Altavoz Distribution
Alex, Sales Chief
I’m a S.I.N.ner
It’s okay to sin (in some cases), and in this case, it was okay to S.I.N all over the 9:30 Club. What I’m referring to is the “Strength In Numbers” national tour that was in Washington, D.C. this past Tuesday night. The tour features an excellent line-up of great bands, each bringing their own flavor to the mix.
Strength In Numbers Tour
What brought me to this show (besides the great music) was Sparks The Rescue frontman Alex, who I met when the band was playing on The Noise Tour with There For Tomorrow, Mayday Parade, and others. I took a liking to Sparks The Rescue, and decided to visit them again at the 9:30 Club. Also on the S.I.N Tour is headliner DRUGS (Destroy Rebuild Until God Shows), Hit The Lights, and Like Moths To Flames.
I arrived at the 9:30 Club right as the doors opened giving me time to talk with Alex in an indoor voice, no screaming over blaring rock music. We had a drink at the bar and a chat about Sparks The Rescue and the music industry. Then I joined the band in their dressing room and met the rest of the gang. They are a great group of gentlemen who like to make great music, and encourage all types of shenanigans and good times, which I am always game to join.
Sparks The Rescue on The SIN Tour
When their set was about to start, I headed down in front of the stage to get the full Sparks The Rescue experience. They are normally a bit more pop-oriented, but for this tour, they are performing a more varied selection of songs. I definitely applaud their choice to play the heavier songs, based on my own personal preference, and think it fits in better with what the concertgoers want. BRAVO Sparks The Rescue! You get better every time I see you!!
DRUGS on the SIN Tour
The other band I watched was DRUGS. I have seen Nick Martin, Matt Good, and Craig Owens perform many times in different bands throughout my life, and to see them all in one band was a treat. Heck, I’ll even admit that they were a part of the inspiration for my decision to pursue a career in the music industry. Even though I was bummed that Craig and Chiodos parted ways, DRUGS sure makes up for any disappointment I might have felt.
For fans ….make sure you get tickets and plan your trip to catch one of the dates on the S.I.N Tour, because this is one hell of a show, get there when the doors open so you can experience music from some great bands.
Here is the list of tour dates:
SIN Tour Schedule
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Who is the next American Factor Singer with The Voice?
American Idol
There are so many shows on TV that aim to discover who the next musical superstar is. Each show has its own twists and fun aspects for the viewers, and also things that can be quite frustrating. I don’t know which one to spend my time watching, so I did a little research. Let’s step back and talk a little history about these shows.
American Idol was an American spinoff version of Pop Idol (based in Britain), and held the original and adored judges Paula Abdul, Randy Jackson, and Simon Cowell for 8 seasons. American Idol has consistently been at the top of the charts ever since coming to the USA. American Idol only allows individuals to participate.
The X Factor started late 2011, and has former American Idol judges Simon Cowell and Paula Abdul along with L.A. Reid and Nicole Scherzinger from the Pussycat Dolls. X Factor splits the contestants up according to Boys, Girls, Over 30, and Groups, and assigns each group to a specific judge. The judge is supposed to coach them to the best of their ability, and provide them with guidance.
The Sing-Off, started in late 2009, is the most different in my opinion. A Cappella groups compete against one another (usually made up of six or more members), and use their voices to create music and sing for their performances. This leaves a lot of room for creativity, and makes things interesting. The current judges are Ben Folds, Shawn Stockman (from Boyz II Men), and Sara Bareilles (she replaced Nicole Scherzinger). Nick Lachey (from 98 Degrees) is the host.
The Voice debuted in the US in April 2011, and boasts celebrity recording artist judges and host Carson Daly. The judges are Adam Levine (Maroon 5 frontman), Cee Lo Green, Christine Aguilara, and Blake Shelton. The Voice is similar to the X Factor in that each judge has their own team of contestants (only individual contestants), but they pick their own contestants which they cannot see before they make their choice. If more than one judge elects to adopt a contestant to their team, they spin their chairs around to see whom they have picked, then the contestant gets to choose which judge they want to go with as their coach.
