Ites,
this should start no flamewar, no dissing thread, generally no fookery. So if this thread evolves in that direction it is your decision
What is this guy talking about again? I can tell you: I recognized that more and more tunes that are uploaded to RDW are for streaming only -> no download.
I recognized this while selecting tracks for RDW-Artists-Only-Raddiosession at RDW-Radio, where I select the music I like most on RDW. Unfortunately the majority of artists I would select tunes from have nearly all their songs not available for download. I REALLY have no time to write to each and every artist for permission, as making radio is not my mainjob as you might know. Yeah, will cost you some promo I think, as many people do not have time and nerves to ask several artists for tracks to submit.
I ask myself what has happened to the generosity amongst the former Versionists that are now Reggaebud... ahemm.. ReggaeDubwisers. As I see it, there's not really money rto be made with Reggae. Ok, the big ones sell thru the majorlabels and I'll not deny that there are some likkle artists also making cash from their music. But from what i got to know, the only way to make money with Reggae this times (if your last name is not Marley, Kalonji, Banton etc.) is to play livegigs.
Is it the money that keeps you from freely sharing your tunes? You think you get rich, wealthy or anything from your music? Hmm, fine, but in most cases I think a few spliffs fewer would bring things back into perspective *LOL*
What can it else be, that keeps you from allowing people to download your stuff? As you may know, ech of my currently uploaded 79 tunes is free. You can even get a 320kpbs version if you mail me, that the 128kbps is not sufficient. Ok, some of you (and I know some of dem very well ) will say, that my stuff is not good at all and so I can freely give it away. Listen up: I eared stuff on this site that was not as good mixed and mastered as my stuff and lacked anything in terms of composition/ arranging. Stiil it was for streaming only. I dont get this.

Oh yeah, I know, some of you (and I know dem very well ) will have their blood boiling now for several reasons. But, cool down. This is just a discussion thread, and I wanna read your opinion instead of curses.

So what is keeping you from making tunes downloadable? And if you make your tunes downloadable, what is your reason.

Let's keep this some kind of nice!

Sonny

[idread]

I`m about to start a 2hour stream of RDW tracks and have the same ptoblem as yourself...Tracks on this site that i would love to play but are for listen only so cant be done....would there be a way of having a download section for Radio/DJ`s so not freely given to all but for promote...?????

I've spent the best part of 4 weeks contacting many artist's here on RDW to gain permission to air their works on our internet station ,most have been very positive and chuffed that someone took the time to communicate with them ,a few sent sent tunes (from Indie Labels) that heard about us via other sites or word of mouth .
I must say that I have not approached any artist who's works are here as streaming only,I would think that a percentage of these artist's who stream only (including us with the sho be do be tune) do so to acess opinion ,to see how many hit's have occured ,because the streaming only tunes may be earmarked for 'release' as digital downloads or even on Vinyl ,a kind of digital dubplate for streaming only.
The majority of artist's here on RDW who make their music available as free download IMHO are as good and creative as any of the ''heavyweights'' we all play from our collections at home ,I would say charge something for this music ,even 20p per tune ,an albums worth for 2 pounds ,but everybody has to do it together ,the music IS that good and that's what has inspired me and the team at Springline to do this station for the Uprising because many of the artist's who put music up on here could well be the next 'Heavy weights' for the next generation of kids who discover the reggae vibe. Forward march.

[Meef Chaloin]

havent tried it here but i can get most content from most sites if i need to

[Debstar]

As an experiment I actually tried to put one of me and Brads tunes for sale and then didn't make it downloadable.. To be honest, I think it turned more people away from it. Infact I think I may not have even got any reviews on it either.. hahah
But I haven't noticed this problem with many of the people I listen to and have been downloading tunes.

