DATE: 24 Aug 2008, 11:35 am / MOOD: Can't Find My Way Home

The music business is a cruel and shallow money trench, a long plastic hallway where thieves and pimps run free, and good men die like dogs. There's also a negative side.
-- Hunter S. Thompson

A new generation of middlemen is emerging in the music industry as it continues to morph into whatever it is going to become.







I am amazed at the shadiness and pettiness I see when dealing with people in the music business. I have a friend who actually lists the names of music promoters she will NEVER work with. I used to think to myself that I can work with anybody, good or bad, because as long as I keep my act together things would run both smoothly and successfully.

Not so much.

I had two bands last night who failed miserably in the promotion of their shows. For this, I absolutely blame myself. Both acts were under the impression that they were playing a benefit and that the shows were promoted as such, meaning that each act could just show up and do a few sets and entertain an audience that had gathered for a purpose. I didn't effectively communicate to the bands that they needed to promote the shows. So, the venue was nearly empty and though we had hoped for an attendance of 100 or more, we unfortunately had about 25 paid at the door.

Oh well. I kept my end of the bargain and paid each band their guaranteed show fee and chalked it up to experience and realized that even though I know and understand most facets of the music business, my communication skills when it comes to organizing events needs a little work. Make that a lot of work - which is why as I am organizing SXSW I have surrounded myself with competent people and event planners who will more than adequately compensate for my shortcomings.

That being said, of the two acts that performed last night, one insisted on involving their personal promotion staff. I agreed to this against my personal belief because I like to be as accommodating as possible. Dumb move. First, the band wanted to start at 8 PM but at 8 PM I had just opened my doors and only our staff was in the building. So I asked them to wait until 9 PM, and the band was fine with that.

However, Mr. Promoter walked in at 8:45 and DEMANDED to know why his band had yet to take the stage. Then he proceeded to walk over to me while I was entertaining friends of mine and went off on me, blaming me for the low attendance and blaming the second band for having not promoted the show.

As I said, there were 25 guests, 12 to see the first band and 13 to see the second. Mr. Promoter then escorted his girlfriend to the beer garden after he "faced" me once again in front of my staff. I am amazed that I kept my cool and just went about my business.

I went to the beer garden in attempt to address his concerns and for a third time he went off on me. His job, as a promoter was to, in fact, promote this show. He failed. Now, I admit to failure on my part and I wholeheartedly accepted 100% of the blame on my end, but the promoter tried to blame everybody else for his ineptitude. Trying to assuage his feelings only made it worse until he threw his bottle of beer on the ground, grabbed his escort and left shouting he would never step foot in my bar again.

For all of this nonsense, he was paid a $200 promotion fee on top of the guarantee for the band. I am, if nothing else, a man of my word and though there was no contract, I kept my promise and paid everybody at a HUGE loss to myself.

Unfortunately, his tantrum reflected negatively on his band, who still put on a pretty decent show. It was the first time the band played my bar and sadly it will be the last unless they sever ties with their promoter. Just as my friend has done, I am now compiling a list of promoters I will never work with and he is the first one on the list.

I have but one question to pose after all of this..............why on earth would you want representation that literally bleeds unprofessional-ism and restricts your earning ability? I failed miserably, but I will never sacrifice my integrity nor my ethical responsibility by not honoring my word, or by blaming anyone and everyone for my deficiencies.

Peace Out,
Mike


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DATE: 16 Aug 2008, 7:20 pm / MOOD: Hey Man Nice Shot

Down at the left end of the dial, sprinkled among the non-commercial religious and public radio stations, is where you find the last bastions of good radio with the most subversive sounds on the radio.

That is the domain of college radio -- where students and community DJs often play (and say) anything, and with it's focus on the local and the offbeat, college radio is a great place for local bands to get airplay.

Sadly, many of these 100-watt gems are rarely heard beyond the walls of the schools which house and fund the stations, but with the rise of web-based streaming audio, college radio is seeing a resurgence in recent years.  I find this to be of great importance to indie labeled and unsigned bands and musicians.  These stations are often where tomorrow's success stories get their starts today.

