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RainMusic Review - Issue #31 - June 2000
Reviews this issue include QCA CD Manufacturing,
BusyMusician.com, Affordable Music Transcription, FreedomZone, Cormorant Press, Merek Royce Press, AnyScore.com,
BestMusicBooks, Song Licensing, Virtual Sheet Music, Music Biz Magazine, and RealNetRadio
RainMusic Review is a monthly newsletter featuring reviews of online music resources of interest to musicians. These sites are reviewed weekly at RainMusic.com and then archived via this newsletter.
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the entire newsletter. It does however contain the prominant reviews featured each week. Subscribe Here
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Featured Reviews: Pianist Resources & Independent Music
Resources
Pianist Resources
Affordable Music Transcription
Interested in having your original music transcribed to sheet
music? Affordable Music Transcription can take care of that for you at very reasonable prices. While most trascription
companies will charge anywhere from $2-$4 per measure of transcription, AMT starts out as low as .60 cents. Music
can be transcribed from any source; cassette, CD, or handwritten scores. Great service and response time.
AnyScore.com
AnyScore is a unique sheet music store which offers a system where you can download a selected score first, then
pay later. Free sheet music buffs will appreciate the half-dozen high quality free scores which may be downloaded
at no cost or obligation. These include popular compositions by Bach, Beethoven, Satie, Vivaldi, Chopin and Joplin.
The Choral Public Domain Library
If you are a fan of early choral music, you simply must view the database at CPDL. There you'll find nearly 1000
public domain choral works available for download, most in pdf, finale, or MIDI format. In addition to familiar
names (Bach, Brahms, Mozart, Purcell) you'll find choral music from earlier composers such as John Bartlet, William
Byrd, Josquin, John Dowland, & Thomas Morley.
Cormorant Press
Cormorant's free sheet music selections include music for solo piano as well as piano and voice. Most are original
compositions by William B. Goldberg. All selections are available in *.gif format and you may if you wish download
all selections at once in a single *.zip file. *.wav files are available to sample most of the music.
Merek Royce Press: Music Transcription
Here is another talented, but inexpensive music transcription
service for pianists. Transcription rates start at .50 cents per measure, with discounts offered for mulitiple
works or entire albums. $100 minimum order.
Virtual Sheet Music
VSM is dedicated to classical sheet music and offers an impressive collection of downloadable sheet music from
selected composers. While most of their complete scores require an access fee, VSM does offer about a dozen free
downloadable demos from Chopin, Joplin, Mendelssohn and others. These are all VERY high quality scores. All sheet
music is carefully catagorized by composer, instrument, ensemble, category, or skill level.
Independent Music Resources
BestMusicBooks.com
A HUGE, well organized virtual library for the independent musician!
You'll find books on every aspect of the music business, as well as books on home recording, songwriting, copyrighting,
promotion, and publishing. Features many self-published books not available in stores as well as the popular titles.
BusyMusician.com
Busy Musician is a free online magazine about the business of music and professional development for working musicians.
In addition to regular features and articles, Busy Musician also features a job and gig database, and a discussion
list for networking opportunities between musicians.
FreedomZone: Free Music for the Masses
FreedomZone's CEO Jim Milligan has a vision, a radical way of
bringing music to the masses: Give the music to anyone who wants it away for free - for the first million copies.
Yep, you read right - the artist signs an agreement that says they allow the first 1,000,000 CDs to be given away
for free. No mind blowing new technology, no questionable software, no confusing record company clauses. Is this
the answer to getting the exposure to your music you desire? Well, who knows? FreedomZone artists are performing
at the 2000 NBA Finals as well as in a Central Park. They are hosting this year's Levi's 1st Stage Emerging Artist
Tour. So, the opportunities
are there. Unique approach, yes, but are you up for it?
