HOW THE DIGITAL AGE AND THE INTERNET HAVE CHANGED THE MUSICAL LANDSCAPE BACK TO;  Metal Trivia Index          Guitar Jams          Pastor Brad          WINDLAN A really cool bro from       Trevor Ray, recently sent me this note... "I am writing a book on the History of Christian Metal and, I am wanting to understand the issues that the band faces with the new digital age on the internet and the advantages/disadvantages it gives you. Also I would like to understand how you have embraced the internet in the options it gives in sharing your music and reaching fans." Okay Trevor... this will be a bit sloppy--as I am just typing away--off the top of my head---feel free to edit/clean it up anyway you see fit bro.... HOW THE INTERNET/DIGITAL AGE HAS CHANGED THINGS FOR INDIE METAL ARTISTS There are basically three essential ingredients to success for an artist: 1. RECORDING/PRODUCTION: a way to record and produce top quality music.   2. DISTRIBUTION: a way to duplicate and make your music available to the public. 3.  PROMOTION: a way to get the word out about your music--the larger the scale the better! BEFORE THE INTERNET/DIGITAL AGE MUSIC EXPLOSION: FOR RECORDING/PRODUCTION WORK--artists had to pay big bucks--hourly rates for studio time... and then more to have that music mixed and mastered... and duplicated... big bucks... very hard for most bands...but it was the only way to created a quality recording. DISTRIBUTION--this was even more difficult--Okay--now you have a box of a thousand cds in your living room and no way to distribute them!  You could gig like crazy (still very much a good thing) but that was pretty much the only way to distribute your music -- unless you had a friend/personal contact who owned a music store. PROMOTION--again--very hard to pull off before the digital age... you could physically print flyers... gig a bunch and maybe create a local buzz... but it was a TON of work for a local buzz. This is why getting signed was such a big deal in the past---really--only the record companies/lables had the bucks and connections to effectively record, distribute and promote your music.  But those days are gone! TODAY--LIFE IN THE DIGITAL/INTERNET AGE RECORDING/PRODUCTION--Today for 1/2 of what it would cost you to spend time in a studio to record your project--you can build your own digital studio--using a computer, recording software, etc.  It takes some work on the artist's part to learn the art of recording, mixing, mastering---but it can be done MUCH easier than ever before. DISTRIBUTION--  For a small investment---an artist can get a small run of their cds run... like 50... they can send 5 of them to CD Baby and CD Baby will instantly make that cd available to THE WORLD.  And beyond that--CD Baby will send your music to loads of digital distributors--like iTunes, Rhapsody, eMusic, etc. It's amazing----And the SUPER COOL thing about digital distribution is--once you your digital file out there and available for download---YOU NEVER HAVE TO REPRODUCE IT AGAIN...no more cd runs, snail mail, etc.  It's just there---forever---for people to purchase.  Of course CDs are still selling, and there are lots of places on the web--like CD Baby who do a super job of distribution cds for artists. PROMOTION--  The web has changed EVERYTHING--today, if an artist is willing to put in the time -- between blogs, social networks like myspace, facebook, flicker, etc.... internet radio, ezines/reviewers, podcasts, music forums, creating a quality band website and optimizing it... and generating a quality eNewsletter for fans---an artist can literally create a world-wide fan base!  And the SUPER COOL thing with the internet--is that the artist can actually build a RELATIONSHIP with fans--know them, exchange email, pictures, whatever... very cool. Of course the tradional elements of PR and gigging are still very important--but even those things are made easier with the web--I can google "live music in Pennsylvania" (I live in Pennsylvania) or  "music PR" and find hundreds of people/places who can help me with gigging/promotion -- in seconds.... booking agents,  clubs, churches, coffee houses, etc.... all at the artist's finger tips.  It's a good time to be an indie artist. It takes work--but artists have always been willing to work.  The digital/internet age has basically leveled the playing field (to a large degree) for musicians everywhere.  If a label approached me with a sweet deal -- and was willing to pay for my time in a professional studio---pay to have my music duplicated and distributed to every Wal-Mart and major music store in the world and promote me on National TV and Radio station around the world and send me on a world-wide touch -- would I take it---probably... but do I "need" that in order to have a nice career in music?  Absolutely not... not today. There ya go my friend... hope this helps. Blessings, pb