There’s a service called Tune Core that let you manage all of your songs from a single interface. All you have to do is sign up, upload your singles or albums along with liner notes and album art, and your music will be delivered to iTunes, Rhapsody, Amazon MP3, Napster and others for distribution. You will get 100% of the royalties from all of your music sales.

   So what does it cost to upload your music for worldwide distribution? It’s only $9.99 per single and for albums it’s less than $50. That’s an incredible deal for taking the hassle out of contacting all the online distributors individually to try and get your music approved, uploaded and listed.

   There’s another interesting aspect to distributing through TuneCore. If you’ve recorded any covers of popular songs, you can also upload those for sale and distribution. You’ll get any royalties paid for you cover versions as well.

   It’s as easy as it gets to simply upload from your computer to TuneCore and then let them get it distributed for a single low fee. They won’t take any of your royalties which is excellent for artists. Here are some links to get you going with TuneCore!
Get Your Music on iTunes for as Low as $9.99 at TuneCore
Sell Your Album Online with TuneCore

Get the full experience at www.livemusiciancentral.com

Get Your Music Distributed On iTunes And Amazon.mp3

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Shakira Performs At The 2007 Grammy Awards

   The Grammy awards are coming up this Sunday January 31, 2010. They’ll be shown on CBS at 8PM ET/PT and just like last year, I’m sure they’ll disappoint. Every year I watch the Grammy’s and then vow that I’ll never watch them again. Let’s face it, since music distribution has gone so heavily digital and hit songs are basically just hits in a certain niche, the Grammy’s just don’t hold the same allure as they used to have. I guess an indication of all the niche markets is the fact that there are over 100 categories for for Grammy awards. So if you’re into rock and roll, you should get about 10 minutes of enjoyment out of the Grammy awards.

   I guess it’s just how the music industry is that everything is categorized and marketed to a certain audience. The Grammy’s, after all, is as much a celebration of targeted marketing as it is a celebration of musical creativity. The Record Of The Year category is loaded with the top sellers for 2010. But great albums like “It’s Blitz!” by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs are crammed into their own niche. So congratulations Lady Gaga, you have been marketed very well this year. Good luck winning the Grammy for your silly song “Poker Face”.   

   Since this is Live Musician Central, I’m mainly focusing on the live performances that will be featured at this years Grammy awards. The Grammy’s are interesting because the live performers are not always live. It’s kind of a game we play when watching the Grammy awards to see who is lip synching and who is really singing live. The following acts are slated to perform live at the 2010 Grammy Awards:

• Dave Matthews Band
• Green Day
• Lady Gaga
• Pink
• Zac Brown Band
• Beyonce’
• Black Eyed Peas
• Lady Antebellum
• Maxwell
• Taylor Swift
• Bon Jovi
• Mary J. Blige
• Andrea Bocelli
• Green Day

That’s at least a partial list and I’m sure there will be a few surprises too. So I ask myself, do I really want to see any of these performers live? I’d kind of like to see Kings Of Leon simply because I enjoyed their latest album so much. I’d also like to see the kid who calls himsefl Owl City perform just to see if he can play live as opposed to cranking out tunes in his bedroom.

   Still, the Grammy’s should be entertaining for a while simply because someone may do something crazy. Maybe we’ll have another Kanye moment or something. I’m sure I’ll make my usual vow when it’s all over and swear that I’ll never watch the Grammy’s again. For now, download some of the Grammy Nominees music and get prepared for another show.

Get the full experience at www.livemusiciancentral.com

Grammy Awards 2010 Preview

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   The rumors are running wild in all the fan forums with speculations on everything from a new tour, a new album or a new box set just in time for Christmas. I put the most credence in the box set speculation simply because of the fact that they’ve created a brand new website called acdcbacktracks.com which is showing a video clip of some classic Bon Scott footage.    

   Why is a box set good for all fans of AC/DC? Because you usually get lots of rarities, videos and remastered tracks in a box set. AC/DC rarely does anything small so I bet this box set is going to be packed with good stuff and a tour will follow. No matter what the announcement, the whole countown timer with special website is a fantastic marketing ploy. All of us that play in bands can take a lesson from this kind of top level marketing. My advice to all AC/DC fans is to watch the websites and find out for yourself what this exciting new announcement is going to be!

