Good thread Henry..And some good points.

Unfor piracy will never end and only get worse so why try and sell it when you can get it for free?

As you’re so well known you’re Return on time and cash investment is getting more international and local bookings, selling more vinyl to the hardcore vinyl lovers, travelling to cool places to play whilst increasing your profile and exposure/following. Then from a central web site to offer both paid for and free downloads. The free downloads could be a lower bit rate for example, or cut half way through for 5 seconds. You could however also furnish your loyal following with special edition high res wavs of certain, new and old tracks. Give people the choice – they feel empowered slightly more. Explain to your fans that they now have a choice.

You could also compliment this with a global digital distribution deal similar to what Teknonotice Digital offer and you have all bases covered. Try and use Facebook, twitter and a blog to communicate to fans about new releases and freebies/mixes/live sets...(a lot of work I may add) and see what happens.

Most unknowns are using the net to try and get more gigs. As you’re a household name in techno you should be trying to get more gigs and then promoting to the crowd to buy your stuff on the net.

As a digital label owner and a producer that releases my own non techno music it’s very interesting. IMO the best of both worlds is where it’s at - a balancing act. Perhaps it also depends on the demographic of the fan/listener.

If it’s a fellow DJ/producer that commercially and economically benefits from playing your music should they pay or get for free?

If it’s a loyal fan that has followed you since the early days, spent cash on many entrance fees/party donation fee/bar/merchandise/your Vinyl should they pay or get it for free?

2 years ago I hooked up with tunecore.com to release my own guitar based indie, made in my bedroom style music. I had to pay about 40$ to upload 2 albums. The music then went live in itunes, amazon etc etc. As music was more of a personal release for me I had never intended to try and sell it. I also, at this time wasn't really sharing it with anyone. The first 3 months were really quiet and sold about 4 copies. Along the way I was learning about new technology, web programming and music distribution online, simply as a hobby or interest. Then I started using amiestreet.com which works on a basis that once enough people download the free version it becomes paid for, and goes up in price the more you sell. This was a great method and online store with a community that you could connect with. Lots time was spent talking to other site members and sharing my music via face book. This worked well and my free music quickly became paid for music. 1 track “strength” even made top 50. Return on time and investment was shite however I felt satisfied Id found a channel to get heard and generate feedback – which as a musician is really all I want. It’s great when people comment, good or bad as it helps you develop.

I was also marveled at the way one can use technology so quickly to promote and sell music – it still fascinates me. Long story short on the back of a lot of hard work I was signed by Believe digital last year to release my music. Today I have the upmost confidence to give people the choice whether they want to buy it or download for free. I have been promoting my music heavily using social media and giving away the high res wav copy. This has had a great effect in fans and also has improved sales. Some have turned round and said “no its ok I’ll buy it”

Perhaps such a “choice” also instills more trust in your punters/following.

If digital is so widely accessible through the torrent sites does it make any difference? I still think giving the listener a choice is best.

Should the whole scene give the listener a choice? Radiohead and Trent Reznor used this strategy well.

As Morbid rightly said giving it away for free helps you build a database ("enter your email and d/l my latest track") that you can then promote to, but will this help sales? How many emails do people get every day and ignore. Or even if they read will they buy or go to Pirate bay?

If digital sales make no money is there any point in distributing too many online stores? Perhaps just from your own web site with a data capture.

From a point of view of my dance music orientated label “Teknonotice Digital” its hard work making any return on time or cash investment. It’s so easy to get lost in all the other labels that are out there. It’s also tough working with online stores who insist you make x amount before you get paid perhaps a third of the sales price.

Thus said the last 3 months sales have picked up simply because we are in so many online stores now through the Believe digital deal. Law of averages in full effect. Well that and a bit of luck I guess. We also notice that the more promoting we do the better sales we get. This may sound obvious however I refer to full time job hours to carry out the promotion effectively and successfully.


I could go on but I’m ranting again..


Peace, see you in Malta next week Mr. Drummer!! Bring the Hydraulix if you would, getting tired of minimal (and seeing as joris voorn is also playing would like some proper stuff!!)