Why Music Should Never Be Given Away for 'Free'

The music industry has changed DRASTICALLY. The latest trend: artists giving out their music for free, usually with a zip file link posted on their website, blog, twitter, or facebook account in hopes that the freebie will give their music more exposure or an opportunity to go "viral." MicControl founder Jon Ostrow explains to artists why they shouldn't give their music away for "free" and gives fantastic tips on how to receive e-currency for all of their hard work.  [Via TightMix]

Or, The Whale

Americana is a term that many use to describe red, white and blue nostalgia-- the collecting of flags, patriotic memorabilia, or any other artifact related to our country's storied history; however, to a music fan, it defines the melting pot genre of music that embodies the heart and soul of American ethos. Combining country, folk, rhythm & blues, and rock & roll, Americana (also referred to as Alternative Country) is baseball, hamburgers, hot dogs, Ford Model T's, and Elvis on a toasted bun.

San Francisco based Or, The Whale's 2009 ode to Jimson Weed, "Datura," is a perfect example of the genre and the feeling. Lead vocalist and guitarist Alex Robins struts over a beautiful arrangement full of folk chords, slide guitars, frolicking keys, and infectious harmonies from Lindsay Garfield; a poisonous combination powerful enough to make any listener hallucinate under a  sky of apple pie.

After the release of their critically acclaimed 2007 release Light Poles and Pines, and their 2009 self titled follow up, Or, The Whale continues to woo music enthusiasts around the US with their complex yet polished sound. With the growing popularity of bands like Fleet Foxes, Blitzen Trapper, and The Avett Brothers, it's only a matter of time before San Francisco's best kept secret is revealed...and then treasured like polaroids, stamps, and old family recipes.

Listen to their single "Datura" on BandSoup by clicking here!

Keep up with the band/purchase music here.

How to Really Get Your Music on Blogs

Personally, I find it unbelievable that there are artists out there that still don't know what promotional blogs are. Over the past few years, these little websites have set the world of DIY independent music promotion on the internet on fire, making it easy and affordable (free!) for up and coming artists to promote their new music, album, and videos to a hungry audience of obsessed music fans. I recently read a free e-book by a college student by the name of Chris Bracco called "How to Really Get Your Music on Blogs," and as a long time indie hip hop blogger, I believe Chris' ideas, attention to detail, and ways to organize your campaigns are well thought out and show you exactly how to organize your online blog promotions the easy way.

I highly recommend this quick read to any up and comer that would like to expand their listening audience.

Download the FREE e-book here!

[via. tightmixblog]

Ten Feet Deep

What happens when you play your first show ever in the deep end of a drained pool? You get a sweet new band name of course.

Ten Feet Deep, consisting of four New Yorkers: Alexander Craig (Vocals), Brendan Ryan (Guitar), Pete Chema (Bass), and Mike Leff (Drums),  are an up and coming band that have the pure pop-power to send any college bar full of cuties into a frenzy. Equipped with playful and smart lyrics, infectious pop melodies, and easy to digest concepts, Ten Feet Deep embodies what made Weezer so popular in 1994.

Their latest self titled release, which was produced by John Lissauer (Leonard Cohen, Whitney Houston) and Phillip Maniatty, might be the band's rocket ship to the radio. With contagious songs like "Worry Out," "Without Melinda," and "Hands Down," Alexander Craig proves himself a formidable pop-rock front man that was born with the ability to engage any type of ear or elitist taste-- an almost impossible feat.

I've sifted through a lot of talented bands and solo artists from various genres on BandSoup, but no other group or artist has flaunted the overwhelming radio ready, let-me-make-you-money-now pop fortitude quite like Ten Feet Deep. It's only a matter of time before this New York quartet shows the mundane Daughtry/Scott Stapp cloned rock charts how to crack a beer and laugh again.

Ten Feet Deep's latest full length LP is available now on CDBaby. Below is the video from one of my favorite songs from the record, as well as a link to their hilarious track about a chick that ruins the party (we all know one), "Without Melinda."

Click Here to Listen to Ten Feet Deep on BandSoup.

Black Rose Trick

Trudging through the gloomy afterglow of the late 80's-early 90's noise pop movement,  made popular by droning dreamers like Joy Division, Cocteau Twins, The Jesus and Mary Chain and My Bloody Valentine, are four Scandinavian shoegazers known as Black Rose Trick.

