SonicBids: Double your Gig Revenue with the right Merchandising

This Quick Tip was adapted from an article by Tony van Veen, originally published in Disc Makers’ FastForward newsletter. Read the entire article here.

Double your gig revenue!
Merch sales are an easy way to make more money as a gigging indie artist.We independent artists have the habit of forgetting what our fans really are: our valued customers. Good customers have this wonderful habit of buying our stuff, and merchandise can be a big part of that.

Tips On Buying Merch
You’ll definitely want custom t-shirts, which represent 80% of all merch sold. But the greater the variety of merchandise you have to sell, the greater your opportunity to generate revenue.If you decide to design your merch yourself, keep it simple. Intricate designs don't usually translate well to silkscreen printing.If you are choosing multiple garment colors, make sure you take the extra time to ensure your ink colors will work well on all of the colors you choose.Beware, for every design location you add, there may be an additional cost involved.Start with one shirt color. Black is a good start, chosen by three quarters of all artists.Confirm this with your vendor, but you can usually split one order into S, M, L, or XL for any garment at no additional charge.

Tips On Selling Your Merch
When you’re on stage, mention that you have cool merch for sale.Display your merch in a high-traffic area.Keep prices reasonable and attractive.Sell a range of garments (not just t-shirts).Offer bundles (package two or more items together).Offer something for free with purchase (a poster, sticker, etc).Make sure everyone working with the band is wearing your merch.

www.sonicbids.com

HardRadio.com Reports 1.1 Million Unique Visitors in August

Officials at HardRadio.com recently reported that their HardRadio.com, HardVideo.com and HardAxe.net Web sites attracted 1.1 million unique visitors during August 2007. The number represents the amount of traffic to the Web sites, counting each visitor only once during the month-long report. Specializing in hard rock and heavy metal music, news and history, HardRadio.com pioneered Internet radio as the first dot-com, Internet-only radio station.

“For the first time in the company’s history, we’ve reached over one million passionate music fans in a single month,” said Tracy Barnes, founder and president of HardRadio.com. “Our ability to deliver the latest music, videos and bands at the click of a mouse has made us the hottest online destination in the world of heavy metal. As a result of this growing fan base, we’re currently searching for even more ways to enhance the business and increase our presence on the Internet.”

Read More Here

Independent Music Conference: Another Failure

The only thing consistent about Noel Ramos' events are the failure rate - and this years attempt in Philadelphia was no exception. With little more than a handful of musicians in attendance, Ramos has "threatened" to remove the event from where its called home since 2003. I have a feeling it won't be missed, especially by a city that didn't notice it was there to begin with.

Earlier this year Ramos took issue with the popular musician website SonicBids and their quality control. It was a battle he again lost.

View the photos from this years event here: www.imc07.com

Perpetual Groove: Band puts its energy to good use

The group is on "The Serious Business Tour," powered by Green Mountain Energy Co., and performs tonight at Crossroads. P-Groove also has partnered with Tree Sound Studios and Sustainable Waves to help fight environmental threats such as global warming.

"The band and the label both feel strongly about doing things to help the environment," keyboard player Matt McDonald said in a phone interview. "As a band, someone in our profession produces a lot of emissions. We burn a lot of gas on tour and use a lot of energy to power up our lights and instruments. We calculated it for our fall tour, and it was shocking the amount of energy we use daily for hotels and gas."

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Arcade Fire: This band might change your life

In a fascinating video on YouTube.com, the band performs the title song of its new album, "Neon Bible," while crammed into an elevator with an array of instruments. (One of those instruments includes a glossy magazine -- the sound of its pages being torn provides part of the wild percussion section.)

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Otep: New Album and Thanking Fans

KOCH Records is pleased to announce a new revenue-sharing, multi-album, worldwide partnership with OTEP. The first release under this new agreement is the band’s highly-anticipated new full-length album, The Ascension-- slated for release on Tuesday, October 30th, 2007. Additionally, KOCH Records has several releases planned for 2008 under OTEP’s new, soon to be announced imprint.

Led by riveting front-woman Otep Shamaya, Los Angeles-based OTEP has long been considered one of rock’s most extraordinary live experiences.

The Ascension is their third full-length album, and the band challenged itself to avoid clichés and classifications and find a new landscape of sound and vision. Three songs on The Ascension were co-written with Grammy-nominated guitarist Greg Tribbett (Mudvayne and HELLYEAH). “We said ‘genre limits and music fads be damned, let’s write music that is important to us and that motiva tes us,” explains Otep Shamaya, the band’s namesake and driving force. “I wanted to write songs we believe in and let nothing stop us from building the album we want to make.”

Produced by Dave Fortman (Mudvayne, Evanescence), The Ascension is a “heavy duty masterpiece” as Harder Beat calls it. Metal Edge sta tes , “The Ascension finds the band in top-form.” And Blender offers, “ Otep ’s third album mostly stays within the realm of four-horsemen drum attacks, wrist twisting riffage and dark-lit industrial eeriness.”