   In the meantime, enjoy a classic video of AC/DC with Bon Scott on the Australian TV show “Bandstand”. This video was shot on Feb. 21st 1976 and features some Australian hotties dancing around the band. You gotta love 70’s fashion, take me back to grade school baby!!

1976 – AC/DC – It’s A Long Way To The Top – Television Performance

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AC/DC Countdown To What?

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Famous Booking Agents - Creative Artists Agency

   One of the greatest challenges for any live band is finding and booking regular paying gigs. It can take more time to get out and book your own gigs than it takes to practice and get your band in shape to play gigs. That’s why live bands secure the services of booking agents to help find and schedule gigs.   

   The first thing you need to do is find a booking agent that can get your band booked into the places you want to play. The best way to do this is to visit a few clubs and try to speak to someone about who is booking bands for that club. Ask them if they use a specific booking agent to book bands for their club. You can usually get contact numbers for local booking agents this way.

   Another way to find good booking agents is to talk to other bands that play in the clubs you’re interested in. Ask them what booking agent they’re using and you should be able to get some good contacts that way as well. You can also check the Entertainment section in the Yellow Pages of your local phonebook.

   After you have some numbers, start calling the booking agents. Remember to act professionally and have all your contact information handy when you’re speaking to the booking agent. Be sure you have some Demo CD’s of your band to give to the booking agent. Even better, direct them to your website which should have music demos, pictures and even live videos of your band performing.

   An agent that is interested in booking your band will usually get back to you right away after your initial contact. Make sure you have a calender handy and that you know in advance what dates your band is available to play. You don’t want to have to tell the booking agent “I’ll call you back after I check with the guys” when they offer you gig dates.

   A single booking agent usually books for several different places. At first, they’ll most likely schedule you in some of their smaller venues to make sure your band can handle the gigs they book. After you prove yourself at a few smaller gigs the agent will begin to book you at larger and more prestigious gigs. It’s a process that will pay off big time in the end if you find a good booking agent.

   There are a couple more things to remember when working with a booking agent. Booking agents will usually take a percentage of your earnings as payment for booking the gig for you. This is how they get paid for doing all the legwork it takes to secure gigs for your band. Most agents charge between 10%-15% of what your band will be paid for the gig.

   Agents will usually have you sign a contract specifying where you’ll be playing, the dates you’ll be playing, how much you will be paid and how much you will pay the booking agent. This is part of the business and it’s something you will have to do to work with a booking agent. Just make sure you read the contract and don’t sign anything binding beyond that single gig. You don’t want to sign a contract that gives that particular booking agent exclusive rights to your band in perpetuity.

   There is one major matter of etiquette when working with a booking agent. I’ve heard bands complain that an agent booked them into a club but the band scheduled return dates on their own so they didn’t feel it necessary to pay the agent for those return dates. This is unethical and will get you blacklisted among the local booking agents. Any gig at that club which comes as a direct result of the original gig the booking agent booked for you is a gig that you should pay your agent a booking fee for.

   Finally, make sure the agent knows that you are not exclusively tied to one individual booking agent. You want to be sure that if you book your own gigs without the agents help that there will be no fees paid to the booking agent. This will also allow you to use multiple booking agents for an even wider selection of gigs.

   Booking agents are a very necessary part of finding gigs for your live band. Generally, they make your life much easier and can even become a good friend of the band. Make sure you treat them fairly and you will get better gigs from them as well.

Get the full experience at www.livemusiciancentral.com

How To Find And Work With A Booking Agent For Your Live Band

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Madonna - Top Of The Promotional Heap

   Ask any musician that you know if they would like to make a living playing music full time in a live band or even as a studio musician and I’m pretty sure their answer will always be an emphatic “yes”. Every guitarist I know dreams of making their living playing guitar. The thing is, great musicians are a dime a dozen. You can find excellent musicians living on every block. So how come so few of them are doing any professional playing?

