Trent Reznor is busy demonstrating how a bankable artist can go independent, give away music for free, and still make a mint. Though he initially expressed concern over an album he produced for hip-hopper Saul Williams that was released as a “pay what you will” download, he’s changed his mind and now considers it a success — mostly because Williams made more money even with only twenty percent of fans paying for the album than he ever did at a label. And maybe more importantly, far more people heard the music. As for Reznor? His own giveaway of his latest album did pretty well in the marketplace as well, with a limited-edition box set garnering $750,000 and half a million CDs sold. So what, exactly, is the problem with the music business? As usual, greedy labels.

With Douglas Merrill’s hiring of Second Life co-founder Cory Ondrejka at EMI, at least one label is wising up to the fact that making music more difficult to buy and find is no way to compete with online file sharing. Say what you will about Second Life, but within the context of the virtual world it was very easy to participate in the economy (maybe even a little too easy) and buy and sell ephemeral, digital goods.

Now that labels have realized that their core business will no longer be moving units through outlets like the now-defunct Tower Records, they’re moving towards “360 degree” deals that ask for a piece of event income, licensing and merchandising. Which in the old model used to be the artist’s bread and butter, as musicians didn’t actually see much of a cut from album sales. The album was, as they say in Hollywood, a “tent pole” upon which other business opportunities were supported — and now the labels want the whole tent.

Reznor had the foresight to go independent as the old circus collapses around him. Owning his own production studio and promoting and distributing his content digitally means his costs are minimal. And production, promotion and distribution was exactly what labels used to lured artists into contractual cages. Reaching beyond the concept of moving units in mass volume and instead servicing hardcore fans with what they want, when and where they want it while making it easy for people to find and listen to his music, Reznor’s got an opportunity to make a lot more money for himself than he ever would have with a label — and more creative flexibility as well.

Article Source: http://valleywag.com

For more education on careers in the music industry, check out: www.Music-Career-Guide.com

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Is your website set up to help you pitch your songs or even sell your songs? Sure you probably have the songs listed with the CD cover photo. And, you might even have those songs set up for streaming audio so anyone can get a sample or even the whole song. So how’s that working for you? Is it selling those songs? Many of my songwriting clients have a wealth of songs ready for other artists to record or publishers and producers to use in a project; but the songs are just not set up so they can access them quickly.

I’d like to share 4 steps to help you pitch your songs more effectively and get your songs licensed more efficiently.

Step 1. Gather your songs from all those that are now recorded and available for purchase on CD or purchase by download, and organize them according to category. For instance: Love songs, ballads, songs of loss, uplifting songs, travel songs, work songs, songs for weddings or special occasions, patriotic songs, holiday songs, songs of triumph and victory, spiritual songs, etc.

Step 2. Now further organize those again into categories for tempo such as hard driving, upbeat, slow, medium, quiet and mellow. Add further information like, predominant instrumentation on each song such as soft strings, electric guitar, heavy drums, horns, piano, etc. I think you get the idea.

Step 3. Create a new page on your site with a new link button on the navigation bar. Give it a title compatible with your site and marketing style, but one that specifically invites and calls out to those who might be searching for songs. Some possible titles might be, Songs for Your Project, Songs by Category, Songs for Pitching, Your Project-My Song, Publisher’s Paradise, Producer’s Paradise or Record These Songs, etc.

Step 4. Design your web page with the various categories of songs, with links to streaming audio for immediate listening, (don’t make them wait for the download), a link to the lyrics for reading while listening and a link to your licensing policy, publishing and performing rights information and contact information to the appropriate person who would be making any deals on your behalf or directly to you.

Now your website is making it easy for those looking for songs to record, or for a project needing songs. They know that you have them available on your site. If they are looking for a specific type of song, they can find it quickly without having to listen through all of your material. You have helped them zoom in on a potential song just right for their project. They can easily determine the category, the tempo, read the words, get all the necessary deal-making information they need to use your song.

Put your website to work for you as your song-pitcher 24/7. Now, I invite you to learn more about this and other topics important to your career development and to sign up for free weekly audio Biz Booster Hot Tip! Every Monday you’ll get another valuable strategy and technique that you can put to use immediately. You’ll find helpful books, career development seminars and information on booking tours, the music business and performing arts. It’s all waiting for you at http://www.performingbiz.com

Article Source: http://vadj.com

For more education on careers in the music industry, check out: www.Music-Career-Guide.com

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