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Vol. 2: Iss. 2| B# Newsletter | March, 2001| ISSN 1533-6522

Publisher/Editor: Kenny Love
P. O. Box 1404
Crockett, Texas 75835-1404
Web Site Sign-Up:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BSharpNews
Email Subscribe: BSharpNews-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
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POWERFUL "B#" Testimonials: bsharptest@...
Last Month's Issue: bsharp0201@...
Discussion List: BSharpRoundTable@yahoogroups.com
List Members: 725

Copyright © 2001 Kenny Love All Rights Reserved

************************************************************
"The B# Newsletter" is published for unsigned and
independent musicians and recording artists. Its
intent is to inform and enlighten through articles,
resources, products, and services that will
significantly benefit them in their careers.

We will never rent, sell, or release your private Email
address to any third party. Your discreet privacy in
becoming a subscriber is assured.

************************************************************

IN THIS ISSUE

1. Editor's Blurb

2. B# RoundTable Discussion List

3. Music Career Stuff (Necessary Evils)

4. All In Jest: "Let Me Entertain You ('Cause We're
The Bomb!)"

5. "Top 5 Recommended Web Sites For Musicians"

By Carolyn Ballen

6. "The Business Of Live Performance"

By Christopher Knab

7. "MP3.Com: Hype Or Hope?"
(A Case Study For Musicians On The Fence)

By David Nevue

8. "How To Make Money Scoring Soundtracks & Jingles"

By Jeffrey P. Fisher

9. "Spring Cleaning"

By Mark Baxter

10. "How To Increase Your Sales At Amazon.com
& CD Baby"

11. "Bar Codes - Do You Really Need One?"

By Suzanne Glass

***********************************************************

1. Editor's Blurb:


Hi! Welcome to the windy March issue of the "B#
Newsletter!" Believe it, or not, in March, there are
often days of high wind out here in Texas that can
rival the free flow of Chicago.

Winds so high, that it becomes dreadfully unsafe to
either fly a kite near high-voltage electrical wires,
or ride a horse that only obeys commands given in
Spanish.

In fact, one extremely windy season, after having
lost a ton of weight, I was forced to crawl inside the
nearest entrance of a shopping mall, in order to not
be blown away. There's a moral to this particular
part of the story, however...never go on any diet
that lists "Ex-Lax" as one of its ingredients.

<<<<<>>>>>

"B# NEWSLETTER" ASSOCIATES

We would like to list the web sites of our newest
"B# Newsletter" associates who like us so much,
they've agreed to help us get the word out on "B#."

Besides being posted here, these links will also
enjoy the added promotion of being placed on our
main web site that re-launches in just a few days as
well.

So, if you, too, would like to get some added
exposure for your own web site, while also providing
a great opportunity for other musicians to learn about
the existence of the "B# Newsletter" by posting one
of our HTML-coded promo links on your own site, just
let us know, and we'll get the links right over to ya.

If I've left anyone off below who is carrying the link,
please let me know so that I can immediately add
you. In advance, we certainly thank ya.

<<<<<<<>>>>>>>

* "FWG Records" (Christina Fasano)
http://www.funkywhitegirl.com/

* "The Sepia" (Jules)
http://www.the-sepia.co.uk/

* ABBY
http://www.the-end-of-the-rainbow.freeserve.co.uk

* Liz Henry
http://www.lizhenry.com

* "Evolution Promotion" (Karen Lee)
http://www.evolutionpromotion.com

* "Orock" (Jason)
http://www.orock.com/mcentral

* "Round & Distant Few (Ronnie)
http://member.aol.com/DistFew

* Must Have Music (Ken Klar)
http://www.musthavemusic.net

* Joyful Noise (Joy Katzen-Guthrie)
http://www.joyfulnoise.net/

<<<<<<<>>>>>>>

* NEW MUSIC NEWSLETTER

In the favorite words of Bill Cosby, "Guess what?"
We're starting a brand new music newsletter! Yep,
it's titled the, "B# Tunesletter," and makes it debut
on the 1st of April.

Nope, this ain't no pre-April Fool's joke, as it will
focus on the actual mechanics of music which
include; theory, composition, music performance,
instrumental performance, recording, audio, vocal
technique, etc.

Best of all, it will be completely written by some of
the most widely recognized professors from some
of the top music schools, conservatories, and
colleges.

So, feel free to go ahead and sign up now at
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BSharpTunes or
send a request to
BSharpTunes-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.

It would also be great if you would send in any
questions you might have ahead of time
regarding the above subject areas that will be
addressed. That way, we can answer them in
the first issue for you.

For, if we believe in nothing else at the "B#"
home office, we strongly believe in continuing
"edd-u-muh-cae-shun."

************************************************************

2. B# RoundTable Discussion List

Check out the "B# RoundTable," the companion
discussion list to this newsletter, for questions,
answers, issues, news, and a myriad of other
informative notices. To join the discussion list,
simply send a blank Email to:
BSharpRoundTable-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.

************************************************************

3. Music Career Stuff (Necessary Evils)


* NOMA Music specializes in:

a. The licensing of songs from worldwide bands,
songwriters, and composers for use in TV and Film
projects.

b. The matching up and sending of artists' CDs
directly to the key A&R directors for over 200 major
and indie U.S.record labels. Interested?
http://www.noma1.com or nomamusic@...
877-980-7700 or 1-818-566-8817


* CD STREET.COM (The Truth, The Whole Truth,
& Nothing But...)

