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How To Live Off Your Band’s Music - Some Things To Think About (and TPN Rock #30)

Posted on October 22, 2005
Filed Under Digital Music, Podcasting |

Yes I know I mention my podcast a lot on here, but that’s because I’m really proud of it, and what it does. By giving airtime to new and upcoming bands from around the world, giving them a massive international platform, and seeing what a huge difference that can make for them. Consider just 50 listeners going to their site and buying a £10 CD each. That’s a lump of cash not to be sniffed at. As more and more people get into podcasting for strong independent music, and realise that there’s a whole world of CD’s that will never reach HMV, Virgin and Tower Records… then it gets very interesting.

If you assume a group of three people need to shift around £45,000 net income to get a basic wage of £15K each (UK numbers, I’ve an idea what you need for a basic living wage) then that’s 4,500 CD’s at £10 each. How easy is that to manage in the online world? Well you really just need 2,000 hardcore fans, and an album of music every six months and you’ve got your income. Throw in some tours and gigs every other weekend, and any band should ask themselves why they would need a record company deal for a single territory?

Here’s one area where podcasts and new technology are leveling the playing field. No longer do you need massive transmitters and licences to be “on the air.” No longer do you need to sign with someone who might get you on one of those behemoths. The internet has given everyone the chance to stay completely in control.

Trust me, the big boys get it. This is what’s kept them awake for many a night. Some of them are putting their heads in the sand. Some are shouting for more and more DRM. Some companies (such as Warner) are putting a toe in the water of electronic distro only. Virgin Radio have got some music up in their podcasts. Check out the Virgin Radio Extreme podcast feeds - it might be only one unsigned music track a week, but they’re experimenting with the Internet and I’m sure there’s more surprises to come from them in that area. Magnatune are leveraging everything they can on the internet to get their artists recognised. And it’s slowly starting to work.

That’s where I feel TPN Rock can come in. A strong brand that the listeners trust, where they know that they are getting quality new music that respects the artists. Everything I play is permission based, everything I play is linked back so you can get in touch with the bands and interact with them (even buy a CD or their MP3 collection!). It’s proving incredibly ’sticky’ with subscribers, I’m not seeing a huge number of unsubs. And the best place to start listening is now, Show #30. It’s the regular ‘decade’ look back at the last batch of shows, finding the most popualr bands and getting them back for a second performance. It’s an extended edition (10 tracks as opposed to the regular 6) and there’s just enough me to keep it all on course. It’s all about the music.

As it should be.

Go visit the show, the feed, or the site.

Comments

One Response to “How To Live Off Your Band’s Music - Some Things To Think About (and TPN Rock #30)”

Piers Cawley on October 23rd, 2005 6:08

When Apple announced the iTunes Music Store, I hoped that they’d be announcing ways for independent artists to sell through it in short order.

Still no joy there, which is a shame because the up front cost of getting CDs pressed can be daunting for a new act. Or are CDBaby making that sort of thing easier nowadays?

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