The Gate: CD Manufacturing & Audio
Duplication
The Gate provides CD design, manufacturing and post-production
services, as well as offering many specialty packaging options (Check out their Super Jewel case!). Prices are
excellent and include design as well as film. Unlike many other disc manufacturers, The Gate posts a complete gallery
of their in-house design work (see Client Graphics), showcasing the talents of their artists.
Intellectual Property Issues
This music copyright resource provided by Negativland is superb, and for it's small size it packs a big punch.
You'll find articles and suggested links to information on copyright, fair use, trademarking, or intellectual property.
Music BIZ Magazine
The online version of this popular music business education trade
magazine. Get the latest information to help jumpstart your career or take you to the next level of achievement
in the music business. You'll find useful articles, as well as a discussion forum.
QCA CD, Cassette and Record Manufacturing
QCA has been in business for over 50 years, serving the recording industry (BIG clients like Capitol, RCA, and
Chrysalis) with vinyl, cassettes, and CDs. Today, they have expanded their services to include graphic design and
a complete pre-press system. QCA's CD manufacturing prices are quite reasonable, with complete packages (including
design and film) starting at $1700 (Subtract $300 if you provide a CD-R). QCA also provides short runs on CDs,
starting at as few as 10 CDs ($36). If you already have your artwork done, QCA has a DIY package (you assemble
yourself) of 500 CDs for $650.
RealNetRadio
RealNetRadio ranks as one of the better independent radio stations
on the net, providing unsigned artists with a real, tangible means of getting their music to the surfing masses.
You can upload the music you want to have played on RealNetRadio.com and maintain your own custom playlist of music.
Don't think you are getting enough Airplay? Have your listeners go to the Alphabetical Listing section or the Playlist
and have them vote for you! The more positive votes you have the more your songs will be played. RealNetRadio provides
a live radio feed as well as a time-coded playlist to let listeners see exactly who they're listening to. A cool
radio station for cool music you've never heard.
What Song License Do You
Need?
Want to use a copyright protected song but you're confused about
who to contact and how to go about it? This easy to use licensing FAQ from the Harry Fox Agency takes you step
by step through the process of licensing songs for use in recording, performance, film, or media and tells you
exactly what you need to do and what it will cost you.
Music Promotion Tips
Tips, Tips, Tips by
I-Music Promotion
Do you use ListBot or a similar service to sign up new subscribers
to your email list? Research shows that you can lose up to 31 percent of the people who sign up for an email list
when using an outsourced service rather than your own website. The reason? They figure that List Bot and services
like it will send them junk email and might rent their name out to who only knows. There are very easy ways to
keep your email subscribers from having to click through to a secondary site to sign up. At the very least, use
a catchy sentence with an invitation to sign up by sending you an email. It's better than an outsourced service.
Tips, Tips, Tips by
I-Music Promotion
Why should I give my music away with FREE downloads when I
want to get people to buy my cd?
Many web surfers have come to embrace the MP3 technology because it has been free to download songs. One has to
wonder where MP3 would be if the music sites that use the technology were to have charged it's visitors a fee to
download songs. In my opinion, the technology would have died a quicker death than beta! To answer the question,
giving your music away does more to promote your music than any single thing you can do. Just ask the major label
artists who give their tracks away for free. The more people you can get involved in being fans, the more opportunities
you will have to sell them cd's or other merchandise. Now, this doesn't mean you should have ALL of your songs
available for FREE download. But it is certainly a good promotion tool to have two or three songs available for
free to entice people to commit to purchasing the entire disc.
Featured News...
Calling All Bands: 2000 Harvest
Showcase
Primitive Entertainment is proud to announce it is accepting entries
for the 2000 Harvest Showcase. Artists/Bands interested in submitting should send one song on a CD with name of
band/artist, contact person address, city, state, zip code, e-mail address and a $15.00 dollar registration fee
to: Primitive Entertainment, 806 Fountain Avenue, Louisville, KY 40222, Deadline is July 18, 2000.
