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Three Music 2.0 Services Worth Watching

Patrick May agent provocateur for our sister firm Skyline Music and one of our SxSW scouts came back from the trade show with these three tips:

Disc Revolt -
Provides physical solutions for digital delivery of media. For artists, DiscRevolt is a way to sell downloads through artist-specific download cards. Artists upload songs to the DiscRevolt site and design artwork for a plastic download card. DiscRevolt prints the cards with a unique redemption code on the back, and artists then sell them to fans at live shows. Fans enter that access code on the DiscRevolt site and receive credits to download that artist's media.  The cool thing about these cards is the fan can ALSO download OTHER ARTISTS with the credits THE BAND SELL!!!!   So the band is not only selling product but a vessel of music discovery to the fan.

MyTracks -
A new music download service that is forging a massive community of music fans and today's top indie artists and labels. In addition to their partnerships with universities across North America, myTracks.com and the their parent company FreshTracks also provide powerful digital media solutions for clients such as Lollapalooza-Chicago, Austin City Limits Fest and many others.

Bandago -
( OK so this one's not technically 2.0 but given the importance of touring its pretty cool.) Progressive, AFFORDABLE van rental company  with locations in  LA, San Fran, Seattle, NYC and soon to open in Atlanta.  Price ranges for feature rich vans are from $105 per day to $200 per day depending on model and time of rental.  250 miles are included for every day you have the vehicle (i.e. 10 days = 2500 miles included). Additional miles are .35 a mile.

SxSW Wrap Up

>>> Glenn @ Cooofer has a right on opinion piece, "The Band Glut And Diminishing Returns"

"...It's difficult to be remembered given the quantity of bands, the social aspect of the events and the availability of free alcohol. And, most surprisingly, the bands tended to go about their business without properly addressing the glut. Few bands sold merchandise. Many bands I saw rarely said their name during the set. They acted as if simply being there was good enough. Well, it wasn't. If you played at SXSW, chances are you won't be remembered."

>>> YouTube has tons of performance video of varying quality.

>>> One unofficial SxSW blog DoneWaiting has a good wrap-up of their and their readers' favorite moments.

>>> Some great notes from progressive music exec Terry McBride's keynote interview from Mark Lourie, VP of our sister company booking agency Skyline Music:

"...today is all about monetizing the behavior of the fans instead of selling and focusing on units of any kind.  It’s the overall behavior… give them what they want, and do it as direct and easily as possible.  This is why labels are dying..the future is superserving the fan base"

"...He believes strongly in collapsing the copyrights to one holder if at all possible...  Keep all ownership in one place so you can maximize usage.  All media, all formats can be dealt with easily."

"...overall his DIY model is...sell and give music free of rights management , and lots of live stuff, build strong street team.  Tour hard and super-serve the fan base..."  (more after the jump)

How To Pretend You're At SXSW

>>> Did you blow your entire yearly travel budget with a trip to MIDEM or PopKomm and can't make it to SXSW? Still don't want to miss all of the action...or maybe you even want to sound like you jetted into Texas for a few hours?  There is hope...

• Direct TV has 8 hours of programming from SXSW March 14-17 starting at 4PM Central daily.
• Regional cable outlet ME TV will be streaming online throughout the convention.
• Local KUT 90.5 FM is the go to place for the local music scene during SXSW and year round and fortunately they stream online.
• SXSW is also offering an impressive toolbox of official online and mobile updates, alerts and content which might almost make you feel like you're in Austin.  Like....your talking up a chick up at a bar in Des Moines and you get an text message that says Bright Eyes is playing a secret set at Stubbs....but you tell her you'd rather be there with her.
• Hypebot will be represented at SXSW by three members of our sister company Skyline Music (Mark Laurie, Barron Ruth and Patrick May) who promise regular live updates between bouts of schmoozing, beer and BBQ. We'll also be reading the coverage from Wired's Listening Post blog.
• If you think you're still missing out grab take-out from your local rib joint, pop open a few too many Lone Star beers, and listen to this torrent of 739 bands playing the festival until you pass out on your couch.  The hangover in the morning should connect you cosmically to the multitude in Austin.

Nettwerk's Terry McBride Live From SXSW Today On KCRW

LA's eclectic KCRW-FM is devoting a lot of airtime to SXSW both on its broadcast and internet only streams. Morning Becomes Eclectic host Nic Harcourt is there all week and today he's joined by Nettwerk Records and Management's Terry McBride.  More than most managers McBride actually walks his talk by self-releasing some of his acts like Barenaked Ladies, fighting the RIAA and pushing for an end to DRM. We hear he'll be a guest DJ, but he's sure to have a few choice comments on the industry.  The show starts at Noon EST/9PST with McBride joining about an hour in.

SXSW Survival Guide

Courtesy of the unofficial SXSWBaby.com comes a SXSW Checklist. Some highlights:

• Treo/Blackberry/Cameraphone and attendant charger, set up to moblog endlessly to Flickr...
• ...bookmark the official mobile site sxsw.mobi in your phone as well.
• I’ve configured Dodgeball to say that I’m in Austin...and configured Twitter to send stuff my phone...I hope you all upped your SMS plans already!
• Phone numbers: folks to meet up with, your hotel front desk, and a few taxi companies already programmed into my phone, like Austin Yellow Checker Cab, (512) 452-9999, and Austin Cab Company (512) 478-2222.
• Printouts of my registration confirmation email, my hotel confirmation email, a downtown Austin map, and public transit options. Just in case.
• print out film venues and music venues [PDF] if necessary, and the Austin showlist (highly recommended)..I plan to bring a highlighter to do some dayshow-planning on the plane.
• Tentative schedule of panels, keynotes, screenings, parties, music showcases, unofficial events, sightseeing, and more...And in that tentative schedule, I’ll have my Plan B, Plan C, Plan D, and the knowledge that plans may fly out the window the minute I wake up.

In case you can't make it to SXSW but don't want anyone to know how lame you are, we've published Hypebot's Official How To Pretend Your At SXSW Guide.

Blog Chronicles SXSW New Media & Marketing Trends

Door Number 3, a branding and ad agency based in Austin, Tx, is getting has launched the blog, “Behind the Door: South by Southwest Edition.” The new blog will provide an insider’s look at the advertising, new media and marketing trends at SXSW which runs March 9-18.

Door Number 3’s Bryan Keplesky will lead the coverage. Bryan is an art director by day and, by night, the “no words barred bard” behind the zine that both the Austin Chronicle and Austin-American Statesman have called the best zine in Austin, Misprint Magazine.

SXSW "How To Guide" Part I

SXSW is just a few weeks away and it's time to start figuring out what bands you want to see, how your going to connect with the hundreds in your extended network that are attending and how much time you can spend attending various panels and the trade show. 

Fortunately SXSW has created a "toolbox" to help you navigate this often overwhelming experience:

• SXSW SMS send update to your mobile. Perfect for last minute changes as the convention unfolds.
• An Online Registrant Directory so you can see who else is going and set advance hook-ups.
• A compendium of SXSW reletated podcasts.  (You can add your own cast for free.)
• Most of the above content and more is also accessible via your cell via SXSW.mobi.
• A special SXSW Torrent with mp3's of 739 showcasing bands.

We'll be publishing more info during the run-up to SXSW and provide live coverage with three people on the ground.  It will all be archived under a new SXSW 2007 category. If you've got SXSW news or showcase info you want to share with fellow Hypebot readers please send it in.