For all my aspiring musicians (and probably even non-musicians out there), check this out...such an awesome idea. The video above is old, but I just saw the beta site today (link below), and it's pretty advanced. I'm not sure about the performance of "Africa" by Toto (LOL)...but BOJAM is "server-side" recording and mixing software: you don't have to download anything on your computer to use it (except Flash, which we all have anyway). Even if you know nothing about making music, you can create or remix a song with other users from around the world. In theory, you could even have a band with four musicians who have never met in person--they just wrote a hit song together from four different places around the world.
Apparently, they're still testing out the software, so they're looking for new users to try it out and tell them how to make it better. To try it, go here, fill in the info, and you'll be ready to play with the software. Trust me, it's worth it.
Word from LP's management: "New Divide" is only the 3rd record in history to debut in the Top 10 on the American Billboard Hot 100 Chart & Modern Rock Chart simultaneously. The other two songs to achieve this were "What I've Done" & "Speed of Sound" (Coldplay).
Continuing the conversation we've been having about artists finding success without a major label (in posts like this and this), here's a story about a band doing it right now.
If you haven't heard about Metric, they're a band who is seeing some impressive numbers on US and Canadian charts...without the help of a major record label.
They were #1 on Billboard Heat Seekers, #1 on Soundscan Top New Artists Chart, and had Debuts at #1 on Canadian iTunes Album and Rock charts, to name a few achievements.
From the LA Times: "The 10-track "Fantasies," which took the band in a more pop direction, has sold 9,000 digital downloads in the U.S. since its release March 31, according to Nielsen SoundScan. In the music industry, which counts success in the hundreds of thousands, Metric's sales figures may not seem like much. Nonetheless, taking into account an additional 15,000 downloads the band's co-manager said it sold internationally, Metric is seeing a higher financial return than under a major record deal."
FORT MINOR fans have asked me, "What's up with Styles Of Beyond? Aren't they signed to Machine Shop? When is their record coming out?" The answers are long and complex, but the short version is this:
S.O.B.'s record was supposed to come out years ago. Due to a variety of creative and non-creative decisions by S.O.B., Linkin Park, Machine Shop, and Warner Bros., we held back in order to work on the record and the release plans. After months of hard work by the group, we ended up finishing what we feel is a great record, entitled "Reseda Beach."
Warner Bros., however, wasn't as thrilled about the record as we were. They weren't committed to spending a healthy budget on it; they intended to limit the hours and funds spent on its release. We felt that limiting the attention put on the record would basically cut its legs out from beneath it, and it would never get a chance. There was a lot of disagreement between everyone about this topic, but it essentially became a stalemate.
With that said, we've come to a few decisions. Firstly, due to ongoing differences between Warner Bros. and Machine Shop's views on the creative and non-creative aspects of our albums, we will be putting Machine Shop Records on hiatus until another time. We're not angry with WB. We had always hoped that MSR could be an artist-driven label with special attention on the best creative ideas and good music; until we see eye to eye with our partner, we can't see how it could be a productive relationship. Machine Shop will still promote projects (like Linkin Park) with our marketing branch, but the artist development / record label part of the company are going to hibernate for a while. The market is too tough and the intentions and ideas of the two entities are too different for it to be a productive situation at this time.
Secondly, we worked out a number of other options for the Styles Of Beyond, and WB has generously agreed to let them explore options elsewhere. S.O.B. will likely be releasing the album independently. Look forward to more info about the record as it materializes, at http://www.myspace.com/stylesofbeyond. My bandmates and I believe in the group, and wish TAK, Skully, Cheapshot, and RYU all our best. You'll see more about S.O.B. here one this site as their project progresses.
And lastly, some great news: in the meantime, RYU of Styles Of Beyond has been working with some mutual friends (including Apathy and Scoop DeVille, among others) on a new project called The Get Busy Committee. They just finished a new song and video for a new song called "My Little Razor Blade." Here's the world-premiere of the video and song...enjoy!
A Warm Place ASKS: HOW CAN YOU BE SUCCESSFUL WITHOUT A MAJOR LABEL; MURRY ASKS: HOW DO YOU STOP PEOPLE FROM SELLING YOUR MUSIC ILLEGALLY?
Posted by A Warm Place: Hey Mike , can you name me one artist/band that has become successful on a global scale that is not signed to a record label? NIN and Radiohead can pull it off because they already had a massive fan base before going indie.Despite what many think it's just not possible yet to make a good living being indie. As much as the gap has closed in recent years , Major labels still have the power of getting the songs on rock radio , touring with big artists , expensive videos etc. When your indie , your classified with a million other artists that are trying to make it.
Posted by akitagirl: Mike - Where do you think LP would be today if you were starting out now? Do you guys think you would be signing with a label, using the net etc... I think this can be a really confusing time for new artist starting out and think you have helped shed a lot of clarity on peoples choices and the reality of signing with a label.
Posted by FCastro: hey Mike, could you give some advice for who's starting and don't know how to across this obstacle? I think you can help who's starting, since you're experienced in that area
M: It's funny you asked; I just had a conversation with Ian Rogers about this, (Music Marketing: Topspin) and here's basically what I said in my email:
Our band might have blown up at the best possible time: we were signed before the internet changed the game, and we were able to have a hit album during the last big wave of CD sales. The success of our first record plus the full attention of the label's great promo and marketing staffs helped us to rise above the noise. After that, the success is always been in the fans' hands.
On the other hand, if we were 18 years old right now, unsigned, and had Hybrid Theory sitting on our hard drives, we could be very disruptive to the record business. In past generations, it would be virtually impossible to record, market, and distribute your album without help. Now, you can do these things alone with unprecedented quality and efficiency. Make a great album on your own, promote it in the myriad social networks, and sell it from your websites. Practice and create an amazing live show, promote online and hand-to-hand, and play live.
That's the message I'm trying to get out to the next generation: there's a possibility that the next Linkin Park do it without being signed to a major label. That would be mind-blowing...but only if that path is a good fit for you. For the extreme pop or extreme non-pop, the choice is easier. Are you a solo dance-pop singer? Probably go with a major. Are you an eclectic jam band whose strong suit is playing live? Probably go indie or don't sign with anyone. But for everyone in between, it's a difficult decision, one that only the artist should make.