College Radio is also the inspiration for SonicJive Radio.  What we are doing, essentially, is creating "college radio" for the masses  -- a place to showcase indie music and free form programing on a world-wide basis.

Two key words -- LISTENER SUPPORTED - define the common theme amongst most college radio stations.  In effect, it means that the stations depend upon donations and underwriting from local businesses to stay afloat and to keep programing fresh and original.   Commercial sponsorship, the theory goes, dictates that college stations be forced into more mainstream play lists and less room for the indie bands.

Can this be changed? Of course it can.  We have to stop thinking of independent music as "local" and realize music is a global form of communication.  Why can't a band that has saturated it's popularity in Grand Rapids, MI for instance, find popularity  in Bakersfield, CA or Ithaca, NY?  In the past it was because mainstream FM radio has been too restrictive to play good, independent music and local stations could not generate  an audience that went beyond it's local borders.

I say, if you don't like the rules, then change them.  You can tune in to SonicJive Radio when it launches from any single spot in the world where you have a computer and an internet connection. Internet radio, is in fact, borderless - open to listeners from anywhere who want to tune in to good programing and better music.  Do you really want to subject yourself to a lifetime of pre-programmed music or as I call it death by rotation and clocked programing (news and traffic every fifteen minutes, commercials every ten minutes, endless plugs and less and less music, with singles and select cuts placed into heavy, monotonous rotation)?

I am betting that is exactly what you don't want and in another case of history repeating itself, FM Radio is becoming exactly what AM Radio was in the days leading up to its virtual death.

You see, college radio has the right idea.  SonicJive Radio wants to expound on that globally.  I praise college radio for defining the outline with which SonicJive Radio will be programed.  You are all welcome to listen and here's hoping you will.  Change is refreshing.  Change is good. See you when we launch the radio player on September 8th, and here's hoping you will tune in to our radio revolution.

Musically Yours,

Mike 

 

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DATE: 28 Jul 2008, 4:34 pm / MOOD: Let's Get It Started

Not THE BIG ANNOUNCEMENT as promised, but some exciting things for members of SonicJive. com

We are almost at 2,000 members. The first 2,000 members will be given a portion of ownership of SonicJive - I will have details forthcoming. In the meantime, I am setting up two opportunities to meet members of the SonicJive staff and for you to meet fellow members.



[1] September 7th, I am having a PIG ROAST and BBQ at my bar in Chicago Ridge, IL - this is a charity fundraiser for the annual Toys For Tots Motorcycle Run in Chicago - we have two bands playing, Wicked Liquid and The Southside Rockin' Blues Band. Donation is $15 in advance and $20 at the door and includes ALL-U-CAN-EAT. We will have raffles including Split The Pot and a silent auction, then at 7:15 PM the Bears season kicks off with a game against the Indianapolis Colts and FOR THE ENTIRE GAME we will be running a $10 ALL-U-CAN-DRINK special. This is going to be a GREAT DAY - hope you can make it.
You can RSVP by calling me 224-612-0980 or purchase advance tickets at www. sonicjive. com/mikecanter through PayPal.

The address for the bar is

Lot 4 Bar & Grill
10139 S Harlem
Chicago Ridge, IL 60415

[2] We are planning a FLORIDA EXCURSION. I have procured wicked cheap rates for a weekend meet & greet at the Floridays Resort in Orlando, FL. Spend the weekend lounging poolside while we broadcast live and feature interviews with SonicJive members. We will do a group outing to Disney World and a night of fine dining and dancing in Orlando. Southwest Airlines will make discount fares available and the rooms for the weekend will be dirt cheap. Again we will be giving away some cool SonicJive merchandise and promoting the HECK out of our bands. I am hoping to do this the first weekend of November - right after the World Series ends. For more information please contact me at the above number or e-mail me at mikecanter@sonicjive.com. This is cool stuff and I LOVE meeting and hanging out with SonicJive members!

Mike

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DATE: 26 Jul 2008, 1:03 pm / MOOD: What Would You Say?

