The SoundCloud Purge of 2015

I recently saw a Vice article about how SoundCloud was beginning a major purge of music on their website which was suspected of copyright infringement. In the article the author even alleges that the whole thing has to do with the fact that SoundCloud wants to monetize. While that may be true they want to monetize anyone with a basic knowledge of copyright law pertaining to music understands why they would need to do this purge either way, and it's quite simple - any music the website hosts which infringes on copyright could lead to a massive lawsuit for SoundCloud. In fact it's quite surprising it has taken this long for something to happen and it seems to be a quick response as the major labels threatened to sue SoundCloud in June of this year, just two months ago.

In the comments of the article on facebook I saw what amounted to a lot of people showing their absolute ignorance in music law, copyright law, and general intellectual property rights. Even more they seemed to ignore the fact that these laws exist to protect musicians and artists from having their works pirated. While I hate to be that guy who says "Well, it's the law", it is the law and it is there to protect musicians and their intellectual property. The most surprising thing was how some of the users tried to justify it by saying they were promoting the music they were using so it should be fine.

"How about the idea that DJ's are promoting that music. It's no different to it being played on the radio. Single tracks sure, but mixes of tracks? Mix tapes are the way most of us discovered music but in the digital era that's being policed with sledgehammer tactics. If I buy a track, why shouldn't I be able to post a mix containing it?"

I think one of the reasons people seem so arrogant about pirating music is it is seemingly a victimless crime and the few victims who are publicly seen are usually big-name rockstars who are extremely rich, so people brush it off without thinking about all the unknown musicians who rely on their royalty checks to live. Something I found interesting was how many people didn't understand that radio, venues, festivals, podcasts, and even restaurants had to pay licensing fees to play music or allow bands to cover songs at their establishment. One guy argued -

"That licensing model doesn't work for DJs, small radio stations, podcasts or events (all sizes of nightclub, festival, concert, etc.). It also doesn't accept that without these people and events much of this music would have little to no audience." 

It's kind of mind-boggling to know that a seemingly majority of DJs and Producers, who sample more than almost anyone else in the music industry, have such little knowledge of the law which pertains to their field of work. I can understand some naivety in the laws but to not understand the basic idea that you can't use someone else's intellectual property in a publicly presented work without getting proper licensing is crazy. I think in the end it really comes down to the fact that many people, including many musicians, DJs, and producers, don't truly see music as a business as well as an art form - they see them as completely separate. 

Death of Show Trades

When I started booking shows over a decade ago it seemed everyone wanted to do show trades. Show trades were so common it was almost expected when bands helped each other out. Now it seems almost impossible to find bands who are actually interested in doing show trades. This doesn't mean bands say they don't want to do a show trade, it's that they don't follow through on anything for their end.

Scenario: Band A hits up Band B saying they need help to setup a show in Band B's area but can help out B in their area when B tours. Band B helps setup the show, both bands play the show, show goes well and everyone is happy. A few weeks later Band B starts scheduling a tour of their own and contact Band A for the same help in A's town.

What Should Happen: Band A contacts Band B saying they will be happy to help and offer what they can. This could be as big as Band A actually booking the show or as small as giving a few references on local venues or promoters.

What Usually Happens: Band A contacts Band B saying they will see what they can do. Band B never hears from A again, even after repeated follow-ups.

What Happens Too Often: Band A doesn't contact Band B at all.

Now I'm not saying that every time you help out a band you should expect something in return, I'm just saying that it feels like one hell of a slap in the face to do a lot for dozens of bands and then almost all of them ignore you when you ask for the favor of playing their city. Makes me ask, "Where's the love?"

It's obvious to almost all bands that there is very little money to be made in the music industry, especially on the road. So why not actually help each other out? The funny thing about music, especially these days, is that even if it's not about the money the only way to keep afloat is by somehow making money. When on the road bands need help because most wouldn't make ends meat without it. Sure, the band you are helping may draw almost nobody in your area but every band needs to start somewhere in every city and that is the point of this whole system.

I always thought of show trades as the perfect tool for every band hitting the road, especially those who do the DIY booking. The music industry's version of "you scratch my back, I'll scratch yours". It's great because bands from different cities are able to really befriend each other, each playing the other's city and pushing each other to both fan bases. Isn't that the whole reason of touring anyway? To make new friends, make new fans, and spread your music.

Hopefully show trades don't go extinct, it'll just require an active music community.

11 Essentials for Bands on Tour

Being on tour and living out of a van (and trailer if you're lucky) has a lot of ups and downs. When it comes to living on the road with your band there are some tricks to make the ride much smoother. For those bands who are new to life on the road there are some things they should know before heading out. Here are 11 essentials that every touring band should have…

1. Baby-wipes - When on the road many bands won't have access to a shower for long periods of time.  To combat the rashes, smell, and grimy feeling baby-wipes work absolute wonders. It's actually surprising how good it feels after taking a sponge bath using the wipes. Plus, taking a baby-wipe bath in a grungy bathroom of a venue in some random town is a true testament to life on the road.

2. Ozium - While some people may suggest using febreeze or something similar, I suggest going to your local auto store and picking up a bottle or two of Ozium. This stuff not only gets rid of odors it actually kills the bacteria in the air. If you don't like the scent of Ozium or it's other varieties then just use Ozium to clean the air and spritz after with your favorite scent of febreeze or whatever other brand you like. One thing to note is only spray after getting out of the van and let it air out a bit, do not spray while in the van. 

