Musicians Please Respond

[Donna]

Hey all. Lots of q's (please be out there knowledgeable players who want to instruct).

Any of you artists who have a host site by which your music can be heard, I'm interested in any details you can give about this process, which I know very little about. WHY did you choose whatever site you happen to be with?

I'm supposing funds play into ppl's choice to sites as well?

If you can provide links, that'd be great. I'd like to hear what you're doing.

Thanks in advance.
____________

[i]And PS[/i]: do any of you prefer not to have downloadable files on your site? As a listener I don't want to wait and download, also I don't trust the usually unknown source of the files...plus I have issues about artists not being compensated fairly for their work...but I guess the existence of the file itself is permission for anyone to "take" it?

Any regrets, ie music being taken for free vs the exposure you get?

LASTLY! Is there a way to play the MP3's, so one can hear how the mix sounds, etc; without joining a music host site? I mean, so that the artist can hear their own final mix and judge it sufficient before putting it out into cyb space.

Edited October 9, 2005 by Donna

[Donna]

Just occured to me that the MP3 is a file...is EVERYTHING a file? Anyway, maybe there's no other option but to have the downloadable file be an option.

As you can see, I need some help.

[Donna]

bump

[ryanmeyersmusic]

Donna, I'll be glad to help. If you really want a broad range of opinion, though, check out the forums at [url="http://www.catholicsound.com"]http://www.catholicsound.com[/url]

There's more musicians on that board, and each and every one of them Catholic!

Blessings
Ryan

[ryanmeyersmusic]

[quote]Any of you artists who have a host site by which your music can be heard, I'm interested in any details you can give about this process, which I know very little about. WHY did you choose whatever site you happen to be with?[/quote]
Well... first thing's first and that's a personal website. There's about a million choices ranging from free to way out of anyone's league. You generally want to grab a dotcom that people can remember (~10-20 bucks a year) and get some hosting (~10 bucks a month). If you're completely inexperienced with web stuff, I feel certain that there's a generous soul in one of these communities that would help you out with that.

If you're unable to secure a dotcom, I'd start with a free purevolume or MySpace account. They let you stick some songs up and whatnot. There's a big debate about MySpace Music and whether it's OK. I'm a fan. In the world, not of the world, you know?

The main thing isn't so much which you choose, it's whether people hear you. You have to drive traffic to your site somehow, or it doesn't matter which company you choose to host with.

[ryanmeyersmusic]

[quote]I'm supposing funds play into ppl's choice to sites as well?
[/quote]

Money's an issue that never disappears as an artist. But it's not one that you can't figure creative ways around.

[ryanmeyersmusic]

[quote]If you can provide links, that'd be great. I'd like to hear what you're doing.
[/quote]

[url="http://www.ryanmeyers.com"]http://www.ryanmeyers.com[/url]
[url="http://www.myspace.com/ryanmeyersband"]http://www.myspace.com/ryanmeyersband[/url]
[url="http://www.disciplerecords.com/artists/ryan_meyers/index.cfm"]http://www.disciplerecords.com/artists/ryan_meyers/index.cfm[/url]
[url="http://www.2thru7.com"]http://www.2thru7.com[/url]
[url="http://www.catholicsound.com/ryanmeyers.htm"]http://www.catholicsound.com/ryanmeyers.htm[/url]
[url="http://www.giamusic.com/scstore/P-620.html"]http://www.giamusic.com/scstore/P-620.html[/url]
[url="http://www.itickets.com/artists/7159.html"]http://www.itickets.com/artists/7159.html[/url]
[url="http://www.apostlemusic.com/jukebox/artist2.asp?Artist_ID=573"]http://www.apostlemusic.com/jukebox/artist...p?Artist_ID=573[/url]
[url="http://www.innovationstudios.net/estore/shopdisplayproducts.asp?id=21&cat=Ryan+Meyers"]http://www.innovationstudios.net/estore/sh...cat=Ryan+Meyers[/url]
[url="http://www.audiolunchbox.com/album?a=14974"]http://www.audiolunchbox.com/album?a=14974[/url]

etc...

[ryanmeyersmusic]

[quote]do any of you prefer not to have downloadable files on your site? As a listener I don't want to wait and download, also I don't trust the usually unknown source of the files...plus I have issues about artists not being compensated fairly for their work...but I guess the existence of the file itself is permission for anyone to "take" it?[/quote]

I've opted for a long time to go the "streaming" route. People can CHOOSE (I just had the discussion about automatic music playing the other day with a fellow musician) to listen to every single song on my album from my webpage, but they have to buy it to listen to it away from a computer.

There's something to be said for giving away some music too, which is why if you sign up for my street team you get a few free tracks that aren't on the record, or are different versions of songs that made the last record. Catholic Social Teaching tells us that a worker deserves just compensation for his work. Denying an artist that is against all the church stands for in terms of the dignity of work.

[ryanmeyersmusic]

[quote]Any regrets, ie music being taken for free vs the exposure you get?[/quote]

I'm not a fan of regret, but I do imagine things would have been a little better had I made different choices regarding some things. First thing's first: don't sell a sub-par product. I have a crappy CD that a buddy of mine and I recorded, gave away/sold over 5 years ago. I still have people tell me that they hesitated to buy my last record because they owned that one. I also posted demo versions of many of the songs for LTD on my website for the general public to check out. Again, same result. Don't present yourself poorly, because first impressions are huge in this game.