Please check out my profile - I've incorporated the colors that will make up the next release of SonicJive - gunmetal blue, emerald green, orange and black - PRETTY COOL!

Also - NEW MUSIC!!!!  Featured for August 2008 are the following:

FEATURED ARTISTS August 2008

1. Carmen & Camille - I Will Never
2. Arek Religa - Beyond Horizon
3. The Girls - Barely Know Your Name
4. Plank - So Wicked
5. Sally-Ann D'Amato - Wicked
6. Five Star Iris - Let It All Out
7. Aisha Raine - D.O.G.

SONICJIVE NEW MEMBER FEATURED PROFILE: The Outer Vibe

I also added some PERSONAL PICTURES and a totally rad spinning acrobat picture cube that anyone can create by hitting up my good friends at www.picturetrail.com.

Please check it out and tell me what you think....I love input, good or bad!  And hey, here's hoping you all have a great, GREAT weekend!  I am personally going to see Dark Star Orchestra tonight and I am ABSOLUTELY JACKED UP!!

Hugs & Stuff,

Mike

 

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DATE: 16 Jul 2008, 3:28 pm / MOOD: Other

There is a new band on the website I think you might enjoy and they left a message in a Bulletin that I felt like sharing with EVERYBODY!

 

www.SonicJive.com/plank63

 

Hello SonicJive people! Just wanted to give a shout out as we're new here and learning our way around. Take a listen to our music and let us know what you think.   PLANK

 

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DATE: 12 Jul 2008, 8:14 pm / MOOD: Walking On Sunshine


This credit card-sized ZEN has a stunning 2.5" color screen and is perfect for music, videos and photos. Enjoy up to 8,000 MP3¹, WMA or AAC songs, watch up to 120 hours² of videos and share hundreds of photos with your friends. Even expand your portable music, video or photo collection by adding additional content through the convenient SD memory slot. Player is available in 2GB, 4GB, 8GB, 16GB and 32GB capacities.

Credit card-sized media player with 16.7 million color support
View your album art, videos and photos on this 2.5" razor sharp TFT display. Your favorite photos will burst to life in 16.7 million colors on the fresh new ZEN patented user interface. Plus, the TFT display works under sunlight and allows everyone to watch your home videos and vacation slideshows from any angle!

Multimedia player
ZEN is the first Creative player to support unprotected AAC format, so you can enjoy up to 8,000¹ of your favorite CD tracks that you've ripped through iTunes software. ZEN also supports iTunes Plus tracks from the iTunes store, in addition to MP3 and WMA music tracks. It is also compatible with music subscription services such as Napster To Go and Rhapsody.

ZEN supports audio books from Audible.com too! Download your favorite books to keep everyone entertained on long road trips or download daily news reports every morning and listen to the news during your morning commute.

Watch purchased or rented movies and TV shows from online services like Amazon Unbox and WalMart.com. Share home videos. Or load your Tivo To Go recorded movies and TV shows.

Plus, share your collections of latest photos in 16.7 million colors. Instantly turn your slideshows into attention-grabbing multimedia extravaganzas by adding your favorite song to the slideshow!

Expandable Memory
Need more space? Add additional storage capacity with the built in SD slot³ and easily play new music, videos or photos on your player. With SD cards to go, carry virtually unlimited amounts of your digital library anywhere you go.

FM Radio
In between your tunes, use the built-in FM radio to keep yourself up to date with world events, sports scores or traffic reports. Even, listen to the program airing on the gym's TV when running on the treadmill.

Battery Life⁴
Enjoy up to 30 hours of your songs or 5 hours of video on a single charge. That's over a full day of music! Or 10 episodes of Scrubs!