3. Vitamins - Staying healthy on tour should be one of the number one priorities. One sick band member can cause a tour to get canceled and could also get the other members sick. I always like to have multi-vitamins and a couple others just in case, stuff like vitamin C, vitamin B-12, vitamin E, and Potassium. With the combination of little sleep, lots of energy exerted, lots of partying, and a lot of low-quality food then sitting in a confined space with 3-5 other people the majority of each day there is a high chance someone will get sick. Vitamins will at the very least help keep everyones immune systems working well.

4. Beef Jerky - Cheap food, great source of protein, doesn't need to be refrigerated, and tastes pretty good. Especially awesome for those longs trips between shows where there is little time to stop for food. 

5. Physical Maps - Most bands have at least one member with a smart-phone, tablet, or some other device with gps on it. One thing that is for sure is this stuff doesn't always work. Wether it is a dead battery, bad signal, or just a shitty gps there can be something that goes wrong. Be sure to get old-school fold out maps, which you can find at AAA locations, Wal-mart, and tons of other places. These can be super handy when all the handy-dandy technology cuts-out and you are on the road with no clue how to get anywhere. 

6. Pillow - This one is pretty essential unless you want to sleep uncomfortably or your band has the money to rent a room every night. Although even if you are renting a room every night there is a chance you may want to sleep on one of those long rides in the van.

7. Blanket/Sleeping Bag - Pretty much the same thing as the pillow. Some people would be surprised how some parts of the country are burning hot during the day and then ridiculously cold at night.

8. Appropriate Clothes - Before you head out be sure to check the weather for the areas you will be and have clothes that work. It seems somewhat simple to do this but you'd be surprised at how badly people get caught off guard when the weather isn't what they thought it would be. Especially when you are going through multiple regions in just a few weeks. You may be wearing shorts and a tank top one day only to find yourself freezing while wearing jeans and a hoodie a few days later.

9. Water - I like to get the gallon jugs of water for tour and usually bring a couple plastic cups. This is one of those things that some people don't bring because they think they can just stop anywhere and get some no problem. Well it does become a problem when you're on the highway and the closest stop is 30 miles away. This can be especially important if the car overheats with no extra coolant or if someone cuts them self and need to clean the wound.

10. Roadside Emergency Kit - Just like the boy scouts, always be prepared. These kits can often include a multitude of different things but your kit should always include a first aid kit, hazard lights/triangles/flares, a car jack, a lug wrench, spare fuses, jumper cables, and a flash light. Some other great items you can include in the kit are a tire gauge, tire sealant or a plug kit (not as important if you have a spare tire), gloves, towels, hand cleaner, a fire extinguisher, coolant hose repair kit, necessary fluids (motor oil, coolant, break-stearing, etc.), and about any other item you think you might need in case of a problem with the van.

11. Spare Tire - Pretty self explanatory. Don't have one of these and a tire goes flat or pops? Then you can pretty much expect to cancel whatever show you have scheduled that night.

I'm With The Band: Guest List Etiquette for Local Bands

The guest list at a show is a very interesting thing that isn't discussed often. There are different rules for the guest list at each venue and each promotor will do their guest list a certain way. When it comes to local shows this is something that is often abused by local bands. While it seems innocent enough to want to get your friends or family into your show for free bands need to consider the implications of putting people on their list.

The obvious thing about putting people on the guest list is that is one less paying person which means less money in the door. If there are 4 bands playing and each member of each band has 1 person on the guest list, assuming there are 4 members in each band, that is 16 less people paying. If tickets are only $5 then the door is losing $80 from the guest list, a number higher than what most local bands will be paid for said show. I'm not saying that it's a bad thing to put guests on the list but if you are in a band that is drawing on average under 20 people then you shouldn't be putting anyone on the guest list except in a few situations.

1. Merch Table - You have a friend running the merchandise table.

2. Photographer - You have someone taking photos of the show (this does not mean a friend taking pictures with their phone).

3. Videographer - You have someone taking video of the show (same thing about a friend just taping with their phone).

4. Press - You have someone from the press attending the show. It could be someone from a school paper for all I care, any press to get the word out about the bands and local shows is a good thing. 

5. Music Industry - You have a record label exec, A&R rep, Sponsor rep, or anyone who has an important role in the music industry.

6. Important to Band - By this I mean someone whose help ensures the band can play. This would include someone who is lending equipment, someone hosting the band's practices,  or possibly someone who drove the band members. This does not include some friend who came with you at load-in to help you load-in. 

In my opinion every band should adhere to these rules unless they are drawing over 100 people locally on average, especially since the majority of local fans at this level are friends and family. I find it odd that so many friends of bands feel entitled to get into the show for free because they are "supporting" their friend's band by attending. 

The last thing I will mention is the girlfriend/boyfriend/significant other of a band member debacle. Some people think it shouldn't be a big deal to let them in for free and some people think they shouldn't be on the guest list. I've had door-guys at shows just let them in for free despite what the promotor says because they basically consider them part of the band. This is something that I don't see as a problem once a band can consistently draw over 20 people but if a band draws less then their significant others usually make up a big chunk of their 'fan base'. 

What a Life

As usual, things haven't moved along much. The band I drum for decided not to become anything more than local, so I began picking up my indie project again and finally have more connections. Thanks to booking again and doing stuff with my band I have much more to work with in terms of local connections. As well, I feel like I now understand the basic steps for a band to really get out there in a big way. Hopefully I can pull together a group to get this indie project ready and then let it take off.