AT&T Selling Indie Music!

Breaking news folks. eMusic has partnered with AT&T to sell their music through your cell phones. eMusic deals specifically with indie musicians, so this gives all of us a chance to be heard. It looks like the tracks will cost a bit more if bought by phone than on a traditional computer because the file transfer is more expensive over cell phones.

This is making the game much more competitive, as eMusic is the 2nd most used download service behind Apple iTunes.

To read the full story please check out: Indie labels to gain mobile sales spin from AT&T.

How Can You Capitalize on the Time Users Spend On Social Networks, Especially Myspace

Got some good information for you all today! Especially those of you who are marketing your music, products, etc online. People are sending a lot of time at social network sites like myspace, Facebook, etc. What this research shows you is that Myspace is still king and Facebook is running away in 2nd. With all the new sites that are popping up to get your attention, these 2 still need to be your main focus.

Here's the chart:

*The firm measured what it calls "attention" (defined as the percentage of all time spent online that is devoted to one site), and attention for MySpace jumped 20% in June 2007 from the previous month.

This is telling us that we are spending more and more time glued into myspace, which gives a higher percentage for a potential fan to see your page and hear your music which leads to more sales. Now if only you could be on that right page at the right time...............

For the full article check out eMarketer.

It's going to be a very busy week for us at Rollett Marketing as we are blowing through all of our packages to accommodate for these numbers.


Myspace is and will continue to be a haven for musicians to sell, promote and market their music to their target audience. So get out there and start making your marketing count.

Look for Rollett Marketing's "Top 5 Myspace Marketing Tips" this afternoon to jump start your promotions today!

-g-ro

Hip-Hop 4 Hunger is this Thursday, August 2nd at AKA Lounge. Be prepared for an event that will shape the way our community thinks and way they 'rock they hunger'!

Rely Only on a Myspace Account? Facebook migt be the New Music Marketing Tool!

I will be the first to admit that I'm not totally a Facebook fan! I have been a loyal Myspace user for almost 3 years, well before it went mainstream. I consider myself pretty well versed in Myspace, as I am currently writing a book on the subject titled "Myspace Band Fund" (due sometime in late August).

But.......

In my few short weeks as an Internet Marketing Rep at a major corporation, I have been researching all forms of Social Networking and Facebook is everywhere. I just built my profile and it is still a little shaky, but nonetheless it has proven to be much more organized and has so much potential for musicians. With the implement of their new open platform and applications, Facebook might need to be on your hot list of places to promote your music online.

Here are some recent stats that Facebook has just released:

• More than half of Facebook users are not currently enrolled in a university or college.
• The fastest-growing demographic is the 25+ age group.
• Facebook is the sixth-most trafficked site in the United States.
• Users spend an average of 20 minutes on the site daily.
• The site is the No. 1 photo-sharing application on the web.
• Photo application draws more than twice as much traffic as the next three sites combined.
• Canada, with more than 3 million active users, has the most users outside of the US.
• The UK has the third-largest user-base, with more than 2 million active users.
• Over 1,800 applications have been built on the Facebook Platform.
• More than 75 percent of Facebook users have used at least one Facebook application.

For the full story on the stats head over to Facebook.

I'll be giving my best tips and new applications as soon as they are credible and worthwhile to your music marketing needs!

Exclusive Interview with Pittsburgh DIY Hip-Hop Group Grand Buffet

I recently had the honor of chatting with one of the members of one of my favorite indie hip-hop groups, Grand Buffet from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Jarrod Weeks, aka Lord Grunge hit me back with an insight to the behind the scenes promotion madness of this Fighting Records group.

Riding off the success of two Fighting Releases The Haunted Fucking Gazebo and Five Years of Fireworks these 2 are making their way to the Backbooth in Orlando, FL as part of Florida promotional leg. Make it out to the Backbooth this Saturday July 28th. Doors are early at 8pm, and you do not wan to miss this show!

For more information on Grand Buffet and to check out tour dates and all that good stuff visit GrandBuffet.com or the grand Buffet Myspace Page.

Without further delay check out what Grunge had to say about Myspace, YouTube, 1-800-Flowers.com and how we still need physical products and record stores.

G-Ro-Does Grand Buffet have a plan online? Or does your label, Fighting Records handle most of your online planning/organization?

Grunge-We’re working on an online store. We had one going for a grip, but we’re going to come correct with a new one before the next tour. Fighting definitely does a good job of selling merch online, though, and it’s cool to be able to just link to that.