Accessories
ZEN also has optional accessories available to fit your lifestyle. The stylish leather case doubles as a stand so you can watch your TV shows on short commuter flights. The skin with wire management keeps your earphones in place when they are not in use. The clear case with keychain lets you keep your tunes close and comes with a built in stand to watch videos when you need to kill time. The heavy duty armband looks cool on your arm and protects your ZEN at all times. The silicone skin pack with clips is perfect for anyone who wants to show off their style. The must have screen protector keeps your screen scratch free! You may also consider moving up to one of Creative's premium sets of Aurvana headphones or earphones

Which ZEN player is right for you?
Compare them all to narrow in on the Creative ZEN player that best suits your needs. Also see the ZEN Vision W - starting at $299.99.

Protect Your Investment ZEN MP3 player products include 1-year parts and 90 day labor warranties. By purchasing a Creative Care Protection Plan within the first 90 days of ownership, you can protect your investment by extending the hardware coverage of your product to 2 years from your original purchase date.

Notes:
¹Based on 4 minutes per song at 128kbps MP3 encoding.
²Video claim based on WMV 9 video encoded at 500 kbps. 60 hours of video = 16GB
³The SD slot supports MiniSD, MicroSD, SD and SDHC. Compatibility may vary by brand.
⁴Actual battery life will vary with use.


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DATE: 04 Jul 2008, 11:54 pm / MOOD: Almost Famous

This is Part I, I will post Part II tomorrow and Part III on Monday. I would really like your input if that is not asking too much.



Social Networking being what it is, where does SonicJive fit in?

It's pretty funny, actually, yesterday someone called my site a MySpace clone. I guess in the networking aspect, there are a number of similarities. But SonicJive is a niche utility - a networking site with an emphasis on indie music. The goal is to provide revenue streams for indie and unsigned bands using a non-traditional platform where bands are not required to strictly sell music to make money.


Why cater to indie and unsigned bands when more mainstream artists will bring greater traffic to your site?

Well, that's part of where we fit in. Let's face it, those artists do not need another source of promotion and marketing. I think there are enough independent musicians and fans of their music to create a significant buzz with SonicJive. I truly believe that once I efficiently promote my website many of those people will see us an alternate source to effectively market their music and manage their fan base.


How do you envision that SonicJive will create revenue for independent artists?

Personally, I think that music as a business is probably the toughest career choice one can make. When you combine increased competition, limited opportunity in a recessed economy, and a conglomerate of record labels that control 95% of radio airplay you are looking at a pretty tough haul. Bands make money by gigging and CD sales. We want to pay these artists for listens, whether through SonicJive Radio or by hits to their profile pages.


You are going to pay royalties?

That is one avenue we are exploring and some others as well. The point is that the music is being played and listened to and only those artists with a major label affiliation are seeing revenues.


Creative people of all types all come back to one legal touchstone and that is copyright law. It is often sited in all kinds of cases involving literature, film, publishing and certainly in music. Within the music industry, the ability of copyright to protect an artist’s work has come under new challenges in the last ten years. The rise of peer-to-peer file sharing, online music downloading and other internet related ways that music gets passed around has presented some real challenges to musicians to collect what is due them as owners of music under copyright.


How will you track plays?

With SonicJive Radio, we are going to affiliate with Live365. com by the end of summer so they will track that for us. It is simple to track listens on member profile pages.


Why doesn't MySpace or Facebook pay royalties?

The issue is as much one of enforcement as it is whether the rights are there or not. This is a judgment call to be made by the songwriter, the publishing house and the legal representation of all involved. Sometimes seeing your creative material used has such a positive marketing value that to start a legal battle for the monetary rights could hurt your music career as much as it might help you. This is how MySpace Music thrives and the exact reason why several copyright infringement suits have been dropped.

How do you sue MySpace when a MySpace profile is seeing more activity than an owned website?

These are decisions that musicians and owners of copyright or royalty rights are making every day in the music industry. The debate over the value of fighting for copyright versus allowing small infractions in exchange for the marketing value of your music being heard is one that is held more and more as music sharing has become more common with the spread of internet services.



When do you expect to start paying SonicJive artists?

Phase One will be when we upgrade our radio player to Live365. com - the royalties for artists are built into their fee structure. Phase Two will be when we start generating advertising revenues to pay royalties on profile hits.