Music
Industry Battles Internet Pirates
Organized crime syndicates have already helped music piracy become
a $4.5 billion business, but the record industry has more to worry about than La Cosa Nostra: the Internet. Record
industry watchdog IFPI reports that at least 25 million illegal music files are available online, and up to 1 billion
files are downloaded annually. The industry is cracking down by doubling the number of global investigators and
by launching 100 international investigations.
MP3.com,
Record Companies Settle
MP3 will reportedly have to pay between $75 million and $100
million, but it does gain licensing agreements as part of the deal.
RIAA Applauds House Hearing
On Internet And Independent Labels
The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) today praised the U.S. House of Representatives Committee
on Small Business for holding a hearing to assess the challenges and opportunities the Internet now presents to
independent record labels, though the organization feels legislation is currently not needed.Representatives of
the recording industry testified at the hearing, entitled, "Online Music: Will Small Music Labels and Entrepreneurs
Prosper in the Internet Age?"
TAXI Members Score
#1 Hit On Country Charts!
Are you one of those skeptical about TAXI? Well, here's the proof
in the pudding. TAXI members Erik Hickenlooper and Jim Funk are just a couple of regular guys -- with one exception
-- they wrote Kenny Rogers #1 Country Hit "Buy Me A Rose."
Featured Articles...
Could
Napster Signal the End of Indie Music?
Should anyone in the world should be allowed to take anything
you create, any time they want, without compensating you?
Courtney
Love Does the Math
Do you want a recording contract? Are you sure? Are you really
sure? This blistering article by Courtney Love may change your mind.
How to Make
Money and Retain Control of your Music
The best way to sell records is to land a big record deal with
a big company, become a superstar, and make gobs of money from maniacally loyal fans. Isn’t that right? Get real.
Article by Paul B. Ungar.
Music, Business and Technology: Adapt
or Die
When FM radio began taking away listeners from
the inferior sounding AM band in the late 60's the recording industry viewed that as a threat to their sales. "Why"
they said "People will begin taping off the radio onto reel-to-reel tapes and they will have a near perfect
analog master…people will never buy records again". Article by Christopher Knab.
Planning A Successful
CD Release
To get the most bang for the buck when releasing a new CD, you
have to do a little advance planning. Article by Suzanne Glass.
Record Execs Face the
Net Music
Will the Internet kill the kings of the recording
industry?
Maybe not, but it's definitely keeping them awake at night.
Why
MP3 Won't Win
by Randy Barrett, Inter@ctive
Week. Why there is value in owning the whole CD, replete with
liner notes, in a neat - if overpriced - package.
ZDNet Music's Ultimate
Guide to Napster
Everything you always wanted to know about the the controversial MP3 sharing software but were afraid to ask.
Job Opportunities in the Music Business
IMOE FIlms: Casting Call for Musicians
IMOE Films will soon be casting for a fully interactive feature film
named "Alarius." They will be looking for all types of music for this film, from love songs to alternative
rock or rap. Fill out the form now for "Priority Registration" here.
Music Publicist Wanted
by Growing Music P.R. Firm
Growing boutique music and cyber PR firm is looking for a dynamic,
highly creative, experienced publicist who is passionate about music and the Internet, to develop and implement
complete national media campaigns for a variety of music and Internet clients. Must have solid working relationships
with the press and strong communication skills. Minimum of 3 years experience required. We offer a competitive
salary, benefits and a state-of-the-art work environment.
WPFL Looking for Indie Theme Song...
The Women's Pro Football League is looking for a theme song on
the order of "Sisters Are Doing It For Themselves" and would like to invite the indie music community
to submit original music for this. The theme song should be uptempo, pop-ish and make a statement about being successful,
strong, etc. The song selected will be used on all WPFL media promos and as intros to all WPFL games around the
country. Send your tapes to: Catherine Masters 400 Forest Park Rd. B6-8 Nashville, TN 37115. Email
Mwiboss8@aol.com for more info.