Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Playing the World From a Basement

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the folks-who-don't-like-to-leave-their-basement dept.

Albanach writes "Singer songwriter Sandi Thom is one of a growing band of new musicians using the internet to circumvent the traditional and traditionally expensive tour circuit. Thom described her free online concerts as a Web Tour, saying 'A web tour is basically what you do when you have a lack of money and no car.' Services such as The Streaming Tank have grown to satisfy the need for broadcast services and the figures are impressive. Just 74 people watched Thom's first concert on February 24th. The concert on March 2nd drew 62,138 viewers."

13 of 145 comments (clear)

  1. Who? by NitsujTPU · · Score: 4, Funny

    Just 74 people watched Thom's first concert on February 24th. The concert on March 2nd drew 62,138 viewers.

    I guess that, at that rate, I won't be saying "who?" in a week or 2.

    1. Re:Who? by Jason+Earl · · Score: 4, Insightful

      My question is, will she sign with a major label and perpetuate the crap we deal with from the RIAA?

      She probably will, but that's just because the RIAA still has more marketing muscle than anyone else. However, there is no question that the balance of power is shifting in favor of the artists. The primary reason that the RIAA is so powerful is that historically the RIAA controlled the primary means of marketing music. Unless you signed a deal with a major record label you couldn't get your song played on the radio, you couldn't get yourself professionally recorded, your CDs didn't end up in record stores, and you couldn't play the larger venues.

      These days creating, publishing, and distributing your own CDs is ridiculously simple, and it is possible to play in front of thousands of fans over the Internet. If the record labels continue to pretend that they have all of the leverage then we will undoubtedly see a shift towards more popular bands that choose to remain self-produced.

  2. I don't know... by Nosferax · · Score: 5, Funny

    I don't know... sitting alone in front of my computer with my lighter just isn't the same...

    --
    Remember... A boomerang IS NOT the best way to deliver a bomb.
    1. Re:I don't know... by gEvil+(beta) · · Score: 4, Funny

      Depends on what you're doing with that lighter... ; )

      --
      This guy's the limit!
  3. Oh from the basement... by GillBates0 · · Score: 4, Funny

    I'm kinda thankful they aren't trying out the traditional bathroom-singing business model. Granted, the acoustics are nice, but the visuals suck...except for female musicians, ofcourse.

    --
    An Indian-American Hindu committed to non-violent thought/speech/action alarmed by the global explosion of radical Islam
  4. Internet concert maths... by Rob+T+Firefly · · Score: 4, Funny

    Just 74 people watched Thom's first concert on February 24th. The concert on March 2nd drew 62,138 viewers.So, are there 62,064 people now sifting through the piracy sites for a torrent of an Xvid rip of the first one?

    --
    Slashdot Burying Stories About Slashdot Media Owned
  5. As a musician . . . by galonso · · Score: 4, Interesting

    As a musician, I think this is very exciting. The 'alternative' conventional wisdom of late has been that marketing your band/music online is the wave of the future, but I'm not aware of a concerted (heh) streaming approach that includes performances. Most articles I've read push distribution and marketing in the traditional mp3 sort of sense.

    This reminds me of the time when bands were experimenting with slide shows (pre-automation) run by a 'stealth' band member alla early Human League to give a multimedia edge to their presentation. With current technology, why not have a web presence with streaming concert video 'events' as the center piece to the normal mp3 / wallpaper / avant design elements.

    Heck, why not have interative art featuring music and graphics based on the old quaint notion of a 'concept album' . . .

    --
    -[joke removed for your safety]-
  6. Other Advantages by Flwyd · · Score: 4, Funny

    Concert attendees didn't have to pay $5 to get a beer from the fridge.

    --
    Ceci n'est pas une signature.
  7. Re:Ironically enough... by Shadarr · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I was thinking the same thing. The new business model should be to give away the recordings because they were always a loss leader anyway, and make your money on live shows and merch. I would guess that she's generating a lot more buzz than she really should, just because she's doing something "new." Once this becomes the norm, it won't be viable.

    --
    Bite the hand.
  8. Can't beat it by edmicman · · Score: 4, Funny

    Nothing like being in the mosh pit by yourself in front of the computer. And my mom wonders why I keep breaking all my stuff!

  9. Re:Ironically enough... by soupdevil · · Score: 4, Insightful

    The assumption is that every artist is a live performer. While live performance is one talent, recording, remixing, songwriting, arranging, and many other musical skills don't lend themselves well to the stage. But music would be much poorer without them.

    There will always be a place for live bands. But I hope we as a society don't lose the ability to reward those who create music in other ways.
  10. Live Music already quite popular in Second Life by johnthorensen · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I'm a resident of Second Life, an online virtual world. Very different than a MMORPG, it's basically an open-ended place for people to socialize, build, et cetera. Second Life is also unique in that you own the copyright of any content you create in-world. This has lead to some really creative and clever objects.

    More to the point though, the phenomenon of live music has really taken hold within Second Life. There are several artist residents (Astrin Few and Flaming Moe are two I can think of) who hold regular concerts, play in virtual taverns, and overall take advantage of the relatively cultured community that exists within the world (the client supports streaming audio via ShoutCast servers). I also know of a Live Music Festival (organized by a resident named Nethermind Bliss) that will be happening this year, with both a true live venue on the east cost and a virtual venue in-world. This hybrid event will be a great opportunity to expose residents to some talented artists.

    -JT

    1. Re:Live Music already quite popular in Second Life by metlin · · Score: 5, Insightful

      I'm a resident of real life.

      Very different from a make-believe world, we meet together every weekend and play music, build things, socialize etc etc. Even in our real worlld, we own the copyrights to the things we create.

      For example, just last week, we built a bed for my apartment which I own. All of this has led to some really creative and clever objects, such as lego beer dispensers.

      Anyway, more to the point, music has really taken hold in our real lives. Me and my friends go to concerts, and we even play in a local band! There are several bars (Hofbrauhaus and Beer Sellar are two I can think of) where real musicians play in real bars with real beer and real women with real boobs. Okay, maybe not the last one. Sadly, not all of us are a cultured people, but it has however taught us such things as tolerance. For those of us do like tolerance, we go to these things called musicals, orchestras and theatre plays.

      I also know of these music festivals like the Celtic and Renaissance music festivals that have been happening for a couple of hundred years, where once again you get to meet real *shudder* people. Those that like this can actually go to the websites (virtual, virtual!) and look up cool stuff.

      More important to the point, doing this has taught me and my friends some good social skills, gotten us free beer and live music - and sex.

      But go ahead, though. I'm sure a virtual life is infinitely more enjoyable. I mean, we sure as hell can't do all that stuff in real life, right? Right?