   The answer is incredibly simple, it’s because they have failed at self promotion. So how do you self promote? Again, the answer is a simple one. All you have to do is get out of your practice room and go talk to people! Musicians are notorious for staying in their own little world and dreaming about making a living playing music. All it takes to get out there and make it playing music is to get speaking to anyone and everyone that can possibly help you in your quest.

   So where can you find people that will help you with your quest to play professionally? The first place is your local music store. Get down there and start talking to the salespeople. Find out who the top players in your area are. Try to find out where you can meet the best players and highest level musicians in your area. Maybe they come into the local music store regularly. If so, see if you can find a time to talk to them while they’re at the store.   

   Another thing to do is go out and see live bands play. You may be able to talk to some members of the top bands in your area. See if you can get their business card or contact information and ask if it’s okay for you to call or e-mail them with some questions. Try to set up a time to talk with them on the phone or see if they will let you visit with them before a rehearsal.

   When you get a chance to meet and talk to the best bands and musicians in your area make sure you’re ready with some good questions for them. Here are some sample questions for you to ask them:

• How long have you been playing?
• Do you play music for a living?
• How often do you play?
• How do you find gigs?
• Do you know anyone that is looking for musicians or would like to start a live band?
• Ask about their best experience as a musician.
• Ask about their worst experience as a musician.

   Let them answer your questions and pay attention when they’re talking to you. You can find out more about the music industry from asking intelligent questions of working musicians than you will find out anywhere else. You need to be able to communicate if you’re going to play music professionally and this is how you start doing that. Everyone likes to talk about themselves and if you’re willing to take the time to ask relevant questions and listen, you’re going to create a rapport with the upper level musicians that can help you in your quest.

   Finally, make sure you have your own contact info handy. You’ll want a contact phone number and a website address. Your website can be as simple as a MySpace or Facebook page that lists your skills, experience and a few sound demo’s of your playing. Make sure you give your info out to people that can help you in your quest to play professionally. Over time, as you build your relationship with the other local musicians, you can get contacts for their booking agents as well as personal agents and managers that can help you on your way in your music career.

   So how can you make it as  a professional musician? Get out and talk to people! I’m telling you, the reason Madonna, U2, The Beatles and Coldplay have made it huge isn’t because they’re the most talented musicians. It’s because they got out and they talked to people until they found someone that could help them. You may be the best, fastest, most talented guitarist in the world but unless you get out and find someone that can help get you out of your practice studio you’ll only be the greatest guitarist in your house.

   The next step after meeting some musicians is to get out and start your own live band. Keep reading Live Musician Central for ideas about starting a live band and making your live band better.

Get the full experience at www.livemusiciancentral.com

How To Make It As A Professional Musician

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Visit Matt Rushton's MySpace Page

   There are so many ways for live musicians to reach our audience today that there’s really no excuse not to be using some of them. Today I’m going to discuss using the social networking sites out there for marketing you, your band and your music. I’m talking about using MySpace, Facebook and LinkedIn to connect with your fans as well as other musicians and bands. There are a lot of social networking sites and some that are dedicated strictly to music and musicians but I’m going to focus on Facebook, MySpace and LinkedIn.

   Of those three big social networking sites the one that caters the best to musicians and bands is MySpace. MySpace allows you to create a musician specific profile about you or your band and upload your own original music for playback on your profile page. You can also allow people to download your songs for free. The big advantage to MySpace is you get a unique URL that incorporates your name, or a version of it in the URL. For example, my MySpace URL is http://www.myspace.com/mattrushtonmusic . It’s fairly short and it has my name in it. MySpace will also let anyone in the world visit your page and view the content. It’s an easy and free way to set up an internet presence for your band. You can present all essential information that will help you to market your band on your MySpace page such as a band bio, demo songs, contact information, song lists and pricing information. You can also post pictures and videos of your band. If you only have one band page on the web, it should be a MySpace page.

