MTT Open

Lossy audio file formats explained (data compressed formats)

2013-05-10T14:55:09Z

Almost all distributed audio files online use lossy, data compressed file formats. Formats such as MP3 (a shortening of MPEG-2 Layer III), AAC (Advanced Audio Coding), .wma, .m4a files and the slightly lesser known and oddly named Ogg Vorbis. These files use complex algorithms to reduce the file size for faster upload and download times and allow more tracks to be stored on phones and iPods. Streaming services such as Spotify, online radio stations and Soundcloud also use compressed audio streams which reduce the data rate of the music that is heard.

6 Pieces of Advice From Music Lawyers

2013-05-09T20:46:14Z

This is a guest post by Juan Lopez, legal advisor at Avenant Law & product manager at MusicLawContracts.com.

As an artist, dealing with the legalities of the music business may seem uninteresting and time wasting, but getting it right from the start is absolutely essential If you want to avoid complications further down the line. Here are six pieces of advice from professional music lawyers to developing artists.

1. Establish the splits between all writers

“Always introduce yourself to as many people as possible. The more you know the better you will be. Do not burn bridges, because you will learn this industry is a lot smaller than you think!

The number one piece of advice I give to an artist as a music lawyer is to make sure that you have an agreement in place which establishes the royalty splits between all writers of a particular composition. This is true even if you are best friends, and can literally be done a piece of tissue signed by everyone. Trust me this will help in preventing any problems that may arise in the future once you become rich and famous!”

- Donald Glista, Universal Music

Why and How ReverbNation Lost My Love

2013-05-09T19:13:53Z

Summary: There was a time when I used ReverbNation daily to connect with fans, promote my music, and grow my network. Things were great. But then things started changing and I began using the platform less and less. I used to be an advocate for their services and now I find myself telling people not to bother.

Below I will share my perspective and experiences with the platform simply to provide insight to those who want it.

If you want to know why I wrote this before reading, feel free to skip to the why.

In the beginning…

Back in 1999, when I decided BUNKS was the musical direction I would take into the future; we chose to stay independent and use the Internet to promote and market the music.

5 Things Your Band Website Needs (That You Probably Don't Already Have)

2013-05-08T13:27:59Z

Using Effective Keywords for Your Music.

2013-05-08T00:03:13Z

Psychoacoustics: The Power of Sound

2013-05-07T03:12:13Z

Use Your Own Wristbands at Shows

2013-05-03T01:59:35Z

Let’s talk about wristbands (yipee!). This is an idea I’ve been toying with for a little while after seeing it posted by a few other music blogs around the web, but I haven’t actually put it into practice yet. Wristbands are required at the door of just about every show you’ll be playing, so why not see if you can distribute your own wristbands at the show to get some additional branding/exposure for your band both before and after you’re done playing.

You’ve probably seen venues with custom wristbands before (where I’m from they’ll print coupons for Domino’s pizza onto the wristbands), but have you ever considered asking the venue if you can use your own?

This One Time At Bandcamp : The Evolution to a “Legit” Online Music Store

2013-04-30T10:00:32Z

After Four years into beginning its service for indie artists, Bandcamp has finally got the look of a legit online music store. The site has slowly been making changes over the past few months to appeal more strongly to consumers as an alternative to iTunes and Amazon, starting with the launch of fan profiles in January. With the April 9 revision of its front page, the site now resembles a storefront rather than a sales pitch to meandering troubadours, all the while maintaining the same humility that has characterized its grassroots approach.

Facebook For Musicians: Getting It Wrong, And How To Do It Right

2013-04-29T10:00:57Z

Hey guys. Today I wanted to talk a little about the social giant ‘FB’. How to promote your music on Facebook, and why the majority of musicians are using it in the wrong way. That’s right; A lot of people aren’t using it right! Furthermore, a lot of musicians have unrealistic expectations about what Facebook should be used for. You’ll know if this is the case if:

New Streaming Service For Underground Music Launches

2013-04-29T07:57:22Z

WASHINGTON, DC, April 29th, 2013 — UndergroundMusic.fm wants to make underground music mainstream. The startup has officially launched a new Internet service that provides a simple way to play and share underground music.

“It sounds paradoxical because it’s never been possible before,” says co-founder Max Acchione. “The underground has always been the source of musical innovation: blues, jazz, rock, punk, hip-hop, electronic, etc., and being inside it as it happens is exciting. It’s hard to experience because it’s so spread out and recording and distribution have been expensive. That’s why we have a mainstream in the first place. But today, the underground is thriving with affordable recording technology and it can be directly accessed through the Internet on ubiquitous devices.”