The Gregory Brothers of “AutoTune News” have entered the chart at #89 with “Bed Intruder”. The debut chart position was almost entirely the result of 10,571 copies of the track downloaded from iTunes in just two days. The original news video has been watched 4 million times on YouTube. The thing that has me scratching their head is if you go to their website, they have no way to contact them directly. – BOO

Please note after recording this and posting it I see below the picture for booking information, contact  gregorybrothers at g mail – oops

Route Note Rates Places to Sell CDs

Routnote.com has a story that (shockingly) shows how they are a great deal if you want to distribute your music on the Internet. The article has lots of places listed and rated.

www.NuMuBu.com is a free website with tips on recording, marketing, and more. Their website is kind of clunky. Their color scheme is weird. What are your thoughts? Leave a comment on the blog.

Linking to Your CD at CBaby.com

If you have a CD on CDBaby, I would not link to a search result of your band such as http://cdbaby.com/found?allsearch=bosco+and+peck&submit=

instead rate directly to your band’s CD such as http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/boscopeck2

Music: Let Me Go from Bosco and Peck from musicalley.com

To be found in Google, one of the many things you can do is to make sure your title tag (the line at the very top of the browser screen) has your band’s name, maybe the style of music, and your location (anything that people may be entering to find you). Jon just had the word “welcome”

You can also keep up with other people talking about your band online by setting up a Google Alert that will notify you whenever someone puts your band name on a website you will be notified.  Here again, be sure to use quotation marks to specify that you are searching for the whole phrase.

HOW MANY CLICKS TO PURCHASE YOUR MERCHANDISE?

I found a great article that had some great stats. For example if you have an itunes or Amazon account it takes 5 clicks to purchse music. If you do not have an account it takes 14.

The point being that not everybody is completely crazy in love with your music, and many not jump through that many hoops to purchase your music. Make it easy to buy. I always advise that you have a “Buy” button on the same page where people listen.

GigMaven is currently available for NY, LA, Chicago, San Francisco, Boston and Ohio and are looking to expand further.  For more information check out the GigMaven website

HOWEVER,
That 58% is a bit steep compared to reality. If we went with 5% (high but realistic) that would be 202,451 to their website, 10,122 to their audio page, and 101 who then might like it so much that they purchase their EP. They also have merch to accent their you tube videos and more.

What I Would Change

I had a really hard time finding their original music on their site.  I could go to itunes, I could purchase their original music (without hearing it). I would also set up a link to my website like mywebsite.com/youtube that would collect email addresses and offer free downloads (and to track if making these videos were worth it).

If you’re going to go play in traffic be sure that your website is ready to maximize the potential of all the visitors that are coming.

Original Double Rainbow Video

The Gregory Brothers Version

Meet The Gregory Brothers

Double Rainbow Song

The best part of these is they are temporary. It’s a way for fanatic fans to show their support at the gig, and best of all they can do it again and again and again.

You could have your logo (and website) put on to the tatto0, and sell these on breaks. Don’t just think this could work for a punk band. You can use this for any band as they are temporary. For more information go to www.musicianscooler.com/temptattoo

UPDATE: Use the coupon code cooler5 to get 5% off your order (which adds to your profit margin).

One of the sites I mentioned ( backpage.com ) has been growing steadily over the years and is now in over 400 cities. While these are still US specific, the interesting thing is they are getting more niche. Some of the cities listed in Ohio are not your typical “Akron, Canton, Cleveland Columbus” listings. They now include mansfield (everyone together Where?).

If you’re looking to sell gear, or find a band member backpage.com might be a place to look.

A recent article explains how “Law enforcement officials” just shut down Burstnet client, Blogetery.com which offered free and paid services for more than 73,000 blogs. If you read the small print on their site they have every right to do this if they feel it warrented (and apprently this is that case).

People may have lost YEARS of information, and now when your fans go to yoru website they will find nothing. They will have nothing that says “We’ve moved – find us over here.” They will find nothing. Welcome back to square one.

Instead you can get website hosting for $10 or less (if you muy more up front it’s cheaper – going all the way down to $4.95). Your website is THE backbone of your music career. Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, all should be pointing to your website where people can sign up to your mailing list, buy your CDs, check your calendar, and contacnt the band.

If a booking agent see that your band won’t invest $10 a month in your band, do you think they’re willing to invest in you?

I understand FREE is great. I love free. I just won’t rely on, or put anything super important on a free service (and you shouldn’t either).

Putting on a good show is important, but putting yourself in danger is something that should not be taken lightly.

Watcher her performance at the Grammy’s 2010. I truly buy this song on her performance alone. I hear the passion in her voice, and I enjoy it. This is why I’m not sure why she has to strip down to almost nothing, try to drown herself and pull herself 50 feet into the air.

It makes for an impressive (obviously not lip synced) performance. But is it truly needed?

1. The file he provided is just that. It’s one file. If you want to listen to song 6, you have to fast forward.

2. It’s an mp3, and yes they do sound different than CDs especially with the giant vocal sound of the first track. (courtesy of Slau of www.sessionswithslau.com)

3. George has taken a page from the Willy Wonka Movie and put in an actual golden ticket which means if you get it, George will come perform for you.

4. The physical CD comes with a 20 page booklet.

5. You have to go to CDBaby or iTunes just to get a track listing (motivating to get people 1 click away from buying at least one track).

Pretty cool stuff, and a gutsy move. George will be on later to fill us on on the experiment. In the meantime enjoy the music.

Purchase at the following:

CDBABY