Sometimes Music Does Come Easy

Having spent quite a lot of time responding to as many emails as I have time fore and even submitting a brief explanatory blog (below this entry) about downloading via the Nimbit widget in October 2009, it has most definitely paid dividends.

Since that time, however, I have scoured the net for any easier ways for people to download music from their favourite independent musicians. I am in now way taking a shot at music lovers; quite the opposite because I'm the same myself. Unless a download involves a click or two then I'm very likely to either look elsewhere or, more likely, "get around to it later,"....and rarely remembering to.

To say the internet provides instant access to ones favourite music is, to my mind, a wee bit deceptive. Simply finding the music of ones favourite can be a chore. Case in point: I still find it confusing to locate mt music on my soon-to-be defunct iTunes catalogue. Added to this is the fact I can only promote it with a miniscule button which simply says iTunes.

Amazon have an array of small widgets of varying sizes which at least give my name, an image of the relevant album cover.

Outside of this, I have no say in what price they are sold for and song-clips are random and only provide listeners with a 30-second preview which are typically not indicative of the track.

After my original 'honeymoon period' with Nimbit I began noticing improvements that I think would surely improve their reach and popularity. Their player widget is very slick and downloads are very smooth but as mentioned in my previous entry the 30-second song previews were not a winner with fans.

The other possible improvement that I forwarded to Nimbit (as part of a questionnaire they sent me) was to introduce more customisable widget players. I am yet to receive a response.

After the above 'doom and gloom' information I have good news! Thanks to New-Zealand based musician, Tommie Brewster, I was turned onto Bandcamp. Tommie sent me the information in February 2010 but due to other commitments I have only recently trialled it....and what a trial it has been!

My most recent album, "Redemption," was released via Bandcamp as well as Nimbit, purely to compare the two. Album sales from "Bandcamp" are faring much better. Additionally, I have no real-time statistics from Nimbit.

Bandcamp gives the artist a choice of four player widgets which can be customised re. colour and fit pretty-well anywhere on the net. Additionally, the artist keeps 100% of royalties which is why I don't mind selling my material for %5.00 per album. I think it's a fair price. Don't be fooled by the initial price that you see.....More of that shortly.

Have a look at the player below (it doesn't hurt). You can then play "Redemption" in its' entirety....as many times as you like. If....and only IF you wish to download the album, click the 'Download Album' button. You'll then, on the same page, be presented with a wee 'thing' telling you the album price ($7.69). There is also an empty slot saying, "discount code?" If you have read this far, the discount code is: raunchy  You will then see the discount price of $5.00 that I mentioned before. Even at this stage, there's no obligation to purchase.

Call me a rotten salesman. I totally agree.....but....if I can make my work as easy to access and as cheap as possible for all of those people kind  enough to support my music over the last three years (and more), then I'll give it my best shot....and will continue to do so.