6 Serviços De Assinatura De Vinil Para Os Amantes De Música

6 Vinyl Subscription Services Perfect For The Music Lover In Your Life

First of all thanks to  Hugh McIntyre  for this article.

As vinyl has grown in popularity, new businesses have found a way to make money off of the medium’s resurgence. One of the most popular new types of startups that seem to be popping up left and right are vinyl subscription services, which serve paying customers with new music on a monthly basis, with in-house curators often choosing what tunes and releases are highlighted and shipped around the world. There are well over a dozen of these companies operating now, and there are sure to be more in the coming years as vinyl continues its upward surge

For those that have never investigated this growing field, or who may be looking for a perfect holiday gift for the vinyl devotee in their lives, here are a handful of subscription services that stand out from the rest, and which are perfecting the art, and the business, of getting the world to listen to more records.

Feedbands

Price: $4 per month for digital-only, $254 per year for everything

The two parts of the music industry that are growing these days are online streaming and vinyl sales, and Feedbands has found an interesting way to combine both into a unique business model. The company highlights one new song by an unsigned artist every day on its website, and those tuning in can vote the song up if they like it, similar to what happens on Pandora. Unlike the internet radio service, once all the votes are tabulated, the company presses the top artist every month to vinyl, and that is served to subscribers before it’s sold anywhere else. When the package arrives, it comes with lyrics, a beautifully-designed product, and even a card with a download of the album, so as to keep the bridge between physical and digital intact.

Flying Vinyl

Price: £20 per month

U.K.-based startup Flying Vinyl is focused on breaking new artists with singles only, opting not to bother with full-length releases. Those behind the venture are smart to do so too, as it typically only takes a few songs for most people to decide if they like the band they’re listening to or not. Every month, the company sends out at least five 7-inch records, each with two songs from a different new musical act. This is a fantastic option for someone looking to sample as many new artists as possible using vinyl, as a true music lover could learn about dozens of up-and-comers in a year, all while supporting them as well.

Trax & Wax

Price: starts at £22 per month

One of the few dance music-focused vinyl subscription services available, Trax & Wax is perfect for not just the vinyl aficionado, but someone who truly loves dance music, even if it’s only one or two styles. When signing up for this option, a new customer is given the opportunity to decide what box full of electronic dance music they’d like to receive, such as Disco, Old School, Techno, Nu School, or the brand’s own blend of everything. The monthly deliveries are also some of the fullest offered, as there is an option to receive up to four 12-inch records every month. 

Vinyl Me, Please

Price: $23 per month (when you sign up for a year) and up

Vinyl Me, Please isn’t like other vinyl subscription services that simply choose the best LP they believe you should hear. Instead, it comes off more as a company that re-releases some beloved titles as collector’s editions—ones that are only available from this one source. While plenty of these kinds of startups sift through hundreds of acts to find the next best thing nobody has heard yet, Vinyl Me, Please focuses on some of the biggest names in the indie world. Past monthly selections have included the likes of Glass Animals, Beck, Weezer, and Nils Frahm. Every choice comes with a specially-made vinyl, unique piece of art that accompanies the music, and a cocktail recipe that fits with the tunes. This is already one of the most popular vinyl subscriptions available, and there’s a reason for that.

VNYL

Price: starts at $22 per month for one record

Another one of the companies that has risen to the top of the growing field of vinyl subscription services, VNYL is clearly aimed at a younger audience, which makes sense, since millennials are one of the few groups pushing the medium upwards these days. One of the first steps of letting the curators at VNYL know what you’re into is connecting to your profiles on services such as Spotify, Soundcloud and Instagram, which again suggests a youthful aim. While some companies want users to choose categories such as dance, rock, or hip-hop, this one has verticals such as #DREAMPOP, #SOULMATES and #NOVEMBRRR, and if you have no idea what might come in one of those packages, this option probably isn’t the best for you.

Vinyl Moon

Price: around $30 per month 

On the company’s website, it calls itself “The Mixtape Vinyl Club,” and that’s a perfect description. Instead of offering full albums from artists, whether old or new, Vinyl Moon creates a one-of-a-kind mixtape every single month, which features at least 10 tracks from some of the coolest, most talented up-and-coming acts in music. Each and every month’s compilation is a different color, comes with a specially-designed artsy cover, and for the most VIP of members, there is even a party to celebrate the release of the album in varying cities.

