Music Marketing [dot] com

Copyright in China (and Around the World)

Copyright is a topic that comes up on Music Business Radio a lot.  Something that a lot of people don't realize is that some cultures don't have the same view on the issue as (most) people in the US.

Check out this video...

This is from a government owned amusement park in China.

I've traveled a lot.  Was in Russia last year and saw the same thing.  Movies in slick, full-color DVD packaging were being sold on the street, in front of signs saying that the same title was "coming soon" to theaters.  And you're probably aware of AllOfMP3...

Is it bad?  Is it good?  Don't know.  But this is how things work in a lot of places, which is something you should be aware of.

More info on Fake Disneyland.

Kill Your Television

If you're looking for more time to spend on your music career, one of the things you can do is ditch your television.  Just look at the results you can achieve.

And yes, I see the irony of advice like this, considering the name of my company. :)

Want Radio Airplay? - Send Me Your Demo!

Music Business Radio needs music (of all styles) for our demo review segment.

In the last week, I've gotten demos in front of:

Norm Winer - VP of Rock Programming for CBS Radio Networks
Beau Hill - Producer for Ratt, Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, Chaka Kahn
Lisa Hickey - Producer of Lollapalooza, Austin City Limits Fest

I can do the same for your music.  We do this every week.  See the link above for more info and send your music NOW to:

Tuned In Broadcasting
ATTN: MBR Demo Derby
1310 Clinton St. Suite 200
Nashville, TN 37203

Your Drunk Friends

It's a good idea to take a look at the people you associate yourself with.  For example, if you hang around a bunch of drunks, but you want to do something more productive, it might be a good idea to stop hanging around them.

Same is true for your band members...

Several years ago, I was at a showcase during SXSW.  The drummer was way off beat and not playing at the quality of the other band members.

Was there with a producer, who told me, "I've got to let these guys know.  They must be oblivious to how off this guy is."

So he did let them know.  And the response?

"A few people have told us that, but he owns the PA and the truck we use."

I can understand that you need a PA to play through and a truck to haul everything, but the guy's playing was doing worse things for these guys than lack of sound reinforcement or transportation...

Sounds crazy when you think about it, but how many times have you put up with a crummy band member because he's your friend?  Or because you think he's a nice guy?

This is a business.  It's fine if you want to play music with your friends, but if your friends suck, don't expect to do anything more than "play music."

Listen to Music Business Radio via Phone

Call 360-227-5697 and you can hear the latest MBR via phone.  No charge...if you call from work. ;)

Seriously, it's just a call to Washington, so however much that costs you.  If you're on the computer a lot, you may want to take a look at Skype.

The New Music Sampler?

Everybody knows that the cost for giving away music on CDs can add up.  And, for the Greenpeace crowd, it's a big waste of resources, since most of those CDs never get played and end up in the trash.

And who wants to carry around a bunch of bulky CDs?

Well, your prayers have been answered.

Check this out...

You get a "gift certificate" with your band's info on it, people who want your music can download it, and you've saved not only a lot of plastic, but also money, since these cards are around $.45/each.

See DiscRevolt.com for more info.

I'm Your Host, David Hooper...

David Hooper here.  Most of the time, when it comes to interviews, I'm the guy asking the questions.   But the truth is, I have a big mouth and a lot to say myself.  So for those who care, here is an interview with me.

In this interview, I talk about how Music Business Radio works, give advice for upcoming musicians, and share my thoughts on music promotion and marketing.

This is from a podcast called Firepit Friday.  It's similar to Music Business Radio in a lot of ways, so if you like us, you might want to check it out.

Speaking of Music Business Radio, get on the podcast!

                  

Your Band Sucks...

Was being interviewed a couple of days ago and the subject came up about how the most popular bands in the world are often the most hated.  If you've ever seen "year end" lists in Rolling Stone or Spin, you'll see the same acts on the "best" and "worst" lists.

So what do you do when you're not on the "best" list and people say your band sucks?

Elbert Hubbard said, "To avoid criticism, do nothing, say nothing, and be nothing."

That's good advice.  If you look me up in Google or elsewhere, you'll see there are plenty of people who think I'm full of it.  So what?

When you touch enough people, somebody is going to be pissed.  And a lot of the time, the problem isn't you, it's them.

So just ignore those folks who think your band sucks.  You can't please everybody.  And if you try, you'll please nobody.