ReverbNation pays artists for free music

ReverbNation today announced that about 1000 of its almost 400,000 artist members will be eligible to participate in a new revenue generating Sponsored Songs program. The initiative makes it possible to tap into the kind of major brand relationships that have typically been elusive for unsigned and indie talent.

“Traditionally the music business has been synonymous with the record business where the lion’s share of revenue came from selling music. With reduced emphasis on music sales, the music business must develop new revenue streams that leverage the artist as a brand,” Michael Doernberg, CEO of ReverbNation said in a statement. ReverbNation will pay participating musicians $.50 per free download with each track incorporating a small section of branded messaging within the digital cover art displayed every time the song is played.

(via Music Industry Report via HYPEBOT)

The Campaign to Save Paste

Dear Paste readers,

We write this letter with great appreciation for all you’ve done for Paste, as well as sorrow that we need to come to you and ask for further support. The economy has taken its toll on Paste, and we need your help to continue.

As the global recession has continued, many of you have written us (especially as ad pages shrunk) to say, “If you ever need help, let us know.” That day has come.

Today, we are launching the “Campaign to Save Paste” to raise money to keep Paste coming to your mailboxes and computer screens. If you are in a position to give even a little, please consider donating. As thanks for your generosity, over 70 amazing artists (including The Decemberists, Neko Case, Bob Mould, Cowboy Junkies, Indigo Girls, The Jayhawks, Brandi Carlile, John Roderick of The Long Winters, Patterson Hood, The Avett Brothers and Josh Ritter—with more to come) have gathered and donated rare & exclusive MP3s for all who join us in the campaign. Here’s what artists are saying about why Paste should be saved.

As a completely independent company, Paste has struggled for the past nine months as advertisers have decided to wait out the recession. As most of you realize, magazines are heavily subsidized by advertising. Industry experts estimate that an average subscription for a monthly publication would cost $60-$80 per year without advertising support.

But last month was brutal. Cash received unexpectedly reached an all-time low, and turned a tough situation into a short-term crisis.

Long-term, Paste will emerge in good shape. Even with the fall-off at the end of the year, 2008 was our best year yet—print subscribers, print ads, online readers and online advertising were all at record levels. Readers (print and online) remain strong. And new advertisers have come on board even in the recession, with more ready when their advertising budgets come back.

In the meantime, we’ve adjusted our business to weather this storm. We’ve cut costs, and we developed a robust online business that’s among the best in the industry. Fundamentally, we’re in good shape and won’t need another appeal down the road. But it’s taken us until this point to get there—leaving us critically low on cash, without some large corporation behind us to bridge the gap.

We’ll make it through this short-term economic crisis—but it’s only with your help. Our fate is (and has been and always will be) in your hands. Big-time investors are not “in the game” right now—but readers can rise up and “invest” in Paste’s future. Will you be a part?

We appreciate all of your support so far—everyone who’s subscribed, given a gift, or even read a story online or opened a newsletter. It’s all enabled us to make it this far. Now, we humbly ask you to consider giving a little more.

It doesn’t take much. Every little bit helps and you can be a part of continuing our efforts to help you find signs of life in music, film and culture. If $1 (yes, one dollar) came in from everyone on our e-mail lists (or $10 from 10% or $100 from 1%), we’ll reach our goal and emerge from this recession as a stronger magazine and website. While we’re not a non-profit (this isn’t a tax-deductible gift), know that every dollar you give goes into keeping Paste alive and, ultimately, making it even better.

While you’re at it, also let us know what more you’d like to see from Paste. What should we do (or do better) online to help you discover new music, film and more? As advertising comes back and the magazine thickens, what would you like to see in print?

CLICK HERE to give via PayPal or credit card.

With our sincerest thanks,

Josh, Tim and Nick for the entire Paste family

PS. As thanks for your help, a number of our favorite musicians and labels have donated free rare & exclusive MP3s (from artists including She & Him, Arrested Development, Shawn Mullins, Samantha Crain, State Radio, Robyn Hitchcock & The Venus 3, Rogue Wave, Passion Pit, Over the Rhine, The Minus 5 and more) for everyone who donates. And as more artists contribute, you’ll have access to those songs as well. We also have a number of goodies (such as signed R.E.M. posters, an ocean-view cabin on next year’s Cayamo cruise, and more) to give to donors in random drawings. And, anyone giving $350 or more will receive a lifetime subscription to Paste as a thank you.

You can read more about the drive in our Save Paste FAQs. View all the campaign resources (including banner ads for your website) at the Campaign to Save Paste page.

Give a few bucks to help an awesome magazine that only costs $19.95 a year (plus a monthly bonus mix) as it is, and get a bunch of exclusive tracks? COUNT ME IN!

Performance Rights Act passed

On Sunday, I wrote to you about an important legislative vote taking place today. The House Judiciary Committee voted on The Performance Rights Act, a bill that would close the “corporate radio loophole” and allow artists to be compensated when their recordings are played on terrestrial radio, just as they are on Internet and satellite radio.

