03 Dec 2008, 7:29 pm

Hi - I would like to thank you personally for being a member of SonicJive - we have big things in store for 2009, exciting changes, new features and increased opportunities for you to get valuable exposure for your music along with opportunities to make money.  We have now been at it for 18 months and we are looking forward to an exciting year, in fact, 2009 is being proclaimed as "The Year Of The Indies", as music looks for alternatives to create growth in an industry that has been stagnant for far too long.  We believe that SonicJive.com will play a big part in the resurgence of music sales going forward and that independent music will lead the way.

I come to you today, to ask if you believe that as well.  Once a year we ask members to donate to help defray the costs of running SonicJive.com, that, when including time, software upgrades, server costs, bandwidth and upgrades costs as much as $5,000.00 per month.  Many of you also know that I have personally purchased much of the music on this site, through Amazon, CD Baby, MusicSubmit and Amie Street, among others.  The entire site is self-funded by me and we do not charge for advertisements or memberships.

By asking members to help out you can ensure the same, continued personal service that separates SonicJive from the other sites and allow us to expand and diversify the site with things like compilation CDs, member CD reviews, royalty-paid radio and a site re-design and upgrade.  If you wish to contribute you can mail a payment to my paypal account in any amount at mikecanter@sonicjive.com - anything from as little as $5 helps.  Your donation ensures that we can remain competitive and innovative in our niche market.  We are hoping that each of you can make a minimum  $15 donation in our once-per-year donation drive that runs now through December 31, 2008.

Donations of $20 or more will be split 50/50 with the program for FEEDING AMERICA'S HUNGRY CHILDREN and donations of $50 will include a free copy of the 2008 Best Of SonicJive compilation CD.  Donations of $100 or more will include the CD, a SonicJive t-shirt and will get you a banner ad for one year.    If you are anti-paypal - you can send a check to Michael Canter dba SonicJive.com, 403 N. Main Street Unit A, Thiensville, WI 53092.

With SonicJive, I have invested a great deal of time and money, and personal sacrifice because I want to lead that change.  I listen to the music on SonicJive, your music, and I know that what we have to offer is better than what is being force fed to us in radio today.  Even satellite radio, which was supposed to signal a change in the tried and true, has deviated and gone more mainstream in order to support massive debt and expense.  Internet radio and specialized podcasts are set to take over and create a format-free platform that will challenge the status quo and signal a paradigm change that will save the music industry.  The SonicJive utility wants to lead the way.

Thank you for your support and best wishes for a successful 2009.

Warm Regards,
Michael Canter