Como Formar Um Time Profissional De Música

How To Build A Professional Music Team

So you’ve recorded a cd, played some pretty big shows, and are making some noise in your local scene…now what? Do you know how to take your career to the next level? After a certain point, bands need to start looking at putting together a team to help them get further in the industry. This is where the Artist Professional Team comes in. This is your elite team of industry insiders that are diligently working to get your music and your band out to the public…or at least that’s what they should be doing. It’s important to know the role of each member of your professional team so that you can hire the best person for the job. 

Personal Manager

Probably the most important person working for your band, the personal manager is essentially the quarterback of your band. They’re responsible for coordinating all efforts between the band and your record label, radio promoter, publicist, publisher, booking agent, and business manager and all othermusic contacts. Your personal manager should be the first member of your team that you choose, and can then help you assemble the rest of your team. The manager will also usually make some business decisions for the band, assist in the creative process, as well as working with your record label. Personal Managers usually take about 15-20% of a band’s gross income.

Business Manager

You may not be able to afford a business manager at first, but the more money you start making, the more likely it is that you’re going to need a business manager. The business manager usually collects royalty checks for the artists, takes care of their bills, and makes sure to properly handle all taxes and investments on behalf of the artist. Business managers are usually CPAs and can either take 5% of the artist’s gross income, or work for an hourly rate or flat fee.

Attorney

Probably the most powerful member of your music contacts will be your attorney. The attorney deals on your behalf with all the major power brokers you encounter during the course of your career. Your attorney should be heavily involved in negotiations whenever you sign contracts with publishers, labels, managers, and agent. Many of the most prominent entertainment attorneys are based in New York and Los Angeles, but others have been spreading to cities such as Nashville, Atlanta, Chicago, and Philadelphia. Attorneys can either take 5% of any deals they negotiate, or can work for an hourly rate or flat fee.

Booking Agent

Having the right booking agent can make the difference between playing a good show and playing a great show. Agents are responsible for scheduling live performances for artists for either individual dates, or regional and national tours. You want to find a talented agent that has established relationships with many of the big name venues all throughout the country. Booking agents can sometimes be the most difficult member of your team to secure because you often need to convince them that you are worth their time and effort. Agents usually take 10% of the artist gross for live performances, not including merchandise.

Publicist

The publicist’s job is to obtain media coverage for clients in print, tv, and electronic media. Their responsibilities usually include securing media coverage, mailing/emailing press kits to music writers, communicating with the manager/agent/record label, and hiring hair and makeup teams for tv and magazine shoots. Publicists can get paid anywhere from $1500-$5000 per month and usually begin work several months before major releases and announcements.

Site De Música Pirata "What.cd" Foi Fechado

Music piracy site What.cd has been shut down

Music piracy site What.cd has shut down, it announced on its Twitter account on November 17.

What.cd was an invite-only piracy site that offered a catalogue of music for free.

Reddit user NateHevens described it as "the Library of Alexandria for music. Between the list of music and formats, to the collages, the top tens, the community interaction ... What.CD was the pinnacle of music collection."

A Twitter account belonging to What.cd said on November 17 that the torrent site would shut down "due to some recent events". Ars Technica reports that people had been talking aboutWhat.cd being offline since November 16.

The Twitter account also claimed that "all site and user data has been destroyed". That was likely a deliberate act to attempt to keep users anonymous.

It's not clear exactly why What.cd shut down. French technology news site Zataz reported on November 17 that French police seized servers belonging to the torrent site, and that's what caused the site to go offline.

But a What.cd administrator told Ars Technica that the decision to shut the site down came from the people who maintain it, not the police. The unnamed administrator didn't rule out a police raid, though, and suggested that it is probably true.

Mudança De Executivos: Novas Contratações Na Sony, The Fader, CD Baby e Mais

Executive Turntable: New Hires at Sony Music Entertainment, The Fader, CD Baby & More

-- Andre Stapleton has been named Senior Vice President, Digital Partner Development, Sony Music Entertainment.