You have strictly defined goals but it seems like a lot of work. Facebook was launched with 38 million dollars in venture capital funding yet you are doing this on your own. The odds are overwhelming but you don't feel over matched.


There are times when I feel I am in over my head. Certainly with 38 million dollars I could create something bigger and better than MySpace or Facebook. Instead of a nice office in Silicon Valley, I work out of my house. I lead a normal life. I date regular down-to-earth women. Outside of SonicJive people really don't know who I am and that is perfect for right now. This is a labor of love for me and it is fun and certainly beats any other career choice. Plus, I want to make a real difference.


In order to be doing something like this, you have to really, really like what you're doing, because otherwise it just doesn't make sense. The demands and the amount of work that it takes to put something like [SonicJive] into place, it's crazy. It started as a hobby and now it's a business and I am just looking for legitimacy. I will find my VC funding, but I refuse to exploit or sell out SonicJive musicians, so finding that money may be a little tougher. It absolutely has to be my way, and it absolutely has to be the right way. I am not reinventing social networking. I am simply offering an improved alternative for everyone who wants to join me.

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DATE: 24 Jun 2008, 3:49 pm / MOOD: I Don't Wanna Miss A Thing

Editors Note: This article seriously applies to SonicJive. com as much as to all of the wonderful indie bands and performers

Is there any better feeling than the encore? You leave the stage or play your final song and the crowd is screaming for one more song. Why? You ended your set with a killer song that had the audience begging for more. Way-To-Go.


The principle is not unlike a professional poker player. Avoid the temptation to reveal all of your assets at once. If you opened your set with your three best songs the rest of the show would be nothing but filler. A set list builds to a crescendo finishing with your best efforts, the biggest crowd pleaser.

But you already knew that, right? What do the masters say? Don't give them everything you know - give them everything they know.


Same thing with your CD. Why kick off the CD with all of your best songs, your strongest performances, back-to-back-to-back-to-back? There is nothing wrong with letting the listener discover the strengths of your release.

The most powerful marketing tool was invented by the workforce that comprises the world's oldest profession - the art of the tease.

Show just enough of your assets to leave your audience in a frenzied state of wanting, no needing, more. Ah - mystery! By revealing bits and pieces about you or your band over time you will find the consumers who are "in" and will subsequently seek out more.


I know - it's a fast food, microwaveable world and we want our information immediately if not sooner. Don't believe the hype. There is still thrill in the chase, in the search and in the discovery. Advertising has become a push-pull venture, but consumers don't want to be pushed. Push, as they say, and you will push them away.


A big, bad beast of a brand, Nike, has perfected the art of the tease, learning to hold back in order to increase sex appeal. Put out a limited edition, collector's version of your CD. Make it available on line only, and give out discount coupons that could only be received via e-mail. Collect the e-mail addresses at your shows. Tease them with a song or two during your performance.


Now what have you done:

[1] You have succeeded in the art of the tease
[2] You have built a catalog of very valuable e-mail addresses
[3] You have offered a one-time-only offer and
[4] You have provided an incentive to attend your shows
[5] You are now building a fan base

See You Tomorrow For Article IX - Outhink Your Competition.
If you would like to read previous articles in this series, join SonicJive. com - it's FREE! - and go to the members articles section to catch up. No charge, and thank you for your time.



Mike

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DATE: 16 Jun 2008, 2:58 pm / MOOD: Almost Famous

Happy Monday - in my continuing series of blogs and bulletins I offfer you the fifth in the series - The SonicJive Manifesto

Article V - Let Go: Give Up Control

BUZZWORD: FREE MEDIA

Consumers - the people who buy your music and attend your shows - are in control. End of debate. Smart bands recognize this and embrace it rather than fight this powerful truth.
A long time ago (the 1990's) there was a one way process by which bands delivered music to their fans - radio. Now I know you will say your CD, however, not very many people will pull fifteen bucks out of their pocket for a CD of music which they have never heard.

 

Then websites became popular as the internet changed course, moving from a strictly informational resource to a marketing and networking resource. This allowed the consumers - again, the people who buy your music and attend your shows - to become active participants rather than strictly recipients, creating a two-way relationship between the marketer (bands, musicians, et al) and the consumers.

