Three books to make you a rock star… Or at least books to make you think you could be

I'm not one to recommend books-- since it takes me forever to read anything.
However, here are three books of the subject matter, "self published music" (This should be a section in most book stores.) They've been very informative for me.

In my opinion, I see so many indie bands and indie label start-ups not realizing their potential to market themselves correctly, regardless of their talent and/or fan base. On the flip side, it is so overwhelming and very time consuming to market one's self, make a record, make your art, perform, promote. So, how do you juggle all of this? Try and get a label and have someone do it for you? Get your mom to do it? Here are some good reads to help you & your band help navigate through the morass.

~G

The Indie Band Survival Guide:
The Complete Manual for the Do-It-Yourself Musician (Paperback)
List Price: $14.95
by Randy Chertkow & Jason Feehan
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin (August 5, 2008)
This was a great reference for common sense promotion for your band; Online, touring promotion, working with labels and management. This is timely but, it is a little dated on the internet side (If you call a couple of years "dated".) I really enjoyed it.

All You Need to Know About the Music Business 6th Edition (Hardcover) 2006
List Price: $30.00
By Donald S. Passman
Publisher: Hal Leonard Corp; 6 edition

This is the nuts and bolts of the record biz. Royalties, Lawyers, Representation, Distribution, Contracts... This is a staple for a many of peeps in the music biz. It really is the standard for the Music business... Also, you will understand how silly the music business really is... Honestly, if you music/ band reputation is at the point, where it's getting really serious. Like, "I think I need a lawyer to go over this 500 page contract."This is a good reference.

Ripped: How the Wired Generation Revolutionized Music (Hardcover)
By Greg Kot
Scribner, May 2009
List Price: $25.00

Description
A decade ago the vast majority of mainstream music was funneled through a handful of media conglomerates. Now, more people are listening to more music from a greater variety of sources than at any time in history. And big corporations such as Viacom, Clear Channel, and Sony are no longer the sole gatekeepers and distributors, their monopoly busted by a revolution... more>>

Wilco is trying to break your heart - Or lay a massive guilt trip on you

So, Wilco's album was leaked to the internet! (Bad Pirates!)

However, it's actually not TOO big of a deal for the band. (Besides the obvious. I'd be pissed, but I ain't Wilco.) So, in an impressive psychological move--they ask fans who have helped themselves to an illegal download to donate to the Band's favorite charities.

It's like your mother telling you, we're very disappointed in you, so apologize. It obviously, doesn't make up for lost sales (Like who buys CD's anymore.) But, it's an interesting way to try and deflect some cash back towards the causes, the band believes in.
Read The Article - From Media Memo >>

Media Memo
How to Plug a Leaking Record–Don’t Even Try

by Peter Kafka Media
In the old days, back at the beginning of this decade, news that a band’s new album had leaked on the Internet before it went on sale was a big deal. And it occasioned lots of wailing and hair-pulling in the music business.
But that was when people still bought CDs. Now everyone from Britney Spears down to the smallest indie band routinely streams music for free, before the disc–or iTunes download–goes on sale, in order to whet appetites–or at least promote concert tours. No big deal.

Rather than linking up its free stream in a promotional tie-up, the band waits for the album to leak onto the Web, then streams it on their own site. And they ask fans who have helped themselves to an illegal download to donate to charity.
Read The Article - From Media Memo >>




The link to the new Wilco album -(Streaming)

Preorder the new Wilco album here:



Oh by the way, if you haven't seen the Wilco documentary "I AM TRYING TO BREAK YOUR HEART.", definitely pick it up. It's a great insight on band member relationships, and the silly bureaucracy of the Music industry.

Opinions are like a-holes. Now I have a Blog (Which is both!)

This is where my thoughts, views, and opinions on Music, Art and Media News and the Technology it supports. I'll have updates on the Shotgun Approach project, record label and its self published music lifecycle.

This is such an exciting time for the independent musician; the information available to promote online - self publish - be an indie label - where to digitally distribute and how to reap its benefits. Why did Radiohead & NIN drop their label/publisher/distributor? Why is Chester French releasing their new album for free? What's a DRM 320 kb FLAC. Codec mean? Well hopefully have the answers, or link to such answers, shall be here.

Very Interesting how technology is adapting to the "Artist's control of their own domain"

If anyone uses twitter/myspace/facebook/iLike you might dig this:

iLike Expands Social Music Service To New Platforms
May 13, 2009 - Digital and Mobile (Billboard.biz)

By Antony Bruno, Denver (Billboard.biz)

iLike is expanding its social music service to new platforms such as Twitter, YouTube, MySpace and the iPhone, as well as introducing a new data feature for artists who use it to promote their music.

Hoping to address the problem many artists have with updating multiple social networking services with new information and content, iLike is now syndicating changes to artists' profiles on these other services.

Read more>>

May 13, 2009 - Digital and Mobile (Billboard.biz)
By Antony Bruno, Denver (Billboard.biz)

New EP for Riders of the Blood Red Dawn and The Shotgun Approach are in the works

New EP for Riders of the Blood Red Dawn and The Shotgun Approach are in the works, Should be available Late Summer of '09. Exciting!

More to come

~G

Gun Horse Records - Mission statement

The Mission Statement:

Gun Horse Records! We are small Northern California based, indie record label. Born in 2008, and realizing the shift in the music industry, the small label was started in the garage among the fog banks of the northern California coast. We cater to the independent artist, and the independent fan. We don't have much money, but we look good doin what we're doin.

Make music. Record. Send to the masses. Pay the rent. Sleep. Start over.

More to come,
~G