CDs and DVDs - Contrary to Belief They Do Not Last Forever

I remember back in the seventies on a British TV show called Tomorrows World a presenter showing us what the future of music will be.

DIGITAL SOUND!  I watched in awe as he presented a small silver disc, 12cm across and said you can fit 74 minutes of music on this. I could not believe what I was hearing. 74 minutes of pristeen sound, that would never wear out on a robust medium that you could scratch get finger prints on, (oh yea they got that wrong) and nothing will happen to the music on it. This definitely was the future.

I remember when the first CD players came on to the market, quite a few years later, and trying this for myself, and yep for the best part, he was right. It seemed like we had finally got a medium for music that would not wear out, last for ever, create exact copies, (that's another issue) and store any recordings we had made in the 'analog' age so our music can last forever.

Well it looks like he was WRONG!

CDs and also DVDs are not the things we thought they were. It appears they can rot and go moldy, just like tape does, (ok not quite but you see what i mean), so it could be time now for you to check out your old cds and see what condition they're in.

So how can you tell if something's up? Tina Sieber has written an article on the subject, she says,

You can do a simple visual check. If you see light shining through tiny little holes when you hold a disc against light, then the reflective layer has started to disintegrate. Also check your CDs for discoloring, especially around the edges. See whether the different layers are still tightly together or have started to de-laminate.

If you are getting worried you better check out the rest of her article here.

Written by Steve

 

Links

http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/cds-truth-cddvd-longevity-mold-rot/

The World Without Internet

We have all come a long way in the past 15 years. The internet has completely changed our Music Industry and our day to day lives. What would the World be like now, without the internet?  I found this great infographic, and just had to share it with you.

 

The World Without Internet

We've come along way in the past 15 years. The Music Industry is now pretty much totally dependent on the internet to survive. What would the world be without the internet? I found this very cool infographic i wanted to share with you.

 

<img class="aligncenter" src="http://www.bloodyloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/world-without-internet.gif" width="500" alt="" />

 

 

8 Skills That Your Social Media Manager Needs

So, with your schedule busying up, and with alot of deadlines to meet before the upcoming tourdates, maybe you should leave the running of your acts social media to someone else?

Social media is changing on a weekly if not daily basis. New technologies come and go, some successful, some not. How on earth do you have the time to try each one of these and see which is effective for your act/band/project.

Well maybe it is time to hire someone to take on this ever growing list of tasks, but with the whole world offering you solutions out there, how can you make a descision on who is right for the job of taking care of your online presence?

Here are some keys attributes here which were selected by writer Stephanie Winans in an article she originally wrote for her website that you can check to see if the person or company you are picking is the right one.

1.    Is An Online Social Butterfly

2.    Has An Understanding of Your Target

3.    Gets Customer Service

4.    Knows What’s Going On

5.    Can Spell

6.    Knows The Devil is in the Details

7.    Is At Least A Little Techie

8.    Is Okay With Being “Plugged In”

Music marketing master Micheal Brandvold has also expanded on her list, he added the following comment to her number one item 'Is An Online Social Butterfly'

This is definitely the number one item you should research. Is the person who is going to help you walking the walk and talking the talk? Do they live what they preach? If they are going to help you with Twitter see how they use Twitter. How many followers do they have? How well do they engage with their followers? How well do they use all of the various sites out there that they are claiming to help you with? Here is what it comes down to… do you want someone who has only 35 followers to advise you on what to do?

You can read Michael Brandvolds article here.

Written by Steve

Links

http://michaelbrandvold.com/blog/2012/05/what-skills-does-your-social-media-manager-need-start-with-these-eight/

http://stephaniewinans.com/2011/06/11/8-skills-your-social-media-manager-must-have/

The Friday Five - 29th June 2012

Yep it's the end of the week, and here are this weeks five things we thought you might just want to take a look at.

 

1. Fanfunding Tip: Offer Imaginative Incentives to Entice More Fans

The DIY Musician have created a great list of pledge ideas to hook in new fans.

http://diymusician.cdbaby.com/2012/06/fanfunding-tip-offer-imaginative-incentives-to-entice-more-fans/

 

2. Musical ‘Stock Market’ TastemakerX Puts Your Money Where Your Ears Are

An Iphone app/game that allows you to invest in your favourite acts with virtual currency, sort of like the stock exchange meets the pop charts.

http://evolver.fm/2012/06/22/musical-stock-market-game-tastemakerx-is-now-public/

 

3. Get Venues to Ask You Back: 8 Tips You Can Use For Your Next Show

Nice small article from Reverbnation on how to get a venue to ask you back. Could be useful....

http://blog.reverbnation.com/2012/03/21/get-venues-to-ask-you-back-8-tips-you-can-use-for-your-next-show/

 

4. How To Make Your Facebook Timeline POP!

Ariel gives a whole bunch of tips on getting your Facebook timeline to work better for you.

http://arielpublicity.com/2012/06/19/how-to-make-your-facebook-timeline-pop/

 

5. Free Music Making Samples Download

There are beats and hits aplenty for you in this week's bundle, plus a collection of FX stabs.

http://www.musicradar.com/news/tech/sampleradar-13154-free-sample-downloads-217833/111

 

 

3 Legal Tips for Amanda Palmer-Style Crowdfunding

Here at Make It In Music we have been following with interest the Amanda Palmer Kickstarter story. It has definitely been a game changer. Indie musicians everywhere are now looking at the DIY approach in a new light. There is money to be had.

Earlier this month we took at look at this, with Crowdfunding - Beware of the Goldrush - 20 Things You Must Consider  looking at things that concern your commitment to the fans that have invested in your music.

But we forget there are other implications to suddenly having a million dollars fall in your lap.

Martin Frascogna has written an article covering possible legal and financial implications to consider when setting up a kickstarter project.

Martin states,

Raising millions via crowdfunding doesn’t come without questions, and more so, legal implications. Where does all the money go? Is there a legal obligation to investors? Because Amanda’s successful Kickstarter will inevitably inspire others to initiate crowd funding campaigns, artists can avoid future pitfalls by implementing the following techniques.

1. Treat It Like a Contract

2. Assure the Proper Entity

3. Transparency Is Key

You can read his full article in the Midem Blog here

Links

http://makeitinmusic.posterous.com/crowdfunding-beware-of-the-goldrush-20-things

http://blog.midem.com/2012/06/martin-frascogna-3-legal-tips-for-amanda-palmer-style-crowdfunding-success/

 

 

Rizzle Kicks' Top 5 Tips for Getting Noticed as an Artist

It was the BBC Radio 1 Hackney Weekend in London this weekend, the UKs largest free ticketed festival over two days on Hackney Marshes. 

Brighton based hip hop duo Rizzle Kicks played on the main stage on the afternoon of the first day, not even a year after the release of their debut album Stereo Typical (released on 31 October 2011). As of May 2012, Rizzle Kicks have sold 1 million singles and 300,000 albums in the UK. Not bad, they must be doing something right.

In a TV interview for BBC 1 Jordan (pic left) listed the top 5 tips for getting noticed as an artist, definitely something worth sharing with you, as he seems to be 'keeping it real' and looks like he has his feet firmly on the floor.

You can see the video here

 

link

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00tx50c