My Opinion:
I consistently watched American Idol, but lost interest when Simon and Paula left. I am now a big fan of The X Factor. They changed up the rules, and jazzed up the stage and show a little bit. I am also a Simon supporter. I enjoy his witty comments and reviews, and agree with his decisions 90% of the time. One thing I really despise about X Factor….is the host. I don’t know what grinds my gears more, when Rage Against the Machine broke up, or this guy! Did they pick him just for the fact that he has an accent? He doesn’t connect with the judges (I don’t know if they like him either), he is annoying, and does a horrid job. After reading about The Voice, I am inclined to follow the next season.
Let me know what you think — which is your favorite?
Related articles
- Melanie Amaro wins ‘The X Factor’ (ctv.ca)
- Simon’s Magic at American Idol (Then) and X-Factor USA (Now) (archutopia.wordpress.com)
- Simon Cowell: Next X Factor Will Be a Bloodbath (people.com)
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STOP SOPA: The Real Truth
I recently came across a video that uncovers some vital information regarding SOPA (Stop Online Piracy Act). I haven’t seen the research he says he’s compiled, but Michael Mozart makes a very good case in his YouTube video. He says the same companies and people who are pushing for SOPA to pass made the software (tools) to pirate intellectual property available to people like you and me. Why would they do that? The video below considers this question and more. Please take the time to watch, because the outcome of SOPA could deeply affect you!
Related articles
- How SOPA Would Kill Art & Creativity Online (readwriteweb.com)
- Go Daddy’s SOPA Entanglement (zdnet.com)
- Namecheap.com: We say no to SOPA (community.namecheap.com)
- The Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) Delayed into 2012 (securityorb.com)
- Go Daddy withdraws SOPA support (ubergizmo.com)
- Hearings on Controversial Internet-Regulating SOPA Delayed to 2012 [Video] (kotaku.com)
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Bands and Beer (maybe a shot too)
I talk to many labels and bands as a part of my job. These conversations opened my eyes to a number of interesting trends, particularly around distribution. One that I find particularly strange is that even as many bands and artists have trouble making ends meet, they stubbornly refuse to put their music where fans are looking and ready to make a purchase. To that end, streaming is a good way to help get you noticed… but it is not a way to make a living. In 2012, the industry players will have to deal with this as many labels, bands and artists are taking matters into their own hands.
Here are some of my top distribution trends and issues to be on the lookout for in 2012:
Show at The Dunes in Columbia Heights
Let’s Not Get Physical
I am always surprised when distribution is an afterthought, if it even gets that much attention. Often a up and coming band or artist will tell me they have distribution — they are on iTunes and sell from their own website. Even the more well-known bands I talk to haven’t considered physical distribution as a significant way to add to their digital sales revenue, and increase exposure to some influential music industry people (record store owners). When I mention physical music, the labels and bands I’m talking to say what everybody else says…”people still buy CDs?”. When I tell them yes, AND vinyl records, they get psyched. Labels and bands don’t believe in physical because the media tells them not to. Heck, until I saw the actual sales numbers, I hardly believed it. The reality is that no band or artist can be successful without a strategy for digital AND physical distribution. They MUST use BOTH of these mediums (and more) to penetrate through the clutter and be where fans are seeking to buy music.
Streaming is Dead, Long Live Streaming
Another thing I hear over and over again – bands and artists HATE streaming services. Yeah, I said it! They don’t get anything from it, and they aren’t shy to talk smack about it. Interestingly, there was an article in Spin recently about the Black Keys’ “diplomatic” statement on why they do not like or plan to use streaming services. They feel like they are not yet able to “replace royalties from record sales with the royalties from streams, particularly for a band that “makes a living selling music.” Hmmm, well said. I’d say that is a key revenue component labels, bands and artists are going to need to consider in 2012.
Let the Digital Dust Settle
Digital – streaming and downloads – is on the upswing, and cannot be ignored. The issue is going to be how the deals between labels and bands can be made more fair so band and artists recognize more of their revenue from streaming – but also the streaming services and the differences between free and paid subscription needs to be reviewed and changed to better compensate the artists. The dust has not settled on having a solid and fair digital streaming service. To make this point, last month U.K. music distributor STHoldings pulled more than 200 indie labels off of Spotify, Rdio, and other streaming services, complaining about the services “cannibalizing” their digital sales, according to the Spin article from above. While the debate doesn’t appear likely to be resolved anytime soon, clearly a band’s got to have both digital downloads and physical sales to bring in those royalties and make that living.
