[cc-community] Rcrd Lbl to offer CC and Free as in Beer Music

Marcus Estes marcus at wfmu.org
Thu Nov 15 15:49:37 EST 2007


Their first post asks us to not take full advantage of the rights granted by CC:

"All of our downloads are free and legal, but we'd ask that you not
rehost the tracks on your site..."

I applaud them for using CC and certainly hope that they continue. But
I wonder how deeply they've considered CC as part of their strategy.

Marcus



On Nov 15, 2007 3:28 PM, Elizabeth Stark <estark at law.harvard.edu> wrote:
> See the below blog post, but Rrcd Label, an ad-supported music record
> label/blog will offer both CC and free as in beer music. Apparently the
> exclusive tracks will be CC BY-NC and the non-exclusive tracks (from labels)
> will only be free as in beer. See below for a list of participating artists
> and labels, but this is pretty big news IMO.
>
> It has launched at rcrdlbl.com. I've noticed, though, that they could do a
> better job of telling you what is CC and what isn't.
>
>
>  http://www.thedailyswarm.com/headlines/wsj-rcrd-lbl-its-blog/
>
> WSJ on RCRD LBL: 'It's a blog'...new site launches today...
>
>
> Silicon Alley Insider:
>
>
> We are eagerly awaiting the launch of RCRD LBL, Peter Rojas' "virtual" music
> label. Last month Wired.com predicted it would roll out this Thursday, which
> means Peter is madly scrambling to get things done, right? Maybe….We hear
> Peter and RCRD LBL cofounder Josh Deutsch aren't raising any funds prior to
> launch, and that they're basically ready to go, though the site is still
> "pretty raw."
>
> Wall Street Journal: Music Test: Can a Firm Profit From Free Tunes?:
>
>
> Rcrd Lbl has signed contracts giving it the right to distribute a handful of
> songs from 40 to 50 bands, including some, but not all, of Downtown Records'
> artists. For instance, there are no plans for Downtown's marquee act, Gnarls
> Barkley (the duo behind last year's alternative hip-hop hit "Crazy"), to
> contribute music to Rcrd Lbl. On the other hand, the hot indie rock band
> Cold War Kids and high-profile rapper Mos Def, both signed to Downtown, will
> have music on the site.
>
> Rcrd Lbl's artist contracts are unusual—chiefly in that they make the
> company the exclusive distributor of a specific number of songs, not for an
> act's entire musical output, as is the case in traditional record deals.
> "It's a blog," says Mr. Deutsch. "We're not necessarily trying to tie you up
> for your fifth album."
>
> Big-name advertisers have generally shied away from even the most
> influential music blogs, since most of the music they include is posted
> without permission. Thanks to their involvement with Rcrd Lbl, the company
> says it is launching in the black.
>
> Artists with songs on Rcrd Lbl won't get a cut of advertising associated
> with their music; they'll get advances Mr. Deutsch characterized as modest
> for each song they give the label. These advances range from $500 a song for
> the least established artists, according to people who work in the music
> industry, and escalate for bigger names to around $5,000. Rcrd Lbl will
> divide with its artists any money that it makes from licensing their music
> to television shows, movies or TV commercials.
>
> Press Release:
>
>
> The site will feature free exclusive tracks from both new and marquee acts,
> many of which have been recorded specifically for RCRD LBL. The site's
> first-ever offering will be an exclusive, never before heard remix of
> Justice's smash hit "D.A.N.C.E." produced by Benny Blanco and featuring
> verses from Spank Rock and the legendary Mos Def. Other artists represented
> by exclusive songs on the site will include Junip featuring Jose Gonzalez,
> Switch, Eagles Of Death Metal, Spank Rock, Ra Ra Riot, Tokyo Police Club,
> Amanda Blank,Bad Veins, Dirty On Purpose, Meanest Man Contest, The Moths,
> White Denim, The Prayers, Sabrosa Purr, Kings And Queens, Skew, Jacques
> Renault, Professor Murder, Apes and Androids, Digitata, Sam Champion, Dax
> Riggs, Luxxury, Beat The Devil and others.
>
> In addition to songs in the RCRD LBL catalog, the site will allow users to
> download exclusive, promotional and catalogue tracks from among the
> company's extended family of labels, which include:
>
> • Dim Mak Records (Bloc Party, Klaxons, Mystery Jets, Scanners)
>  • Downtown Records (Cold War Kids, Spank Rock, Eagles of Death Metal)
>  • Warp Records (Grizzly Bear, Squarepusher, Battles)
>  • Ghostly International (Mobius Band, Matthew Dear, Solvent)
>  • Modular Records (Wolfmother, New Young Pony Club, Cut Copy)
>  • Drowned In Sound (Kaiser Chiefs, Bat For Lashes, Martha Wainwright)
>  • Kompakt Records and Distribution (Michael Mayer, Superpitcher, The Field)
>  • Dirty Bird Records (Claude Von Stroke, Tanner Ross, Worthy)
>  • Turntable Lab (Diplo, Kid Sister, Piano Overlord)
>
> Paid Content
>
>
> Rcrd Lbl is the latest venture to embark on the quest for an ad-supported
> model to help turnaround the troubled music industry. It joins the
> still-struggling SpiralFrog, which started beta testing in Canada earlier
> this year. In a WSJ profile of Rcrd Lbl (it stands for Record Label), it's
> clear that its backers are trying not to hype the venture too much, which
> involves allowing no charge, DRM-free music downloads supported by ads.
>
> Peter Rojas:
>
>
> The new Downtown offices are coming soon. RCRD LBL itself is coming a bit
> sooner.
>
> P.S. – Yeah, we've let the building's owners know that they misspelled
> "Digital".
>
>
>
>
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