- CDStreet.com collects ONLY 15% in service fees
- NO set-up fees
- NO waiting for 3 months to get paid from CD sales
- You are paid monthly for your CD sales
- You can accept credit cards for CD sales at Gigs

Check 'em out at http://www.cdstreet.com and be
sure to tell 'em you learned about 'em in
Kenny Love's "B# Newsletter."


* THE BANDIT A&R NEWSLETTER

ARE YOU an unsigned act/songwriter/producer
seeking a Record, Publishing, Management or
Licensing deal worldwide? Each month the
"BANDIT A&R NEWSLETTER" publishes
info on Labels, Publishers, & Managers seeking
to sign acts, songs or masters. Get yourself a FREE
SAMPLE COPY from: bandit.B#@...


* THE MUSICIAN'S TIP SHEET

Subscribe to the Musician's Tip Sheet...a free weekly
newsletter for musicians which includes many industry
contacts and informative information about the music
industry. To subscribe, please send an email to:
musicians-tipsheet-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.


* WANTED: A SURVIVAL PLAN FOR THE
MUSIC INDUSTRY

***** Napster And The Consequences *****

This 80-page white paper by Diebold, a leading
German management and technology consultancy,
provides an analysis of the current Internet strategies
of the five largest record labels and their online rivals
within the context of the evolving marketplace to
challenge while drawing a roadmap to the music
industry.

Purchase Report: http://www.taggin.com/diebold/


* Check out what's going on over at "East Coast
Music Publishing." Mary-Ann Thomas is the Pres.
and you can receive complete details at
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/eastcoastmusic/


* RECORD PROMOTION

You know the drill...got your CDs back, felt really
great for a few days, then started to suddenly feel
like crap when reality (and depression) set in. In fact,
a pessimistic voice kept saying...

((((("You're just another musician, with another CD,
who is going to have the same difficulty getting radio
airplay, press coverage, and CD sales!")))))

Hey! Hold everything! That's some other musician's
nightmare...one who's trying to wing it on his or her
own, with little or no experience! Not *yours!* Check
out how the lifelong dream can quickly become reality
for you through professional assistance and
connections at => kennylove@....


* UPCOMING RADIO MUSIC SHOW

"Kenny Love's Indie Mix" (The Countdown Continues...
7...6...5...) More info at radioshow@...


* $TIFF-PROOF ARTICLES
(Vitally Important to Gigging/Performing Musicians)

Get my 2 articles that show you how to avoid getting
ripped off by non-paying club owners. Titled, "How to
$tiff-Proof Local Gigs," and "How to $tiff-Proof
'Outside' Gigs," you can immediately receive them by
sending requests to stiffproof@...
and stiffproof2@..., respectively.


* Want to protect your musical finances? Then, how
about being able to check out club owners, or any
other "suspicious' gigs, beforehand?

http://affiliates.jeanharris.com/cgi-bin/clickthru.cgi?
sid=kennylove&pid=ND


* MUSIC BUSINESS ARTICLES

Read my Music Business/Career/Promotion articles
at: http://www.musicdish.com/mag/list.php3?author=16


* PAYPAL...A MUSIC FRIEND INDEED...

Want your money for your own web site sales instantly...
without waiting 30 days on other sites to pay you?
Then, check out PayPal.

https://secure.paypal.com/refer/pal=kennylovepr%40yahoo.com


* MUSICIAN! PROTECT THYSELF!

Learn how to protect yourself while on the road gigging,
as well as your loved ones while away, with advice from
real cops in "The Shield." Get the latest issue at
freeshield@.... Sign up at
http://www.yahoogroups.com/group/TheShield or at
TheShield-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.


* Check out all the raving testimonials by long-term,
as well as new, subscribers and readers of the "B#
Newsletter" at bsharptest@....


* * *ADVERTISING SPACE HERE * * *

Promote your own Music-Related Product,
Service, or Information here for only $10 for a whole
month! Deadline is the 25th of each month. We
also reserve the right to reject ads we deem
inappropriate for this publication.


* PASS IT FORWARD

Do a fellow musician an incredibly wonderful favor
today...tell 'em about the "B# Newsletter," or simply
forward this copy to them.

************************************************************

4. All In Jest

"Let Me Entertain You ('Cause We're The Bomb!)"

In a recent interview, Lynne Cheney, wife of Vice
President Dick Cheney, revived an old passion:
speaking out against those awful Rock music lyrics
that she claims are so highly offensive.

To support her claim, and as an example, in an
interview with CNN, she singled out and cited
Rapper Eminem's music because it advocates
violence.

Ironically, she later advocated that the new
Administration should proceed in bombing Iraq.

hehehehehe We have sooo many questions for
Mrs. Cheney, we hardly know where to begin.

************************************************************

5. "Top 5 Recommended Web Sites For Musicians"

By Carolyn Ballen


Hey folks,

I'll be speaking on a panel titled, "Web Based
Resources for Musicians," during the upcoming
Texas' SXSW Music Conference on Saturday,
March 17th, 2001, from 3:00 p.m. - 4:15 p.m. in the
Austin Convention Center.