   Another advantage of MySpace is the ability to add people as friends to your Friend Space. By linking to friends on MySpace you create a contact list that will allow you to instantly send messages to all of them informing of upcoming shows or new music releases. This is marketing at it’s finest and is a huge step in making sure that your fanbase is up to date with news about your band. If you can keep people updated on your shows you’ll be able to keep a crowd coming to see you when you play.

   That brings me to Facebook. Facebook is a social networking site that is really geared towards creating an intimate private community feel. Facebook will not allow you to make your profile public to all users. For people to be able to see your profile you must “Friend” them before they can view your profile. Once you’ve added a user as a friend they can see your full profile. For a band on Facebook, the main marketing goal is simply to connect with your fans. Facebook is very easy and fast to set up and the updates you put on your profile are instantly transmitted to everyone on your friends list. Your band can use Facebook to inform people of how your latest band practice went, how your recording session is going or the general band mood. It’s also perfect for announcing upcoming gigs as it will allow you to send out custom invitations to everyone on your friends list. You can even request a reply so you can get a feel for how many people will be attending your shows.

   Finally there’s the LinkedIn network. LinkedInis primarily a business networking site. Professionals from all over the world list their education and work experience. They can write recommendations for other professionals and receive recommendations as well. It’s a way for companies to find new employees and for people looking to make career changes to find work. For a band, the LinkedIn network is a great way to connect with other bands and musicians. LinkedIn is also an excellent place to meet booking agents and live event promoters. If you take some time with LinkedIn, you may be able to make a business contact that can help market your band in ways you may have never even considered.

   So there you have it, if you’re not using the online social networking sites you’re really behind the times. Get your band on the web and I’m sure that some opportunities will open up for you. Follow the links below to get started.

MySpace

Facebook

LinkedIn

Get the full experience at www.livemusiciancentral.com

Market Your Band With Social Networking

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Bruce Springsteen - Working On A Dream

   I was pretty excited to see one of the top live performers of all time, Bruce Springsteen a.k.a. The Boss play the Halftime show at Superbowl 34. I was prepared for the game with loads of delicious junk food and all the anticipation that comes with an expected win by the Pittsburgh Steelers. I sure didn’t think the Cardinals were going to prove to be much of a challenge for the Steelers but it turned out to be a pretty exciting game. You gotta love it when the win comes in the last two minutes of the game. But we’re here to talk about the music and The Boss’s live Halftime performance.

   If you were watching the pre-game show you may have seen the Bob Costas interview with Bruce Springsteen. He asked Bruce all the right questions and didn’t really throw him any hard ball questions. He did make a big deal about the fact the Bruce is almost 60 years old which I don’t think Bruce really enjoyed. It was pretty funny when Bob said something to the effect of “You can’t really climb on pianos anymore.” to which Bruce replied “You wanna bet!”. It kind of felt like a setup because during the performance Bruce did indeed climb on the piano and jump down. You know, for a near 60 year old Bruce really did get around on stage well. He must do Yoga or something to stay so limber. I could totally relate when Bruce told Bob Costas that while he’s onstage he’s completely lost in the moment. That’s what makes playing live so great and so much better than playing in the studio.

   I think what impressed me the most about Springsteen’s performance is that it really was live. Ever since the Janet Jackson breast debacle ended the MTV canned music halftime shows, the shows have been so much better. If there’s one thing I hate it’s seeing lip syncing going on at live events and the MTV produces shows were so canned and plastic wrapped it was just sickening. But last year when Prince just rocked it with his killer guitar solos it was fantastic and this year the E-Street Band just nailed it as well. Seeing Max Weinberg and La Bamba of Conan O’Brian’s house band was pretty cool too. Max does a great job with the drums on Bruce Springsteens songs. Watching the interplay between Bruce and the E-Street band is really great to watch as well. It all just goes to show you how important everyone is in making a good live show happen.

   The only thing I wish is that Bruce would have played Born In The USA. I thought that was a surprising omission. The music industry marketing machine was running on all cylinders for Bruce. He has created the perfect marketing storm with his Golden Globe award for Best Original Song on his song ‘The Wrestler’, along with his new #1 album ‘Working On A Dream’ and now his huge performance at Superbowl XLIII. That’s how the pros do it and it’s pretty amazing to behold. For all of us mere mortals it was still really fun to watch The Boss up there rocking out for the whole world to see.

