Saturday, April 17, 2010
Brisbane Sounds Bandtags at SXSW - From Blair Hughes
I recently attended the biggest music conference in the world, SXSW in Austin, Texas where I took over a specially designed Brisbane Sounds bandtag which I had custom made by Bandtag. The Brisbane Sounds bandtag had 15 tracks from the latest Brisbane Sounds 2010 record as well as all of my contact details on the reverse side. I found that absolutely everyone I gave the bandtag to were blown away at how cool it was. Not only are the bandtags more eye catching than most business cards but they store the songs that you are promoting, so it saves on baggage issues by not having to worry about lugging CD's around. The best example I can give of how well recieved they were at SXSW was when I was at a discussion with music supervisors and when everyone threw in their business cards, every single one of the speakers picked up my bandtag and were amazed at how smart it was and some even told the audience that it was the perfect item to take to conferences. The bandtag has so many benefits from being lightweight, digital and cost effctive compared to CD's.
Blair Hughes
Brisbane Sounds
Project Director
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Wednesday, April 07, 2010
DIY Card Pricing Package..and other stuff
Have you checked out the new pricing package for DIY Artists...if not-you must, it is very special and tailored to those who are hard workers, and we want to give you an easy affordable tool to hand out to your fans!! It is imperative you take a look...
On another note, what a start to the year! There has been some major work on websites,
lots of meetings, new bands, festivals and labels using the cards and
having some great redeems!! The team have been spreading the love to
MyBrandtag of late - which was a huge part of the start of 2010 taken
up with building a new site, making it the killer package that it is...
please check out it if you haven't already www.mybrandtag.com.au -
check out the how it works video too on the home page, it's pretty
schmick!!
I used to use this blog, as a way to put expel my love of newly found
music which I did fairly regularly - but slowed lately due to above as
explained, but feel the need to jot some artists down so here
goes, this is what has been purchased as either album or single for March 2010:
Florence and The Machine
Amanda Palmer
Adam Lambert ( majorly plugged radio hit - love it though)
First Aid Kit
Dan Sultan
Powderfinger ( however not sold on whole album)
this is a pretty lame list, but will attempt to update my blog more often and add to my projection of my collection!!
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Tuesday, March 02, 2010
The year of 2010 so far...
Well it's again been a while since the last blog post - with twitter, facebook, Myspace, newsletters it is hard to keep up with this communication stuff! And it is a good sign when you don't have time to do them because your sooo busy! Anyways that is the excuses out of the way.
Here at Bandtag we have been busy talking to artists, labels and stakeholders, we have also tagged some really cool artists and festivals lately!
Late last year Dew Process along with Jmag and Converse had a promotion on the cover of the December Jmag issue! With great results, we also asked the readers how they liked to consume music digital/physical etc and the results were surprising - there was a fairly even split between dig download and physical purchase and many did both depending on the artist!! It was great info for Dew Process to receive!
We also just recently tagged 13 artists from Shock Records which they distributed at all Soundwave festivals! Some killer stuff on there!
Along with Urthboy, Horrorshow, Brisbane Sounds 2010 compilation. Blair from Bris Sounds is actually using the card as a Business card aswell - with all his contact details - and he will be distribution the cards at SXSW Music conference in Austin Texas towards the end of March! Which is also brilliant as they fit snug in a suitcase and at the same time he is promoting 15 killer Brisbane artists to the US industry stakeholders - as the cards can be redeemed from Anywhere in the world!!
Another cool idea was from Popfrenzy Records where they partnered with INCU Retail Fashion Label - where the had an in-store Bandtag promotion giving customers some free killer tracks from the Popfrenzy roster. That is the beauty of this product - it can be used in so many ways, in so many different distribution points! There was some great redeems from this promotion so now Popfrenzy can connect with a new market (people who love fashion and music)!
We have also been working on the new MyBrandtag (sister) company to Bandtag - linking Bands with Brands... will be launching the new site end of March.....very exciting - where Brands can connect/engage with their consumers via music, and artists still get paid for their use of their tracks, its a win/win for everyone!! Can check us out on twitter: Bandtag, MyBrandtag
Till next time....
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Friday, October 09, 2009
Urthboy tees off tour with OZ first
Urthboy tees off tour with OZ first
Released: 9 October 2009
Touring hip hop artist Urthboy is the first Australian performer to bridge the digital music and merchandise gap by selling ‘musical tees’ during his current National Spitshine Tour.
Musical tees marry fashion and music by combining digital music download cards loaded with an artist’s tracks into garment swing tags.
The tags, a concept by Queensland company Bandtag, are then teamed with Urthboy tour t- shirts so fans ‘take the band home’ and musicians keep in touch with their tribe.
