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Posted via email from A Rich Perspective

The original post can be found at AudioGumshoe.com.

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The File Box

As I mentioned in the last episode of Audio Gumshoe, today’s show features a variety of artists from the submission files. Episode 156 will also feature a variety of artists, rather than the usual feature artist format. If you like what you hear — or perhaps don’t — please leave me your thoughts (vis a vis feedback) by clicking the tab on the right hand side of the page — or by visiting the voicemail page.

Songs and Artists Played

- Neurogenesis (Monks of Mellonwah)
– Million Pieces (Patchy)
– If I Could Fly (Charity Chapman)
– Get Dirty (Alec Berlin)
– Henry at Home (Alec Berlin)
– Backbone (Lay Low)
– Safe to Say (Russell Howard)
– Comfortably (Leaving Venus)
– Jump (DimWisdom)
– Doin’ Nothin’ (Tom Fuller Band)
//
Many thanks to the crew at Ariel Publicity for helping us find several of the artists on this episode, including Lay Low, Charity Chapman, and Tom Fuller Band. Their support is always greatly appreciated.

Also, thanks to Junior Henry for his use of the photo “Bi-axial Spin” on this post. Find him on Flickr. The image is Creative Commons licensed (some rights reserved). You can request to license his images at Getty Images.

Associated Links

Association of Music Podcasting
Blubrry Podcast Network
Audio Gumshoe on Twitter
Audio Gumshoe on Facebook

The audio file for this work is licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 License.

Posted via email from A Rich Perspective

On one of the few occasions that I turn on terrestrial radio I heard a very strange conversation. As I drove the family’s second car home from the repair shop I turned on WTUE-FM (Dayton, OH). I don’t have Bluetooth or any auxilliary jacks in that car, so the radio was my only choice for tunes (as if I would have heard any, but that’s another post altogether).

WTUE was sharing an excerpt from their morning show. This typically features the syndicated Bob and Tom Show (based from WFBQ in Indianapolis). It didn’t necessarily sound like Bob and Tom, but I can’t be certain because I’ve not listened to them for a very long time. Regardless, this is my paraphrased version of what I heard:

Air Personality 1: There’s no denying that the music industry is in trouble. There are few opportunities for artists to get music out to new fans. However, some artists have found that doing personal songs on Skype is a way to reach fans. [This topic has been covered by Mashable.com on their Facebook page and numerous other sources for the past week or so.] 

Air Personality 2: It’s kind of cool; they spend a few moments chatting and then play a song or two for the fan — for $25.

Air Personality 3: I’m not sure I would pay $25 unless it was someone significant…

(Remember, this is paraphrased; I was driving as I listened.)

Air Personality 1: It is a unique way for people to get to hear some tunes from favorite artists, like playing shows on YouTube or though Skype, though they don’t offer great audio…

Air Personality 2: True, but nothing on the internet does have good audio quality.

The conversation continued with much the same theme and the personalities mentioned that “unless you are a big name artist, you have little chance of being found on the shelves of the music stores.” (Again paraphrased.)

To the last statement, I will agree. The labels have lost touch. They continue to fight change and are taking desperate measures to try to force people to follow the “old ways.” They continue to manufacture tripe and force-feed it to the radio stations — which force feed it to the listeners that haven’t learned to find a world of entertainment value that isn’t recycled time and again every hour.

However… these guys (and gal) were out of touch with many of the trends that have been happening online for music for more than six years.

Musicians have had the opportunity to reach fans direct through many options. The internet has opened the door for them to sell direct to fans, to reach new fans through countless opportunities. These include, and are not limited to, live streaming audio concerts, live video concerts, and podcasts. Many known artists have ditched their labels to reach out through non-traditional means. They are finding fans only thought to be available through major label distribution.