Get the full experience at www.livemusiciancentral.com

Bruce Springsteen Superbowl XLIII Performance Review

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Networking In Action - Eric Clapton's All-Star Jam

   Probably the single most important thing a live musician can do to successfully market themselves, their band and their music is to network with as many other musicians as they possibly can. I can tell you from experience that I’m able to keep playing gigs because of who I know and associate with in my musical realm. I’m not a big self-promoter but I have contacts and friends in the music world that are really good with promotion and finding gigs. Networking with these types of people have really helped me advance my career. By networking with other bands and musicians you can increase your chances of hooking up with them for all sorts of gigs and musical projects.

   I’ve been able to get gigs for my band from the bands that I’ve networked with over the years. I’ve been able to fill in at gigs that other bands have lined up and then not been able to play. I’ve also been able to get gigs opening for other bands that I’ve become friendly with over my career. I’ve always tried to return the favor and whenever possible will ask other bands to open for my band. That’s a major key to successful networking is to give other bands the opportunities that you’re seeking for your own band. You never know when an up and coming band is going to become huge and there’s a chance that they’ll return the favor in the future and have you join them at a big show.

   Networking with other musicians in your area is also a great way to find places to play. You can find out who the right person to talk to at a club is in order to book your band. You can also have other bands give you references at clubs so that you can secure bookings. I’ve been able to find some decent booking agents by talking to other musicians that I’ve met over the years.

   I’ve been able to play on other musicians recordings as well as help other bands out by letting them come into my recording studio and lay down tracks. By doing this I’ve been able to get some marketing exposure by getting my name on other people’s recordings. Name recognition is key in the music industry and the more you can get your name associated with other musicians, the more opportunities you’re going to have to get your music heard. I’ve been able to land some pretty fun gigs just because somebody knew someone else that knew me.

   There are a lot of great ways to network with other musicians these days. The best way of course is to get out and hear other bands. Then don’t be afraid to go up and talk to them during breaks or at the end of a show. Remember to have some class and never ask to play their instruments or beg them to let you get up and play a song. Just meet them, exchange phone and contact info as well as web based info such as websites and MySpace of Facebook pages. MySpace is a fantastic way to network these days and if your band doesn’t have a MySpace page then you need to get one going TODAY!

   The final word on networking with other musicians is to remain cool and don’t be an egotistical jerk when dealing with other musicians. You can go a long way by being nice to people in this business and they will remember you when opportunities arise that can benefit both parties.

Get the full experience at www.livemusiciancentral.com

The Key To Successful Band Marketing, Network

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50th Anniversary Fender American Deluxe Stratocaster

   I am a guitar player so it goes without saying that I love guitars. I have 14 guitars and I would still like to have more. It’s really hard to pick just one favorite because they all have certain things they do well and each guitar comes with its own special vibe.        

   I guess that’s one reason why people get so into guitar collecting. Guitars really are unique and even two guitars of the same model have differences. There’s enough of a human, hand-made element in guitar making that the instruments can really become individual. Another thing that makes guitar collecting so attractive is the fact that guitar manufacturers are starting to put out limited edition, collectible guitars. Guitar collecting has become very popular because of the investment potential. I think it’s kind of sad really that there are people who don’t even know how to play the insrtument who speculate and invest in guitars simply because of the return on investment potential. As a musician I know the true joy that comes from playing the instrument. I actually have some collectible, limited edition guitars but I just can’t keep my hands off them! I love to play too much to let a beautiful instrument sit in its case.

   My most collectible guitar is my Fender 50th Anniversary American Deluxe Stratocaster. It’s a modern marvel of a Stratocaster with it’s noiseless pickups and beautifully milled neck. I guess I should have just left it in its case with all the tags still attached but I just couldn’t do it. I had to play it! I loved it so much that I bought a Fender American Deluxe Ash Stratocaster with an Aged Cherry Sunburst finish and a Maple Fretboard to use as my main stage guitar.
I felt kind of guilty using my 50th Anniversary Strat onstage where my guitars tend to get a bit more of beating than at home. So the American Deluxe Ash Strat fits the bill live, plays like a dream and sounds fantastic!

