At their developers conference last week, Google announced the launch of their new streaming music service, Google Play Music All Access. Google’s streaming service will allow you to make playlists, listen to custom Internet radio stations and easily share music with friends. Google’s music streaming service costs about $10 per month, although currently they are offering the first 30 days for free. This is a big move for Google, but will it pay off? (more…)
TakeLessons Blog
Archives
Archive for the ‘Music Industry’ Category
Infographic: What Makes 54% of us Buy New Music?
Wednesday, May 15th, 2013According to the 2013 Music Industry Report, music sales were up in 2012 for the first time since 1999. Could this be due to the fact that there are now more ways to find new music than ever? The Internet has opened up many avenues for how to find new music, from thousands of music blogs to streaming services like Spotify and recommendation apps like Twitter’s #music.
Surprisingly, a recent survey found that 54% of people are likely to buy music because of a recommendation from a friend, a much higher percentage than those who will buy based on a blog or YouTube video. It seems that even as the Internet creates more spaces to find new music, social connections and trusted friends continue to have a big impact on actual purchases. Learn more about the survey’s findings in this infographic via Hypebot: (more…)
Teacher Spotlight: Buying Socks For The King Of Pop
Friday, May 10th, 2013
Dreaming of a career in the music industry? Whether you’re interested in recording, performing, promoting, or some other career path, it’s often all about your network – which sometimes means taking odd jobs along the way, just for the experience. Read on for Winston Salem guitar teacher Rob D.‘s story…
I would guess that most people who graduate from college with a music degree have an image in the back of their mind. They may see themselves on stage, singing in front of thousands of people. Or maybe they imagine writing that hit song that gets on the radio, or working on those hit songs in the studio with some of the world’s biggest artists.
In my case, one of these aspirations actually came true, but not nearly in the way I had imagined it would. Right after college, I moved to Los Angeles and started looking for my first job in a recording studio. Since I was one of the few people knocking on the door with a degree in music production and engineering, I had no problem landing a position at one of the major studios in Hollywood.
How Batman can help your Band get more Facebook Fans
Wednesday, May 8th, 2013Do you ever feel like your Facebook posts are falling into a vacuum? As an independent musician, you want to make sure that you’re really reaching your audience. Facebook can be a great tool if you understand how to use it to your full advantage. Many popular artists find new fans and sell more albums every day because they have a great Facebook presence and legions of fans eager to see more pictures, videos and concert dates. So what can you do to make your Facebook posts more visible?
Would You Buy a Used MP3?
Monday, April 29th, 2013
I love the thrill of a good used record store run. Flipping through crates of CDs and old vinyl to find hidden gems is like going on a musical archaeological dig. Although I tend to buy more music online these days for convenience, I will always love the surprise finds that come from visiting a used record store. From coveted albums to hilarious oddities, used record stores hold a special place in my heart. But when I heard on NPR that a company called ReDigi can help you buy and sell used MP3s online, I had to learn more.
ReDigi’s business model is currently the subject of copyright law debate. The company buys old MP3s, which shoppers can search through and purchase. They claim that their service does not violate any copyright law because their technology ensures that users who sell MP3s are not harboring any more copies of the file on any Internet-connected devices. ReDigi states that their service does not violate copyright law due to something called “first sale” doctrine. Basically, any copyrighted material that you buy can be resold or given away after you’ve purchased it, without the permission of the copyright holder.
