From the monthly archives:

April 2011

How Bands and Co-Writers Divide Percentage Shares in a Song

by Bobby Borg April 29, 2011

Under copyright law, as soon as one of your original song ideas is recorded on a handheld recorder or the lyrics to one of your compositions is written on a sheet of paper, a copyright is formed. A copyright grants you the exclusive first right to reproduce, distribute, perform, and sell your compositions to the public.

But what does copyright law say about your rights when an original idea is formed between two or more people? A few principles regarding joint works must be understood by the authors, and the most important principle has to do with ownership. Read more…

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Five Reasons Your Emails Aren’t Being Returned

by Rick Goetz April 28, 2011

I am a big believer in doing as much legwork on your own as you possibly can before reaching out to music industry executives. That being said, there comes a time in every artist’s career where you’re going to have to approach someone in the industry to get to that proverbial "next level." Let me assure you that there is a right way of doing this and several wrong ways of doing this. Sadly, many artists repeatedly write emails that go right into the trash because of very basic mistakes that can be easily avoided. Read more…

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Indie Touring Strategy: Getting Out on the Road

by Keith Hatschek April 28, 2011

Megan SlankardWhat are the realities of touring for an independent artist today? How do you set up your gigs? Does touring make financial sense? What should you hope to gain from going on any tour? These are just some of the questions you might – and should – be asking yourself if you plan to take your show on the road.

Megan Slankard is traveling through rural Wisconsin, where cell coverage can be spotty, as a part of a three-month, 75-date tour to promote her latest album, A Token of the Wreckage. Read more…

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Sell the Story – Not the CD

by Scott James April 26, 2011

flannel ballIn 2009 Rob Walker and Joshua Glenn tried out a little experiment. They spent $128.74 on a bunch of yard sale junk and hired professional writers to draw up interesting stories about each item. Then they put everything up on eBay with the stories that they created to see what happened. Read more…

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Desktop Wallpaper – May Edition

by Disc Makers April 26, 2011

May Desktop WallpaperThe talented designers in our Design Studio created twelve original works of art (one for each month) that feature the cities where Disc Makers offices are located. Each month we will post a new design, in six common desktop sizes, so you can use them as your desktop wallpaper.

May’s wallpaper features Los Angeles, California! Click here to get yours!

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Home Studio Tips from a Big Studio Designer

by Disc Makers April 22, 2011

Project and home studios are often located in basements and spare bedrooms, which have numerous limitations. For many studio owners, major reconstruction and remodeling aren’t an option—surface treatments, furnishings, lighting, color, and equipment are about all that may be changed. Read more…

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Recording Your Live Gig, Pt. 1: 8 tips to get the most out of your live recording

by Michael Gallant April 13, 2011

Laying down your tastiest tracks in the studio is one thing – but what if you want to capture the raw spontaneity and audience energy of a live gig? Live recordings can be a real challenge, even for the most ambitious DIY indie artist, so here are eight tips to help you capture the vibrant tracks you need. Read more…

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