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.

My personal website has links to my LinkedIn and Google+ pages and you can send e-mail to david [at] thelayaways [dot] com.

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January 14, 2009

Wednesday Odds and Ends
by David Harrell

Discmakers has the story of an act that Myspaced its way to weekly iTunes sales of more than 1,000 tracks. (With total sales of more than 100,000 songs, according to the band's website.) The band then signed a deal with Universal. My first thought was "why sign with a big label if you're doing that well on your own?" before realizing that full-time Myspacing leaves little time for recording or touring. Still, I can't help wondering if they will make as much from that major-label deal as they could as a self-released act or with a 50/50 deal with an indie label.

Some music promoters debate the relative merits of MySpace and Facebook for music promotion.

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club self-released a digital-only noise/ambient album in November. They're selling it for $6, your choice of 192k mp3 files or WAV files, though apparently not both. Pitchfork didn't love it.

And, in case you missed it, you can now follow Digital Audio Insider on Twitter.

tags: digital music iTunes MySpace

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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