'Meet and Jam' launches, helping musicians everywhere.

It helps musicians find and connect with each other. And, for the first time, they can also book studio time online. 

Musicians can put up profiles, list their influences and instruments, post video and audio, and then connect with each other. 

The video means you can have a good look at other musicians’ level and style before you contact them - saving time and embarrassment in the studio…

The site is for all genres and levels of ability. There are professional drummers on the site, looking for a new band, as well as enthusiastic amateurs looking to play more. There are singer-songwriters, violinists, trombonists, pianists, death metal lead guitarists, rappers… all wanting to meet and jam.

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KBrakes, KBrakes Stop the Drummers Kick Drum from Sliding

Developed for the modern working drummer, KBrakes stop your kick drum from sliding. No matter where you are - on stage, in studio or garage - each anchor features 256 stopping points per side and locks your kick drum firmly in place. Capable of rotating a full 180°, KBrakes lay perfectly flat and can stay attached to your drum while being packed in its case. This unique design fits 99% of modern and vintage drum spurs and is “low profile”, making them blend with the rest of your kit. With a total of 512 stopping points, KBrakes is the most dynamic and powerful kick drum anchor in the world. Visit www.kbrakes.com/backit for more information.

www.kbrakes.com/backit

When Did Independent Musicians Settle For Waiting In Line And Following The Rules?

When did independent musicians settle for waiting in line and following the rules? While it’s important for both organization’s sake and quality’s sake for publications, festivals, radio shows, blogs, record labels, etc to have submission policies, do’s and don’ts, etc, I see a trend of conditioned illusion happening that I’d like to a set of walls placed around otherwise expansive creative musical minds.

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Where most artists mess up when submitting to music blogs

This post actually started as a comment in response to a Music Think Tank post that questioned the value of seeking reviews from music blogs. Their rationale was mainly based on their low results after contacting relevant blogs on Hype Machine. As an independent music promoter and blogger, I’d like to make a few points, and hopefully you find them useful.

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An Indie Musician Wrote This Letter To Club Owners

This letter showed up in my e-mail today, and I thought I’d share it with everybody as I wondered if other indie artists felt the same way he did. I suppose this letter by indie musician Jodie Jones has already started to make its rounds, if it already spread to my e-mail and Facebook.

Spoiler alert: He doesn’t have good things to say about club owners

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One Artist’s Saga of Getting Added to Apple Ping

I have been assisting my good friend, legendary blues harmonica and sax player Jimmy Z, with his online presence and marketing for him and his band, ZTribe. Though he has recorded and toured with Rod Stewart, Eurythmics, Tom Petty, Etta James and others, and has worked in nearly 1000 sessions, he still struggles to make a living as an independent musician. So I help him any way I can. Right now, he has a presence on MySpace, Facebook, Reverbnation, Soundcloud and we’re building our Amazon page as well as a page on the sixtyone.com.

I have worked with Apple and it’s reps over the years and have learned that their only interest is self-interest. So when iTunes Ping was announced last September, I treated it with great suspicion, but also realized that I should get Jimmy on it, because you have to explore every opportunity that seems worthwhile. And having any leverage on iTunes is an opportunity that should not be missed.

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Music Is Not A Competition…

“If I promote other bands, my band won’t be noticed”… It’s not something I hear musicians say a lot but it is certainly often implied. This post is here to kick that way of thinking right in the ball-gina. Musicians, bands: I implore you, help support each other! Stop thinking about your own music as the only music deserving of praise & attention. There is lot’s of cool bands out there, lots of cool artists & many of them work just as hard as you do on your art. Here’s the rub…

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Creativity V Commercialism...

I’m a musician, not an actor… Do I have anything against actors? No… What I do feel passionate about is the abundance of heartless musical garbage that clogs the airwaves. So many people singing songs that have very little substance or meaning, the singers sound like they are not even convincing themselves. & even worse, they aren’t even pretending to try their hand at a bit of originality.

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