MTT Open - Music Think Tank

Welcome to the second Often Not Found Playlist. This week we’re featuring artists from MusicWithoutLabels.com. It wasn’t easy to pick these artists out of all of the artists we have signed up, but these songs are a good representation of all the awesome music and artists we have on board already. Sorry for being a little late on this one, my internet time in Colombia is limited. This usually will come out on Saturdays. Enjoy!

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Saturday

06Feb2010

February 6, 2010

Need An Electronic Press Kit? Make Your Own!

Jason Parker |

As I’ve mentioned before, I’m in the middle of planning a tour for the Jason Parker Quartet. We’re going out in May and I’m busy contacting venues up and down the West Coast, from Vancouver BC to San Diego. I realized early on in the process that I needed an EPK, or Eletronic Press Kit.

What Is An EPK?
And EPK is just as it sounds - and electronic version of the old press kit. Bands used to send out physical press kits that included demo CD’s/DVD’s, information about the band, photos, reviews and other marketing materials. Nowadays, however, most bookers prefer an electronic version so they can just click a few links, listen to a few mp3’s and make a decision. This is easier for them, and also easier for us.

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Friday

05Feb2010

February 5, 2010

IT'S YOUR TURN FOR SUCCESS

Jamie Roberts |

The No Label Needed Contest and Series presented by Scion, in collaboration with MetalInsider.net, will help one band leave labels behind and take on the industry all on their own. The series will show readers how it’s done, all while helping one special contest-winning band get ahead in a spectacular way.

From 1/20 NOW EXPANDED through 2/8, unsigned acts can submit demo packages at www.metalinsider.net/nolabelneeded.

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Wednesday

03Feb2010

February 3, 2010

Simple Keys to a REALLY Successful Business

Dante Cullari |

First of all, when structuring your business you have to have the mindset of providing the best value to people. If you are approaching the organization of you business with the mind set of making money, you are going to be sadly disappointed later on down the line.

The money will come later. The sure way to secure that money is by forgetting about it, and focusing on how you can provide the most value possible to your consumers.

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Monday

01Feb2010

February 1, 2010

Grammys Got Your Goat...Call Their Bluff

Janet Hansen |

With every twist and turn the music biz takes, there is always a big hullabaloo around Grammy time. The grand ceremony for music’s highest honor always brings out the best and worst around an industry that is way too sexy for its shirt.

There are those who want to pick up the closest thing handy and throw it through their television sets during the Grammys. Urban legend has it, the founder of one of history’s most powerful independent labels actually did throw his shoe through his TV set many years ago.

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Monday

01Feb2010

February 1, 2010

Grammys: That's Not MY Music Industry

Jason Parker |

Watching the Grammy Awards tonight I was struck with one thought: they might call that the Music Industry, but that has nothing to do with what I do as a working musician. I have been a professional musician for 15 years, and it’s been my sole job for 9 of those years. But whatever that was on the TV tonight, that’s not even close to my world.

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Monday

01Feb2010

February 1, 2010

E-mailing your way into the recording studio

Bjorgvin Benediktsson |

Working in a recording studio is a dream of many music enthusiasts. Those big facilites with all the gear you salivate just thinking about, let alone having the opportunity to touch and handle. It’s just all so exciting.

So how do you get a job in one of those facilities if you don’t know anybody in the field? Nothing is going to happen if you sit idly by. Just like big labels don’t come knocking on your door with a contract, neither is a recording studio going to come to your house with a job offer. I recently moved to a new city where I didn’t know anybody except my girlfriend. How did I start assisting in the biggest recording studio in town if I didn’t know anybody there?

Music Industry

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Sunday

31Jan2010

January 31, 2010

How to Turn Your Mailing List Into Money and Enthusiasm

Scott James |

5 Comments

The mailing list is one of the most important tools that an independent artist has to market themselves. Hopefully you make it a priority to capture email addresses at every opportunity.

Here’s one way that you might turn those email addresses into money while helping to establish and sustain a win-win relationship with your fans.

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Saturday

30Jan2010

January 30, 2010

The Often Not Found, Playlist Worthy Songs of the Week

Dante Cullari |

This blog post will be the first of many that I am dedicating to all of the amazing independent artists I listen to everyday, who deserve way more support than what they’re getting. These actual songs I am taking from my thesixtyone.com playlist. They range from Rock to Reggae to Folk, and in between. All AMAZINGLY talented artists.

Thesixtyone.com by the way, just updated their interface, and it’s much harder to use!…but still full of amazing artists..Enjoy!