Bandtag says the concept ensures artists like Urthboy distribute and promote their music easily and inexpensively, as well as staying in touch with their audiences. Meanwhile, fans take their cards, redeem them online and download their tracks instantly.
This evolution in buying music at live gigs is the brainchild of Bandtag CEO Erin Wheatley, who teamed up with Urthboy Tim Levinson, also lead singer with The Herd, for the initiative.
Erin says artists are embracing new technologies like Bandtag to create new distribution channels and methods, while remaining profitable.
“Bandtag gives them a direct artist-fan relationship where they connect online, directly, sharing their content,” she says.
“There is a plethora of music out there and artists really need to build their own tribe around the band, offering new and exclusive content all the time.”
The industry has embraced the Bandtag concept, recently hailed as ‘a bridge between the live space and the digital world’ by The Music Network.
Tim says the ‘new musical environment’ faced by his label Elefant Traks, which produces Urthboy, The Herd and Urthboy’s touring partners Horrorshow – makes thinking outside the
square a necessity. “We don’t want to turn our fans into villains; we want to work with them,” says Tim.
“The industry has to adjust to less physical purchases of their material.
“Urthboy Musical Tees is us thinking outside the square with Bandtag’s concept.”
Spitshine is Urthboy’s third solo album currently being taken across all states on their National Spitshine Tour with 26 dates ending on November 14 2009.
www.bandtag.com.au
For interviews, high res images or more information, contact:
Erin Wheatley – CEO
erin@bandtag.com.au
0410 530 633 or 07 55 290 899
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Tuesday, August 11, 2009
JMAG Splendour Bandtag Compilation card
Wow well it has been a few weeks after the Jmag promotion ended, and
what a success it was, over 3500 Jmag readers bagged 17 killer free
tracks from Splendour in the Grass artists. To be on the cover AGAIN of
the coolest mag out there was also really amazing for us here at
Bandtag. We are avid Trip J listeners and love Jmag and became fans of
a few new artists out of this promotion aswell, which is the the idea
really!!
Can't wait to get on the next cover, not me ...Bandtag ;)
x
Also some interesting info collected...52% readers female, 44% aged 18-24 and 30% from NSW....
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Friday, June 05, 2009
From the words of the legendary...Bob Letsetz
GIVE YOUR MUSIC AWAY!
Please, if you're an indie artist, if
you're not signed to a major label (which probably won't allow you to
do this), PLEASE put up downloadable MP3s on your homepage. Put all
your tracks on MySpace. It's almost impossible to be recognized, to
get any attention in this overloaded world, and you want people to pay
first, in order to check your music out?
If someone's a fan,
they'll give you ALL their money! They'll buy the CD to display in
their home, even if they never fire up their CD player anymore.
They'll buy merch to support you, to show how much they love you. And
they'll buy music for their friends, trying to share the joy with
them! It all starts with the music, but you've got to make the music
AVAILABLE!
The Lezsetz Column
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Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Linking Brands with Bands..
Recently read an article in a well known publication - Adweek.
It boiled down to the title "Brand New Music Business"
And they polled senior brand marketers and found that seven out of ten marketers see music becoming an increasing part of their tool set going forward. With the whole apparent economic downturn, new opportunities whereby artists increasingly seek new business partners and associations away from traditional music companies. With a mix of ad agency, content owners, artists and technology companies!
Our team here at Bandtag are listening with open ears, it has always been in the picture to link bands with brands, as struggling artists these days need to keep afloat to keep doing what they do best and branding companies love partnering with music providers as it gives them the cool cred and access to that ever consuming demographic!
So we will be releasing info soon, but we are gonna try make that happen, we got some exciting stuff coming up and hope to bridge that gap for both band and brand real soon!!
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Friday, March 20, 2009
Bandtag at SXSW - Austin Texasss USA
The team here at Bandtag are pretty excited - we have finally hit our international straps..
Well really we just have 3 killer bands and 1 compilation card (so 4 killer Bandtag cards in total) swarming around the hotness of Austin Texas at SXSW this week. Kid Confucious, Andy Bull, The Resignators and 12 Killer artists from NZ on the NZ Music compilation (including Cut Off Your Hands) have chosen to use Bandtag's as the coolest digital promo tool yet to hit the yanks with! Their onto it you know - as each person that redeemsthese tracks from these artists, could be the next label/manager/publisher to sign them a deal and they now have their contact e-mail address smart hey!! Well we think so.. As we say Bandtag IS the easiest way to take the band home...Hope all the artists kill it over there and the yanks love em as much as we do!
Bandtag Team x
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Monday, March 16, 2009
Re: Eskimo Joe Sampler Card
Just a quick update for holders of an Eskimo Joe Download card, please
be advised that this card will go live later today of the 16th March.
We apologise if you have tried to upload the card and it says inactive - this
will be live very soon, so please try again later on today.
Please contact Bandtag via comments - if you have any further problems.
