Getting your recordings out to the industry.. easy

AIR provide a service in conjunction with D Star that anyone can use at a reasonable fee. The service is an electronic delivery system to get your music to the right people. What they are providing is access to the system. Compared to sending out CD's to everyone you think is important, this comes in very cheap indeed. What you need to remember is that if you're going to knock on all these doors you'll have to have your stuff together. Industry want to be able to see your stuff right away. If they can't access info about your act then why are they going to be interested to take the next step. These days the music industry can create what ever the market wants on their own. If they get stuck something crap, they can usually create a market for it as well. So, why do they need you, or your act; authenticity. Not everyone is going to get sucked into the next 'IDOL' winner, but a pop performer with authenticity is a little easier to stomach. Besides there are plenty of genres out there that require pure authentic performers.

Anyway, follow some simple rules.

• Profile your act, and develop your image, place it in a pigeon hole (even if that pigeon hole is one with title of can't be pigeon holed, and you better be sure about it).
• Have as much media available as you can get together such as press releases, bios, images, videos and make sure it's accessable on the net.
• Show some evidence of fan base. If you have 100 people willing to die for your band then you may have something a label or industry 'friend' might want.
• Make sure when your act's name is googled someone can find your site and other references to your act on unassociated websites without too much problem.
• Have your act together, make sure you are good enough and committed enough for the biz.
• Have representation of some sort, no good just having the lead guitarist or singer's phone number on the bio. Contact local tafes and universities that run music biz programs and grab a newbie if you have to.
• Don't be scared of contracts, just make sure that what's in a contract you're signing is what you really want. Start by putting one together between your band members (deed) and then put one together with your manager. It's better for all involved to know their responsibilities and expectations!

Below was lifted from the AIR website http://www.air.org.au 

AIR has partnered with D Star to bring the Play MPE system to independent labels and artists around Australia.

Play MPE is the industry standard for transferring music digitally to media for airplay, review and other promotional uses. Currently used by Universal, Warner, EMI, Shock, Inertia, Stomp and a range of other companies, AIR levels the playing field by giving all labels equal access to media contacts.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

Play MPE is an account that is held by most media outlets in the country including music directors, editors and other users of musical content. They have a small piece of software that allows them to check new releases that have sent to them for the week, listen to the new tracks, download them in CD quality, burn CDs, export to ipod, read the release notes and download photos and biography material. Labels send radio tracks, EPs and even albums on the system.

WHY USE PLAY MPE?Play MPE is a fantastic way to get your music to media. Not only does it obliterate your postage costs, but it means no more burning pro-CDs, packaging costs and you'll never have to stuff packages for hundreds of media again, making it the perfect solution for both the environment and your sanity! Media love Play MPE because it means that all of the week's new tracks are in one place, making it easy to sample and less likely to get left in the “get to it later” pile.

IS PLAY MPE A PLUGGING SERVICE?

No. Play MPE does not take the place of a plugger and is not a promotional service for your release. It simply gets your release to the media outlet. AIR still strongly recommends the use of a radio plugger and/or publicist to work your release and ensure it gets listened to.

WHO GETS MY TRACK?D-Star has lists of media contacts which are utilised by AIR. These lists are extensive and include radio, print, internet and television media. You may also use your own media lists to send your tracks efficiently for easy media followup.

WILL I GET A REPORT?

Yes. You will be emailed a report every week from when your track goes out. It will detail when a media outlet listens to, downloads or export/burns a track which you can use to pass on to your plugger or to follow up yourself. Please note that Play MPE is a professional tool and therefore you are responsible for any PR / plugging activities following the send. Specific contact details will not be provided of media outlets who access your track if you utilise D-Star's lists.

WHAT DOES IT COST?

You will be charged 'per recipient'.
AIR Members pay $2.00 (+GST) per recipient
Non-AIR Members will $2.40 (+GST) per recipient.

AIR send tracks to a minimum of 200 recipients.

This means for example, sending your latest single via Play MPE to our full list of music directors and playlist managers at Commercial radio Stations (222 recipients at the moment) will cost AIR Members $444 + GST.



We also have mailing lists of various sizes for Alternative Stations, ABC, Community Stations, Dance/Electronic, Country, Print Media and Satellite Stations.

For more information please   email nick(at)air.org.au