I was asked to submit a list of my Top 5
Recommended Web sites. I actually couldn't narrow
it down to five, so I sent them six sites instead.

I thought I'd pass along this information to you as well,
and hope you find it helpful.

---------------------

a. http://www.StarPolish.com/advice

Simply an amazing wealth of information about the
music industry! Topics include; "Introductory
Groundrules," "Basic Business," "The Art of Record
Promotion," "Booking Shows & Performance
Marketing," "Maximum Exposure," "Your Team:
Management & Legal," "Getting Signed," "Music
Publishing & Copyrights," "Music & The Internet" and
"The Urban Music Business."

b. http://www.getsigned.com

This site is also a wealth of great information on a
huge range of subjects. If you're not sure what
promotion strategy to implement, try browsing the
subjects on this Web site and I feel certain that you
will be struck with inspiration.

c. http://www.ePeople.com

I believe this is my favorite all time site in the world.
A total Tech Support dream!!! If you have trouble
navigating your user manuals, or worse, don't have
a manual for what you want to do, this site is the
answer to many frustrating hours of toil.

You simply log on, ask your question, then wait for
people to bid on the answer. When I needed to
network my laptop and desktop computers, I was
quoted hundreds of dollars by a network specialist.
I posed my question to ePeople and received a bid
range from $6 to $20.

I've also gotten info on fixing a glitch on my Web site,
and how to transfer Outlook folders from one
computer to another. I always find that the bids are
lower than what the information is worth to me.

d. http://www.press-release-writing.com

This site guides you through everything you need to
know about writing, formatting and sending your
press release. No one will ever know that you don't
have a professional publicist on your team. Check
out the FREE resources they offer under, "Press
Release Writing Tips." They also send out a
newsletter twice each month that always has helpful
articles included.

e. http://www.legaljungleguide.com/resource.htm

This site will provide you with information pertaining
to legal issues that are crucial to you as an artist,
such as; "How To Copyright Songs And Sound
Recordings," "What Exactly Is A Music Copyright?"
and "Music Publishing: How Your Song Generates
Income."

All of these can be confusing subjects, but I was
particularly impressed with how well written, well
organized and easy to understand this text was.

f. http://www.tucows.com

This site provides tons of software downloads and
reviews. I've found well rated Freeware for my FTP
Client, my HTML editor and also an HTML tutorial.
I've also researched subjects such as writing, music,
mailing lists and book publishing. There are tools
available for practically any project you are looking
to embark on. I think you'll be surprised at some of
the stuff that you find.
________________________________________

Editor's Note: Carolyn Ballen is President of the
Indie Music Forum, a traveling music seminar for
independent musicians. More information can be
immediately obtained from her web site located at
http://www.indiemusicforum.com.

************************************************************

6. "The Business Of Live Performance"

By Christopher Knab


Live performance is glamorous and exciting. But
performers often forget that club owners have a
different perspective on music than musicians do.
For venues, it's a very serious business fraught with
risk and considerable competition. The questions
for you to keep in mind when approaching the
booker of a live venue are...

* "Why does this club book certain artists, and not
others?

* What is the criteria to get a gig at this venue?

The bottom line for club owners is they need to make
a living at their profession, and the only way they can
do that is to book acts that fill their club. Artists who
wish to get booked should have a list of their
accomplishments to present to a booker.

The booker needs to see your promotional kit. The
promo kit contains a cover letter, a bio, a photo, a
selection of press clips, possibly a Fact Sheet, and,
of course, a CD (CDR) or tape of your music.

When sending a demo, always be sure to put contact
information on the label, and the J-card or cover of
the CDR, (as well as every other part of the promo kit).
Only three or four of your best songs should be on the
demo. The demo for a club can be a live recording,
unlike studio-produced recordings sent to radio
station specialty shows. If you send a CD, mark three
or four songs that are most appropriate for the venue.

There are many kinds of live venues. Besides clubs,
there are:

* bars & taverns conventions
* coffee houses
* music conferences showcases
* festivals
* industry showcases
* fairs
* non-profit charity organization shows
* concert halls
* association functions
* schools
* street corners
* churches
* raves
* book stores
* house parties
* record stores
* frat and sorority gigs
* shopping malls
* restaurants

How many more live music venues can you think of?

This is only a partial list; the point is for you to think
about all the alternatives you have for playing your
music in front of an audience. If you do well at
non-traditional venues, the nightclubs may be more
inclined to book you - especially when they know
people have been coming to your shows in droves.

When dealing with venues, keep in mind that many
have a business agenda that may determine whether
or not you're qualified to perform at their venue.
Each venue is intent on achieving its missions or
goals.which is, to get people to have a good time
and drink a lot of refreshments, eat a lot of food, or
donate to some worthy cause. Your job is to convince
them that your music will help them achieve their goal.
________________________________________

Editor's Note: Chris Knab's company, FourFront
Media & Music, provides consultation and education
services for independent musicians and record labels
that combines advice with instructions on how to
establish a music related career. Many of his above
listed sources, can be found in your area telephone
directory, as well as area print publications. See his
web site at http://www.knab.com.

