Jeff created an internet tool for musicians called TuneCore, allowing them to get their albums registered with all the major digital distributors (iTunes, Napster, Rhapsody, etc.) without taking any rights or money from the artist.
Who can do it? Anyone. You could record your girlfriend wailin' away about the scent Herbal Essences in the shower and sell it on iTunes. But for the rest of our sakes - please don't :)
Another awesome tool is Napster dude Shawn Fanning's latest project - SNOCAP. They have a simple mission "to bring more music to more people through more outlets." Basically musicians can use SNOCAP to sell music anywhere they can edit HTML - so umm...I guess anywhere? MySpace seems to be the main focus right now - checkout The Shin's myspace page. Sub Pop Records just announced that they will start using SNOCAP for all their artists. It's cool because you can go to the artist's myspace page, listen to their songs, and buy them without EVER leaving the page. It's a mini store - and it's freaking brilliant.
Other things to check out:
- Sonic Bids - Artists can create Electronic Press Kits or EPK™s. If George Clinton uses it, you know it's gotta be cake.
- Eventful - Bands can book their tours based on where their fans want them. So if you are a fan of Atmosphere and live in Podunk, Alabama -- you and all your friends can register on Eventful and let Slug know. He hasn't come to see me yet, but I'll keep you updated.
- CD Baby - An online CD store (yes, I said CDs) that sells all independent artists. They put this better than I can, so I'll just copy and paste - "Cool thing: in a regular record deal or distribution deal, musicians only make $1-$2 per CD, if they ever get paid by their label. When selling through CD Baby, musicians make $6-$12 per CD, and get paid weekly."
So all you bands out there - use this stuff and say goodbye to the Value Menu;)
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