Bandtag Team x
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Thursday, January 22, 2009
The year that was...and then...
Well not gonna crap on too much about what has been happening last year as previous blogs have explained and I don't wanna be known for repeating myself now do I!
So, haven't entered a blog for a while as xmas/new years was a busy time for the Bandtag team, we were working while everyone was drinking and being merry, we were preparing for Big Day Out, for the likes of uncharTED the cool cats at Tooheys Extra Dry releasing a Bandtag for the very talented Kate Bradley & The Goodbye Horses (hope you got one)! Aswell as bandtagging my home town heroes all the local Goldy bands that played on the Hot Produce Stage to promote our talented local artists!!
We also re-vamped the site slightly, added some cool flash in there to show you what an actual Bandtag look likes, and the likes of who we have bandtagged so far!!
Have a few big things on the horizon here at bandtag with major labels, more festivals and killer bands, so no rest for the wicked!
please talk us with any questions, abuse, advice...we are all ears!
Bandtag Team x
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Saturday, December 06, 2008
Bandtag Homebake Card on Jmag Dec issue...
Bandtag is over the moon to be involved with the killer festival of Homebake, and the coolest mag out there..Jmag!!
If you pick up the Dec issue of Jmag you will have in ya hot little hands a Bandtag card stacked with 12 "Free" mp3 tracks from selected artists kicking it at Homebake this month!!
If your band, label, brand, festival want get in on the action and get Bandtagged, then just drop us a line!! Get on the train...or ya will be left behind ;)
Cheers
Bandtag Team x
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Friday, November 21, 2008
I Like It Alot..
Running through the headphones this week..
The Grates - Not Today
C.W. Stoneking - The Love Me or Die
Numbers Radio - Come On
Songs Of Applewood - I Can't Believe It
The Elana Stone Band - Slippery Slidey
Empire of The Sun - Swordfish Hotkiss Night
Yen - Closer To Love
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Thursday, November 13, 2008
November...
Well it has been a busy month here at Bandtag... we have bandtagged national music conferences, major label artists and among other things a well known music mag!! You'll hear more next month!
Apart from that we are re-vamping the site, we have been listening to our supporters and will spruce it up a bit shortly, adding in extras and overall small renovations!! it has been 6 months since launched so some changes are due..don't worry you will like them!
Please let us know if you have any additional suggestions...we are open to new ideas~!~ Just talk to us through the contact page!!
Until next time....
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Thursday, October 23, 2008
Big Sound 08 Music Conference
Designing the New Business Model:
• John Watson: it’s now about building a touring career, not about selling CDs. The industry is now about ‘services’. Also that there is a greater responsibility on the artist than ever to take responsibility for their own career. Artists can no longer “coast along, happy as long as the hookers and blow kept coming”.
• Equity deals and passive rights deals were discussed
• Paul Piticco talked about a new move towards signing ‘managers’ as well/in addition to bands.
• When looking at deals, note there can be ‘no rights without responsibilities’ per John Watson. Those wanting the rights must be able to provide the services.
• Whatever the deal – some artists will always prefer to shop at the local deli whereas others will be happy with woolworths; just depends on the individual and making sure your particular needs are met.
• Artists must also look to new ways of creating – why the continuing fixation with the ‘album’ concept?
• Artists must find ways to ‘stand for something’ – what do they have that makes a fan totally fascinated by them? Why would a fan want to have a poster of them on their bedroom wall? There’s more music than ever available now – what makes that artist stand out meaningfully?
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Wednesday, October 15, 2008
I Like It Alot..
Runnin thru the headphones this week..
Editors -The Racing Rats
Be your Own Pet - The Kelly affair
Chris Arnott - Paint by numbers
Stone Temple Pilots - Big Bang Baby (an oldie but a goodie)
Joan as Policewoman - Holiday
Mia Dyson - I meant something to you once
Ash Grunwald - The Devil called me a liar
Tilly And The Wall - Pot kettle black
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That Syncing Feeling - Big Sound 08
Music Synchronisation Panel: That Syncing Feeling - conference notes:
• Brandon Fuller from A&R Worldwide stressed that artists must have their stem tracks readily available before looking for synch deals.
• Instrumental tracks? It was said that it can be handy to have just instrumental versions available of your songs - for where the music is right but the lyrics aren’t for the particular placement. However Ward Hake from 20th Century Fox said he wouldn’t use unsigned bands’ instrumentals, but that advertisers sometimes would.
• Note that 20th Century Fox uses more indie music and are currently sourcing in Australia.
• Another hot tip for artists was to make sure that one person in the band, or management, has the decision-making power for synch placements, as if you get the call for one you don’t have time to chase each rights holder for permission. Also make sure your individual band agreements etc are in place so that you definitely have the rights to begin with. And don’t even come to the synch table per se if your song has a sampled track in it – the risk for the other party just isn’t worth it.