************************************************************

7. "MP3.Com: Hype Or Hope?"
(A Case Study For Musicians On The Fence)

By David Nevue


I'm no stranger to the Internet. I've been promoting
my music successfully online for well over six years
now. Up to this point, however, I've more or less
avoided MP3.com. Why?

Well, I've been somewhat skeptical about my ability
to compete with so many other musicians in one
place. Could I - a simple pianist and composer -
really hope to make a dent on the MP3 charts? It
seemed a rather daunting task.

However, a recent article about the financial MP3
success of fellow pianist Ernesto Cortezar spurned
me to action! I needed to get off my butt and get with
the program. So, on January 1st of 2001, I began the
new year as an MP3.com artist, and this is the story
of my first month.

Where The Money Is:

Once signed up, my first task was to upload MP3
files of my best songs. I then did a bit of research
into the promotion opportunities available at MP3,
and found there are two primary ways to generate
income.

D.A.M. CDs

The first way, is via MP3's 'DAM' (Digital Automatic
Music) CD program. This very cool sales tool allows
musicians to mix-and-match uploaded songs into
digital CD 'collections' - which can then be sold to
visitors to MP3.com. The artist receives 50% of the
retail price for every CD sold through the site.

Even better, once the customer orders MP3.com
does all the work, burning the CD shipping it directly
to the customer. It took only a few days though, to
realize that DAM CDs sales are actually the least
productive means of making money via MP3.com.

PAYBACK-FOR-PLAYBACK

The real money is in the famed Payback-For-Playback
program. Each month, MP3.com sets aside a $1
million dollar pot exclusively for member artists. The
more playback activity an artist generates, the
bigger portion of that pot the artist receives.

Some artists make, literally, thousands of dollars per
month using this program. See
http://www.mp3.com/payback for statistics on the
highest paid artists. It's pretty unbelievable.

But, to make significant money, one needs to
generate *serious* playback numbers. This is done
via MP3.com radio stations, of which there are
thousands. Sorting through them all is a task, but the
more stations you can get to play your music, the
more money you make, which also results in higher
ranking on the MP3 song charts.

This, in turn, leads to more song exposure,
placement on more radio stations, more radio play,
higher rankings, and on it goes in a continuous circle
of promotional bliss. Or at least, that's the theory.

After creating my own page
(http://www.mp3.com/davidnevue), then uploading
my songs, I started my own MP3 radio station and
called it 'Whisperings,' a solo piano radio station at
http://www.mp3.com/stations/whisperings. I featured
my own solo piano compositions, as well as songs
from other artists in the same genre.

I then promoted this station via my already existing
web sites and mailing lists, while at the same time
pitching my songs individually to other MP3.com
radio stations.

It didn't take much time at all to see results. It was
actually quite easy. By the end of the first month, my
station 'Whisperings' had reached its highest
position (#3) on the classical station charts, #10 on
the Easy Listening station charts, and #5 on the Jazz
station charts. One of our songs made it to #2 in its
specific genre, and I ranked 4 different songs in the
top 40. Wow, that wasn't hard at all.

Using simple promotion strategies and some
persistence, I made nearly $100 at MP3.com in my
first month. Here is a day by day account of my
earnings.

Activity Summary for January 2001

Date Plays Earnings

01/01 0 $ 0.00
01/02 5 $ 0.00
01/03 3 $ 0.00
01/04 9 $ 0.00
01/05 8 $ 0.00
01/06 14 $ 0.00
01/07 6 $ 0.00
01/08 25 $ 0.00
01/09 42 $ 2.29
01/10 40 $ 1.04
01/11 78 $ 2.23
01/12 53 $ 1.26
01/13 48 $ 1.29
01/14 38 $ 1.08
01/15 45 $ 1.54
01/16 68 $ 2.79
01/17 87 $ 3.11
01/18 167 $ 3.60
01/19 118 $ 3.66
01/20 89 $ 3.33
01/21 112 $ 4.98
01/22 130 $ 3.98
01/23 162 $ 4.27
01/24 109 $ 2.85
01/25 181 $ 5.34
01/26 190 $ 4.60
01/27 197 $ 7.07
01/28 175 $ 7.10
01/29 276 $ 8.23
01/30 303 $ 9.98
01/31 365 $ 9.85

Totals: 3073 $ 95.47

Not a bad start at all, and based on the current
earnings trend, my total for February should exceed
$300. And, while that isn't exactly a treasure trove, it
is a good beginning to what I hope is long term
growth.

But now comes the really hard part - staying on the
charts. Whether or not I can maintain my current
station and song positionings, remain to be seen.