OTEP is currently offering fans a once in a lifetime opportunity to be thanked in the liner notes of The Ascension. The group is asking fans to go out with a flyer they have made available for download and to post it everywhere. OTEP are asking that fans record their efforts and submit videos through YouTube. The person who submits the best video of their promotional efforts will then be thanked in the liner notes of The Ascension, which hits stores October 30th. The contest is open until midnight Eastern Standard Time on September 15th. So hurry over to http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=2243285&blogID=309097091 and get all the details.

Look for the band out on tour in support of The Ascension with band members Brian Wolf, Aaron and eVil J in the fall and into 2008. The band just completed a National tour with Static-X this past summer.

OTEP is managed by the Zen Media Group (HELLYEAH, Mudvayne, Bloodsimple).

To preview music please go to: www.MySpace.com/OTEP or www.OTEP.com

Man Trying to Sneak Into Concert Venue Impaled on Fence

A man trying to climb a 12-foot, wrought-iron fence into a concert venue fell onto one of the inch-thick spikes, impaling his thigh, then held on while rescuers worked to cut part of the fence away.

The man and several friends had been headed to the Bad Boys of Rock concert featuring the bands Hinder, Papa Roach and Buckcherry, according to York Fair vice president Gene Schenck.

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The Noisettes Cancel North American Tour

A typical excuse, the band have blamed their heavy touring schedule over the past two years for the cancellation.
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ANTHRAX’S SCOTT IAN TO GUEST ON NEXT EPISODE OF “ L.A. INK” ON TLC

This Tuesday, September 18, the High Voltage Tattoo Parlor will open its doors to Scott Ian , main axe-man for the legendary thrash metal band Anthrax! The heavy metal veteran will be appearing on the next episode of TLC’s “L.A. Ink,” which airs at 10PM EST, and will no doubt rock Kat Von D and her crew harder than ever before. More info on “L.A. Ink” is available at http://tlc.discovery.com/tv/la-ink/la-ink.html.

In the ultimate heavy metal tribute, Ian will be inked up with a tattoo of another hard rock hero, AC/DC’s Angus Young.

Ian commented on his appearance on the show, saying: “Kat Von D is the best and her shop is called High Voltage, so who and where better to get a tattoo of Angus Young?!?!”

Be sure to catch Scott, Kat Von D, and the rest this Tuesday, September 18 at 10PM EST on TLC.

Evanescence Frontwoman Has No Interest In Solo Career

Have you thought about working with Wind-Up on something solo in addition to the Evanescence work, following such other frontwomen as Gwen Stefani and Fergie by releasing a solo album?

Amy: That's not me. I definitely think I could work by myself on something, but it wouldn't be in this music world. It wouldn't be in this sense of touring. I don't know. It would be completely different. Everything that I want to do as a rock musician I get to do with Evanescence. If I was ever to do something on my own or with different people, it would be because it was completely different. Such as I really have always wanted to get into scoring. I would love to score a film and I'm gonna try to do something completely different than Evanescence along those lines at some point. So there's that, but I don't know if that counts as being a solo artist. Definitely not in the sense that Fergie or Gwen Stefani are solo artists. I'm not really interested in that.

Read More Here

Machine Head: Disney Retaliates, Forces Another Cancellation

In a not-so-stunning move, The Walt Disney Company have once again pressured promoter Live Nation into canceling Machine Head's performance at a House of Blues venue on Disney property, this time in Orlando, a mere four days after the band's previous announcement called out the corporation for their underhanded tactics regarding the cancellation of Friday's House of Blues Anaheim show on 2 days notice.

While no one is willing to provide evidence that would prove unfavorable to Disney, sources close to events have suggested that once again, vague threats of liability, and now threats on job security may have been levied, successfully resulting in the show being moved off of Disney property.

As a result, the September 17th show has now been relocated to Club Firestone in Orlando , FL (located at 578 N. Orange Ave ). All existing tickets will be redeemable for entry at Club Firestone, all Will Call pickups will now be available for pickup at the new venue, and all refund requests will be honored.

As they are not on Disney property and therefore not subject to the corporation's alleged coercionary tactics, the Dallas, New Orleans, Cleveland and Chicago House of Blues shows will go on as scheduled.

On behalf of all four bands on the bill, Machine Head wish to again extend their gratitude to Live Nation and the House of Blues for their poise and tolerance during these absurd developments.

www.MachineHead1.com

Rock Band?

If you think you're destined for Rock Band stardom, you're in luck; you can test your skills and participate in the nationwide casting call at MTV's Rock Band "Rock Off" events. Any rockers without stage fright who play on the Rock Band tour bus stage will be captured on tape for consideration by MTV casting directors. Two bands will get picked and flown to NYC to spend face-time with a real rock band for official rocker training. Then they'll play on MTV's TRL, and the winning outfit will get to open for a surprise super group at the Rock Band launch concert.

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Download This: YouTube Phenom Has a Big Secret

A 24-year-old singer and guitarist named Marié Digby has been hailed as proof that the Internet is transforming the world of entertainment.

