[Trombone-l] Church music, tbn solos

[Chris Tune]

This actually hits well and squarely on the "bull's eye" of one thing I've 
been talking about now for about three or four years:

The record industry still hasn't figured out that the reason people like 
album covers and liner notes and the "package" is because it has a 
"substance" and "content".  This is very much like the web-developer's 
mantra: "It's the CONTENT. . .silly!".  The record industry needs to have 
some clever band create a KILLER app kinda web presence.  Once they realize 
that facts and content are the value in liner notes, and to some degree an 
art "design" stage is provided in liner notes and album covers.  But the web 
allows this same "ART" content and can be changed or updated from time to 
time.  Also, for those who want a "hard copy", you can order the Poster 
Version online.  Then "voila" you have your large format art version.

My friend who was with "Stabbing Westward" was with a group (not my "style" 
of music) that kinda had this down to some extent.  The website for the band 
had an identical art feel and content sourcing to their last big album. 
Unfortunately, the album was really only accesible musically to people badly 
in need of PROZAC. . .(i.e. quasi-suididal teens. . .an admittedly, big 
buying audience of recordings--see "Marilyn Manson").   The site was really 
very good, with much in the way of chat areas, and forums, etc.  Almost 
moving in the direction I was thinking they should go.  They were short on 
tech info, though.  I think they misread the web thing, as being like a book 
or magazine. . where you have to limit the content to one style or type. 
You don't have to do this online.  You just need to be organized and have a 
management of the info, with styles and nav, reflecting the content.

I'm envisioning an environment where I can look at all the notes taken in 
the recording session.  Where each member of a group, or anyone or thing 
associated with the recording process is linked in.  If they wound up using 
certain gear, well. . .then a link can bring you to the website of those 
making that gear.  If they play certain instruments, then the links go to 
the instrument sites.  This is the way the web is supposed to work.

Also, why have redundant paper copies of studio notes, and then another 
keyed into some database and another somewhere else?  Why not just put them 
all up into a server?  Then format them for each purpose.  One purpose for 
studio archive. . another for fan website. .another for executives at a 
company and so on.

EACH FAN IS DIFFERENT:
I'm an audio guy.  I love thinking about audio gear and about how recordings 
are made.  Imagine a database where I can find out that they tried several 
mics on the vocal in the course of tracking vocals.  Take 1 had a Neumann 
U87.  Take 2, they then tried an AKG 414 (some particular edition).  They 
then tried one of the ADK tube models and liked this, and did several other 
takes with this ADK model.  They then shifted to, oddly enough, a Shure 
model SM58 and finally wound up with the take on the final being done with 
this odd choice of mic.  Then I notice that the bone player is playing a 
Chocolatero mouthpiece. . just like me!  Heh!   It's all about content!

Don't worry about there being too much info (that is the old model--Ooh!, I 
need "editors" to help me. .otherwise my site will be messed up!)   Most 
sites are not messed up because of "too much content", but rather because of 
poor or overly "showoffy" design!   Just worrry about not having "friendly 
navigation", and easy ways to find what you want.  Make sure the front page 
shows the "promise" of the site.

Google is easy to use, yet it taps into an enormous amount of information. 
It is easy to look at.  It shows the "promise" of what's to come.

I'm envisioning a package where all the hundreds of books and calendars and 
lists and everything is available to those who are fond of a particular band 
or artist.  That would exceed the value of the "hard stuff" in the hand 
feel.   True, unless they could package CD's in beautiful leather wrappers. 
Then the "feel" would mean something.

Chris

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Robert Holland" <briar at rcn.com>
To: "Trb. List" <trombone-l at server5.samford.edu>
Sent: Friday, May 12, 2006 8:49 PM
Subject: Re: [Trombone-l] Church music, tbn solos


> John Burton wrote:
>
>> I'm not  an arranger or publisher, but I'm wondering if on-line
>> publishing might be a profitable answer to the small-time (low-volume)
>> publisher.
>>
>> For example, selling a PDF of your arrangement, collect via PayPal.
>> All you need is a bank account to work with to collect the money.  An
>> on-line store is quite inexpensive to set up, and naturally depending
>> on how much you charge for your charts may pay for itself with one or
>> two sales per month.
>
> Someone trots this idea out on the list every year or so. I've
> responded before and will reprise just a couple points.
>
> The physical medium of the score and parts, like a book or magazine,
> has some value over a sheaf of loose papers from your printer.
> Similarly, the paper version of a piece of music has some value over
> the electronic stands folks are trying to develop and market. Whereas
> the mp3 version of a recording may be worthwhile as a portable version,
> the physical package with the cover art, lyrics, liner notes, etc. has
> some value over the electronic version inside an iPod.
>
> No one can predict the future all that well. Those who have observed
> the presumed death of the recording industry -- or at least a radical
> transformation in its mode of delivery -- may be correct, but I rather
> doubt it. The same goes for traditional modes of print publishing.
>
>> Just a thought, but from the standpoint of a consumer, I much prefer
>> on-line sources of arrangements.  It satisfies my need for "right now"
>> service and allows me to search with e-tools much more effectively.
>
> What may be desirable for the consumer may not be so desirable for the
> seller in terms of cost and profitability. Sure, people these days love
> to shop in their pajamas from home and have something either delivered
> to their doors in a few days or delivered to their computers
> instantaneously. The shift away from the public sphere is often called
> "cocooning." As a business model, the warehouse stores and virtual
> media sellers can get it done more cheaply in many respects, but we've
> clearly lost something in the process. Brick and mortar specialty
> stores that maintains select inventory and employ knowledgeable staff
> may still be worth some extra cost.
>
> Robert Holland, Publisher
> Briar Music Press
> briar at rcn.com
> www.briarmusic.com
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