WHAT I'VE LEARNED SO FAR

So, can musicians make money promoting music at
MP3.com? You bet. And, with a little effort on your
part, it's easier than you might think. There really
isn't a secret to it, but there are a few key elements
certainly help. Here are some tips based on my
experience so...

a) Take advantage of past successes:

I am very fortunate to already have a very successful
music-oriented web site targeted directly to
musicians and music lovers. This really helped get
the 'Whisperings' station off the ground, generating
airplay almost immediately.

b) Get your fans involved:

I have a very loyal fan base. To succeed at MP3.com,
I strongly recommend you get your fans involved. You
will be surprised at the difference a few dedicated
fans can make.

c) Song titles matter:

The only thing you have to draw attention to your
song in the charts, is your song title. If you can come
up with a catchy or interesting song title, you're more
likely to get curious listeners. Look over your own
song titles - if you had to choose, what would YOU
click on?

d) Focus your energy:

Pick one song - any song - with an interesting title
that's well crafted - and promote the snot out of it.

e) Create multiple stations:

Why only have one station? The most successful
artists on MP3.com are creating multiple stations and
using stylistic variations to populate the station charts.
Once you get your first station established, start
working on another, and use your successful station
to promote your new station to your repeat visitors.

f) Make your stations GOOD stations:

You MUST gain station fans and repeat listeners.
Without them, your station, even if it gets a good
start, will begin dying a slow death. If the music is
lousy, why would anyone come back?

MP3.com artists play a lot of 'Put me on your station
and I'll put you on mine' games. Avoid this mentality
and don't include bad music on your station just
because the artists guarantee they'll play your station.
If you like the song, fine, include them. But if it's
mediocre at best, then your station will be mediocre.
Your station is only as good as your worse song.

g) Pitch your best songs to new stations every day:

Start the morning by checking your genre charts to
see if any new up-and-coming stations are on the
rise. If so, check them out, see if your music will fit
in the format and, if so, email the station creator.

If you do well, 1 in 5 stations will play your music.
The more stations you're on, the more song plays
you'll get. Do realize that some of these stations are
'play for listing' stations, and will demand you listen
to them a few times a week to participate.

If the station is a HOT station, that might be fine to
commit to. However, if the station is doing mediocre
in the charts, don't bother. If you do well promoting
your music on MP3.com, you won't have time to listen
to every station that agrees to play your music. So,
pick and choose wisely.

h) Encourage your station participants to listen to
your own station, but don't be dogmatic about it:

There's nothing wrong with *asking* your station
participants to help out by listening whenever they can.
And, if your station is successful, they'll WANT to help.
Everyone wants to be on a HOT station, so if you
become fortunate enough to make the top 10 or 20,
enjoy it, and get your participants involved.

i) Develop working relationships with your station
participants:

This also goes toward #8 above. If your station does
well, the artists on your station will be grateful, and
will have a definite incentive to help you succeed.

So, there you have it. After my first month on
MP3.com, I'm a believer. If you, like me, have been
riding the fence about MP3.com, take my lead - and
jump on in.
________________________________________

David Nevue is the founder of RainMusic.com and the
Music Biz Academy (http://www.musicbizacademy.htm).
He is also a professional pianist, recording artist, and
author of the book, "How to Promote Your Music
Successfully on the Internet." You can find his MP3.com
station at http://www.mp3.com/davidnevue.

************************************************************

8. "How To Make Money Scoring Soundtracks & Jingles"

By Jeffrey P. Fisher


This article will help you start (and succeed) in the
lucrative commercial music world.

a) To sell commercial music services, you should
prepare a demo of your best tracks. I suggest
selecting about 20-30 pieces and prepare a
montage of short snippets lasting about 8-15
seconds each.

What is especially good about this approach, is you
include only the best parts of each track on the demo.
While not every track needs to be commercial, it
helps if they have impact and make a good, strong
impression.

b) While I doubt you will use radio, broadcast TV, or
cable to advertise and promote your commercial
music business (soundtracks and jingles), there is a
technique you should employ.

If your music is appearing on radio, TV, or cable,
drop a note or postcard in the mail to your clients and
prospects. You could say something like this:

* * * * *

"NOW HEAR THIS! Are you still wondering whether
Jeffrey P. Fisher Music can help you? Maybe this will
convince you: Listen for Al's Body Shop jingle on
WWWW radio and other stations in this area. Al
claims his sales have increased 8% since starting
his new radio advertising campaign. We like to think
our jingle has something to do with that. Let us do the
same for you. Call now to get started helping you or
your clients use music more effectively."

* * * * *

A simple letter, flyer, or postcard like this enables
you to reap the benefits of broadcast media without
buying advertising time. When your music tracks are
easily accessible for your clients and prospects to
hear, let them know when and where. Hearing your
music from another third party project gives you more
credibility than hearing your music demo, even if it's
the same music.

c) Another key to succeeding in the commercial
music business (soundtracks and jingles) is
knowing a little about your competition. How do you
uncover this information? Just listen to the radio; to
TV; to cable. Check out educational and business
videos, and CD-ROM's from your local library.

Get demo tapes from production music producers
and from your competitors. Once you know what
your competition is doing, you can position your
music composition services accordingly.

The best way to discover this information is to ask
for it. Call your competition and request their latest
demo tape and marketing materials (Try to get their
basic price sheet, too). Study what your competition
is doing and learn from their mistakes. After
collecting from a few, you'll know exactly what you
need to do to compete in your market.

d) Commercial music (soundtracks and jingles) is a
difficult business to break into. Here's my best
advice:

Work in your local area and build relationships with
production companies, advertising agencies, radio
and TV stations, etc. Deliver your best work all the
time and stay in touch with the people who hire you.
Remember that people get promoted or take on new
jobs and responsibilities. They also move on to
bigger and better things, and often take their *friends*
with them.

