Buy it for yourself or use the iTunes Gift feature to make this a virtual stocking-stuffer for anyone who needs a good laugh this Christmas season.
I am asked this question quite frequently by new musicians looking to expand their presence on the web. I don’t blame them; the legion of music sites are both numerous and constantly changing. Ten years ago I would have pointed you straight towards the great behemoth that was MP3.com, but we all know how badly that turned out.
Photo by Easternblot
To be honest, most music sites are a waste of time. Unless it’s iTunes, Facebook, or Amazon, the only people that visit the site are other musicians. Not fans, other musicians. If you’ve ever played an open mic night, you know how this works: You’re onstage baring your heart and soul for a crowd of people who are disinterested and just waiting for their turn to do the same. Posting your music to these sites would be like trying to sell time-share condos at a telemarketing convention.
My advice, for the curious, is simple: Go where your fans are. I say “your” fans, not “the” fans because there are so few “music fans” and so many “songs about robots” fans or “electric bluegrass” fans. If your fans are into manga comics, go post your music on art sites that feature manga comics. Are you an activist? Go post your music where people are supporting the cause. If you don’t know what your fans are interested in, that should be your first step: ask them.
It’s so much easier (and effective) to spread the word in communities you’re already a part of, rather than trying to build a taller billboard than the band next to you.
I’m frequently asked, when new fans want to buy a track or album, “what method gives you the most money?” I’m touched that a lot of people want to make sure I get the most of their hard-earned dollars when they decide to support my music. The fact is, though, that I want you to pay the sales staff.
(Wait a second, he doesn’t have a sales staff, what is he talking about?)
Photo by Andyrob
If someone or some service is actually introducing you to my music, I want them to stay in business. I want them to get a piece of my good fortune. I want to reward anyone who is helping spread the word about my music, so long as they’re doing it legitimately.
So if you’re worried about the extra $2 per CD or 9¢ per track, don’t be. Please just do what you can to keep my sales people in business. If they’re making a living, then I’m making a living!
Every day Google sends me an update as to which blogs are talking about me. This morning I came across a review that made my day. Here’s a clip:
Ebel accomplishes something far more impressive: the songs, though catchy and great in isolation, are even more strong when listened to as a cohesive album… There are reprises, melody replications (where they makes sense), and the layout of the tracks was undoubtedly intentional.
YouMakeMedia.com
This was also posted on the album’s page in the iTunes Music Store. Very cool!
If you remember Beer & Coffee’s release, you’re probably as surprised as I am that Goodbye Planet Earth made it to the 
Music Store in less than a month.
Well, it’s there! And it’s only $9.99 for the whole album. Granted, if you want high-quality DRM-Free tracks, you’ll need to get it from CD Baby or MySpace, and that’s only $12.99. But if you’re dying to get your copy of the new album from iTunes, it’s there!
And please leave a review on iTunes if you’ve already heard the album! Just CLICK HERE to go straight to the iTunes Music Store.