-- The FADER has appointed Shon Mogharabi to the newly created role of Strategy Director. 

-- APA’s Contemporary music department in New York has hired Steve Fergusonas its Vice President. His client roster has previously included The Jesus & Mary Chain, Siuxsie & the Banshees, The Dandny Warhols, The Kooks, and more. 

-- Cooking Vinyl has promoted both Rob Collins and Chris Farrow. Collins will move up from General Manager to Managing Director of Cooking Vinyl Ltd., while Chris Farrow will move up from Marketing Manager to Head of UK Marketing and Product Management. 

-- CD Baby, an independent distributor and artist services company, has hired Jon Bahr as Vice President of Music Publishing and Rights Management. Bahr has spent his past 13 years with ASCAP, where his most recent position was Senior Director of Marketing & Communication.

-- Spotify has lost one of its top science guys. Brian Whitman, a co-founder and CTO of music data wizards the Echo Nest, which the Swedish streaming service purchased in 2014, announced on his blog that he left the company earlier this month.

As Características Comuns Em Um "HIT"

The Common Characteristics Of A Hit Song

First of all, thanks to my Friend Bobby Owsinski

As we’re all too aware, crafting a hit song isn’t easy. Most people in the music business struggle their whole careers to be a part of just one, while others do the same to get a taste of that magic once again. While there isn’t an exact formula for a hit, there are a number of common elements between them that you’ll find that may help you in creating one. Here’s an excerpt from my Deconstructed Hits series that will hopefully shed some light on the subject.

“After looking at hundreds of hit songs, there is definitely a list of similar characteristics that you’ll find in a hit song on the charts today:

• Most hits are short. Songs today average 3:47 in length, which is a lot longer than it used to be, but still an easily digestible bite.

• Most hits have a short intro. The average intro of today’s hit is about 7 1/2 seconds, but it’s always been about getting to the point and that never seems to change.

• Most hits limit the number of arrangement elements that occur at the same time. Most have only three or four, and rarely even five arrangement elements that play simultaneously, but no more.

• The arrangement of most hits develops over the course of the song. Usually it reaches a peak at either the bridge or the last chorus.

• Most hits use the arrangement to keep your interest. There’s always a new element entering or exiting to hold your attention.

• Most hits have either a bridge or arrange a repeating song section to act like a bridge. The latter is an arrangement trick to keep the interest high and the song flowing.

• Virtually all hits are dynamic, with a lot of tension and release, which means a hit changes in intensity. This is usually accomplished through the addition or subtraction of instrument or vocal tracks, but can also occur because of good old-fashioned dynamic playing if real musicians are used.

• There are exceptions to all of these rules. It is rare to find a song that follows these traits exactly. Often what makes a song a hit in the first place is the ability to twist one of these traits into something new.

As you listen to songs in the future, begin to listen to the similarities in song form, arrangement and production, which can be a great help if you’re a songwriter, arranger or producer. The more you know about how a hit song is made, the more likely you’ll actually create one.

Keep in mind that even though you may not like a song or an artist, it is still worth a listen. Hits are hits for a reason, and they are definitely hard to come by. Each has some sort of magic––as well as some common elements––so something can be learned from every single one.”

O Que Faz Uma Música Ser "Licenciada"

What Makes Music “Licensable” 

First of all thanks to  Kaitlyn Raterman for this article.

As you begin diving into the realm of sync licensing, you might hear that some songs are more “licensable,” or licensing-friendly, than others.  Some songs fit seamlessly into films, commercials and the like, and though they may not be by a well-known mainstream artist, they definitely have a certain je ne sais quoi and commercial appeal that helps them appeal to mainstream audiences.  Even more importantly, these songs serve the purpose of the visual media with which they are synched - they have the power to both stand alone and be subservient to the action going on on-screen... and to add more depth to the scene on-screen.  So, what makes some songs licensable?

A SOLID Sound

Licensable songs utilize top-quality production; they are well-mixed and well-mastered.  It should SOUND expensive.  If your music SOUNDS like it was made in your bedroom, no one will care.  

