RTP-area local music and culture

["Larry Karnowski" <larry AT hickorywind.org>]

As one of the folks who gets a lot, A LOT, of unrequested CDs to
review... I can tell you that the vast majority do end up in the "junk
pile."  However, I try really hard to listen to at least a couple of
songs from each CD (the first and last, usually).  Most, however, are
simply awful or inappropriate for my readership and are discarded.

The best thing to do?  Spend a little time to research your target
reviewers.  If you think an individual would spend time to listen to
your CD, then go ahead and send it to them.  However, if you really
don't know anything about the target and are trying to get a foot in
the door, send the EPK that Skillet recommended.    It's much cheaper,
and the folks who are going to listen to you are still going to listen
to an EPK.

I'll be honest, though.  I try really hard to listen to every CD
that's sent to me, but I don't try as hard to listen to every online
MP3 link.  So if it's a really important reviewer to you, definitely
send a CD.  Just be sure to gauge which ones are the "really
important" reviewers for you -- again, a little research goes a long
way.

(I can't tell you how many die-hard-puke-metal CDs I've received
because of one stray remark in a blog entry years ago that still shows
up on Google!  Yet these folks don't ever check my site and see that I
*clearly* cover almost entirely twangy music!  Their money and my time
wasted.)

Good luck with your next CD!
Larry


On 25 Feb 2007 15:42:03 -0800, skillet.gilmore AT gmail.com
<skillet.gilmore AT gmail.com> wrote:
> making and mailing cd's to folks that haven't requested them is a
> waste of money, resources and time. 99.9% of all those cd's will wind
> up in the trash. put together an EPK (electronic press kit) with a
> bio, any reviews you have and links to your songs online. hell, just
> use myspace. then hit up people in the indie bible (although i
> personally don't believe in any books of that sort) and if they
> request a press pack you can send it to them. print enough cd's to
> actually sell and x amount that you can use for promotional purposes.
> think of cd's as product for sale and let the introweb do the rest.
>
> sg
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> On Feb 25, 1:49 pm, Baby Messy <bil... AT baggins.con> wrote:
> > It's been about 3/4 of a year since I had my first CD done. I've learned
> > a lot of lessons that will come in handy next time.
> >
> > I was thrilled. THRILLED when that UPS man showed up with my 1000 discs.
> > All pretty. I think I still have maybe 400 left and I've pollinated
> > pretty well.
> >
> > The next release, I was thinking of what I've learned since the first one:
> >
> > 1. The songs that I thought were killer, the songs I put first on the
> > CD, were actually not the strongest songs. Ouch! The first song, Jesus,
> > has confounded some, angered others, and frankly left most people
> > nonplussed.
> >
> > 2. The reproduction and mailing of the CD has been the most expensive
> > part of the process. $1400 (Oasis, love 'em) + mailing about 12 a week
> > for three months to people in the Indie Bible. (I stopped after getting
> > too few results and almost no reviews---google my name). This is not to
> > admit failure but to perhaps try not fit the profile of an insane person
> > so closely.
> >
> > 3. I have a slab of music that I worked on for a while and have in
> > perpetuity to share with my children and theirs. Is that enough? It was
> > once, but if it isn't, what else do I want?
> >
> > I plan on getting the next one mastered at the Kitchen just like I did
> > DTBWM, but how should I minimize my costs? Can I have, say, 300 printed
> > up and do the rest digitally?  What strategies can I use?
> >
> > Do I need a physical CD at all?
>
>
> -- ch-scene: the list that mirrors alt.music.chapel-hill --
> http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/ch-scene


--
Larry Karnowski
HickoryWind.org, Keeps Callin' Me Home
Americana Music News, Reviews, & Personality
www.hickorywind.org