These days I been listening to quite a bit of new music by underground artists. Usually I check music on myspace. Today I been coming across alot of dnb guys just posting up clips of their tracks. I understand why they are doing it. In fact there is a whole thread in the grid on dogsonacid.com about it.
I have to say it’s kind of irritating to hear just clips. I’m listening and starting to get into it when it ends. I admit I did post up clips of my ep recently. However I change my mind. Due to a couple of reasons. First of all they are already signed. I also have unsigned stuff available here at ameone.com and on myspace.com. Another reason is that due to idea that, I came away with after reading an interview with Trent Reznor, music is essentially free these days. Anyone with a computer and an internet connection can get it. You don’t have to be a super computer savvy to do it.
If you subscribe to the theory that all music will eventually be pirated, I feel that I would rather be more in control of what I make available. I’m not going to just write music and just send it out to labels and wait until I am signed to let the world hear it. Technically from a marketing standpoint that seems like a bad idea. Posting up clips of tracks is one way of keeping control over what is out there, but at the same time it kind of alienates people. I also think that a negative aspect of it is, “How is the rest of the song?” I think anyone can make a great 2 min clip of music, but what about the full song? Does it just get really repetitive and boring? Does it take a turn for the worse somewhere in it? I think by using a clip it doesn’t really showcase your skills to the fullest extent.
Here’s the reason why I am now posting full songs online. First is if people are going to steal it, I prefer to be a little in control. Even though you post a clip, people can still be resourceful and find ways to use it. So how do I have control over this? I post up the clips myself so people can get it from me and not some site that is selling my music without my knowledge or other sources. Why don’t you get it from a reliable source like me. Also I am not exactly posting up the greatest sounding stuff. Most of the mp3′s are 96k or 128k. The sound quality is that of what would be at the bottom of acceptable. In addition these songs are not mastered unless you want to count my quick mastering system I wrote about previously.
My solution is, post songs that have a decent sound quality. Where ever they are posted have some kind of pointer saying that if you would like a better version then go here and buy it. If you buy it, you will get the cover art and maybe something else special.
