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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