So the first round table will take place a couple weeks from now. The topic? I thought it would be fitting to ask this question: how has blogging affected electronic music culture? Simple, but oh so open ended. One commenter had previously suggested that I alert you early to the topic so I could compile questions to bring up during the round table. So here we are – you have the topic, the panelists involved are listed below. Let’s hear what you want to have asked. Leave your questions for the panelists in the comments.
The topic:
How has blogging affected electronic music culture?
The panelists:
Joshua Glazer: Editor of URB Magazine and contributor for the Huffington Post, Glazer has most recently been involved in the revamp of the URB website, which not only features the digital magazine but is heavily influenced by a music-based blog format. In fact, many of the blog contributors for the site not only post news but approved singles and mixes for download.
Josh Ferguson: Nightlife editor for TimeOut Chicago, Creative Director for dialogueinc.com and event promoter, Ferguson has been a staple in championing relatively unknown artists and is a supporter of the way the blog movement has brought them to light. In fact, on the topic of blogs, he recently wrote in TimeOut: “Never before have DJs had such unrestricted access to talented producers and remixers whose work would otherwise never see the light of day.”
Preston Craig: Atlanta native but recent New York transplant Preston Craig was credited with reviving the underground Atlanta club scene. Not only did his blog kissatlanta.com gain incredible popularity (to the point where he was literally a local celebrity), but his events consistently dominated the Atlanta market. How do blogs like kissatlanta.com impact the music market? Says Craig, “I think that [they're] currently turning it upside down; all of the rules have basically been thrown out. You no longer need a massive PR machine or a huge marketing budget. You need good content (music) that you can get into the hands of bloggers.”
Jesse Tittsworth: DC-based, Bmore-loving Tittsworth has gone from a gray market remixer to a globally touring artist with a full length album (“12 Steps” on Plant Music) in just a few short years. In an interview I did with Tittsworth in 2008 he said of blogs, “It’s a huge tool that has changed the way we do business…However, I think with blogs there is also something to be said about quality control, and I think a lot of the music’s historical context gets lost in the rapid pace of blog culture.”
Since waiting in line, buying drinks and paying to get past the door simply sucks, those in the club will have access to perks like free swag, drink tickets, access to members-only contests, mixes, free tracks and first stab at guest lists. Now that's music to anyone's ears.
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So excited!
Panelists: How do you think the availability of music on blogs has affected DJ selections? Namely, do you find it easy to spot DJs whose entire sets consist of blog-downloaded tracks?
Blogs are the new record stores.
I think blogs have helped alot of artists blow up over the last few years, look at Kill The Noise, Le Castle Vania, and The Others from that pairing of indie dance music, with out the blogs, i dont think any of the artists would be as huge as they are at the moment.
hej i think the blogs are the new way of sharing music! so im realy long in the music scene more and more blogs and his owners posts a lot of mp3s dj sets EPs and Vinyls! so i think it will be a new way to publish new productions and music! ok the negative effect is that you can download music for free! but hej when you like it, you will buy it!
Ok thats my opinion!
Greatz from Germany:D (AND SORRY FOR MY BAD ENGLISH!)
Electronic music culture is ultimately about the DJ/artist and their audiences..
(Although there is another facet to this culture..the wannabee DJ who buys records and creates a solo culture in his bedroom, clutching his fistful of downloaded tunes..lol)
I’ve noticed many blogs tend to follow each other, but they are undoubtedly the tastemakers.. The audiences are mainly centred around urban centres and blogs’ readers tend to be mainly DJs.. So to what extent do those audiences {non DJ) participate with blogs… To me what is far more influential on those audiences is the effect of social networking webpages like facebook, where the audience is directed to this or that blog for news about events, clubnights and parties (where all the eventual money generated comes from and oh yes also from your bedroom DJ)… Do you think this is true?
Since your panelists consist of Americans, are there big differences from USA electronic music culture and say different parts of Europe?
Most blogs post mp3s.
Many ask artist permission, or agree to remove upon request.
Some do not.
However, I feel that with such a massive influx of new music from new producers appearing nearly daily, it is something of a catch-22 to be a recording artist, but to not want your tracks available for free online – this is how many become known as an upstart, spreading through the blogosphere.
I realize that some tracks will be released in 128 previews as opposed to 320 mastereds, but still, what do you think of this correlation between free tracks and increased recognition? Especially for “less known” artists…
The whole idea of music being “owned” needs to be re-examined…record companies are trying to re-close the door to this Pandora’s box…