Can we have the $5 CD???

Amazon has been doing something great to lure some business from iTunes. Every day they have a “deal of the day” where they sell a full album from $1.99-$3.99

It’s worked, I’ve bought 3 CDs from them this way. One that I would have bought anyway, and two that I wouldn’t have paid full price.

This got me thinking… With single songs going for $.99, shouldn’t the album feel like a better deal per song? And aren’t we all a little fed up with what the CD has wrought? I won’t go on about how vinyl sounded great, but what I miss is that most albums were 8-10 songs because you couldn’t fit more on there. Less bloat, more good songs, less filler.

So, how about the labels start charging $4.99 for a digital album? By necessity, artists would stop putting out god awful collections of 17 songs, and I bet go down to a much more palatable 8-10 songs, and it would still feel like we’re getting a deal. In fact, I bet more people would pick up a full CD at this rate. Something I think proven by Maroon 5’s old album storming back into the iTunes top 5 the week they sold it for $4.99

Digital delivery reduces cost, flat out. No distribution, mailing, returns to deal with. The record companies need to find new ways to market and value their products. Smaller albums would let artists release albums more frequently, enabling them to stay “on the pulse”… and those filler cuts? Make them what they used to be… B-Sides. Release the single for $1.99 with 2 unavailable bonus cuts!

It would be nice if iTunes or the other stores would allow independent artists this flexibility. Some sort of ability to set a price lower than $9.99 (or the total of .99 per track, whatever is less) would let the EP come back into play in a big way. I bet a lot of indies could and would be willing to release a five song EP if they could sell it for $2.99!

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Accentuate the Negative - Campaign Advice for John McCain

OK.. so I wanted to do my part for the Obama Campaign… and do something sheerly for fun. (Which I hadn’t done in a while!) After I got the idea to parody the classic Harold Arlen tune, I asked John Pollard if he wanted to do this with me. John does a lot of politically oriented songs, and I knew he would be great to collaborate wilth for coming up with some fun lyrics… Mike McGinnis, a fantastic Sax (and reed) player was also eager to help out. Dmitri Russell, my assistant for a while now with Broadway Bullet and Next Big Hit, was also up for helping with the camera work and editing…

So, the fruits of our labor are up… and it was indeed a lot of fun. I hope you enjoy and share with all your Obama supporting friends! (Hell, share with the McCain supporters too… see if they get the joke!)

See you at the polls on Nov. 4th!

More on John Pollard

More on Mike McGinnis

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Recording Myth: “I Don’t Need a Producer”

Many artists and musicians think they don’t need a producer. They have the artistic vision, why should they hire someone else?

There are many jobs a true music producer does, many of which have little to do with the actual creative output of the music. So why should you use a Real Producer?

What is a Real Producer Good For?

Glen Ballard - Real Producer1. Do you know which studio to book? Do you know if they will really have what you need to accomplish your goals? Real Producers know this. Many have their own studios as well, so the price isn’t much more, and if their studio isn’t up to the job, they’ll be able to take the portion of the project that needs another space and coordinate everything.

2. Do you know how long it will take to record all the pieces? Not guessing… really know? Producers know how long everything will take, and can schedule everything with you to make sure you are getting the most efficient use of your time. Nothing kills more than booking a 12 hour day to knock out ALL your vocals, and then finding out you’re losing your voice after 4-6 hours. A Real Producer knows this and more. They will keep everything running smoothly and efficiently.

3. Do you want to stay on budget? A Real Producer often won’t REALLY cost you any more. (Especially if they are working out of their own studio.) Recording studios book hourly (or daily, or whatever) They make more money the more time you spend in there. They have no problem letting you think that it will go as quickly as you hope… because they know when it doesn’t, you’ll still be forced to use them to finish… often taking MUCH longer than you originally anticipated or budgeted. Another part of the Real Producer’s job is setting up a realistic budget with you… AND THEN STICKING TO IT. Sure you may want to add a full horn section that you didn’t anticipate, but the producer can let you know how much that will break your budget, or find other places to trim to make it happen. Whether the final budget is guaranteed or not varies from producer to producer, but all Real Producers should be able to offer you the comfort of knowing the budget and that the budget will stay set.

Walter Afanasieff - Real Producer4. Do you need other musicians, gear, etc…? A Real Producer knows great people who can perform on your project that MEET YOUR BUDGET and deliver reliable services.

5. Are you as confident as you think when it comes to your creative output? Nothing destroys a budget faster than rewriting in the studio. The studio reveals everything, and it is all too easy for the artist side of you to get insecure and completely take over in the studio. The Real Producer is there to keep you on track and on vision for your project. And as sure as you are about your creative vision, a producer can help. A Real Producer isn’t there to change your vision or take over your vision, but to ENHANCE your vision and make sure it becomes a reality. They can listen to what you are after, help you decide which songs you should record and will complement each other best, offer advice on song structure, assist with arrangement ideas and much more. Don’t fear them. Meet with a few and find one who gets you artistically and you’ll find yourself much more likely to be proud of your finished budget.

