Frey
let me just take a moment to recognise someone who is producing excellent music with a great distribution ethos.
Taken from his website "I am Damian Stewart, aka frey. I make art using machines. I make playful and magical experiences using interactivity, sound, digital and analog technology, and software. And I love to collaborate."
Frey is from NZ, and lives in Europe. He makes music that you can download for free from his website.
"Here's how this works: I'm being a virtual busker. I let you download my music for free, and if you like it, you can donate me some money (via PayPal). Do so and I will love you forever!"
However this is a long term plan to make money, after all every artist has to eat!
"Okay, since my long-term aim is to make money from this stuff, I'm going to have to figure out a way to do that. I will experiment with various structures - perhaps a monthly subscription system, or 1c or 10c downloads."
I think the option of a monthly download or pay per download would work well. Perhaps if he has enough people downloading music from his website then advertisers could pick up the bill...
He is also one of the musicians who have contributed to the stray cinema music options page, which means if you ask nicely you can use his music in your film edit.
So go listen, comment, download, donate and even collaborate. His music is fantastic, I'd say more about it, but im not as good at describing music as i am at finding it.
goodstorm
By michelle, 3 years, 1 month ago - No Comments
here is the second cyber-find that I wanted to share...
GoodStorm is similar to many other websites (i.e sellaband which i wrote about a while ago) that are starting to change the way music is distributed and promoted, providing a more democratic platform for musicians and people who like to buy music (which is pretty much everyone).
on the GoodStorm website you are able to upload your music - whoever you are - and sell it. fans are able to use this music to create a 'MixTape', which is "a way for music lovers to turn their passion and taste-sharing into a viable online business."
MixTape allows you to either choose tracks from the existing catalog (which consists of over 2.7 million DRM-free songs) or upload your own songs; the free application is a widget which can then be added to your social networking pages, personal websites, or blogs.
each track costs 99 cents, GoodStorm pays 65% of that to the band and 5% to the “promoter” who had it on their MixTape.
as a promoter, I can imagine the mixtape would work well if you already have a strong online profile and following. People are reading your blogs, myspace profiles etc to find out more about your opinions and thoughts, if this is the case then why not take your advice on music too? right?
if you are an independent band or musician then this is a great way to promote your music on your website/s, and you can even upload an interactive flyer for your next gig, along with your music.
BlockSavvy?
By michelle, 3 years, 1 month ago - No Comments
ahh geez, it's been a whole week since I've written. organizing an event on the other side of the world takes quite a bit of time and energy, not to mention a few sleepless nights...not that im trying to make excuses, but...
anyway, i had a few interesting finds today that i wanted to write about. first off is a social networking website called BlockSavvy. this appears to be a combo of second life and myspace, two of my favorite things. they make the following claim: "BlockSavvy is the first and only site capable of fulfilling the promise of the social networking revolution. Existing social networking sites suffer from a number of fundamental flaws, and our predecessors’ shortcomings are our advantage" It goes on to talk about why here." phew!
now here goes the explanation: "We've created a one-stop shop where you can do all your online business - communicate with friends, build social networks, play games, import photos and videos from Flickr.com and YouTube.com, even import your profile data from MySpace."
in this way it works well as a portal between all of your social networking sites. i think this is the aim of alot of websites right now. not just providing you with a new social platform, but finding a way to combine all of your existing ones too.
im still trying to work out if i need to use facebook and bebo if im already a devout myspacer?
anyhoo, back on track, BlockSavvy is divided into "neighborhood blocks" where users can pick a room within the block of their choice (depending on their interests) and decorate it any way they like. they can also use their 'rooms' as widgets on MySpace, which is a great way for them to build their community.
i especially like the fact that you need an exclusive invitation from one of their "hand-picked charter members" to join!
while i admit this website has some cool features and i respect the fact they are doing something different, i also felt it provides advertisers with the opportunity to promote themselves in a far too integrated/sneaky way..
"From a space to your place, BlockSavvy is a social universe connecting some of the flyest people, media, events, and brands on the planet. Using intelligent web design with dope swagger, BlockSavvy is a one-of-a-kind virtual community that is powered by people that demand more when it comes to urban lifestyle and the web. No more online guestbooks in drag or so-called "social networking" destinations - BlockSavvy is a starting point for people to express themselves to the fullest and share ideas that change the world."
A way for people to express themselves, or brands via people?
there is also alot of explanatory text on the website, and it takes a while to understand what they are all about.
the other interesting thing i found i will write about in my next blog. coming soon, promise :)
open source filmmakers handbook...
By michelle, 3 years, 2 months ago - No Comments
"The concept is part of a “social open source experiment” called the workbook project. It’s a simple concept, the workbook is meant to be spread and edited. Meaning that content creators can add their own info, war stories, advice etc. We’re hoping that the workbook can grow as a resource. We’re building it with an open source “client side” wiki called tiddlywiki that can be saved to the desktop, edited and then uploaded again.
The first edition of the workbook will be released later this year." -workbookproject.com
it's a great idea, take a look and contribute something if you can!
upstage 070707
By michelle, 3 years, 2 months ago - No Comments
ive heard its a big no-no to cut and paste straight from a press release.
here is a press release for upstage 070707, it describes the event better than i ever could, so i have broken the rules and cut n paste below :)
"A live audiovisual mash up of guitar anthems and YouTube footage of air guitarists will feature alongside online performances created by artists from all over the world, in a festival to mark a unique date.
On the seventh day of the seventh month of 2007 diverse performances will unfold in front of live and online audiences.
People anywhere in the world can participate in performances by going to www.upstage.org.nz without having to download and install any additional software.
The performances are part of the 070707 festival, which runs alongside the Wellington-based Film Archive’s exhibition From Puppets to Pixels – an interactive show for children of all ages.
Performances include shadow puppets, unique takes on classic theatre works by Samuel Beckett, contemporary dance, a site-specific work at a London building site and an audiovisual mash up.
The Best Air Guitar Album in the World Vol. II, is devised and performed by Anaesthesia Associates, a band consisting of Paul Bradley and Dan Agnihotri-Clark, a doctoral candidate in Fine Arts at Massey University, Wellington. Mr Agnihotri-Clark is a visual artist, musician and curator whose work explores the intersection between art and technology.
He says he chose air guitar because it’s a lot of fun, but also because being online is ultimately about connecting to the world around you.
“The idea of an air guitar hero provided an exaggeration of the desire to connect with other people and to perform for them.”
Anaesthesia Associates will manipulate audio samples from the CD compilation, The Best Air Guitar Album in the World Vol. II, mixing these with video samples of the world's best air guitarists found on YouTube.
Their 21-minute show starts at 11pm on 07/07/07, live at the Film Archive and online at [url=http://www.upstage.or]www.upstage.org.nz.
ENDS
check out dan's skills, dan is also the technical guru for the london screening event.
By michelle, 3 years, 1 month ago - No Comments