Ms. Digby's simple, homemade music videos of her performing popular songs have been viewed more than 2.3 million times on YouTube. Her acoustic-guitar rendition of the R&B hit "Umbrella" has been featured on MTV's program "The Hills" and is played regularly on radio stations in Los Angeles, Sacramento and Portland, Ore. Capping the frenzy, a press release last week from Walt Disney Co.'s Hollywood Records label declared: "Breakthrough YouTube Phenomenon Marié Digby Signs With Hollywood Records."

What the release failed to mention is that Hollywood Records signed Ms. Digby in 2005, 18 months before she became a YouTube phenomenon. Hollywood Records helped devise her Internet strategy, consulted with her on the type of songs she chose to post, and distributed a high-quality studio recording of "Umbrella" to iTunes and radio stations.

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Bless The Fall: A hard-core band that plays Christian rock

On stage, every word that came out of the lead singer was perfect. The drums were beating the same thump as my heart. Then I heard someone onstage scream something about Jesus.

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Bless the Fall on MySpace:
www.myspace.com/blessthefall

Oasis announce new DVD 'Lord Don't Slow Me Down'

On October 29th Oasis will release 'Lord Don't Slow Me Down', a brand new DVD film following the band on a year long tour covering 26 countries and playing to over 2 million fans.

Directed by acclaimed film-maker Baillie Walsh the DVD claims to capture all of the highs and lows of the band's tour, as well as the band's true opinion of the touring life and their fans.

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Zombie kills Halloween franchise

The beauty of the original was that there was no reason for Myers' evil. He just was. Giving one of the greatest cinema slashers ever a dysfunctional back-story is just plain ludicrous. And the intensity that Donald Pleasance brought to his Dr. Loomis was vastly superior to Malcolm McDowell's portrayal of him as a new age hippy psychotherapist who writes a book and exploits the boy.

Read More Here

MITM Notes: I saw it on Friday. The first half was good, the second half was "ok". Had I known then what I know now - I would have waited for the DVD.

Want Another Opinion?

Lamb Of God's "Killadelphia" DVD Goes Platinum

Make no mistake about it, Grammy nominated, LAMB OF GOD are the reigning supreme rulers of American Heavy Metal. Now, LAMB OF GOD announce “Killadelphia” DVD goes Platinum!

The band celebrate receiving the platinum award for “Killadelphia” DVD while they currently deliver their unruly brand of Heavy Metal as direct support to Ozzy on the mainstage at Ozzfest.

LAMB OF GOD’s “Killadelphia” highlights every facet of the bands unforgiving live performance recorded from two unforgettable Sold-Out concerts at Philadelphia ’s legendary Trocadero. This blistering live documentation features lead singer Randy Blythe’s storming vocals, the buzzsaw guitar slaughter of both Willie Adler and Mark Morton along with the powerhouse rhythm section of Chris Adler (drums) with John Campbell (bass). “Killadelphia” boasts live versions of: Laid To Rest, Hourglass, As The Palaces Burn, Now You’ve Got Something To Die For, 11th Hour, Terror & Hubris, Ruin, Omerta, Pariah, The Faded Line, Bloodletting, The Subtle Art Of Murder & Persuasion, Vigil, What I’ve Become, and the utterly classic Black Label; which inspires crowds worldwide to part seas for the infamous ‘wall of death’.

Drummer, Chris Adler states “In today's age of gimmicks, lies and faux reality trying to make celebrities out of everyone with a few dollars, it was important for us to not stage or hype up a damn thing - to simply show LAMB OF GOD on the road; the good times, the bad times and one hell of a show- and for that stripped down, no-holds-barred approach to be received this well certainly flatters us, but also continues to make a dent in the industry full of fakes and talentless image. It's nice to know that we didn't have to be anything other than ourselves to achieve such success with this DVD, but the real praise should go to our friends and fans who picked up Killadelphia and in doing so have sent a message to the powers that be that we are sick of the over hyped, fake "real world" being shoved down our throats - we are all ready for the honest, genuine bands and music to take center stage once again.

As a band we are extremely humbled by this achievement - it's rare that a band like ourselves receives this honor. Again, we pass along the thanks and praise to those of you who picked up Killadelphia. This is an accomplishment that we share with all of you. Thank you, congratulations and cheers! See you all soon - Stay Metal 'till then!”

Hatebreed Bassist Launches Clothing Line

Grammy Nominated Bassist; Hatebreed's Beattie, Launches Signature Clothing Line, BRIDGEPORT REPUBLIC .

"Bridgeport Republic is dedicated to reflecting individuality with a universal line of quality apparel which honors and represents an independent yet unified lifestyle rooted in the streets. We plan to inspire a whole new generation and breathe new life into the way apparel industry," Beattie states. Hatebreed is currently doing what they do best, pummeling audiences Across North America as they headline the notorious second stage at Ozzfest 2007.

Immersed in the art world, Connecticut native, Beattie has put together a powerful fashion lineup to wear for the upcoming fall and winter seasons.

Check it out:
www.bridgeportrepublic.com