the general idea here. You don't need to log in or listen or watch an ad to download a track. RCRD LBL appears to be an attempt to monetize the music blog model -- for both the blogger (RCRD LBL) and the musicians featured on the site.

While one reader of this Coolfer post feared that RCRD LBL is "another bad deal for artists," I think the model makes sense. At least for smaller acts, assuming that the contract isn't exclusive.

Say an unknown band receives $1,000 from RCRD LBL for the right to give away mp3s of a couple songs. That band is most likely ALREADY giving those songs away via MySpace or its own website. So any money from RCRD LBL is probably additional revenue for the band.

The potential problem here is that the high-profile free downloads from RCRD LBL will cannibalize an artist's paid downloads from iTunes, eMusic, etc. But in the case of my band, our top-selling iTunes tracks are songs that we offer as free mp3s on our own website.

The site clearly has technical issues to resolve, though. Every page is filled with widgets and, as of yesterday, the site was super slow to load -- I could only stream tracks, not download them.

tags: digital music know the music biz RCRD LBL

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THE LAYAWAYS

Out Now -- "Maybe Next Year" -- The New Holiday Album:

"This is a sweet treat, deliciously musical without being overbaked for mass media consumption." -- Hyperbolium

"Perfect listening to accompany whatever holiday preparations you may be making today." -- Bag of Songs

O Christmas Tree - free mp3 lyrics and song details
Away In A Manger - free mp3

Download from eMusic, iTunes, Amazon MP3, or Bandcamp. Listen to free streams at Last.fm.

"...about as melodic and hooky as indie pop can get." -- Absolute Powerpop

"Their laid-back, '60s era sounds are absolutely delightening." -- 3hive

"...melodic, garage-influenced shoegaze." -- RCRD LBL

Where The Conversation Ends - free mp3
January - free mp3
Keep It To Yourself - free mp3

Download from eMusic, iTunes, Amazon MP3, or CD Baby, stream it at Last.fm or Napster.

"The Layaways make fine indie pop. Hushed vocals interweave with understated buzzing guitars. The whole LP is a revelation from the start." -- Lost Music

"Catchy Guided by Voices-like rockers who lay it on sweetly and sincerely, just like Lionel Richie." -- WRUV Radio

Silence - free mp3 lyrics and song details
The Long Night - free mp3

Download from eMusic, Amazon MP3, or iTunes, stream it at Last.fm, Napster, or Rhapsody.

"These are songs that you want to take home with you, curl up with, hold them close -- and pray that they are still with you when you wake up." -- The Big Takeover

Let Me In - free mp3
Ocean Blue - free mp3

Download from eMusic, Amazon MP3, or iTunes, stream it at Last.fm, Napster, or Rhapsody.

More Layaways downloads:

the layaways website