Image: viaJD Future Legends & Noisey present THE NEXT ON TOUR series of summer gigs. The final show of the series is this Friday April 1 in Manly @Moonshine at the Hotel Steyne, featuring Hierophants + The Rangoons + Tim & The Boys. Entry is free but you need to RSVP now!It used to be that a musician or band would record an album and then wait weeks or months for it be pressed and manufactured. It was then a matter of getting the CDs, records or tapes to a distribution company who’d ship the ‘units’ to record stores.Thing have changed.As Kendrick and Kanye have proved in recent weeks, the ways in which music gets distributed and heard is a lot different to what it was even three years ago. But it’s not just international hip hop superstars who are sharing their music in innovative ways. Many smaller local and DIY artists are choosing Soundcloud, Bandcamp and other ways to get their stuff out and about.SoundCloud
Attracting over 175 million unique visitors per month, SoundCloud remains the don of audio distribution platforms and it’s pretty easy to see why. It’s free, easy to use and everyone has it bookmarked. If you are a musician and you are not using SoundCloud there is something seriously wrong. It’s not a go-to option. It’s not an option. You have to be on Soundcloud.YouTube
Bands and labels are increasingly using YouTube to share music without actually posting videos. Of course it helps if it comes with a snazzy looking video but the usability and search engine of YouTube means an album or song can be easily uploaded with a simple graphic and people can listen. Between its ease of use and insightful measurement tools, as well as MP3 downloading programs (such as Anything2mp3.com), YouTube makes it easier for fans to listen to and download music.From Bedroom to Living Room
An initiative of Melbourne musician Matt Walters, Parlour is a platform that connects musicians with hosts willing to share their lounge, patios or backyards for gigs. After a few dozen shows that have included performances from Jess Riberio, Grand Salvo, Brendan Welch, Oh Mercy and Dan Kelly, Parlour is proving popular for punters and musicians looking for an intimate and unique experience.Cassettes
While everyone is losing it over the vinyl revival, another analog format—the audio cassette—is becoming popular with smaller bands and labels. With the advantage of portability and storage the humble tape is also growing in popularity as the wait to press vinyl becomes longer.Label’s such as Canberra’s Moontown Records and Geelong’s Anti-Fade are two examples of small indie labels releasing and distributing quality music from the likes of California Girls, 100% and Ausmuteants.Micro Stores
While these falls into the traditional ‘bricks and mortar’ style of music distribution, the emergence of micro stores—small genre specific stores that often operate with limited hours—have become a cheap and ef fective way to get music to the wider world. Melbourne’s Lulu’s, Strangeworlds and AG Picks, and Brisbane’s NGM Records are examples of micro stores that know their shit when it comes to quality music.This article is presented in partnership with JD Future Legends.Drink Responsibly.
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Attracting over 175 million unique visitors per month, SoundCloud remains the don of audio distribution platforms and it’s pretty easy to see why. It’s free, easy to use and everyone has it bookmarked. If you are a musician and you are not using SoundCloud there is something seriously wrong. It’s not a go-to option. It’s not an option. You have to be on Soundcloud.YouTube
Bands and labels are increasingly using YouTube to share music without actually posting videos. Of course it helps if it comes with a snazzy looking video but the usability and search engine of YouTube means an album or song can be easily uploaded with a simple graphic and people can listen. Between its ease of use and insightful measurement tools, as well as MP3 downloading programs (such as Anything2mp3.com), YouTube makes it easier for fans to listen to and download music.From Bedroom to Living Room
An initiative of Melbourne musician Matt Walters, Parlour is a platform that connects musicians with hosts willing to share their lounge, patios or backyards for gigs. After a few dozen shows that have included performances from Jess Riberio, Grand Salvo, Brendan Welch, Oh Mercy and Dan Kelly, Parlour is proving popular for punters and musicians looking for an intimate and unique experience.
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While everyone is losing it over the vinyl revival, another analog format—the audio cassette—is becoming popular with smaller bands and labels. With the advantage of portability and storage the humble tape is also growing in popularity as the wait to press vinyl becomes longer.Label’s such as Canberra’s Moontown Records and Geelong’s Anti-Fade are two examples of small indie labels releasing and distributing quality music from the likes of California Girls, 100% and Ausmuteants.Micro Stores
While these falls into the traditional ‘bricks and mortar’ style of music distribution, the emergence of micro stores—small genre specific stores that often operate with limited hours—have become a cheap and ef fective way to get music to the wider world. Melbourne’s Lulu’s, Strangeworlds and AG Picks, and Brisbane’s NGM Records are examples of micro stores that know their shit when it comes to quality music.This article is presented in partnership with JD Future Legends.Drink Responsibly.