I've personally landed big gigs from people who were
struggling to just get by only a few years earlier. Now,
they have larger budgets, are in a position to hire
people, and know my work. All my effort at cultivating
relationships has paid off handsomely.
________________________________________

Editor's Note: What's the secret to success in the
commercial music industry? You'll find it on page
three of Jeffrey's jam-packed book: "How to Make
Money Scoring Soundtracks and Jingles." You'll also
discover even more step-by-step success secrets in
this popular resource. Order your copy today from
http://www.jeffreypfisher.com.

************************************************************

9. "Spring Cleaning"

By Mark Baxter


Most of us tend to wait until the closet door can't shut
before dealing with the mess inside. The same holds
true for our bodies. Typically, a winter of inactivity
begins to take its toll around this time of the year. If
you're feeling like rehearsals are becoming harder
on your voice, or your on-stage antics are causing
you to 'bonk' midway through the set, it's time to
clean house.

There is a direct correlation between health and
vocal ability. After all, your body is your instrument.
Every musician knows that a well maintained
instrument is easier to play. To provide the same
advantage for singing, you've got to get your butt
moving.

Singing requires aerobic and anaerobic muscle
strength, dexterity, coordination, flexibility and
stamina. Physical routines should include
cardiovascular, flexing and stretching exercises.
Swimming provides the best workout for singers
because it combines all of these elements in one.

Water is a neutral environment. This means less
stress on your joints and the buoyancy factor allows
a freedom of motion not possible with other activities.
If you find chlorine vapors are bothering your voice,
wear goggles, nose and ear plugs.

If a dip in a pool is out of the question, jogging, stair
climbers, ski machines, stationary bikes, rebounders
and jumping rope can all get your heart pumping.
Rotate these activities so you don't develop
patterned breathing habits.

Long distance runners, for instance, train themselves
to breathe in rhythm with their strides, which are
equal in length. When we sing, though, inhales
should be proportionate to each phrase, which are
unequal in length.

This doesn't mean that running is bad for your voice,
as runners are usually in excellent health. Just be
watchful of patterned breathing working its way into
your singing. Playing tennis, basketball and soccer
are simple ways to develop reflexive breathing
because they require sudden bursts of speed.
They're great for developing cardiovascular strength
and coordination, and you don't even have to be
good at them to gain the benefits!

Weight training and/or calisthenics are a necessary
counterpart to aerobic activities. Strong muscles
allow the body to stand in posture naturally. The
pectoral muscles (chest) are important anchors for
the larynx, which means butterflies and pushups will
strengthen your voice.

Lower abdominal and back muscles are vital for
proper pelvic positioning. This area is key for
coordinated breathing, which will improve greatly
once you no longer need to suck it in to keep it flat
(come on, you know you do). Toned muscle is
easier to control than tense muscle.

Always remember to focus on form when doing
crunches and lifting weights. Exhale on the
contraction. Avoid grunting which places the load on
your vocal folds. Instead, resist the air leaving with
your lips.

Although biceps (arms) and the rectus abdominis
muscles (the ones that make six-pack abs) are the
popular ones to focus on, they are not directly
beneficial to singing. As a matter of fact, over-
developing your abs tends to shallow breathing and
reduce vocal flexibility. Remember you are working
out to provide yourself with a better instrument, not to
win a body competition.

Make sure you spend as much time stretching as
flexing. Martial arts are great for singers because,
like swimming, they incorporate balance, strength
and stretch in one activity. Yoga is another excellent
way to maintain muscle strength and flexibility.

In general, a variety of workout routines is the best
way to ensure a well balanced body. If you have
never exercised before, take it slow. Those who try
to do too much, typically become discouraged and
quit.

If you can't imagine where you'll find the time,
incorporate activities into your schedule. Skip the
bus and walk or pedal to work. I know this means
leaving a little early but the stimulation to your heart
and lungs provides far more benefit than fifteen
extra minutes of sleep.

Climbing stairs, instead of using the elevator, is
another simple way of using your time wisely. Once
you become accustomed to being physical, you'll
find the time to expand your workout routines. It's
ironic, but the busiest people always work out while
those who exercise by operating the remote from the
couch, feel they haven't got the time.

Use the warm weather of spring for inspiration.
Once you get physical, stay active throughout the
year. Just like your closet, it's much easier to keep
in shape by doing a little each day.
________________________________________

Editor's Note: Mark Baxter is one of the most sought
after and leading voice coaches to Grammy recording
artists in America . See his highly informative web site
at http://www.voicelesson.com.

************************************************************

10. "How To Increase Your Sales At Amazon.com
& CD Baby"

By Tim Sweeney


As the music industry quickly evolves into a more
digital and virtual world, Amazon.com and CD Baby
have taken the lead in regards to selling the greatest
amount of independent artist's CDs.

According to various independent researchers,
Amazon.com is responsible for approximately 94%
of all independent artist sales online. CD Baby is
responsible for approximately 3%, and the artists
own web sites are responsible for (almost) the
remaining 3%.

This means that, besides your site, Amazon and CD
Baby are (practically) the only online retailers music
fans will buy your CD from, if you are a true
independent artist. What does that mean to all the
others?