6. Will your project come out appropriate for your goals? Many Real Producers deal with the responsibility of satisfying the record company as well as the artist. Just because you aren’t “signed” to label doesn’t mean you don’t have to satisfy anyone else’s demands. Maybe you want to pitch to film or TV. Maybe you need to convince booking agents or clubs to take on your live performance. What will satisfy your fans? A Real Producer can look more objectively at these goals and help you deliver a recording that will be much more likely to be accepted by whomever you are hoping will “buy”.

Rick Rubiin - Real ProducerIf you’ve ever talked to ANYONE who has recorded a CD you have heard the horror stories. Budgets skyrocketed 2-3 times past what they were prepared to spend. (Although sometimes this was due to unrealistic expectations… but a Real Producer can prep you for that ahead of time!) They weren’t happy with the sound at the end. The engineer took too long to deliver. There are many more. If you press for more information and ask if they hired a producer, 9 times out of 10 they will say “no”. And if you press on with the ones who did, I bet often you’ll find they didn’t do any research on the producer.

How Can You Tell if they are a Real Producer?

So what should you know and how can you determine if your producer is right for the project and can deliver what he promises?

1. Ask for references. Ask if you can talk with some previous clients about their experiences working with the producer.

Timbaland - Real Producer2. Ask the producer what his WEAKNESSES are in general. Ask him what he expects to be the most challenging aspect of your project. A Real Producer should be honest in his assessment of his work(That is his JOB) and not just full of bluster about how “EVERYTHING I TOUCH turns out AWESOME!”.

3. An engineer is NOT a producer. A musician is NOT a producer. Often a producer is those things as well, but rarely everything. Just because someone knows what knobs to turn or chords to play doesn’t make them capable of budgeting your project, keeping it on budget, be responsible for the sessions running smoothly AND making sure you reach your creative vision. A REAL PRODUCER should not only be able to promise those last four things, but work out a plan with you either verbally or on paper that gives you the confidence that his isn’t blowing smoke up your ass.

Hire a Real Producer.

Then have fun recording!

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I’m Auditioning for Demo Singers!

I’m looking for some good pop/R&B singers in the following styles:

1. Youthful sounding female R&B alto with some attitude in her voice a la Rihanna and Ciara

2. Youthful sounding female R&B/Pop mezzo-soprano with a sound and range similar to Leona Lewis & Jordin Sparks.

3. Youthful sounding male R&B singer in the style of Chris Brown and Usher.

4. Youthful sounding male pop singer in the vein of Backstreet Boys, Jesse McCartney, etc…

I am looking for demo singers for pitching songs to other artists, so I don’t care about age or image, only if you have the right vocal type.

If you have a recording of you singing (it doesn’t have to be professional, I just need to hear your range and what you sound like) you can either send an mp3 to recording@copperheadproduction.com or send me a link to where I can listen to a clip online.

IF YOU HAVE A DEMO

I am offering a trade in my studio services. You will receive no less than 3 hours studio time (or more if we take longer) for you to use how you wish. If you hold on to your time, and end up doing 3 demos for me, I will produce up a full song of yours from top to bottom. ($700 value). You will also be able to use your demo recording with me for non-commercial demo purposes of your own. You can listen to the quality of my work HERE

IF YOU NO NOT HAVE A DEMO

I will be holding auditions in my recording studio on Saturday, September 6th in one hour blocks starting at 2pm, 3pm, 4pm, 5pm and 6pm. My studio is located in Times Square on 43rd and 8th. Please email me at recording@copperheadproduction.com with what hour you would like to audition in. I will then confirm your appointment by email, and give you the complete address.

You can bring in a tack on CD (karaoke or an original song is fine) to sing to, or you can sing aCapella if you prefer. You will be singing on a mic in the vocal booth of the recording studio.

If I use you for a demo, you will NOT receive a trade in time for your first demo song. You will however, now have a recording of your voice you can show people. If I use you again after that, you will receive studio time as listed above.

Thanks!

Michael Gilboe

Producer - Copperhead Production

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Recording Myth: “The Spec Deal” or “Nothing is EVER free.”

There are some musicians who seem to think that they can find a producer/engineer who will be willing to work with them for free (”On Spec”). Or they may have heard that if they are “good enough” they shouldn’t have to pay for recording… someone will front them.

While in a few number of cases that can be true, as I’m sure someone has told you, “Nothing is EVER free.”

I’ll walk you through a few common scenarios, and explain where the hidden “costs” are… should you actually find someone willing to work with you on Spec.