Trine Berg (vocals) and Jacob Falk (Keys, Guitar) started the project in 2007 and recently completed their pre-debut record EP, How to Handle an Eel, after three years of tears. The new EP bleeds emotion, but is tamed by a steady tourniquet of dreamy, pedal heavy guitar effects and gloomy melodies. Trine Berg's haunting vocals-- half eerie, half heavenly-- are heroin for the ears. One bump is all it will take before you are mainlining the rest of the record, pupils dilating in a drowsy pool of Mazzy Star nostalgia.

Despite the decline of "Shoegazing" artists in the late 90's, this emotionally driven, rainy day genre of music still has a wide range of listeners around the world. While the music often seems to be tailored to tear jerking indie flicks and shocking anti-drug PSA's, the raw emotion, warmth, and despair involved in each note is heavily desired in an industry riddled in corporate pop and manufactured minstrels.  It's only a matter of time before Denmark's nu (gaze) group enters the star stickered iPods of America's youth and teaches them how to feel again.

Click Here & Listen to Black Rose Trick on BandSoup.com

Their latest EP is available to purchase & stream here.

15 Critical Marketing Mistakes That All Musicians Must Avoid

Since most of the artists on Bandsoup are DIY rising stars, we felt that there should be more discussion about strategies, networking, and modern industry ideas to help independent musicians through their blossoming career. Below is a great new article from MicControl's Jon Ostrow on a few critical marketing mistakes that you should avoid.

Musicians are entrepreneurs whether they want to believe it or not. By writing music under a band name, pen name or even just their own name, they have effectively created a brand that must be properly marketed if it is to thrive and flourish. But there-in lies a major problem: not all musicians know everything about marketing and they will eventually make some critical mistakes that lead to the demise of their short-lived venture. It is, however, the musicians who take the time to learn from past mistakes made by other musicians, and furthermore learn to correct these mistakes, that are the ones who build up the kind of influential brand that has lasting power.

These are 15 potentially crippling, yet ultimately avoidable marketing mistakes that are all too commonly made by the emerging music community, along with tips to help you as an artist to overcome and succeed in the best way possible:

Impulsive Decision

Before they morphed into masters of acoustic alt-ballads at the turn of the new millennium, Incubus spazzed out in front of crowds at Ozzfest and The Family Values Tour, sharing stages with hard rocking bands like KoRn, System of a Down, Pantera, Slipknot, Mudvayne and Disturbed. The harsh and schizophrenic instrumentals on their 1997 release, S.C.I.E.N.C.E., mixed with lead singer Brandon Boyd's in your face vocals, remind me of a band that recently uploaded their music to Bandsoup.com, Impulsive Decision.

Lead singer Brian Murtaugh's throaty wails on "Lady Black" give an extra energetic thrust to the powerful guitar work of Mike Dolan and Anthony Massi, laying solid ground for drummer Josh Beckham to pound home. Shades of early Incubus (see: "New Skin" on S.C.I.E.N.C.E., 1997) will excite fans of 90's alternative, but Impulsive Decision sports a mellow side that mirrors the sounds of new era alternative rock as well.

Despite only being together since 2007, the band's chemistry continues to surge. On top of continually scooping up Battle of the Band wins in the South Jersey/Philadelphia area,  the quintet has recently inked a sponsorship deal with Amp Energy and was signed to popular California based record label Citation Records. In addition to bringing their sounds to college campuses across the US as part of an AMP tour, the band will be working with Citation Records to promote the official reissue of Far From Thru, complete with brand new tracks.

Listen to Impulsive Decision on Bandsoup.com

The Deadbeats

Add The Deadbeats to the list of fresh things coming out of the middle of the Pacific. True to their name, they drink, jam and beg for change while delivering a jazzy-hip-hopy-funky-rocky-super-dopetronical sound full of charm and optimism.

Harumi the Hymn (emcee) and Brett Robinson (bass/ vocals) formed the band after an unfortunate family incident involving "cats, kittens, towels and scissors". The two recorded an album in their garage and later added Ethan 'Honky-tonk' Capone (keys), Micah Mclaughlin (drums), and "a strange young man" by the name of Matty Wong (saxophone) who caught ear of the quartet. The five friends set out to make music that "felt good". And it does feel good.

The Deadbeats have opened for The Elevaters, Eric Hutchinson, Mos Def and were voted "Best Up-and-Coming" by The Honolulu Weekly and "Best Hip-hop Group" at the Hawaii Underground Music Awards. Catch them live every Wednesday night @ Jazz Minds Cafe in Honolulu.

Listen to the Deadbeats on BandSoup.com