The once unspoken contract that radio provided between the musician and the listener has been re-written by the listener. The listener has control. You would be wise to listen to those voices as consumers now have 100% functionality to enjoy your music, endure your music or simply tune out.

So let me give you some ideas if I can pull on your ear for a few minutes more. I love stuff and this is good stuff.

* Crafty bands are using home computers and cheap software to create banner ads that rival those created by big agencies and posting them on social networking sites like MySpace, SonicJive.com and You Tube. Did you know that as a musician, you can place a rotating banner ad on SonicJive.com for about $1 per day?

* There are tens of millions of blogs on the internet and the number is growing daily. Check out SonicBytes at Blogspot.com and you will see I write CD Reviews. I also post them on MySpace, SonicJive.com, amazon.com and CD Baby. All you have to do to get a CD Review written is send me a request.

* Podcasting and internet radio stations like SonicJive Radio where anybody can create audio content on and for MP3 players when they want to (make it or listen to it or watch it), is changing the role of traditional media as the gatekeepers to consumers. SonicJive will pay you per listen - so when someone goes to your profile page on SonicJive.com and listens to your music - you will be earning money starting this fall. Imagine that.

* Other social networking sites such as SonicJive.com, Xanga, MySpace, Bebo and FaceBook are attracting huge numbers of young users. MySpace is of course a behemoth, wholly gotten to the point where 12% of all Internet Users log on, due to fabulous, time-released PR. Your band should be members on ALL of these sites - because the more faces that see your profiles, the more opportunities you create to attract loyal, controlling listeners.

Good Day all,
Michael

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DATE: 15 Jun 2008, 10:10 am / MOOD: Captain Fantastic

Musicians Bill of Rights - A SonicJive.com Manifesto

Article IV - Be Not A Pimp When It Comes To Selling Your Music

BUZZWORD: LEVELING THE PLAYING FIELD

pander - (pan·der) - a person who caters to or profits from the weaknesses or vices of others.

Customers are important but they are not necessarily right.
Let's face it, you are in music first and foremost because you love music. But, you would love to make a living at it - or at least some money would be nice. And it is important to establish a market for your music and to create value by remaining steadfast in what your music is worth.

A customer won't readily admit it, but the good news about remaining resolute is that your customer will respect you. Respect from those who buy your music is tough to get. Here is a principle that companies who rely on consumers cling to when marketing their brands, services and ideas: Customers like to be told what to do. They're actually submissive and want you to take charge, corner them, stand proud, thump your chest and say, "This is me and this is what I have to offer!"

What they do not like is being asked what they want (and I know the consumer part of your personality is going to want to argue this with me but hold on for just a sec), because the consumer doesn't really know. Henry Ford - yeah that guy who invented the automobile - said it a long time ago and it still holds true today - "If I had asked my customers what they wanted they would have told me 'a faster horse!' "

That being said, consumers do like to make choices. However that is different from becoming desperate to please everyone. While I think it is important to get your music heard and in some cases that may mean offering a free download for a very limited time as an incentive, never, ever, EVER discount your product. Take the automobile manufacturers for instance. What's with all of these incessant price promotions, incentives and cash-back offers that are all the rage?

Distress marketing makes the consumer feel that there is something wrong or that you are trying to peddle something so cheaply that likely no one wants it. Be not a pimp when it comes to your music - creating a market means researching what a customer is willing to pay for music (usually 99-cents per download and anywhere from $10.99 - $15.99 for a CD) and then sticking to it. This creates value. Customers will respect you for being unwavering.

You are in this business for the love of music and that needs to be reflected in your marketing strategy. I urge you to read this article by Stephen Monroe about separating the love of music from the love of money.

Lastly, remember there is more to marketing than just MySpace, SonicJive and the myriad of other social networks. To get your music heard and bought, you need to get to know your consumer on a personal level - but that will be outlined in better detail when we get to Article IX - Outthinking Your Competition.

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