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RainMusic Review - Issue #22 - Sept 99
Reviews this issue include Songs.com, Amazing Music World, Abbot Productions, Independent
Records, COWPIE Song Corral, and a Barcoding Specialist.
Our featured article is Selling Your Music on the Net: Key Strategies to Success.
RainMusic Review is a monthly email newsletter featuring reviews of the best independent music and pianist resources on the Internet. These sites are reviewed weekly at RainMusic.com, and then archived via this newsletter. This page is a summation of that newsletter.
For maintenance purposes, this archive does not contain the entire newsletter. It does however
contain the prominant reviews featured each week. Subscribe
Here to get the full content delivered to you each month.
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RainMusic.com Site Info
RAINMUSIC.COM SITE DETAILS
RainMusic: Indie Resource Reviews: http://www.rainmusic.com
Independent Music Resource Center: http://www.rainmusic.com/promotion/resources.htm
Pianist Resource Center: http://www.rainmusic.com/pianomusic/piano.htm
Free Sheet Music Resources: http://www.rainmusic.com/pianomusic/free.htm
Feedback: email management@rainmusic.com
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Featured Reviews: Pianist Resources & Independent Music Resources
Pianist Resources
Amazing Music World
Innovation is the word that comes to mind after visiting Amazing Music World. This creatively designed site features
downloadable and printable sheet music in all genres for all levels. Their Amazing Sheet Music Library features
music by all the great composers, and can be searched by composer, title, or instrument. Samples are available
for every piece. Once you've selected the music you wish to purchase, you can download it directly to your own
printer. Within minutes you can have the music on your stand, and start playing. In addition to sheet music, check
out the 'Amazing Metronome,' a free downloadable tool with a wide range of time signatures, adjustable tempo settings,
and a selection of sampled percussion sounds. Other free musicians tools are in the works. Well worth a visit,
if only to tour the site.
COWPIE Song Corral
I'll admit it. I'm almost embarrassed to review a site with such a name. However, if you're looking for free chord
charts for some of country (and pop) music's biggest names, COWPIE is one of the most extensive collections on
the net we've seen. The files available for download are simple text files, with the song lyrics and chords. Nothing
fancy, but if you have the skill necessary to improvise from chort charts, you may find this collection useful.
These guys have everybody, Alabama, Garth Brooks, Billy Ray Cyrus, the Desert Rose Band, Willie Nelson, Shania
Twain and hundreds more.
Interactive
Piano Knows the Score....
From an article in the Seattle Times (link above).....
A piano you can plug in to a telephone line? Yep, it's here, and it looks just like your typical grand piano with
the exception of a touch-controlled, 10.4-inch computer screen where the sheet music holder usually sits. Piano
students who'd like to take online piano lessons can call up an on-screen music teacher to guide them through their
lessons. Notes are displayed on the screen as music is played; students then play the notes back and follow along
with the song. The interactive piano also has a built-in modem, so players can connect to an on-line "music
mall" that provides technology updates, sheet music, and new songs and playing styles.
Independent Music Resources
Abbot Promotions
Abbot is a one stop promotion shop for artists looking for help getting the word out. Basic
services includes press kit development, referrals, tour promotion & bookings. Abbot offers monthly (for ongoing
promotion), as well as hourly rates. Check out the references page to view the numerous positive comments made
by many of their existing clients.
Independent Records - Barcoding
To sell your CDs in stores, you'll need a bar code for your product. Unfortunately, getting
your own UCC vendor code can be a bit spendy. Independent Records provides an essential service for musicians in
this position. If you register your CD release with Independent Records, they will add your product to their catalog
and serve as your 'record label.' This allows IR to generate and assign your product a bar code which you can then
use for your CD release. Check out the site for more details.
Selling Your Music on the Net: Key Strategies to Success
So, you've got your own CD and now you want to sell your music on the net. You probably have
two burning questions: Where do I start? and How many CDs will I sell?
Songs.com
Songs.com is one of the more organized musician hosting services on the net, and offer a bit more bang for the
buck. Services include secure credit card ordering for your CDs, toll free # ordering, search engine placement,
exposure on songs.com radio, and internet exposure via email bulletins. Basic membership includes a logo, a minimum
of 3 graphic elements, 3 sound clips, biographical or other descriptive text, and choice quotes. Your URL will
be the easy to remember songs.com/your name. Songs.com also features a 'Preferred Online Vendor' program for musicians
who already have web sites. For a much smaller membership fee, musicians can be included on the Songs.com roster
and make use of the same ordering services (even a redirect URL) as full fledged members. Currently, Songs.com
boasts over 350 members.