DRIP.FM, Fool’s Gold Records and the membership-based music model

18 May

I received an email from Fool’s Gold Records the other day that contained something very interesting… a link to join their brand-spanking new membership-based music service. Hosted on DRIP.FM, The Goldmine is exactly that. A $10 monthly subscription gets you the following (I’ve highlighted the perks I think are the best):

- EVERY Fool’s Gold release the moment it is released

- Early access to select tracks

- Exclusive GOLDMINE tracks: remixes, DJ sets, accapellas / remix stems and more

- Highlights from the Fool’s Gold back catalog

- All files available for stream or high quality 320 mp3 and WAV download

- Access your digital crate from any computer at any time

- All members receive a code for 15% off any order from the FG webstore, plus additional special discounts throughout the year

- Membership card with exclusive perks, including priority access to select events and more

In my opinion this is a great deal for any fan of the Fool’s Gold team, which includes purveyors of cool such as A-Trak, Kavinsky, Danny Brown, LA Riots and Kid Cudi. It’s even more of a screaming deal if you are a DJ that spins tracks from the Fool’s Gold stable, as the Dropbox-like digital crate gives you access to all your tunes wherever the Internet lurks.

From a fan’s viewpoint, The Goldmine is pretty cool and reasonably priced. From a business viewpoint, I think this a great way for independent labels to monetize their music in an innovative way (side note: why do they even sell CDs anymore?) Companies have loved the subscription/membership model forever, just ask any gym owner, newspaper baron or XXX webmaster. It gives Fool’s Gold an invested and dedicated audience and rewards the user by giving them exclusive perks they can’t get anywhere else. As long as they keep the new content rolling, it seems like a win-win to me and I expect other indie labels to experiment with this business model in the coming months.

And if you join now, you’ll be one of the first to have the new A-Trak x Dillon Francis track that drops next week…

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The Ultimate Guide to Facebook Timeline for Pages

17 May

As you all know, Facebook’s Timeline has taken over your artist page. While some love the new features while other’s pine for the old layout one thing is for certain… like it or not, Timeline is here to stay. Are you ready?

Facebook is still the top Social Media dog and any artist needs to use Facebook effectively in order to promote and connect. Luckily for you, we’ve found the Ultimate Guide to Facebook Timeline for Pages courtesy Jon Loomer. Check out the in-depth guide below and help take your Facebook Timeline to the next level!

The Ultimate Guide to Facebook Timeline for Pages

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Euneverse spreading the LOVE

10 May

I bet you’ve never seen a choir perform quite like this!

Props to our man Euneverse, who co-wrote (and rocked the mic) on this unique piece.

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2 Legit To Quit… Making Mashups

25 Apr

For the past 10 years, mashups have been the outlaws of the established music industry. By combining two or more previously recorded songs into an entirely new song, something new is created but often nobody gets paid for it. The original artists don’t get money for the sample and the producer of the mashup most likely gives the song away for free, so not to get sued. And while giving away your music for free is a great way to expand your fan base, there comes a time in every artists life when they need some money to show for their creative efforts. Enter Legitmix.

According to their site:

Legitmix is dedicated to building virtual bridges between those who create using other people’s music, the artists they remix and music fans – in a way that promotes, liberates and profits both remixers and copyright holders. More than an innovative technology, an online store, a music community – Legitmix is framework for the reuse of music.

No longer does a classic like Danger Mouse’s “Grey Album” get relegated to bootleg status. Legitmix allows users to download all the pieces that make up a mashup and once they have the source material the reassembled mashup can be downloaded. Everybody wins. The original writers are credited and compensated for their creativity and so is the remixer, plus nobody downloads any illegal files. With an easy to use interface and a myriad of options, it’s a great tool. Just ask the Galactic Scoundrels.

While still in its early stages, it has support from the likes of Diplo, The Hood Internet, El-P and Fool’s Gold Records and has recently taken the bubble wrap off its beta testing. If you love to work with samples when creating your music this site is going to become an incredible weapon in your arsenal.

Now go get remixing and don’t even worry about clearing the samples… as long as you sell the track through Legitmix!

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Think Differently like Hoodie Allen

24 Apr

A couple weeks ago, Hoodie Allen bust through into the public consciousness like the Kool-Aid man when his debut album All American launched at #1 on the US iTunes store, an impressive feat for an established artist but remarkable for an unsigned rapper who does all his own Social Media marketing. Let’s take a look at how he did it (trust me, it wasn’t by playing follow the leader).