For example, think about Rebecca Black’s “Friday.”  Sure, this song and Black herself are an absolute joke.  However, NBC’s The Today Show definitely used this song coming in and out of commercials.  Why...oh, why?  Well, who knows, but let’s be honest on one thing. Those guys at Ark Music Factory do know how to make well-produced music.  The production quality was solid, and it sounded like something you might hear on radio.   It did, indeed, sound just as expensive as it probably was for Black’s parents to make that happen for their dear daughter. 

Vague Lyrics & Theme

The most licensable songs have lyrics that are vague enough to apply to the masses, and have lyrics with themes that are vague enough to apply to the masses.  Music supervisors are picky about lyrics, especially in the commercial/promo realm.  (By the way, commercial/promo placements pay well.)  Telling a story in 30 or 60 seconds is hard.  The less detail you go into, the more powerful the lyrics are, and the more people and situations they can apply to.  The vaguer, the better! And the quicker you can get to the point with key words, even better.  (Remember: Since often the lyrics just won’t work for a particular spot, ALL your songs with vocals should have an instrumental version!  Be prepared, do that extra work now, and set yourself up for big money.)

What kinds of vague themes?

    o         Partying - alcohol, drugs, sex, dancing.

    o         Love & Romance.

    o         The all-time classic break-up song.

    o         Overcoming challenges, hope for the future.

    o         It’s a happy joyous fun beautiful day!

    o         Had a bad day, it’s raining, woe unto me.

    o         Conquering, being a badass.

Alternatively, a lot of the most licensable songs have rarely any lyrics at all, perhaps only one basic phrase such as:  “I can’t wait,” or “Ready, steady, go!”   

Check out Paul Oakenfold’s “Ready Steady Go” in Saab’s epic Viggen car commercial below.  Simple and highly effective lyrics.  They can apply to multiple different opportunities needing music with pump-up, energetic, action-packed vibes!  

Immediately Identifiable Mood

Most licensable songs have an identifiable mood or vibe that pulls you in by the very first notes of the song; the song conjures up a particular emotion or vibe immediately.   Take, for example:   

Phrenik & Stiletto’s “Can’t Wait” - Check out that kickass electric guitar hook that slaps you in the face.  This hook grabs your attention immediately.  Not only that, but this song has the short and simple lyrics, “I can’t wait, wanna touch me, wanna love me.”  This song is golden for a commercial because in a short span of time, we feel the pump-up energy and those lyrics can apply to almost anything.

D.V.S*, “Fortunes Won and Lost” - That bittersweet, nostalgic guitar is heart-wrenching.  This is a perfect example of an intro that isn’t hard-hitting... but the immediate intimacy of that guitar texture strikes a chord with any listener and pulls you in.  

Emotive Chord Progression

So, we’ve addressed that licensable songs are always emotive of a particular vibe.  What plays a huge part in this is the chord progression.  In the most general sense, the chord progression creates the essential vibe and mood of the song.  For example:

Hoob ft. MC Flax, “Girl” - Hoob may have called his song a “SUMMER SMASHER!!!”, but this song has an undeniably dark vibe.  Why?  That chord progression. It’s driving drum & bass, but that chord progression gives it a whole new meaning.  It’s as if you’re driving forward leaving behind stories of a darker past (or whatever story you want to create).    On that note, this is a perfect example of a song needing an instrumental version.  A music supervisor might like this song for those driving yet darker vibes, but the lyrics MC Flax and Hoob use don’t quite match that storyline.  

Memorable Melody 

Another characteristic that makes songs licensable is having a memorable melody (whether embedded in lyrics or not) that can be:

Sweeping & Expansive

For example, Kezwik’s “Let Go ft. Mimi Page” has a grandiose melody is sweeping and gorgeous with an element of wonder.

Short & Catchy

Watch this famous Kia Motors commercial using Ivan Gough & Feenixpawl’s “In My Mind ft. Georgi Kay.”  The main melodic hook literally has 4 notes.  It’s short, catchy, and totally memorable.  Not only that, but that main lyric is so vague and perfect for a commercial selling any product:  “This is what we’re waiting for.”   

“Cinematic” Instrumentation & Orchestration Tools 

Yes, any non-classical piece of music can utilize these same techniques, just in the different context of genre. 

What kinds of instruments? 

o              Strings are always cinematic.

o              Piano can bring a vibe of intimacy.  With reverb, it generates that gorgeous big-room sound. 

o              Guitars of all kinds. 

