Pribek

I’ve been using the Sonific, SongSpot widget and, I even wrote about how much I like it. Well, yesterday I got an e-mail from Gerd saying that Sonific will be ending it’s service May 1st. They have been negotiating with the major labels to license content and, according to Gerd, the labels are being unrealistic. I understand but, I am disappointed.

Speaking of major labels (and major league indie acts), it is becoming commonplace for them to release “internet only” singles. Now, I have a sack full of new songs and I have been considering doing the same. My plan was to record, mix, master and release a song then, go on to the next one. Then, at some point, I could have the option of compiling a group of songs for a physical CD. I like the idea of focusing on one tune at a time rather than planning out a whole album.

It turns out that this is a difficult thing to do. I’vee been using SnoCap and they charge a 39 cent transaction fee on a 99 cent download. So, that’s like a 40 percent royalty. It may not seem like a big deal but, after outlaying cash for production costs, it is certainly a factor. You always hear people saying that there is no manufacturing costs, no shipping costs, no inventory on digital downloads but, a 40 percent transaction fee nullifies all of that. If you set up your own system and sell only off of your own site, you need to do some type of micro-purchase type of arrangement (PayPal for instance) and it works out about the same. And, with either of these options, you won’t have the song on any of the big download sites (iTunes, Napster, etc.)

I’ve been hearing a lot about TuneCore, who will submit your songs to the big download sites. The way they are set up discourages the release of singles though. They charge a $20 a year “storage” fee for an album and extra fees per song and per store in which you want your music available. Now, if you wan to release a single, you have to pay the same “storage” and placement fees. Another song, same routine again. You can get a “label” account and releases singles which they don’t provide cost information for that on the site.

Now, you know I love CDBaby. They have started selling downloads over there but, not on a song by song basis, only full albums. Baby also does a great job of getting your music to all the different outlets. But, to release a single you have to go through the same kind of jive, call it an album and pay the setup fee for a full album; lather, rinse, repeat.

The whole system is geared for releasing full length albums and discourages the release of single songs.

Anyway, if anybody knows of another option that is conducive to releasing singles, let me know about it.
,

Ahh yes, a cold front has moved in to the Ozarks. It is a welcome relief. Heat is the enemy for someone with M.S. I have an acquaintance that spent a lot of time in the jungle during the Vietnam War. He keeps his house cold enough to hang meat. He told me once “It is my goal to never be hot again.” If you are cold, you can build a fire or put more clothes on. If you are hot, all you can do is crank up the A.C.

Rollo came by yesterday and did some wiring for the drum room. That was the final step to be able to record a full band here at the house on the hill. Nothing fancy here but, eminently workable. Good mics and preamps are a key for recording and we are well set to at least do demos. If anybody need a promotional demo send me an e-mail. I generally try to come up with a “project” price rather than hourly rates.

Napster

I’m going to rant a bit.
I started a Napster account a few months ago. I like the idea of the convenience. Huge selection and I don’t have to leave the house. I downloaded some songs, they sounded good, clean files. I know that most people don’t like to pay for music anymore but I don’t mind. Hell, ninety nine cents a song I paid that for 45s thirty years ago.

The day I set up the account, it was obvious that Napster was primarily interested in selling their subscription service rather than the “old fashioned” pay per download plan. There were several steps added in the sign-up process just to avoid the subscription version. I do not own a MP3 player. I don’t even want one. I want to own my music not rent it.

The way it was set up you could browse music and listen to 30 seconds of any given song but if you signed out of the account and went to napster.com you could listen to the entire song. So I listened to a lot of stuff then went back through the sign-in process to purchase what I wanted. I still came away from the experience feeling pretty good about it. I listened some great songs a bought a few records that are hard to find.

A few weeks later, I thought I would spend a little more disposable income on some new music. I clicked on the Napster icon and was informed that there was a new version that I was required to download before I could log on, very irritating. I downloaded the new version but something else came up so I never browsed around.

Tonight I thought I would check out the new Bob Dylan record that hit the streets today. I remembered that you had to not sign in to listen to complete tracks. I bypassed the colossal subscription offer and navigated my way to the record. I clicked the “listen to c.d.” button. The first song played and then a new prompt appeared that said if I wanted to listen to the whole record I would need to sign up for the subscription.

I read in the paper today that illegal downloads outnumber paid ones forty to one. As the one consumer in forty, I am not happy. I don’t mind new features or options but there should be some thread of consistency.

As a musician, I find this even more disheartening. I can understand why a music fan would prefer to download illegally as opposed to going through all this jive and be expected to pay. It’s probably easier.

I know that there are many other companies that offer pay downloads and I am sure that at least some of them are more straightforward and easy to navigate. At this point, only I-Tunes and Napster making a go of it on a large scale, so I am particularly interested in how they operate. So, out of the two major players, one has exclusivity issues and the other seems far more interested in the subscription route. All in all I think that this arena could, and should be more consumer friendly and, sadly until it is the artist will take the hit.