[linux-audio-user] Internet Music Business Models + Logos

[james at dis-dot-dat.net]

I'm curious enough to bite:

How's this improve on CC licensing?  Could we not raise the CC marks
to the level of a brand identity?

Do we really want to?

I'll post again when I've thought more, maybe.  That way I won't
simply be asking questions.

Is top posting a faux pas when replying to long posts?  Is it my ego
that fears my contribution not being seen amidst the original text?

? and ? again

James

On Tue, 21 Mar, 2006 at 08:36PM +0100, Carlo Capocasa spake thus:
> Hi!
> 
> Thanks for the great discussions in the Marketing Free Music thread...
> Very enlightening! I tried to pick up all the input I could get and
> distil it into something useful.
> 
> These ideas are a product of the discussion (the way I understood it),
> my imagination, and a lot of thinking. They are not tested, not
> finished, not the last word, just a few ideas! I should also mention by
> most standards I am considered anything from a little wacky to
> completely smack-whacking insane. Maybe you think this is a good thing.
> 
> In any case :) I am coming to the conclusion that 'Free' as Richard
> Stallman and these folks understand it refers to the absence of outside
> control (as through schools, universities, corporations, asylums,
> governments, or prisons).
> 
> Quite simple. 'Free' means: Not reporting to anyone.
> 
> I have found there are three useful levels of freedom in distributing
> your digital art over the web, each completely free in the free speech
> sense, and a variety of freedoms in the monetary sense. (Of course there
> are any amount you can make up, these three are simply those I happened
> to think of).
> 
> 1. The Small Business Entrepreneur
> You create art with whatever tools you have available and sell your
> content over the internet.
> 
> 2. The Cyber-Street Musician
> You create art and distribute it free of charge, with the understanding
> you appreciate donations and even rely on them.
> 
> 3. The Angel
> You create art and distribute it free of charge. You do not accept
> donations. Either you are very trusting your needs will be met or you
> have some other source of income.
> 
> MARKETING TACTICS
> 
> We all need marketing. In its best sense, it simply means that there are
> no obstacles people need to get around to get to your music. Clean up
> the dog poo in front of your store. Sure it's flattering to see to what
> lengths people will go to get your product, but maybe that length could
> be reduced to one: How much will they pay?
> 
> 1. For the first business model I was thinking of selling music on an
> 'All Rights Reserved' basis, but with FULL RESALE RIGHTS. In other
> words, people are allowed to distribute your work for free if they want
> to, but there is a little incentive not to, because they can also sell
> it to their friends. This is very empowering to people since it
> encourages them to create additional sources of income for themselves
> except their jobs. To give you a little leverage, some exclusive content
> for people who buy direct (liner notes, additional artwork, exlusive
> bonus tracks, anything bonus really) on the site appears a  good idea.
> 
> 2. For the street musician the most important thing appears to be some
> way of reminding people to please donate if they like your music. People
> are happily minding their own business every day while you are counting
> your food coupons, even if they are in principle willing and able to
> donate. That's not evil, it's just human nature. Sometimes it takes a
> little knocking on our door to get our attention. 'Oh right, that music,
> yeah I've been enjoying it, I'll give him a couple bucks.' Actually,
> perhaps it would be a good idea to find some way of getting people to
> donate before they close your web site. Or, alternatively, some way of
> keeping them coming back (new content! new content! new content! online
> community! Whatever.)
> 
> 3. Well not much marketing needed here I guess, unless perhaps in terms
> of 'number of downloads'. I guess 'Make a Nice Web Site' would be sound
> in any case and also here, right along with 'make downloads clearly
> visible'.
> 
> LOGOS
> 
> In order for people to know what is expected of them I have created a
> set of logos (SVG, http://shelljam.sourceforge.net/musicstream.svg). For
> a little familiarity value I created a 'free' brand (anyone can use it)
> called 'Musicstream'. If anyone has a better idea for the name please
> post; I like this because it is broad (music can be sold or given away,
> it is clear we are talking about music over the web but not CDs, while
> everyone is free to offer CDs AND musicstreams, and it has that 'new and
> cool' twang magazine editors who don't know what they're talking about
> but are hip will probably pick up on.)
> 
> Lemme know what'cha think guys (and girls, and hermaphrodites, and
> non-sexuals)!
> 
> Of course, the most important thing is... Let's all actually make some
> GOOD music and everything I wrote here will probably be pretty much
> irrelevant... or at best the Sake that goes with the Sushi.
> 
> ;)
> 
> Lemme know!
> 
> Carlo
> 
> PS: The ideas of 'Made with Free Software' and 'Geek is Cool and Sexy'
> have not been forgotten, but as far as I can see should be launched as
> seperate campaigns so non-Geeks and Propellerheads users can be part of
> the Phun as well!
> 
> 

-- 
"I'd crawl over an acre of 'Visual This++' and 'Integrated Development
That' to get to gcc, Emacs, and gdb.  Thank you."
(By Vance Petree, Virginia Power)