• Synch filters are a key, as are music placement companies and individual consultants.
• Also a new way forward is for managers with publishing knowledge to act as a label for a number of artists’ songs and have the right to make deals on the artists’ behalf.
• Artists should also note it is possible to do short term synch management deals (an admin deal) while you’re an independent, that can be dissolved down the track should you sign to a label etc.
• Do your homework to find out what new placement opportunities might be coming up – look in trade titles/websites such as Variety and Hollywood Reporter.
• Create a database of music supervisors. Get on their databases.
• Note that for films most music is added in late production and post production, so if you’re too early in the process no-one will be listening.
• Look to short films and docos for good opportunities for indie artists.
• For TV shows, the executive producers are powerful decision makers regarding music.
• Note turnaround times – Ward said that animated shows like the Simpsons take a year to produce while scripted shows have 8 day turnaround times.
• SoundSauce – has a myspace
• Can be helpful to find music placement companies that specialise in your particular type of music eg. Mr Bongo for latin music.
• Note Fox Sports/Sports networks use a lot of indie music but it pays very little.
by Katherine Beard - Bandtag Marketing Manager
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Friday, October 10, 2008
The Gatekeepers/Media Panel
Notes from Big Sound 08 Music conference...will be posting a new session every few days..
The Gatekeepers/Media Panel: Big Sound 08
• Older traditional media is becoming increasingly irrelevant
• Music Filters = new gatekeepers; eg. Bloggers
• Last FM – increasingly important to have a presence on this
• Move in the US is away from commercial radio, with public radio becoming increasingly influential, with the flow on then to mainstream
• Music blogs including mp3s are becoming new means of music distribution – there is a declining emphasis on the writing but an increasing emphasis on sharing the tunes
• New methods of spreading the word are very popular overseas – such as including CDs for distribution in newspapers and magazines; which spawns the ‘giving music away for free’ debate. In the US, a little known band did a massive CD giveaway, which cost them a fortune – but gave a 20% sales spike in tickets for shows. Whether they covered their costs is another question though. (WHICH is why BANDTAG is a MUCH SMARTER OPTION!!) UK’s biggest commercial station Xfm gave away a free download only track, which also worked to give exposure to the band involved.
• Audience asked whether these media gatekeepers on the panel assessed on the basis of ‘the song’ or ‘the album’? Responses were varied. For Xfm – has to be the single because they’re a commercial radio station; For Everett True – it was based on the individual songs as he says “Musicians only have one good idea. Then they repeat it.”. For Richard Kingsmill of Triple J, it was a ‘band’ based decision and that his team don’t always agree with what the band or the label are pushing as the JJJ single – he self selects what track from the album he thinks will work for the JJJ market. For Paul Brown, a US radio plugger, it was also based on the ‘band’ - he looks for longevity and an act he can commit to.
• The panelists were asked for their hot tips for artists to watch – Vampire Weekend, Hold Steady, Gaslight Anthem, The Gin Club, MGMT, Wind & Brackets, John Steel Singers, Violent Soho.
Written by - Bandtag National Marketing Manager - Katherine Beard
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Tuesday, September 30, 2008
I like it alot..
What's runnin through the headphones this week..
The Drones - Minotaur
Blue King Brown- Moment of truth
The Frames - Revelate
Tilly & The Wall - Pot kettle black
The Black Keys - Have love will travel
The Do - On my shoulders
Clutch - Electric worry
Abbe May & Rockin Pneumonia - You gonna get it
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Wednesday, September 17, 2008
I like it alot..
Artists I am listening to this week...
The Temper Trap
Skipping Girl Vinegar
The Rocketsmiths
Hungry Kids of Hungary
Wind & Brackets
Ruby Tigers
Black Mustang
Check em out!!
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Big Sound 08 Music Conference
Well what a hectic 3 days for Bandtag, apart from the amazing line up
of speakers at the conference, I was overwhelmed by the Aussie talent
showcasing at Big Sound this year...absolutely amazing, I hope the
international delegates were just as impressed as I was!! The
conference itself was highly successful and big ups to the conference
organisers the crew at QMusic and others, they did a great job.
Some of the great artists I witnessed were the likes of Abbe May &
The Rockin Pneumonia, put on a killer performance at Big Sound and
again at Valley Fiesta..she is definately on the rise! Gold Coast boys
Black Market Ryhtm Co another stand out performace along with Wind
& Brackets, local Bris act The Gin Club & Stone Parade were
some of my faves!! It was a challenge to get around to all the
showcasings, however like many other delegates, they can take the
artists home with them as every delegate received the Bandtag Showcase
compilation in their delegate bags! So hopefully something great comes
out of this for the participating artists!
Already looking forward to next years conference!!
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