free download vs not?

[krispy]

How do you decide that once you have finished producing a tune whether or not to offer it as a free download?

Obviously both have their advantages and disadvantages. The advantage of not offering the download is that only you have the tune to play out or if it ever gets signed then not a zillion people already have it.

However the advantage to offering it for free is that a ton of people might download it and play it out increasing exposure for yourself.

What do you guys think? How do you decide what to do with a tune once production is complete?

[jrisreal]

idk but I would guess that if you don't have a lot of exposure, offer free downloads often and when you become more well-known, it can be a once-in-a-while thing.

[wub]

Honestly, getting signed has never been something I've been interested in. I'd happily give my tunes away for free if I thought they were good enough and people would actually want to play them, but tbh I make music because I enjoy it. M y day job pays the bills.

[JFK]

I would say offer the finished tune around to labels / well known Dj's first of all (but only if you are REALLY confident that its your best work ever) and if none of them come back to you with any interest after a while then by all means post it on the cloud and offer it as a free D/L.

Ive had two tunes that I have put up as a free d/l straight away only for labels to show interest, and then quickly withdraw that interest when they see that its been a free download for 6 months....... Its a MASSIVE ball ache.

[drake89]

it's not just about exposure and revenue. the new economic musical paradigm is:
1. make album
2. give it away for free
3. tour extensively if it's good
4. make another album
5. charge money for it
6. tour back to the venues where there was the largest turnout
7. !!!
8. PROFIT

[FuzionDubstep]

Both has pro's and cons so none is 'better' for you anyway, of course for the fans they would probably prefer a free download..
but it feels pretty good knowing people are waiting for a release and that they will go to the lengths of ripping clips from soundcloud and uploading to Youtube and then getting thousands of plays on that makes me feel pretty good, but nothing feels better than giving away a free tune and seeing everyone happy and it certainly gets more exposure

[blinx]

Derek from Pretty Lights (prettylightsmusic.com) is my idea of a good idea why you give away free music (or in his case make it donation based but free if you dont wanan donate anyway).

He released two or three albums entirely online for FREE... got a buzz and now is playing all the major music fests in the US.. touring like a beast... playing red rocks and all without a record deal... though now he owns his own record label but the kid just blew himself up on the internet with his free music and it worked out pretty well for him. Still continues to release free music.

Free downloads also alleviate any legal headaches some one may try to bring upon you later on.

[monkfish]

it's not just about exposure and revenue. the new economic musical paradigm is:
1. make album
2. give it away for free
3. tour extensively if it's good
4. make another album
5. charge money for it
6. tour back to the venues where there was the largest turnout
7. !!!
8. PROFIT

Ha, Skrillex much?

[Sharmaji]

music is no longer a commodity; experiences involving music are. For an infintesmally small (and ever-shrinking #), the act of purchasing music is an experience.

For most folks, it's just not. and it's not worth purchasing. as a full-time musician, this is a sad fact, but it just means you need to realign.

give away the music, and use it generate interest in the experiences you create. Pretty Lights has had a HUGE effect on all levels of the industry-- because it's really worked for him. Granted, he makes music that his audience absolutely loves and tells their friends about... not a bad thing.

play shows, create events, build video--all centered around your music--that people care about. sell music to satiate the folks who love your stuff. make all your free things avail on itunes/beatport/etc too-- some folks just find it easier to pay $1 or $2 than to hunt down free stuff. THe glitch mob has been fantastic with this, giving away their white stripes remix but then also pressing 7" versions of it, for folks who love, play, and buy vinyl.

lastly-- free doesn't have to mean FREE. You could, like PL, put up donation buttons. you could use topspin and build a fanbase by asking folks to submit their email addys in order to dl a track. There's lots of ways to do this, to connect directly with your fans and your fans-to-be.

But i think free downloads are a super-important part of the landscape for musicians today. I mean, it hasn't hurt skream in the slightest.

of course, if you're going to give away music, create some music to be sold, and then create live shows, video, etc-- it means you need a LOT of material. being prolific is KEY.

[Teknicyde]

music is no longer a commodity; experiences involving music are. For an infintesmally small (and ever-shrinking #), the act of purchasing music is an experience.

For most folks, it's just not. and it's not worth purchasing. as a full-time musician, this is a sad fact, but it just means you need to realign.

give away the music, and use it generate interest in the experiences you create. Pretty Lights has had a HUGE effect on all levels of the industry-- because it's really worked for him. Granted, he makes music that his audience absolutely loves and tells their friends about... not a bad thing.

play shows, create events, build video--all centered around your music--that people care about. sell music to satiate the folks who love your stuff. make all your free things avail on itunes/beatport/etc too-- some folks just find it easier to pay $1 or $2 than to hunt down free stuff. THe glitch mob has been fantastic with this, giving away their white stripes remix but then also pressing 7" versions of it, for folks who love, play, and buy vinyl.

lastly-- free doesn't have to mean FREE. You could, like PL, put up donation buttons. you could use topspin and build a fanbase by asking folks to submit their email addys in order to dl a track. There's lots of ways to do this, to connect directly with your fans and your fans-to-be.

But i think free downloads are a super-important part of the landscape for musicians today. I mean, it hasn't hurt skream in the slightest.

of course, if you're going to give away music, create some music to be sold, and then create live shows, video, etc-- it means you need a LOT of material. being prolific is KEY.

To all of this, Sharm, your by far the most solid source of wisdom left on the production forum. salute for it.

[3za]

music is no longer a commodity; experiences involving music are. For an infintesmally small (and ever-shrinking #), the act of purchasing music is an experience.

For most folks, it's just not. and it's not worth purchasing. as a full-time musician, this is a sad fact, but it just means you need to realign.

give away the music, and use it generate interest in the experiences you create. Pretty Lights has had a HUGE effect on all levels of the industry-- because it's really worked for him. Granted, he makes music that his audience absolutely loves and tells their friends about... not a bad thing.

play shows, create events, build video--all centered around your music--that people care about. sell music to satiate the folks who love your stuff. make all your free things avail on itunes/beatport/etc too-- some folks just find it easier to pay $1 or $2 than to hunt down free stuff. THe glitch mob has been fantastic with this, giving away their white stripes remix but then also pressing 7" versions of it, for folks who love, play, and buy vinyl.

lastly-- free doesn't have to mean FREE. You could, like PL, put up donation buttons. you could use topspin and build a fanbase by asking folks to submit their email addys in order to dl a track. There's lots of ways to do this, to connect directly with your fans and your fans-to-be.

But i think free downloads are a super-important part of the landscape for musicians today. I mean, it hasn't hurt skream in the slightest.

of course, if you're going to give away music, create some music to be sold, and then create live shows, video, etc-- it means you need a LOT of material. being prolific is KEY.

To all of this, Sharm, your by far the most solid source of wisdom left on the production forum. salute for it.

Second that!!!
(though I don't really come on here for wisdom, I come for the lulz )