Excellent thread here !
I've done several shows for SHOWCASE FM, and there are a few artists, especially vocalists, that I would've loved to have given airplay, but...The hard truth is, it's their loss more than mine. Every artist here should have at least one donwloadable song, imho.
On a positive note, there are nuff amazing downloadable tracks available here and I usually have no problem making a playlist, especially since the site is growing by the day.
More artists = more selections.

Here on RDW, I've only posted 5 tunes, but 4 are downloadable. The reason one isn't, is because it's more of a "cover" song, so I didn't want trouble later on.
I decided to allow downloads because it's easier to be heard and distributed as an indie artist. I've come to the conclusion that I'd rather have people actually playing my music for their friends that they were able to download, than try to protect songs that arent selling anyway - that seems counter-productive to me.

[el bib]

well steve its a double edged sword.if you dont allow peopl to download your tunes ,then you dont spread your vibes as much.i have been offered quite a few dj gigs in europe ,getting my flights paid etc,im sure i wouldnt have got this interest if i hadnt let people download my stuff.yet,i live on about 70 pounds a week,and have to make a livin,as i have no other income at the moment.ironically,im having to join the prs so i can recieve payment for a non reggae tune that i liscensed to a company that does music for tv and film,it will cost me over a hundred quid to join the prs for a payment of about 200 quid.ive released a couple of things on small labels and recieved bugger all payment anyway.i liscensed the dub vizier track to alextronic records and still havent recieved a penny.i regret doing so as it has proved to be a very popular tune,has about 600 odd hits on this site alone.i now wished id sold it as download,rather than let the label make money from it.the track seems to be one of the most popular tracks on the comp cd,with very good reviews in the press.maybe ill chase the fooker up and demand a couple of hundred quid of him.as for the springline ting,i was under the impression that a tune i did with steve steppa was going to be released as a vinyl single,i am now told that it isnt going to be released,as they have no money and are concentrating on the radio thing.i must admit to being a little dissapointed as i put a lot of work into the mixes i gave them ,as i thought it was going to be released,gibbsy has asked me if its ok to put it up as a free download as its gathering dust.but due to amount of work put into it,yes work,bloody hard work ,no way hose.im not having it and may use the tune inna different context.gibbsy has explained his financial position,and im cool with that,but i wish it had been made clear to me that it wasnt going out on vinyl,then i wouldnt have bothered.i was under the impression that the release had been put back to next year.all the matey stuff is great,but people need to make their intentions clear.ive got nuff tunes up for download anyway.ive talked to zach jackson in depth about this,i was complaining that i wanted to put his tunes on my radio player but as he just puts up snippets ,their not going on the playlist,then again i respect his opinion as his work is of a very high quality and will eventually go out on cd,one of my riddims included.nobodys gonna buy it if they have the tunes allready.as i say ,its a double edged sword.up to the artists really.