So HEY YOU! BAND! LABEL! Whoever is reading this, if you have a following somewhere in the world, I’ve got news for you. Physical accounts for the majority of recorded music revenue; let Altavoz put your music in stores and also make it available digitally. We’re a full service direct distributor. We do it all. My number is: 301.95MUSIC and my twitter account is @followmealexg - I’ll text or talk to you all day about it, or anything music industry for that matter.
I’ll be back to scouting bands in the DMV area after the holidays. Let me know if you are playing and I will make an appearance. Maybe even buy you a beer or two if your music is extra awesome.
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Music Business and some SOCO. Take a Swig.
Washington, DC
For young people who want a job in the music biz, the industry can seem like a big, bad, scary place. But it doesn’t have to be. I knew from the moment I entered college that I would somehow be involved with music and the industry. Once I made it, I had a lot to learn. My philosophy on learning fast: get thrown into the lion’s den. It works.
Since arriving in our nation’s capital to work for Altavoz Distribution, I have spent time in the den and learned a lot about the music industry. To help you newbies, I am going to share some things I learned while taming and making friends with those lions….I call it “SOCO”, and I don’t mean the drink. You want to be successful? You need to SOCO. Trust me.
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Boogie with the Bad Rabbits
Last night I had the pleasure of attending a FREE Bad Rabbits concert at the Renaissance Arlington Capital View Hotel. This was my first time seeing them live (I missed them on the Warped Tour over the summer), and my expectations were exceeded. Let me rewind and paint a picture for you. As my friend and I walked up to the front of the hotel, we walked by a yellow Aston Martin sports car, and saw a glimpse of the stunning decor of the lobby from the outside. Needless to say we were even more taken back after walking in and felt a bit underdressed for the occasion. After watching the Bad Rabbits on YouTube, I had expected a different crowd to attend, and I was wondering what kind of reaction they were going to get in such an upscale hotel.
Band Success Tip: The College Market
If you are a semi-established band or artist, have some money in your pocket, are looking to expand your fan base, and make music that appeals to college kids, then why don’t you go to them, rather than trying to get them to come to you? As part of the music business major at Ferris State University, I worked with everyone from celebrity bands to local acts to newcomers. In each of these bookings, the bands followed a tried and true process to get noticed and eventually booked. You want to know the secret? Read on….
A Revolution Against A Revolution
Image via Wikipedia
The digital shift, the digital revolution, the digital age, call it what you will, has revolutionized the music industry game for everybody in the business. It has been 10 plus years since the piracy debauchery of Napster. Post illegal Napster, digital has evolved into popular (and now legal) online music services. The majority of fans, music entities, and artists have jumped on the digital train to make artist content more available to the world. This indeed is the right thing to do, but relying solely on digital sales may restrict your ability to grow. I believe the next big trend will be that people are going to rebel (as shown by statistical evidence of rising physical album sales compared to previous years) against the digital boom, and will perceive physical music as being more valuable. There are music consumers whose music wants aren’t being met, and Altavoz looks to close in on that gap. We do have a lot of blog posts about digital v. physical, but I ran across a great article that discusses this notion: Let’s Get Physical: Even In The Digital Age, Musicians Shouldn’t Forget About CDs, Vinyl & Tapes. Altavoz takes advantage of this situation by using our expertise and efforts toward encouraging our clients to take heed of our physical distribution options. If you have dedicated fans, and are serious about being a band or artist, then you need to consider physical distribution. Click HERE to find out how to contact Altavoz, and see how we can help you achieve your goals.
Related articles
- Digital Revolution (socyberty.com)
- Barber on the digital revolution (guardian.co.uk)
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Does Improved Digital Vehicle Integration Threaten Radio & CD’s?