There was a great deal of pressure from the broadcaster lobby to kill this bill, but they were no match for you. Thanks in large part to the thousands of calls and emails you generated in the past three days, the Committee voted in favor of the legislation.

In other words, we won.

There is still a long road ahead to turn this bill into law, and we will be calling on you for help again.  But know that your efforts carried the day in the House of Representatives.

On to the Senate!

Kind regards,

Neil Portnow
President/CEO
The Recording Academy

If you’re not sure what the Performance Rights Act is, you can catch up here and here.  Basically, every time a terrestrial radio station plays a Sinatra song in the US, the guy who wrote it gets paid, but the Frank estate gets nothing. Will Smith gets money for each syndication of Fresh Prince but not for Gettin’ Jiggy Wit’ It.

Bono says:

“While we have many friends at radio, and appreciate the many things that radio has done for our band over the years, we believe it’s only fair that when radio makes money by playing a recording artist’s music and selling advertising, the recording artist should be compensated just as songwriters are already. This is a principle accepted by radio broadcasters in virtually every country in the world. The music business is in a state of freefall at the moment, and while, thankfully, this no longer really affects us - there are many young recording artists out there who can no longer earn a living from the sale of their music, or from touring or selling merchandise…yet they remain a vital part of radio playlists throughout the USA. They should not be denied their fair share. In this time of so much positive change coming from Washington, we hope this bill will be embraced and become the law.”

It’s not a perfect plan, but it’s a good start.

How To Work Out Like An Indie Rocker

Ripped fishnets = ripped core

Good news, everyone! There’s a new fitness program for indie rockers, and it’s more than just running around shoehorning in examples to try and define that nebulous blob of a genre. How do you know that this fitness program is specifically for indie rockers?  Because it says so right on the DVD:

From the press release:

The Fitness For Indie Rockers line is unique not just for its rock aesthetic and bloodpumping music, but also for the technical innovation that enables audiences to choose from three selectable channels of music, picking a music style to match their mood. “CARDIO FOR INDIE ROCKERS” includes Indie, Heavy, & Punk channels, featuring 40+ tracks of music ranging from hardcore heroes Walls Of Jericho to indie darlings Eudora to Dance-Dance-Revolution-veterans The Motion Sick.

What? I have no idea.

Most indie rockers think they’re working out for indie rockers if they’re running on the treadmill while listening to their iPod, or laughing at people in Spin class while listening to their iPod, or considering  buying a Bender Ball system online, even though it’s just a rubber ball and you could get that anywhere so why bother,  while listening to their iPod—but they are doing it all wrong. According to The Fitness For Indie Rockers line, here’s how to work out like an indie rocker:

1. Choose an instructor who clearly idolizes both Gwen Stefani and the American Gladiators.

Hosted by bleach blonde, heavily tattoo’d, certified personal trainer Chaos, the series has received critical praise in addition to its fan popularity.

Dizzorderly Konduct and Entropy are also great personal trainers for indie rockers because they also have so many tattoos that the word “tattooed” can’t handle it all and is forced to use an apostrophe. Indie!

2. Wear an absurd amount of Hot Topic layers over your workout clothes. When you look like a Suicide Girls garage sale exploded on you, that’s enough.

Pretty soon your core will be as ripped as her soon-to-be-sweaty fishnets.

3. Find a really badass place to work out. Like, say, the alley.

The closer you are to graffitti, the deeper your stretches will be. That’s the key to indie rock fitness.

4.  When doing your mat work, don’t forget the real reason you’re here: the music. So, whenever possible, have guitars and a drum kit nearby.

Cardio, followed by band practice, followed by a cool down. That’s keepin’ f’tness indie.

(by Amelie Gillette @ A.V. Club)

Sorry if you’ve seen this; it’s new to me and high-larious. It’s a 3-piece series with Cardio4IR, Pilates4IR, and Yoga4IR. Excellent.

Performance Rights Act

Dear Recording Academy Member:

In February, I told our worldwide GRAMMY telecast audience about our quest for a performance right for artists whose music is broadcast on AM/FM radio.

We are at a critical moment in this pursuit, and now is the time to act. A vote in the U.S. House Judiciary Committee is imminent, so your representative needs to hear from you today or tomorrow (May 11 or 12).

Royalties are paid to performers by U.S. Internet radio and satellite radio, and by terrestrial broadcasters everywhere in the developed world. But in the U.S., AM/FM radio does not pay for the music it uses. The Performance Rights Act would close the “corporate radio loophole” that prevents artists from earning royalties when their work is used by the $16 billion radio industry. If you believe that performers should be compensated whenever another business profits from their work, please take three minutes and place a call to your legislator’s office. It’s quick and easy. Simply go to www.grammy.com/musicfirst and click “Call Now” for instructions.

Together, we can establish this important right for our music community.

Kind regards,

Neil Portnow
President/CEO
The Recording Academy