G-Ro-I have been in touch with you guys through myspace, so obviously you guys read your messages and reply and all that good stuff. What does having that connection with fans, other artists, venues, etc create for you as a group?

Grunge-Myspace is a double-edged sword. I mean, myspace is cool, but it seems to me that a few dickheads fuck it up for everyone else. Kind of like America, na mean? Naw, scratch that. Myspace isn’t nearly as cool as America. But they do share that trait, a few miserable pieces of shit make it suck for everyone else. Except, in America, the people that fuck it up for everyone have to devote years of their life to studying in Secret Societies, mastering numerous arts of deception, reading Karl Marx, and/or working Government jobs whereas on myspace any piece of shit with access to the internet can start fucking everything up.

G-Ro-Do you utilize other websites outside of myspace that have greatly made a difference in your career?

Grunge-Orbitz is cool for this travel shit, 1800flowers is also hot, when I’m trying to lasso this romance from this pussy. I’ve also got to say that the Cato Institute’s website is outta sight, I ought to read it every morning.

G-Ro-King Vision will be dropping in the fall, is there a goal for the cd? Obviously, you guys will hit the road but is there anything special you have going off for this album? Bonus download tracks, video, contests, etc?

Grunge-It’s hard to say. Maybe if the label comes up with some idea, they might set it up. But I’m going to guess that no, there probably won’t be anything like that. I’ve never been into the concept of trying to trick people into liking our shit. Which is not to say that all forms of marketing are trickery. But fuck that shit.
Come to think of it, I can’t front. I tried some shit like that once, like ten years ago. I offered to buy dinner for anyone and everyone who bought our CD in Pittsburgh. It didn’t pop off well. Lesson learned.

G-Ro-What is your view of digital downloads? Do you take advantage of it? If so what outlets are you using-iTunes, SnoCap, etc? If not, is there a reason?

Grunge-I’m not against any of that shit. BUT, I am against the concept of NOT BEING ABLE TO PAY CASH FOR MUSIC..

Naw, fuck this. This is some loaded shit, I’m starting to bug out over it. Sorry. If anyone wants to build on the dangers of a cashless society more, email me. lordgrunge@grandbuffet.com

Bottom line, I buy a shit-ton of music, it’s pretty much all I buy, and the thought of not being able to roll into a store and just pay cash for that shit is some cock. I’m talking like, if there were NO MORE stores that sold these CDs and vinyl, you HAD to do itunes or something. I wouldn’t be down. As long as I’ve got the option, I’m straight.

As far as downloads, I don’t mind people downloading our shit. If they like it and can support in some other way, that's cool. No sweat. If not, no sweat.

Since you asked, though, I think it has contributed to the overwhelmingly smug, scumbag air of entitlement that everyone under the age of 30 has today. When you think about it, it’s by and large all mother fuckers who can afford to own computers, pay for internet access, buy iPods – basically people who can afford to actually PAY for the shit. They’re the cats who are scheming on it. the truly poor people still have to shell out dough for bootlegs on CD-Rs and tapes. So this whole generation of wannabe egalitarian, mealy-mouthed assholes who think that paying for music is passé can suck my dirty dick. And of course, the real blame lies with their parents, right? Right?

G-Ro-Your view on podcasts, internet radio, etc? Has it made any impact? Do you think it will, if it hasn’t?

Grunge-I think that shit’s all good. I fully support anything that circumvents the FCC. I had a podcast going on Liberated Syndication (pittsburgh-based company, good folks) but I fell off. I'll get it going again this fall, though. Lordgrunge.com is where it's at.

G-Ro-You guys are in the middle of a Florida leg of shows, how do you handle promotion of those shows personally? Do you hit the myspace, email lists, etc or take another approach?

Grunge-Definitely, we hit up these myspace bulletins. Our email list got the shits from Outlook Express. Fuck that software, it broke my brain. Years of hard work down the shitter.

G-Ro-What are some advantages Grand Buffet has had for being a mostly DIY indie?

Grunge-We get to scream DIY TILL DEATH all goddamned day and hold it over the heads of other artists who have better careers.

G-Ro-How do the two of you split duties returning emails, comments, etc? Is there one of you who handles that aspect better than the other or is it a balance and first comes first answers?