   I always take at least 2 guitars to gigs so if I have problems with one I always have a backup. I use both the guitars that I take at the gigs just because I like playing multiple guitars. It’s fun and it changes the look of the band a little bit when I strap on a different looking guitar. So I usually take one of my Stratocasters (I have 4) and one of my Gibson Les Paul guitars. I have a Gibson Les Paul Custom and a Gibson Les Paul BFG and they both sound radically different from each other. The Les Paul Custom has a smoother, refined sound and the  Les Paul BFG basically is a fire-breather.
The Les Paul BFG is unique in the Gibson Les Paul line in the fact that it has a P-90 pickup in the neck position. It gives the guitar some great tonal variation.

   I’ll talk more about each of my guitars in future posts. For now I want to get back to guitar collecting. I buy my guitars mainly for their sound and their technical abilities. Those two things go hand in hand. How a guitar is built electronically and physically have a huge effect on the sound. I am always trying to find unique sounds and versatility in all my instruments. That’s one of the reasons I got the Les Paul BFG. It has a unique sound and a lot of versatility for a Les Paul. Because of how it’s built, it has an excellent chance of becoming a collectible production model Les Paul. There’s never been a production Les Paul like it and it’s the first of its kind, both of these facts increase it’s collectibility. Gibson has now started releasing specific collectible versions of the Les Paul BFG. They are the same guitar with a different paint job, but basically the same guitar as the original Les Paul BFG. They just cost more and will be made in more limited numbers. You can check the collectible BFG’s out here:
Gibson Limited Edition Les Paul BFG Electric Guitar Ink

   Because I like guitars that are built with new designs and built to create a wide palette of sounds there’s a good chance that some of them will become collectible. I’m not an investor but I do like the more unique instruments. Maybe someday my collection will bring a return on the investment but I’m certainly not planning on it. I play my guitars, so they have the normal dings and wear that are associated with player guitars. That’s fine with me because the ultimate return on investment for me as a player is the sheer joy I get out of playing them.

   The bottom line is it’s all about marketing. How a guitar is marketed will really affect it’s collectibility as well. The Fender 50th Anniversary American Deluxe Stratocaster was marketed as a collectible right off the bat. So a good rule of thumb in guitar collecting is to watch how they are marketed. The name Mary Kaye will always be associated with the white Strat with gold hardware that Fender marketed with her in the 50’s and it’s one of the most collectible guitars in history.

   If you are serious about collecting as an investment then I suggest you check out Gibsons Custom Shop Guitars. They’re pretty much guaranteed to at least hold their value and will most likely increase in value as the years go by. Just don’t play it if you’re planning on making money on it!

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Guitar Collecting

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David Cook Winner of American Idol Season 7

   It was really a surpise that David Cook won American Idol. Especially given how much the judges loved David Archuleta’s performances. Archuleta even won over Simon Cowell on the final performance episode.   

  It will be really interesting to see how far David Cook can take his career. How will he handle his fame?  I guess we can all just sit back and watch the David Cook drama unfold. I just hope he’s able to retain his good humor and not be taken down by how difficult it is being a celebrity in our American society.

  As for me, I really don’t care so much about celebrity as I do musical ability. I hope David’s new CD will let him stretch his chops out and grow as a musician. I am pretty stoked that a guitarist won American Idol. It would be great if he could develop some songwriting ability. I hope he is able learn the ins and outs of the music business so it doesn’t just grind him up and spit him out.

  David Archuleta is still my personal favorite and history has shown that the 2nd place finisher could very well be the more successful of the two. I’m sure David Archuleta will be releasing a CD and touring. Let’s hope he can take this shot and really turn it into something huge. On the upside he’ll have more freedom to do what he wants than David Cook will. I can tell you for sure that David Archuleta is HUGE in Utah.

  Time will tell, as for now, good job and good luck to both David Cook and David Archuletta!!

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David Cook Wins American Idol!

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