What’s the first thing I see on my phone in the music news section this morning? A report that an audit conducted on Universal Music Group showed that the label owes rapper Eminem’s production company approximately $3.8 million. That’s not a small number, even for Eminem. First of all, how dare UMG disrespect Eminem like that! But secondly, why do things like this happen so often in our industry?
These types of stories get repetitive, and are all but discouraging for artists trying to make it out there. I’d rather turn on my phone or open my laptop and see something else, for a change. Now that I think about it…..I can do that. It’s a free country, and some of the best apps on my phone are the ones that integrate music/entertainment into my daily life. If you’re as tired as I am, and want to do something else on your phone besides read depressing industry news, here’s a few apps that may solve the problem.
AudioTool – Online Music Production
Can you imagine having a complete music production studio….online….for free? I couldn’t either, until AudioTool. The App provides the basics to layer and arrange complex beats. More importantly, this app is free. Do I really need to say more?
OneSheet – Marketing and Promotions
The onesheet is essential to any music marketing strategy. The great thing about this web app is that it creates a digital interactive onesheet which integrates pre-written content and social media to engage distributors and fans alike. Linking to sites like YouTube, Twitter, FourSquare allows for custom one sheets to stay up to date, keeping the fans informed. With onesheet.com, artists don’t have to wait around for labels to get around to filling in the blanks on their standard one sheet but can step their game up on their own.
TonePedia – A Guitar Tool for Musicians
Have you ever wondered what different guitars and gear combinations sound like? Well so did the folks at TonePedia, until they did something about it. TonePedia is the Guitar-man’s nirvana. They maintain an audio database of different guitars and their sounds as well as linking to some of the best blogs on the Internet for Guitar lovers. They’re on top of their stuff, and are waiting for you to join as we speak.
I’ll let you guys be the judge of this one. But I will say, I downloaded it, and I wasn’t disappointed. Here’s what some other people had to say about the app:
“It’s completely awesome. And kind of surreal.” – MacStories
“Critics are describing it as an iPhone app, within an iPhone app, within an iPhone app.” – Ryan Schwartz, TWITTER
“I’m completely blown away.” – NolanFans.com, Alex Haas
“It’s like legal drugs with no side effects.” – Pharrell Williams
“We just don’t know if there are any side effects yet.” – Michael Breidenbrücker
AirCasette
Sometimes you just feel a little nostalgia for technologies passed. Fortunately for you, there’s an app for that.