Not much. Most of the other major music sites focus
on selling well known past or current major label
artists. Often, their largest percentage of sales are
Greatest Hits CDs of well established past or current
artists. According to research, most, if not almost all,
of the most popular sites are not interested in carrying
independent artist's CDs because of the lack of sales.

Which brings us to our key question. If Amazon.com
and CD Baby.net, are the two biggest sellers of
independent artist's CDs, and they want to obviously
work with you, how do you sell a lot of CDs through
them?

Well from my own interviews with the key people at
Amazon and CD Baby, it is clear that they almost see
identically to what sells CDs through their sites, and
what doesn't. So, let's clue you in on where you
should focus your promotional efforts in the future
(that means in the next 5 minutes!).

a. Live Shows & Their Promotion:

As you know, live shows are now more than 75% of
all independent artists' CD sales around the country.
Obviously, people who come to your shows are
interested in your music. If you do a good job selling
your CDs to them after you have played great show,
you will see the sales results you want. If people don't
have the money to buy one at your show, push them
online with a reminder card and emails the next day.

As we have talked about before, the promotion of
your live shows beyond your mailing list is critical.
Giving out sample tapes to new fans (especially the
right ones) which include your contact information,
your web site address, and the performance date, is
still selling yourself short.

Put on your sample tapes (or sample CDs) that your
CD is available at Amazon or CD Baby. If someone
drives around with the tape and likes it, but doesn't
want to go to the show and they see Amazon or CD
Baby on it, there is a good chance they will buy it from
them.

Ironically, the independent artists I am working with
are selling more CDs from sample tapes, than at live
shows. Why? Because they are not waiting for an
upcoming show before they hand out sample tapes.

b. Pushing Sales To Amazon & CD Baby Through Your Site:

Lets face it...dealing with merchant accounts is not
only costly early in your career, but it can also be a
pain in the neck. If you are not getting a lot of direct
sales (25+ per week), you may want to consider
placing a link on your order page to send people to
buy your CD at Amazon or CD Baby. For thousands
of artists, it has been easier to deal with. Plus, some
people just like shopping there.

Even in my own case, even though we get thousands
of direct orders for the books and audio workshops I
have written, Amazon get thousands of orders simply
because some people just normally shop there.

c. Free Standing Internet Radio Stations:

While live shows, and the promotion of them,
motivate the greatest percentage of online sales,
free standing Internet radio stations have moved up
to third place.

For those of you who may be confused with the term,
"free standing Internet radio station," it is one that
does not simply "simulcast" what commercial or
college radio stations (which they are part of), are
playing. These particular stations are 'Internet-only',
and make up their own playlists from what they
choose to play.

Obviously, music fans have been frustrated by the
fact, that they have to sit in front of their PCs to hear
the station. But, as technology continues to develop,
we will soon be able to carry Internet radio wherever
we go. We have already seen it come to both the car
and the cell phone.

Internet radio stations offer a great advantage in that,
if people hear something they like, they will look
further online for it and, possibly, buy it immediately.
A great advantage over having to drive to the store
to get it, or simply searching for it.

While there are hundreds of Internet stations out
there, most are fans of, or a band themselves,
primarily, promoting their own music. Look for
Internet stations that "personalize" the station to the
individual music fan that listens to them. Make sure
they have a CD sales program with Amazon or CD
Baby. My personal favorite is TuneTo.com.

d. Online Magazines - The Future Of CD Reviews

While the sales percentages are still small, there is
increasing optimism about CD sales through online
publications. Many, including myself, feel that online
magazines could possibly replace most printed
music magazines, simply because of their ability for
anyone to read the review or article, then instantly
hear the music.

This is very important. As I have stated for years, no
one can hear your music on a piece of paper. Even
if reviewers try their best to describe your music, it's
still not the same as hearing the songs. So, your job
is to search for online publications that you feel, best
appeal to the right audience for your music. Email
and mail them your Artist Profile.

Now that you know what generates the largest and
the smallest amount of sales on Amazon.com and
CD Baby.net, let me share with you those
promotional strategies which basically do not
generate any sales.

* College & Commercial radio airplay

While it seems odd even to say it, college and
commercial radio airplay, does not generate any
real sales online for independent artists. That's not
to say there aren't a few sales here and there, but we
want to focus on what is going to bring us the
greatest amount of sales.

Basically, people who listen to traditional radio
stations will instinctively look for the CDs at record
stores. Unfortunately, if they don't find it, most do not
look for it online. Their interest just fades away. This
is why online radio stations provide you with more
value. When someone hears something they like,
they can easily push a few buttons and buy it!

* Print Media Reviews

As we talked about before, no one can hear your
music on a piece of paper. Amazon and CD Baby
will get copies of print reviews from bands who are
all excited about the reviews, until they see it has
done nothing to sell CDs.

My suggestion : A lot of traditional media is waking
up to the fact that they can't just "reprint" what's in
the print version of their magazine. To add more
value, they need to cover other items online. Look in
your home market, to begin with, and see if this is the
case with your major daily newspaper and,
alternatively, weeklies as well.