[ryanmeyersmusic]

[quote]Is there a way to play the MP3's, so one can hear how the mix sounds, etc; without joining a music host site? I mean, so that the artist can hear their own final mix and judge it sufficient before putting it out into cyb space.[/quote]

You should always check out whatever's being put out there with your name on it, if that's what you mean...

[ryanmeyersmusic]

[quote]Just occured to me that the MP3 is a file...is EVERYTHING a file? Anyway, maybe there's no other option but to have the downloadable file be an option.[/quote]

More accurately, MP3 is a type of file. Anything with the extension .mp3 is an audio file that has been compressed (the file size is made significantly smaller without extremely noticeable degradation of quality). The cool thing about MP3 and it's relationship with the web is that a web server can offer either to allow users to download the files to their computer and play them from there, or to stream them from the server without allowing a download.

[Donna]

Ryan, thank you for your generosity in answering. That's a wealth of info which I'll return to. I am not sure if I'll need to ask back about everything (due to compehensive answers!).

I think the following will tell my current story. Excuse me for it being disjointed...too many little voices (others! lol) around here right now.

When I said check out the mix before putting it out there I mean OK, the mix has been done, listened to on headphones, monitor speakers, etc; I've never heard my stuff on an MP3 file but mostly because it'd be copied from analog, I'd want to review it before uploading it anywhere. Is there a way for me to play/review it on my own computer first?

I perused garageband.com and was interested in the music "reviewers"... read the sites protocol and this is what I dug: they said don't just listen to sound quality, maybe the poor guy has no jing$ to record, listen to the song...granted they ain't pro reviewers I'd imagine (but maybe that's good). I am going somwehere with this babble.

I thnk you answered fittingly re: don't **sell** a subpoor product, and be careful (as an artist) how you're presented the first time around.

I'm of another scenario now: older, and compelled after lonnnggg absence to at least get the songs heard before another decade passes - by anyone willing to listen to demos and to listen past not-studio-quality sound; maybe some erratic timing here and there, etc; There are some other writers (at least) out there willing to do this I've recently found.

I'm enrolled in their little tech head school and the PM one as well now that you've given me some homework! I've taken a LOA from the Graves' Disease boards. Now I'll have some time to return to music (in the world not of it., let's hope).

When I very first heard about garageband.com I thought the point WAS garage-band sound. The average artist who doesn't have recourse to buying (making) a studio product; and I don't know a lot of us who're great at reording/engineering as well as being able to write, sing and/or play. A person's dang gifted if they can do one of these things well imo.

Anyway, until I'm MP3'd and webbed or hosted, nothing'll be available. With all my little ones, don't think I'll be acquiring gear and skills to turn out even competent digital demos!

So the copied analog demo's are it for the forseeable future once I'm MP3'd/hosted; I wouldn't even bother if I didn't think well of some of these songs.

When I was younger, I had time/resources to persue the typical gigging and etc; an artist does. This I probably won't have again til I'm 60. So, in the meantime, following intuition here if even only 3 writers would be willing to listen to anything I've done; and I think these Brits and Danes and Scotties on this one site will.

My set up is a complete scandal, and no digital anything in sight. But whatever. I can keep trying to figure out eq; and I can sure keep trying to execute that song well.

Over the next week, I hope to listen to your stuff more (I like the streaming, too, but this winamp thing just *bleeps*).

Thanks much for the conversation, Ryan; have wanted to have it before this but it just wasn't the right time.

Edited October 10, 2005 by Donna

[ryanmeyersmusic]

not a problem.

i did the garageband thing once. it's not a bag gig, if you've got time to review other people's songs. If not, you can't really do it. Unless it's changed significantly, gb is a community where artists review other artists and have their stuff reviewed by other artists, basically...

if you think you're writing songs that others would want to record, i'd suggest a subscription to Taxi. It's pretty pricey (upwards of 300/year) and they charge for every submission, but if you think you have a great product, it could pay off big time. They send you a list of industry needs as far as songs go, every 2 weeks. They'll also custom critique your songs as well. These are real-deal industry A&R folks, so if you're shy about being torn apart, don't do this. If you want them to help you become a better writer, go for it.

I'd suggest finding a friend that's more savvy to the technology of MP3s and such that's nearby and would help you. It's not difficult to transfer analog demos to digital, but if it's not your cup-o-tea, there's tons of youngsters that would do it for 10 bucks and a free meal.

Glad you're checking out my tunes. Stay updated, because I'm leaving this week to record my new record. It's going to make that one sound like poo.

[ninjakyle]

Ryan is the man!!!

I vote him for Phat mass mayor

[Donna]

Ryan,

I'm right now trying to listen to "Walkaway." I've seen your own site a while back, so I'm going down the list you gave above - starting at MySpace.

So it says "buffering" and plays about two bars, then it stops, then plays another 2 bars.

What to do here?

But from these little snippets, I can say for sure that your vocals have come a long way. Keep it up. Once I can hear whole songs maybe I can comment more (if you wish).