Grunge-I normally do the business stuff for the band, and I suppose internet duties fall under that umbrella in my mind. Jackson’s got his own, separate myspace page, for solo shit, and HE LOVES IT. He really takes it to that place that most myspace fans only dream of. Comments on your birthday, long, spell-checked responses to messages, blogs out the ass – some real Billy Corgan shit. I’d let him handle all the online stuff, but he’d get first crack and scam on all this myspace pussy. I can’t have that, now can I?

G-Ro-Lastly, the whole youtube thing. What can we find on Grand Buffet in youtube land and videos in general?

Grunge-A bunch of bullshit that might’ve been funny if you’d actually seen it at a show but is really unfunny and boring when you watch it on Youtube.

Thanks Grunge, through your humor and words you gave a great picture of the indie scene and the progression of online marketing and promotion.

Indie bands and artists, here’s what you can take from this interview:

-Microsoft Outlook=bad for mailing lists. G-Ro’s suggestion is to use an outside source such as FanBridge.com. You can see their interface on this blog in the top right corner (and you can sign-up to my list while your at it). Tell them Greg from Rollett Marketing sent you and you will get some extra free stuff.

-Downloads are good for exposure but they still can’t replace getting the cd/record in person. I’ve gotten this from every hip-hop artist I have talked to so far. Keep that in mind when you are thinking of digital only albums!

-Podcasts are becoming more and more popular and you might want to think of starting a weekly or even bi-weekly Podcast on your website. Hold interviews with your fans, other artists or just talk about your week in the band, etc and play some of your new tracks or rare music.

-Let your music do the talking! You can have all the gimmicks in the world to sell your music, but if your music is garbage no one will want the extras to go along with it. I’m personally a big fan of extras, bonuses and deals, but I always make sure my main focus is on the center project that is being sold/pushed. It has to be solid before the bonus, otherwise start selling your bonuses!

-Grand Buffet will be f’in awesome live! If you can’t tell from this interview then get out of the studio and off the computer and see a show with dedicated artists who are making DIY work! Go to Backbooth.com for more info on the show!

-Hip-Hop 4 Hunger is next Thursday-get your tickets now to see the AB’s, X-144 and SPS, Caveman Theory, Greyscalemusic and Minstrel’s Company live while becoming aware of the problems in our community and contribute to the changes to make it better.

-g-ro

Your source for online music marketing and promotion for bands, musicians and artists

INDISTR- A New Independent Distribution Service Allows Musicians and Bands To Sell Their Music Through PayPal

INDISTR is a great new site gaining some steam with indie musicians. If you are looking to quickly upload your tracks and have them available for download as either individual tracks or as an online album, they can do it for you. The best part about INDISTR is that there is NO set-up cost! Just create your profile, start uploading and start selling.

Some quick facts about INDISTR

-Songs need to be in MP3 format
-Artists keep 75% of the sale
-The money goes directly and instantly to your PayPal account
-Set your own prices for digital albums (100 songs for $5, sure or 5 songs for $100, no problem
-Individual tracks are $1.00 (sorry no negotiating on this one)
-Your agreement is non-exclusive (means you can still use iTunes, etc)
-You can create your own INDISTR page that fans can come to and buy your music
-You can place a link on your outside site (myspace, facebook, blog, etc)to the INDISTR page
-At the moment they do not have a widget in place where you can buy music directly from your myspace, blog, etc but I have messaged them about this and hopefully they will soon as that seems to be a huge selling point to musicians!

Here's their sign-up process directly from INDISTR: "Signing up with us is easy – honestly, it really is. Simply click the ‘Login/Sign-up’ link in the top navigation menu. You’ll need to first fill out a general account form, and then you’ll be given the option to become a seller. Simply agree to our terms, tell us a bit about your band, upload an artist photo, give us your PayPal address so we can pay you, and start uploading music! You could be signed-up and have a whole album's worth of music for sale in about 15 minutes."


That's the jist of it. I have already started making a profile and will be uploading songs tonight. As I move along in the process I will be sure to give everyone updates as to the usability of the site. Hopefully a lot of bands will take advantage of sites like this and create special online only albums and make some quick money!

Please post your comments on this site and let me know when you find others like it. Also if you are using it, let us know how the pay is working and also how well they track stats.

As more and more options become available to musicians I want everyone to know what's out there and give them the best possible information so they can make the best decision for their music career.

