Oceanship launches debut album

Oceanship has just released their debut, self titled album. You can hear the album and watch the video for "Hotblack" at their freshly squeezed website, oceanshipmusic.com . If you like what you hear, you can purchase a CD, digital album or individual tracks, directly from the artist. There are even gift certificates available just in time for you last minute shoppers. All powered by Red Velvet of course.

EMI does Indie labels a service

For decades the major labels have operated within a clearly defined ecosystem. You might forgive them if their behavior didn't change immediately as the environment around them made a dramatic shift. Like any species would, their first reaction was to attempt to apply their existing knowledge to an unfamiliar situation. When the old lake dried up, they simply looked for the next biggest watering hole (iTunes, Amazon MP3, MySpace, etc.). They claimed the territory as their own and still attempt to destroy anything they perceive as a threat.

While this is working to a degree, I think we can all agree that there's a little less meat on their bones these days. The label with the most pronounced ribcage would be EMI. Unable to hold their own, they've been chased from the pride and now find themselves in new territory. With the relentless forces of nature at work, we'll soon find out if this castoff has the wits to survive on its own.

EMI has been licking its wounds for a while but the company seems to have regained enough of its bearings to attempt an offensive move. The result being the launch of their new "direct to fan" site, EMI.com (not accessible outside the US and UK). While this is certainly a new behavior for EMI, those of you in the indie space should take it as a good sign. The reason being EMI's new moves are remarkably similar to an indie label's natural behavior. Instead of sitting around like a fat cat with his eyes closed, eating whatever happens to jump into his mouth, EMI is going out on the prowl, observing, trying to understand behaviors and developing new strategies to engage face to face.

EMI's move is a good indicator that the environment is now more supportive of indie-style behavior than the native behaviors of the majors. It tells us that those companies that have struggled to survive on the outskirts for so long should now find the soil they're standing on is suddenly the best in the land. In fact, EMI is helping to fertilize the land all the more by training fans to look for music away from the old familiar spots. If EMI succeeds in re-training their existing fans, those fans will become much more receptive to other independent sources.

The land is ready for the independent community to explode. The herd is dividing and the Majors are no longer able to keep everyone within their hunting grounds. The Indie that recognizes the rules have turned in its favor has the opportunity to get very fat indeed.

Website recommendations

A couple of great sites to check out:

My thanks to Sascha Wilhelm for putting me on to the amazing library of videos at CrazedHits.com . The site contains an impressive collection of videos featuring interviews and presentations from some of the industry's heaviest hitters.

Also to Simon Owen for pointing out a great interview with Terry McBride over at PBS.org/mediashift . Simon also provides a pretty entertaining and informative read at bloggasm.com

Stupid Questions

I love stupid questions. Often, what you and I would consider common knowledge is completely unknown to someone just stepping into our circle. Stupid questions open up a chance to learn, a chance to teach and usually a chance to make a complete ass of yourself.

For example.. Shortly after my initiation into the business of music, I found myself sitting at a table of people whom I knew were well known in the industry. The problem was, I didn't have a clue who anybody was. The gentleman next to me introduced himself as Jim. He asked me what I did and I responded with my usual elevator pitch. "I'm the CEO of Rook Interactive. We make Red Velvet, an e-commerce platform that helps independent labels and artists sell their music online". I asked him what he did and he responded "I'm the President of NARM." My stupid question: "What's NARM?"

For those of you who don't know just how green I'd exposed myself to be in this moment, NARM is a 50 year old trade organization who's members are responsible for selling 85% of the music sold in America.

While I admit I was feeling rather embarrassed and very exposed, I figured I couldn't do much more damage to my ego than I'd already done. So, I took the opportunity to ask as many stupid questions as I could think of. As Jim answered them all with patience and genuine kindness, many of the gaps in my knowledge began to fill in. I turned a slightly less-neon shade of green. I will always be grateful for his willingness to show be a bit of the ropes. Thanks Jim.

While I managed to put my foot in my mouth several times that night in conversations with several different people, all my stupid questions resulted in a reward I couldn't have anticipated. Mr. Donio extended to me an invitation to present Red Velvet at NARM's 50th Anniversary Convention, which I did. My presentation turned out to be one of the most significant moments in my young career. But that's an embarrassing story for another day.