John ,washing laundry in public is no way forward ,but seeing as you've bought the subject up again,in public...When you remixed Steves "following dub" which by the way was not specifically written for us ,is was a tune you and Steve collaborated on and was infact on Steves myspace page months before we even linked up with him ,we paid steve for this tune for permission to put it on a vinyl release that we had in mind,and if you recall (Steve will confirm) i did offer a small payment to you at that time through Steve(over 6 months ago i think) and no return comms regarding this came my way ,we had the intention of releasing a vinyl ten at that time ,but sometimes circumstances change which are out of one's control and projects have to be changed or completely shelved ,it's very unfortunate but intentions were clear John at that time. I also recently communicated to you via pesonal message here on this site offering you a very generous £50 as a gesture for the remix dub of the "following dub' tune which is renamed "Narrow rd" along with an explanation of why the project was shelved ,and may i also add that i think i've been very open and curteous in taking the time (6 months after the event) to again communicate with you regarding this, after all as many people have pointed out that some Indie labels and outfits just take your tunes and you never see or hear from them again ,you yourself have indicated this in your above thread. Everybody who Springline Jamaica has dealt with regarding giving us music to air as 'specials' for us or for intended original project release has been paid monies for this permission ,except one who did not want any payment and that's the artist Chalwa. Hugo Wolf as many will know 'donates' his riddim tracks to artist's for voicing works ,he did for us also never asking for payment although this was offered when I linked up with him.We've been more than happy ,delighted in fact to air your tunes on our internet station which recieves hundreds of launches each week because due to my research months leading up to launching the station it has become clear that people out there are interested in brand new reggae works and want to hear it ,It's the way though that these works presented to the public that needs to be addressed IMHO and I still say that by giving away one's works via free downloads is just feeding the "there's no money in reggae" mentality but i fear the cement has set dry on this now ,,So ,publicity and promotion it is then ,,enjoy the fact that people are tuning into you (and not only on our humble station) and your name and your works are being publicised,we're trying to help mate not make enemy's. I'm sorry John ,this is not the way to do business my friend ,but i won't have my name or Springline Jamaica's used as a springboard for public washing duties (as Indicated by your statement in your thread above.)
You have a lot of good freinds and spars here on RDW by all accounts and the last thing i want to do is upset your freinds and the good vibe of this website which is doing a great service to you all.
.. You've been offered 50 quid (twice),take it.
We're more than happy to continue to promote unsigned artist's on our stations and websites ,because we actually (me especially) really enjoy it and feel it needs to be heard ,to be taken notice of. But, taking this into account it may be best for us (Springline)to finish our stay here on RDW so the Apple cart is'nt upset.
Forward march ,your music is superb John as is the vast majority of artist's here on RDW.

Originally Posted by Springline Jamaica

I still say that by giving away one's works via free downloads is just feeding the "there's no money in reggae" mentality

So I am taking the bread off the tables of poor likkle Reggae Artists by giving my stuff away for free? Do you think it is that simple? Listen up: If you go to Soundclick.com for example, you'll see, that many people from many genres give away their music for free. It is by far not a Reggaething.
In my opinion making money from music copies was ONLY possible in analogue times where a lot of money was neccessary to produce a recording.
I worked for quite a lot of years as a studio musician and audioengineer for the Teldec Studios in Berlin. And I know the difference between making a pro audiotrack back then and now. I would say the difference is about a few thousand dollars.
Also the products couldn't be copied with ease back then. Haha, I remember the rather lousy sound of cassette tape copies I did from records. It was cool to have the original album, because the sound was not just recognizable better.
Nowadays this all has changed and one would be (again in my opinion) a total moron to not recognize it and act according to the changes.
Friends, it is not the genre that determines if "money can be made with music". It is the scale you do the stuff at. The only reason why Sony, TimeWarner etc. pp. still make any money with music is simple: MASS! None of us likkle musicians, producers, dreamers, netlabels has the DISTRIBUTION POWER of the majors, none of us has the ADVERTISING POWER. What we do not have is facilities all over the world. What we don't have is sh*tloads of cash to invest into advertising, promotion AND production. As a good ole pal named Nu Ras would say: Different level.
We cannot play at the level, the majors play at, because we will never have the cash. How hard we may work.
I see no real way in making money with music, unless you sell yourself and your soul to a major label. They are the only folks who make SERIOUS cash. But they sh*t on art! That's a fact. So either you move away from art to make cash or you are an artist and have to make cash another way.
Trust me: I'm not comfortable at all with the fact that I put most of my time in a lousy dayjob, having little time to do art. But that's the way it goes in Babylon. And never forget: MONEY IS THE ROOT OF BABYLON! It will eat your soul, if you pay too much attention to it.

In the end: I give away my stuff for free, because the only other way would be to sell my soul to Mammon. And that's not on my agenda at all! Fight Babylon, fight Mammon!

Still I will not deny, that even I as an anticapitalist make some cash with music. Recently I did some stuff for tv-advertising and a documentary film. Brought some Euros home. But I would never dream of living off my music... and if I could, I'm quite sure this dream becomes a nightmare.