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

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.)