Upon reading Study: Digital Car Integration Is “Largest Threat” To Radio & CDs on FMQB, I was curious to how ”threatening” digital car integration would be. The article says that if there is an easier way to connect your phone or personal listening device to your vehicle, then it could make radio and CDs very obsolete. These predictions are based on statistics found by the market research company, The NPD Group. The statistics that suggest this theory, are that out of the people they surveyed, almost two out of three did the majority of music listening in their vehicles. Also, that there was a slight drop in the number of people who listened to music in their car on a CD, or on the radio, and a rise in people who listened to music in their vehicle on a smart device. I think that this is more of a threat to radio than CDs. I buy CDs, and then put them on my iPhone or iPod. If I have an easier time using those listening devices in my car, it still won’t affect the fact that I buy CDs. Thinking beyond the article, an awful lot of people still buy CDs, and unless the automakers stop putting CD players in cars, then I don’t see improved digital vehicle integration being much of a threat. I don’t think that the automakers will remove CD players, because consumers would be outraged! In terms of people choosing Internet radio over the car radio, I think that is a different story.
Internet radio means fewer commercials, and an easier way to connect your portable listening device will probably mean more Internet radio listeners in a car. The only thing that may contradict this is that the major phone service providers do not offer an unlimited data plan anymore, and listening to Internet radio consumes a lot of your data when playing. Unless you drive around with a wireless hotspot in your car, you will have one heck of a phone bill if you constantly use Internet radio through your phone. I do have one thought that would be a step ahead of this article and digital vehicle integration. What if vehicles were a wireless hotspot, and had Internet radio capabilities of their own? If vehicles with those features were in existence, then how do you think that would affect the music industry?
How I Choose My Preferred Music Medium
Everybody has a preference on how they listen to music. Some like it physical and others prefer theirs digital. There is a lot of controversy on which is better, and I have the pleasure of sitting in the middle which gives me a unique perspective that helps decide how to purchase and listen to music. Here are some of the questions that help me determine which is my favorite:
- What medium provides the best sound quality: vinyl, CD, MP3, etc.?
- Where should I buy music to ensure the artists get paid back in the biggest chunk they deserve?
- How can I get the most out of my music purchase?
- Is there a medium that I can listen to in more than one place, or in more than one way?
- Who else besides the artist benefits from my purchase?
- Is free music a good choice?
Ok, now my take on the answers, what’re yours?
1. What medium provides the best sound quality: vinyl, CD, MP3, etc.? I think music should be an analog experience, and vinyl gives you a warm sound that cannot be replicated in any other way. Digital files (like MP3′s) are compressed and take away from the acoustic dynamics of a song. You have a better chance of getting higher sound quality with a vinyl disc or CD.
2. Where should I buy music to ensure the artist gets back the biggest chunk deserved? If bands have even a small loyal following, they will definitely make the most money from the sale of the physical version of their product, as opposed to the downloaded version.
3. How can I get the most out of my music purchase? This question really depends on what product is offered. Sometimes you can get tickets, signed merchandise, and posters along with the music, but the music containing medium offered with those bundles of goodies could be any one of them.
4. Is there a medium that I can listen to in more than one place or in more than one way? Downloading from iTunes, or using a subscription service, allows you to take music with you wherever you go on your personal listening device. But with all of the DRM they use, your device might restrict where you can listen to it. Vinyl is very limiting, you need a record player and it is not mobile. CD’s are probably the most versatile. You can import them to your computer, put them onto your listening devices, or play them in your car, at home, etc. Plus with CDs you are able to manipulate the files, which you can’t do with digital downloads.
5. Who else besides the artist benefits from my purchase? I would rather give my money to a local record store, or directly to the band, rather than the Apple or Amazon corporate giants. The retailers and musicians can use the revenue a lot more than the mega-corporations. The great thing about Altavoz is that if a fan buys one of our products, at least 5% of whatever Altavoz makes goes to a non-profit – and the artist gets paid.
6. Is free music a good choice? Of course it is! FREE is always a good thing – as long as it’s legal! I use Spotify and Pandora all the time, but if you don’t have a computer with Internet access or a smartphone, you can’t use it. These services only give artists fractions of a penny when people listen to their songs. I only use these services to preview music before I go buy it, so I don’t end up dissatisfied. The bottom line is this: it is really important to pay for music, because the artists and retailers need to make a living just like you! How are they supposed to spend time making music for you to enjoy if they don’t have enough money to support themselves? They usually don’t have as much money as you may think!