As to the audio quality: Musicians (self-included) have had the option to stream their shows live via the internet at near CD quality for years. Often, the quality of the streaming audio is superior to that of terrestrial radio. Artists have developed large fan bases through the virtual world of Second Life (and others), they have performed on live open-mics, including the now defunct TheStage.TV, YouNow, and even StageIt.com. Toad the Wet Sprocket front man Glen Phillips performs a regular show on StageIt from his couch almost every Sunday night.

I will agree that Skype is probably the worst approach for a musician to take if audio quality is a concern. The service wasn’t designed for this type of use, though other services have been. But, much like Facebook retains more people even though Google+ offers better features and options — names like Skype have become “commonplace” among the un-learned. People go with what they know — and where their friends are. If this means reduced audio quality, but better options for musicians to reach fans — so be it.

I think the radio personalities need to keep themselves up-to-date on the technologies available if they are going to talk about it as it relates to musicians. It sounded to me like they were talking about the internet as it was in the days of dial-up. 

Posted via email from A Rich Perspective

From a 2008 debate. I really hope people start to pay attention to this guy. He is steady and true to his line.

Posted via email from A Rich Perspective

Here’s a video for one of my demo tunes, complete with lyrics. Enjoy.

Posted via email from A Rich Perspective

One of the reasons that they decided to call it quits was the lack of participating audience members at the site. Many great musicians performed at TheStage, but they could never seem to draw audiences of any size to see them. Though each artist had the opportunity to cross-post their performances at Facebook, Twitter, and the like, it never seemed to result in people taking a look. I will miss the site.

I took a look at YouNow as they recommended. I don’t know that this site will be a place of interest to me or not. It will take some time for me to judge the community there to determine if it is worthwhile.

Here’s the email:

Unfortunately, we have made the decision to close TheStage.tv. Thanks so much for your participation and support on the web’s first open mic.

We would like this opportunity to bring to your attention to a new site: YouNow Music.

YouNow.com is a new collaborative broadcasting site that we really like and believe will be a good alternative for our community.

YouNow features many contests, and in fact will be having a Singer/Songwriter contest in January, with prizes over $5,000.

(Last Contest Try outs are January 10th 5-7 PM EST!)

More details here.

So, please browse on over to http://www.younow.com/music and become familiar with the system so you are ready to participate in the contest, or check out some of the other channels that YouNow offers (e.g. comedy, talk, etc.).

Best regards,
-Kevin and Lisa

I’ve censored the following, in protest of a bill that gives any corporation and the US government the power to censor the internet–a bill that could pass THIS WEEK. To see the uncensored text, and to stop internet censorship, visit: http://americancensorship.org/posts/15251/uncensor

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Posted via email from A Rich Perspective

Last night I had the honor to play for the Relay for Life closing ceremonies in Second Life. I played on the stage at the RFL Treatment sim. The closing ceremonies are taking place this entire weekend, so you still have time to participate or see the events as of the time this is posted. There is a LiveStream broadcast taking place, courtesy of Treet.tv at the Relay for Life web site, as well.

I would like to share that performance with you, but I ask that you do one thing. Go HERE to donate to the American Cancer Society page dedicated to Relay for Life in Second Life. Your money goes directly to the American Cancer Society to help fund initiatives to find a cure for Cancer.

Here’s an archive file of my performance:

Rich_Desoto_Live_at_Relay_for_Life_July_17,_2011.mp3 Listen on Posterous

Don’t forget. Go to the Relay for Life in Second Life page to make your donation. Please do it now.

Posted via email from Rich Desoto

I caught a performance of my friend, Chris Harlow, from the web site TheStage.tv. This site is a place for musicians around the globe to get online and perform in an open mic environment. If people like your performance they will “cheer” for you — and they can even tip you with Paypal. Performers can also earn extra time. As the audience watches, they can grant the performer more time in :10 second increments.

I decided to give it a try this morning. Here’s my first time on the stage:

You can also find my videos from these performances at my YouTube page: richpalmerUSA

Posted via email from A Rich Perspective