-g-ro

FloTones-Musicians Sell Your Music and Backgrounds to Mobile Phone Users

This is an amazing tool for musicians. I put together a quick profile in minutes and am in the process of getting the user agreement signed and all that good stuff. From what I can tell, this is a totally legit way for mobile device users to get your music as ringtones and use images as wallpaper. Visit Flotones.com and set up an artist profile. Once there you can upload your files or specify where they can be found on the web. Flotones takes about a 50% cut, but 50% is better than not having your ringtones available. There is NO set-up cost, which is great and you can also set up an affiliate program so your fans can sell your ringtones and make decent profit from it.

Once you have everything ready to go, flotones allows you to have an artist page, much like any other profile page you have everywhere on the net. But what is very beneficial is the ability to put html code into your outside pages (myspace, facebook, blog, etc) and sell your ringtones direct from those pages.

It looks like FloTones has a great thing going, one I am sure to put to the test in the coming weeks. Check back for a full review soon, but in the meantime I advise you to get your music uploaded and start making some easy cash. The number of mobile users is huge and increasing everyday! Have great night!

Once again the link is FloTones

-g-ro

Hip-Hop 4 Hunger Hits Orlando August 2nd at the AKA Lounge with The AB's, X-144 and SPS, Greyscalemusic, Caveman Theory and Minstrel's Company

Join Endagon Entertainment, Rock for Hunger and G-Ro as they present the biggest hip-hop event to hit Orlando this year! Hip-Hop 4 Hunger is a charity concert that will benefit the 2nd Harvest Food Bank and the Monday night feedings at the Post Office in Downtown Orlando. The goal of this event is to provide awareness and access to our community.

Hip-Hop4 Hunger will take place August 2nd at AkA Lounge on Pine Street in Downtown Orlando, Florida.

This event will draw upwards of 300 socially aware urban cultured individuals that want to play a part in our community. We interest these people with music and a message. If you would like to sponsor this event please contact Rock For Hunger.

The line-up for this event is as follows:

9pm Doors and Rock for Hunger Slide Show and Video
930 pm-Minstrels Company hits the stage
10:20-Caveman Theory
11:00-X-144 and SPS
12-Headliners the AB's (formerly known as Asamov) rock AKA Lounge
1:15-Greyscalemusic closes the night out

In between sets and bands you will be treated to the best in local and indie hip-hop with DJ's Dolo and SPS with your host G-Ro from Rollett Marketing and Rock For Hunger. There will be prizes, giveaways and live tapings for knowledge of our community, poverty and your awareness.

You can buy advance tickets by clicking the flyer below for only $7.00. All bands also have tickets available for you! Please help support a great cause and let's sell out the AKA Lounge for a great music and an even greater cause!

-g-ro

Exclusive Interview With Swamburger from Epitaph/Anti artists Sol.Illaquists of Sound

I recently had the opportunity to speak with Swamburger from Sol.Illaquists of Sound at his shop the Culture Mart of Magnolia Downtown Orlando, Florida. I also had the pleasure of being at their sold out concert at the Social in downtown Orlando Saturday night. Swam is a man of many words and has done great things for his band and this community. He has been a part of our skate, hip-hop and art scenes in Orlando and has been a big reason for our growth and development. We had a great discussion on our community, Rock For Hunger, the impact of his music and art and where he sees our community now and where he thinks its going and what it needs to survive and become the city we all know it can.

Musicians of all kinds should take notes of what he has to say. Sol.Illaquists of Sound has toured the country numerous times and continues to build and amazing reputation from their live show to their marketing to their message. Please take a watch and be sure to catch S.o.S. in a city near you real soon!

Be sure to hit up the Sol.Illaquists of Sound myspace page and say what up and keep up to date on what they are doing.

Also check out Rock For Hunger for updates on all of our shows, events and news on our 2nd Annual Rock For Hunger Festival November 9-11th at the Backbooth. Be ready for Hip-Hop 4 Hunger presented by G-RO next Thursday Aug. 2nd with the AB's (formerly Asamov) at the AKA Lounge. Get advance tix at the top of this page!

How does your Merch Booth Do? Need Some Tips....

Over the past few weeks Endagon Entertainment has really taken off. We have be hosting local shows tours and events in the Central Florida area and have trying not to take a day off, even though I could really use one. But as a show promoter and marketer, I have been noticing the bands and their actions on promoting and making sales. One thing that has really irked me is how they handle merch and their fans, new, old and potential.

I’ll get specific. We hosted a Rock For Hunger show in Lakeland a few weeks back and had 3 locals play along with a touring band from Texas. The merch area was as followed:

Rock For Hunger: Full set-up including T-Shirts, buttons, informational flyers and brochures, plus a laptop running a slide show.

