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Andre Calilhanna

The 360 Deal – the music industry’s scary monster

by Andre Calilhanna January 17, 2012

It’s fun and easy to blame the woes of the world on major labels. After all, they’ve brought us The Pussycat Dolls, Milli Vanilli, and global warming. Oh yeah, there’s also the 360 record deal. 360 deals are common across all types of music labels, and music publishers are also in on the action with versions of their own. Not to be left out, concert promotion giant Live Nation also bangs the drum, having signed so-called 360 deals with the likes of Madonna and Jay-Z. Read more…

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Fundraising with CDs and DVDs: Manufacturing and Packaging

by Andre Calilhanna December 7, 2011

When it’s time to raise money for your club or organization, you may already have your go-to method of procuring funds. But there’s always room to improve, and maybe it’s time to find an additional revenue generator – or it may be time for a totally new solution. Perhaps you’re terrified by the whole concept. Read more…

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Gibson Guitar Under Investigation – music, politics, business, and the government collide

by Andre Calilhanna October 20, 2011

From Jimmy Page and Slash with their raging Les Pauls, to Angus Young’s SG and B.B, King’s “Lucille,” Gibson guitars are indelibly linked to popular music dating back to the 1950s. Today, in addition to electric guitars, Gibson manufactures acoustic guitars, banjos, dobros, mandolins, pianos (Baldwin), juke boxes (Wurlitzer), electronics, and accessories – not to mention the entire line of Epiphone products.Read more…

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Summer Music Festivals: Four tragic stage collapses lead to deaths and injuries

by Andre Calilhanna August 30, 2011

Summer Music Festivals: Four tragic stage collapses lead to deaths and injuriesMusic festivals are a staple of the summer season, and since the inception of Lollapalooza in 1991, outdoor concerts and worldwide attendance at festival shows have increased dramatically. 2011 has been a strong year for these shows, in terms of attendance, but events in the past two months are leaving many promoters, managers, fans, and artists ill at ease — and in mourning. Read more…

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To CD or Not To CD…

by Andre Calilhanna October 1, 2010

The news surrounding the music industry might make you wonder if anyone is buying CDs any more. Major-label CD sales are down – downloads are up. As an independent artist, do you really need to make CDs?

There are many factors to consider, and what is true for major-label artists does not often translate to independents. Read more…

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Craig Hanna on Video Post-Production and Authoring – Part I

by Andre Calilhanna July 14, 2010

The manager of Disc Makers’ Authoring House talks about common mistakes, post-production, and multimedia programming

Tell me a little about what you were doing before you came to the Authoring House.
I have over 25 years of experience in video and film production. I received a Bachelor’s Degree in Media Arts, with a concentration in film and television from The University of South Carolina. I worked for Comcast and then Sony and was a freelance producer before coming here. I’ve done everything from writing, producing, editing, and shooting to pulling cables – all the jobs involved in production and post-production – and I also was a multimedia programmer. Read more…

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Should You Give Your Music Away?
The Great Debate.

by Andre Calilhanna March 15, 2010

No one’s arguing that the changes in the music industry haven’t tipped the scales in favor of the independents. Not only can you forge a path to success without the help of a label, you can choose from a variety of means to achieve it. But that leaves a number of questions on the table, including whether or not you ought to give your music away for free.

As an indie, CD and download sales can be a huge part of the equation in regard to your income. Read more…

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Gigging and Touring as an Indie

by Andre Calilhanna February 16, 2010

Playing live gigs is one of the most traditional ways for musical artists to spread the word about themselves, entertaining fans and attracting new ones. And nothing beats gigging as a way to build a band’s musical chops.

Playing gigs also gives you a recurring reason to contact your fan base and promote your act, it’s a great vehicle to collect names for your email list, and it’s the best forum to sell products like CDs and t-shirts. Read more…

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Pre-Production and Your Recording

by Andre Calilhanna December 7, 2009

Whether you’re entering the studio for the first or fiftieth time, embarking on a full-length album or a soundtrack one-off, successful recordings start with some form of pre-production. It could be as simple as a one-time conversation with the studio manager to go over the studio’s etiquette, layout, fees, and the specifics of how your time in the facility will play out. But for most projects, pre-production is a much more involved process that allows the artists and production team to define things like which songs will be recorded, the key of each song, and their tempos. Read more…

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9 Ways Releasing a CD Can Help Your Career

by Andre Calilhanna October 15, 2009

The news surrounding the music industry these days might make you wonder if anyone is buying CDs any more. Major-label CD sales are down again. Downloads are up. So the question on the table is: As an independent artist, do you really need to make CDs these days? Read more…

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