So now that you know what to focus your efforts on,
and what to take your attention off, there are 3 key
points to leave you with.

a. Your Web Site Is Key

Having one that is built upon the proper elements of
your Artist Profile, will generate sales. DO NOT
use your press kit for a foundation. Your web site is
there for information and a means in which fans can
contact you but, its main purpose is, to generate
sales.

b. Deal With Amazon & CD Baby Directly

Both agree that it is a great disadvantage to have
your distributor try to place your CD in their sites. In
the case of Amazon, if your CD comes from a
distributor, it will be listed as "special order" and they
won't stock it. By the time someone places an order,
it could be 4-6 weeks before they get it!

Explore the Amazon Advantage Program. Amazon
will stock your CD, list that it ships in 24 hours, and
pay you directly in 30 days...plain and simple. They
have it and ship it to the person who gets it in the mail
in 2-3 days and you get paid shortly thereafter.

CD Baby works, practically, the same way. Dealing
with them direct means they stock it and ship it in 24
hours and pay you in a week! The distributor isn't
going to pay you the full amount for 3-6 months.
Good luck, if people still want your CD after they are
told it will take a month to get it. Again, deal with
Amazon through the Advantage Program and CD
Baby direct.

c. Think Creatively When Promoting Shows Online

Don't make the same mistake every day that
thousands of bands do when sending out email
announcements for their upcoming shows. Bland
doesn't work. Do it in a charming and personal way
that continues the "bonding" feeling your fans have.

Visit sites and fan clubs of larger established artists,
who are your influences. Let them know how that
artist has influenced your music, and invite them to
check it out for themselves through your site.

One point that should be obvious, but is commonly
forgotten. As I have noted in The Complete Guide To
Internet Promotion For Musicians, Artists &
Songwriters, every page on your site should have the
"order" link on it. Don't be humble...your site is there
to sell CDs.

I know this is a lot of information to take in but
hopefully this will help thousands of you, who email
me asking, "How do I increase my sales on Amazon
and CD Baby?"
________________________________________

Editor's Note: Tim Sweeney is the best-selling author
of "The Guide to Succeeding at Music Conventions,"
as well as "The Guide to Releasing Independent
Records." He also conducts national music workshops.
Contact him directly at 909-303-9506, as well as
paying a visit to his web site at http://www.tsamusic.com.

************************************************************

11. "Bar Codes - Do You Really Need One?"

By Suzanne Glass


What's the lowdown on bar codes? Do you really
need one for your CD or cassette release?

"Can't I just get one from my duplication company
when I manufacture my CD?" you ask?

Well, many replication companies DO offer use of
their bar code. What you need to be aware of, is that
there is legal uncertainty about using another
company's bar code. The Uniform Code Council,
which assigns bar code numbers, has not put its foot
down on either side of the legal fence.

Nonetheless, the actual bar code is issued to a
single company. Therefore, if someone else's code
is on your CD, what might that mean as far as
tracking your sales?

The sales will register to the company that owns the
barcode. This could be especially problematic if you
also run a record label of your own. Be aware of this
issue when you use someone else's bar code.

And, if you have your own bar code, make sure you
think carefully before letting someone else use it. I'm
not advising to not allow use of it...but advising you to
be careful and informed.

OK, let's say that, after examining all the options, you
decide you want your own barcode. You will need to
contact the Uniform Code Council (UCC) at
http://www.uc-council.org for an application packet to
complete and with your fees. The one-time fee is
around $500 for a company making less than
$2,000,000 annually.

You will receive a huge packet back from UPC
instructing you on how to follow bar code specs on
products ranging from underwear to peanut butter,
including music products.

You will also receive a unique 6-digit identifying
number for your company. This will be used as the
first six (of twelve) numbers of your bar code for each
product. You will them select four numbers to denote
your release number. The remaining two digits of the
twelve in a standard barcode are determined by your
product.

There is an identifying number for CDs, and another
for cassettes, so they can be tracked separately. The
twelfth digit is a check digit. You do a complex math
procedure with the other eleven numbers, and arrive
at the correct twelfth one.

You'll also get bombarded with junk mail trying to sell
you high resolution bar code graphics. Unless you
are going to be doing many products, it's provably
easier (and less expensive) to simply pay a few dollars
(around $30) for a high-res graphic from your CD
designer or print shop.

Bar codes have exacting print specifications so they
can be reliably read by a wide range of scanning
equipment in stores. There are also size
specifications for product-specific barcodes. For
instance, the bar code on a CD has size standards
you must adhere to.

In the end, do you really need that bar code? If you
have a record label, the answer is most likely yes. If
you are an artist selling many CDs in stores, you
probably want one. Some chains will not accept
product without bar codes.

You will also need a code to get distribution. But if
you are selling most of your CDs at gigs and online,
with just a few in music stores, you probably don't
need to spend the $500.

TIP: If you know several bands who are in the same
situation, consider forming a co-op and pooling your
money to buy a barcode.
________________________________________

Editor's Note: Suzanne Glass is President/CEO of
the high-traffic Indie-Music.com site. She is also a
regularly featured panelist at music conferences.
Check out her potpourri of information at
http://www.indie-music.com. A special treat, is the
exhaustive radio listing.

************************************************************

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Vol. 2: Iss. 2| B# Newsletter | March, 2001| ISSN 1533-6522
Publisher/Editor: Kenny Love
P. O. Box 1404
Crockett, Texas 75835-1404
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