  • He sold his album for the right price

$4.99 for an 8 song album. Perfect. A MP3 is just not worth 99 cents. Never has been (which is why people still download illegally). An album delivered purely in MP3 form has no manufacturing costs, no shipping costs and no costs associated with operating and staffing a retail store in order to sell the song. Once mastered it is instantly deliverable. Shouldn’t price reflect that? Hoodie knows that the lower price point will increase legitimate downloads. Great strategy. Same as when a store has a door crasher sale to get you inside.

  • He is a king of Social Media

The dude replies to all of his fans. Whether on Facebook, Twitter or Tumblr, Hoodie makes a huge effort to connect and converse with all of his fans in a transparent and real way. You think some record company dickwad taught him to do that? Heck no. That comes from Hoodie himself knowing that real connections have lasting effect on people. He reaches out to his fans, they remember that and become screaming advocates for the #HoodieMob.

  • He put in real work

Hoodie has been hustling for a couple years, dropping free mixtapes like they were sacks of potatoes. He toured campuses and parties, did interviews, wrote song after song after song, hustled more on the social web and kept his eye on the prize. If you have a sound strategy and you work hard, you’ll be hard to stop. The guy quit his job at Google (recognized worldwide as one of the great places to work) so he could go after his dream and he did everything in his power to get there. The universe rewards people that work like that.

All in all, Hoodie’s rise is an All-American success story, an example of what can be achieved through thinking differently, working hard and following your dreams. He has the right attitude and now his success speaks for itself. Look at Hoodie’s example when you are planning the next steps in your career. How can you think differently?

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Sharing your Story with Storify

10 Apr

Every great artist has a story… don’t you? It can be easy to get caught up networking/marketing yourself on Facebook, Twitter, Soundcloud, YouTube, and whatever new site is so hot right now (not MANteresting) that you forget to reflect and re-tell YOUR story.

Storify allows you to easily catalog various Tweets, public Facebook posts, Soundcloud tracks, YouTube videos, Instagram and Flikr snaps and more. You set the order, add your content and hen voila… publish that bad boy and you’ve got an easy to read, hyperlinked to shit, digital story that can help you attract and educate new fans, inform old ones or just be a creative and interactive way to spread your message online. Check it out and play around…

Read the Galactic Scoundrels Storify that chronicles a couple weeks among their Twittersphere.

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Sega Genesis Moonwalker + Galactic Scoundrels “Ante Bad”

8 Apr

 

Not only have the Scoundrels combined M.O.P.’s hardcore anthem “Ante Up” with the Michael Jackson classic “Bad” but now they’ve gone and added one of the wackiest video games of all-time, the Sega Genesis version of Moonwalker!! Wait til about the 50 second mark… that’s when it starts to get really real. Best 16 bit choreography ever.

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Rolling In The Deep For A Night & A Day

7 Apr

 

Have you heard the Galactic Scoundrels remix of Adele’s smash “Rolling In The Deep”? Well, now you can watch it on YouTube!

With samples from John Legend, Mike Posner and Scoundrel favourites Pepe Deluxé, this track had been getting lots of buzz. Now it’s on the YouTubes for all to enjoy.

Download the song for FREE here.

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A (small) Social Media success story…

17 Mar

By this point in Human history, we’ve generally figured out that the Internet is a pretty awesome thing that has drastically changed human interaction and the sharing of knowledge. As an independent artist, the Internet has to be one of your best friends. And while you can pimp out a flashy website, tweet your song to hundreds of radio stations, blogs and music suits and upload every street corner performance to YouTube, it can be frustrating when you do lots of work and see little tangible gain. But think about this…

The Galactic Scoundrels released their latest remix tape on March 7th. Three days later they woke up this on YouTube…

 

A new fan had heard their Blur x The Kills “Song 2 F.E.V.E.R.” mashup on their Tumblr page and took it upon herself to take a crack at her first video mashup, thereby creating a sweat little music video for one the best received songs on the Scoundrels tape. They now had a video that they could share with people that prefer YouTube to say Mixcloud, last.fm or Soundcloud. It was visually appealing, captured their vibe and completely free. Everybody wins.

These little victories show that you can’t be afraid to put your music out there… you never know if your next collaboration or fan inspired project will come from Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Soundcloud, Tumblr or the open mic night at your local coffee shop.

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FREE MIXTAPE: We Have Come To Remix Your Planet 2 by Galactic Scoundrels

9 Mar

We Have Come To Remix Your Planet 2 cover art

[CLICK ALBUM COVER TO DOWNLOAD MIXTAPE]

Theyyyyy’re baaaaaaaaaack! The Galactic Scoundrels have returned with another remixtape and it’s a real banger. Just like the last one, this baby is all remixes and mashups and is pretty much guaranteed to kick start any party.

Make sure you follow the Galactic Scoundrels on Soundcloud because 4 of the tracks on this remixtape are Scoundrels original mixes and they’ll be making them available for free download over the next few weeks.

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