Timbaland1. Established producers will “cost”: The truest form of a spec deal is with an established producer who actually has industry contacts and is producing you because they feel they can possibly get a deal for you. However, getting their attention is difficult. Unless you have an inside connection to them in the first place, you will need a very good quality demo to get them interested in the first place. Then if you DO get the deal,YOU WILL NEED TO HIRE AN EXPERIENCE MUSIC ATTORNEY. This will cost you quite a bit, but you need to protect yourself, because the well connected producer is certainly protecting himself. The last thing you want is a scenario where the demos he produces don’t secure you a deal and/or aren’t stylistically where you want to go musically… and then you find yourself lucky enough to actually land a deal later on (not having anything to do with his demos) and have him suing you for earnings.

2. Inexperienced producers will waste your time (and time is money!): Many newcomers will work on spec, but if they don’t have the skills in the first place, you may spend a lot of time working on recordings that never showcase you well in the first place. You can find yourself running months (or years) behind your goals for yourself.

Of course there are all sorts of producers in between, but with ALL of them, including the categories above, these are some of the other hidden costs. Read more…

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John Pollard’s song performed by Brazilian Artist, Simone Sampaio

John PollardI realized that it would be a good thing to talk about some of the successes my clients have had, and I’ll start with a brand new one!

John Pollard cut a dance song, “Be On Your Way” with me as a pitch for other artists, and I’m pleased to say he’s had some success!

Simone SampaioBrazilian dance artist, Simone Sampaio, is performing the song live at a huge Brazillian music festival with over 60,000 attendees expected. She is filming the concert for a DVD release (included songs TBA) and is also demoing the song in the studio herself for possible inclusion in her next studio album!!!

Here is a link to an article on the festival, though I warn everyone, the article is in Portugese!

Lesson… don’t forget about the market OUTSIDE of the U.S. (or even outside of Europe!)

Congratulations, John, and best of luck!

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Recording Myth: “You Get What You Pay For”.

In most areas, it holds true that You Get What You Pay For. Spend more money you get better quality. Unfortunately for many reasons, that just doesn’t hold true in the recording business. In fact there is very little rhyme or reason whatsoever when searching for Producers - studios - engineers.

This makes it difficult to find the right person to deliver your musical vision, and I truly feel sorry for the musician searching for the right production quality in a market where the product just isn’t concrete.

If you are looking for recording, there are three categories where most producer/engineers will fall. I will list why each could be good or bad… with the most common outcomes first. Read more…

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The “I Will Shop Your Demo” Myth

There has been a recent issue that many of my current and potential clients have brought up recently. And in the hope of saving someone some heartbreak in the future, I am going to address it here.

Some people think that for the amount of money they are spending, they hope the producer will shop their project for them. And if the producer says he has contacts and will shop their finished recording they get really excited and take the bait.

Don’t take the bait. Don’t ask if he/she can shop your project for you.

If a producer says he can shop your project, he is either lying or naive, and neither one is particularly good.

Here are several reasons why this is the case: Read more…

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My Most Played Songs

I have a diverse playlist, and at times I find it interesting to see what iTunes tells me I’m listening to the most of… I have never been the type to listen to one song over and over (I get enough of that when I’m mixing a song!) so in 4 years, my most played song has 23 listens. I’m listing here my top 15 songs… Drumroll please…

  1. Air - “Sexy Boy” (23 listens) - Really? One of the most? I really do enjoy the fresh groove on this atmospheric, pop, dance… unclassifiable song this is… I really like this song a lot, I just don’t know if I would have picked it out for a list of my top songs…
  2. Enya - “Orinoco Flow” (23) - I can still remember the first time I heard this song in 1988. It seemed pure magic. It still is.
  3. Prince - “Black Sweat” (23) - This should have been Prince’s comeback (To top 40 radio at least)… Don’t know how this got to be my top played Prince song in so short a time, but I was grooving on it heavy when it came out.
  4. Robbie Williams - “No Regrets” (23) - Robbie Williams, one of my favorites for his adventurousness in pop. This song is magical in it’s slow, continuous dramatic build… and the collaboration with Neil Tennant… brilliant.
  5. The Scissor Sisters - “The Other Side” (23) - The truth is, the Scissor Sisters have FIVE songs in my top twenty. I’m just listing this one so I don’t have to think up tons of different things to say. This song is haunting and beautiful, and there are so many songs in my top 20 because “Ta-Dah” is one of my absolute favorite albums of this decade… in fact a lot of songs from them could jump to the front of the list as I seem compelled to listen to the album again soon…
  6. Read more…

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Sound vs. Image vs. Identity

I always hear singers and performers say “I need my own sound” or “I need to find the right image“. And while those are both important comodoties in the business, I have decided it boils down to something else… IDENTITY.

An identity is more that sound or image… It boils down to… if someone sits and listens to you album, do they come away knowing (or thinking they know) who YOU are? A song is fleeting and fun. We can love a song without ever giving a rat’s crap who the artist is, but when you make us feel like we KNOW you… that is when a real fan is born.

It may sound simple, but it is tough. It’s hard to look at yourself and boil yourself down to a couple of things to make who you are clear to people. Of course we are ALL complex… but think of it like going to a party to meet friends… what side of yourself do you show? Read more…

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