3 local bands: Two had cd’s, almost hidden from plain site and one band didn’t bother to bring anything at all

Texas band: Full merchandise set-up complete with cd’s, t-shirts, hats and stickers all set-up in a great display with t-shirt rack, cd holders, etc.

The end result: The local bands made no money and the touring band banked with the local community’s dollars. So I thought I’d post a few quick tips to help some bands get it right!

1. Location of merch booth/table. Make sure you are visible to all the fans that want to come and see you. I know most venues have small or no areas to set-up but make sure your table is accessible at all times.

2. Make it presentable. When you go into a store all the clothing, music, video games are neatly organized and in displays where people can see them. Having shirts hidden from view do you no good. I love that a great number of bands are getting their shirts up in the air whether on a hanger, taped to the wall or on a fence like mechanism. CD’s should just lie on a table. Make them stand out. Create a poster or banner with the CD artwork on it, etc. Your merchandise is your business, so treat it that way!

3. E-Mail lists: Why don’t more bands take advantage of this FREE resource? Get out a page of paper and have everyone in the venue sign-up. We have had great success in walking through the crowd with our list and talking/interacting with them. Some people are just plain lazy and won’t walk over to your table/booth so go and get them! Everyone can write down an email address and it won’t cost them a penny. This is invaluable information for future marketing that will sure be a frequent topic for me and the blog.

4. Lighting: Make sure your merch is in some kind of light. Go to Wal-Mart and pick up a cheap desk lamp that can bend and twist and use it in dark venues.

5. Keep yourself organized: Goes without explanation.

6. Create deals and packages: The old adage of the 2-for-1 or buy this and get this free! It does work; just make it worthwhile to your customer/fan.

7. One great thing that Chris and I have seen is non-tangible merch items. “CD’s $5.00……Hugs are FREE! Or $5/kiss or something silly but entertaining will get your fans talking about your band.

8. Have variety. I know bands are broke but have more than a paper sleeved cd. Stickers and buttons are great and cheap.

9. Have someone working your merch booth. Quick example: We had a big show we were promoting and I was working our merch table. We had a national act set-up to our right. During their set, maybe 10-20 people were asking about cd’s and shirts. I’m a nice guy so I helped out, you might not be so lucky. Have a designated worker and one that is a great talker and salesperson working your merch at all times. Better yet, give them a commission or drink tickets based on the amount of merch they sell. Make it fun and entertaining, they are sacrificing standing in the front row to stand at a table!

That’s it for today folks. Get ready for Bedlight for Blue Eyes and Swamburger exclusive interviews to be posted asap!


www.rollettmarketing.com coming August 2007-the new name for Internet Marketing and Promotion made specifically for bands/artists/musicians!
www.myspace.com/grobreakn is on right now!

I'm on the 1st Podcast of Verbalize With the Messenger

Check out the full interview here:
Verbalize With the Messenger

I am discussing my history in the music business, how I got started, some of my promotional strategies and other great info. The Messenger is a good friend of mine in the music industry and plays in 2 awesome, inspirational and ground breaking groups: Voice of the People and Semi-Soul.

Have a listen and give both of us some feedback. It's people like Marley who are helping Central Florida have a voice in the music world!

-G-Ro

P.S. I have posted a link to the messegger page in the links section so you can view it for the frequent updates and interviews.

Let's get This One Out of The Way!

So I set up this blog like a week ago now and have yet to post anything except the cd's on the right for you to help out my music career. lol. But seriously, this site is not focused on my music (which is totally awesome and you should 100% pick up a cd or 2 or 3). This blog is to be focused on Internet Marketing as it pertains to music. I will be doing tons of interviews with bands both locally and with national acts to get their insight into what they are doing right, what works, what hasn't, and all that good stuff. There will be a members area where you will be able to access all kinds of goodies including extra tips, bonus interviews, lists, contacts, e-books, how-to instruction videos, exclusive MP3 downloads from myself as well as bands that I interview or have close ties with, and so much more. Please stay tuned, offer your input and look forward to a gamut of things to help improve your online presence through Internet Marketing and Promotion!

I should have video of an interview I did with Swamburger up late tonight or tomorrow. This dude is a local Orlando legend and has already sold out his show Saturday night at the Social with his Anti/Epitaph signed group Sol.Illaquists of Sound.

Have a good one! I'll be at the Haven tonight promoting an Endagon show for Bedlight For Blue Eyes, a touring band with Trustkill Records.