This applies to genres like electronic music, too.   For example:  

Cryptex’s “Slay It” - Check out those badass arpeggiated strings in the intro.  Let’s go save the world. 

Phrenik & Kezwik ft. PLS DNT STP’s “Ready for Impact” features a hard-hitting string melody in the intro, giving this song a rushed, hardcore and exciting appeal.  Let’s do this. 

In Kezwik’s “Tame,” listen to that catchy piano riff, followed by a call in the trumpets.  It breaks down into a head-nodding, bouncy jam with soaring synth melodies.  The intro (before the heavy dubstep drop) is uplifting, fun & great for a commercial.

D.V.S*’s “Blame Me” - Guitarist & producer Derek Van Scoten starts off with that lonely, nostalgic, intimate electric guitar theme, but then grows it into a bigger, more cinematic and inspiring sound. 

What kind of orchestration (how you arrange the instruments & sounds)?

One of the most effective compositional structures and orchestration techniques of all time is this general “textural crescendo”:  Layering sounds, one on top of the other, building up, and coinciding the instrumental build up with the chorus or climactic section.   This applies to literally any genre of music.  Example:

Overwerk’s “The Nth” - Listen from 1:15 onwards.  Huge orchestral build-up with strings and heavy drum percussion.  And what does it finally climax to?   An absolutely killer pumping electro jam.

Please note that not all licensed songs have every single one of the above qualities.  However, the above qualities are some important characteristics of songs that have been licensed before.  

For example, above we actually described two different ways a song can be structured.  The two are completely different, but both work for different types of visual media project needs.  

1. A song can begin by starting with a sound or particular vibe, and stay that way throughout the entirety of the song.  It can emit aggressive vibes like D.V.S*’s “Oxygen”with that badass electric guitar riff.   Or, it can be chill, smooth, and romantic like Dorsh’s “Je t’aime.”

2. A song can start off one way and thereby grow, build up, and expand into a climactic section.  Take, for example, Overwerk’s “Daybreak.”  This epic electronic symphony starts with pizzicato strings only and builds into something entirely different.  This song has been licensed multiple times, most famously in a GoPro commercial:

Absolutely epic, right?  

Now that you hopefully have some new ideas brewing, take a listen to your catalog and address these characteristics.  For your next tracks, perhaps try out some of these tools.   Of course as artists we never want to sacrifice freedom and creativity, but at the same time it’s always fun and beneficial from a creative standpoint to use new tools and thought processes like those above when writing music.  And who knows?  Maybe you’re sitting on next summer’s blockbuster film trailer track.   Take a look at Symphonic Distribution’s licensing page for info on how to get your music into the sync realm.  

Google Streaming Agora Pode Prever Qual A Próxima Música Você Quer Escutar

Google's streaming music service can now predict what you want to listen to next

Google Play Music, Google's music streaming service, is getting smarter.

On Monday, an update to the Google Play Music app will kick in a new feature that can predict what you want to hear next. 

In fact, Google is so confident in the app's accuracy, that it completely revamped the welcome screen on Play Music so you can just tap to start listening to a playlist suited for you based on the time, your location, and a variety of other factors.

Google says it's able to accomplish this through machine learning, the technology that's starting to power a lot of intelligent services Google makes like Google Photos and the new Google Assistant. It also plays into Google's broader mission to use machine learning and artificial intelligence in all of its products.

Play Music won't know you right away, of course. It has to learn your habits over time and its recommendations will get better and better the more you use it. Elias Roman, the head of Google Play Music, told Business Insider that you'll notice the playlist recommendations get more accurate after just a few days.

The overhaul comes as competition tightens in the streaming music space. Google hasn't disclosed how many paid subscribers it has, but Spotify and Apple are clearly in the lead with 40 million and 17 million paid subscribers, respectively. Amazon also just launched its own paid streaming service. Google also offers another paid music service through YouTube.

The hope with Google Play Music's update is that it'll mark a key differentiator from other services, given that they all pretty much host the same music libraries and charge the same for subscriptions, $9.99 per month.

The update will be rolling out this week to Google Play Music on iPhone, Android, and the web.