What do mp3 Bloggers want?
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(Besides MP3's of course...)
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A PR guy just asked this same question of me. This was my response:
What sort of content/how often
I would love to have an email with a short description, RIYL-style, a myspace link, and an explicitly cleared mp3, no videos are really necessary. If it floats my boat, digital delivery of a full mp3 album download is ideal, although, if you want to spend the money, CDs are fine. As for frequency, possibly news on artists I've expressed an interest in, otherwise, up and coming artists or new releases by current artists, also tour dates are ALWAYS welcome :)
If videos do float your boat, then in what format do you want them sending?
YouTube links are the best.When it comes to providing you with music in what format do you want it sending?
Digital Delivery is ideal, either a direct link or a MegaUpload or something. Zipped and mp3 is perfect. No need to get much higher than 192. I listen on an iPod. If you send a CD make sure it can be ripped, otherwise I won't be able to listen. I don't own a dedicated CD Player, outside of my car, and at $4 a gallon, I can't really sit in my car to review an album
How would you prefer to be contacted? How Often? With What Info?
I would prefer news as it comes. Maybe a roundup occasionally of stuff (bi monthly, or so) -
honestly...I could use a couple band/label tshirts and maybe a hoodie or two
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"What do mp3 Bloggers want?"
To not be called "Hey!" or "Hey you!" or "Hey yo!" or "Heeeeeeeey!" or "Michael" or anything that isn't my name. Seems like a reasonable request? -
I want a pony.
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In addition to what Harry said, I do want good quality MP3s. Not LESS than 192 kbps.
Album downloads in zip format are fine, and if possible I'd like the CD liner notes, including lyrics, in a pdf or doc. I learn a lot from those things. No matter how flowery the promo write-up is, I won't use it. I always form my own opinion.
I don't pay attention to e-mails where the only content is a video link or a list of tour dates. I don't post many videos, and I don't base any of my posts on tour schedules.
Also, I'm getting so many e-mails now (about 30 a day?), that I can't possibly write about every one I receive, so repeatedly asking me whether I've listened to an artist wastes both our time. I'll try to let you know when I like someone and have written about them. -
I just checked Divinyl's link, and agree with that too. I just received a similar e-mail from Jon and Roy that shows they have actually looked at my blog and taken note of what I like that might be similar to them. That sets a great tone right from the start.
OTOH, I recently asked a promo e-mailer who never even introduced himself to me to remove me from his e-mail list because all the artists he sends me are hip-hop and rap. I NEVER listen to that genre and have never posted about it.
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hookers and blow ;-)
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I wish I got comments from hot lesbian sex sites. Tragically, it's just music dorks.
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To make a difference
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192+ MP3s and LINER NOTES
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Liner notes is definitely a good idea, or at least access to a page with them.
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liner notes are good. 192 kbps mp3's or cd's.
The most offensive and stupid thing i've ever heard from a pr person is when they sent me an email, i responded with interest (which is maybe 1/20) and was then told "oh, you'll get it in the mail a week or so after it comes out, we only send stuff this early to bigger sites
...then why the fuck did you send me the stupid long-lead press release? Don't tell me my 2000 or so eyes aren't deserving of your client's cd -
Agree with you. I would like to dispense with the politics of "bigger sites". It's a senseless load of horse pucky built by people with more money than they need who are into secret handshake bullshit that needs to go away. It's just another way of clinging on to the old way of doing things -- you know, the reason why so many people started blogs in the first place? To dispense with that stuff?
If we have enough of a relationship that you feel comfortable emailing me, then don't play these fruity velvet rope games.
If I have to wait to post about your artist, don't email me about them or their release. At all. If it's any good, and I'm in a position where I have time to update, I will want to post something about it then and now. -
From readers/bloggers:
1. Please don't hotlink my mp3s or images, all of which are posted with permission.
2. Please don't copy and re-post exactly what I've written without credit (as in a link to my site and some indication that the content has been quoted). I don't expect or care about credit if someone posts the same music (the more, the merrier!), just don't steal my words.
3. If you enter and win one of my contests, please reply to my email asking for your mailing address within a freakin' month. Otherwise the prize is going to someone else.
4. Please don't ask to be added to my blogroll if you post full albums or lists of mp3 downloads without any original content. To each his own, but I'm just not into that.
5. Please comment if you like something, or even if you don't. :)
From PR companies, labels, artists, etc. :
1. Please put the name of the band you are actually emailing about in the subject line, not some tricky reference to another band that has nothing to do with them. A genre description would be nice, too.
2. Please don't say you will send a CD if you won't. And don't bother asking me to post any mp3s, videos, or contests if you can't at least give me a digital download of the entire album (I prefer CDs). I like to know what I'm endorsing, thank you very much.
3. Please let me know what the mp3 policy is for the CD if you do send it, or at least answer my first email asking for permission instead of waiting until after I post the review. Otherwise, I'll assume that it's okay to post an mp3.
4. Please do not email me more than once about a single subject, it just clogs my inbox and makes me more likely to ignore what you are sending.
5. Please do not ask me to hold a review or mp3 just so a "bigger" blog can post it first, or at least be honest if that is what you are doing.
I really do appreciate the free music! It just gets a little overwhelming sometimes. :) -
Great comments Victoria.
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unless we have an actual relationship of some kind, don't IM me to ask about whatever you sent me or tell me about your band. it makes it more awkward to try and ignore you.
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don't worry about that Frank, even the folks I know ignore me from time to time ;-)
Question: do you guys actually get IMed by people very much? I try not to do that very often (for business reasons, more like shooting the shit about stuff). -
phone calls are the worst, we'll know that mp3 blogs have jumped the sharks when mokb, gvb, igif and bkvg set up weekly call times ;)
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I don't mind phone calls or IMs from people so long as they're not drunken screeds or blatant self-promotion. I love to talk about music and music-related things.
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Please do tell - that sounds brilliant.
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yeah, I'm totally curious too.
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so it was a band, not a publicist?
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those google alerts are a bitch ;-)
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I want a full Digital Press Kit...
- Links (no attachments...I hate having to go upload photos or songs)
- Set-up (worthwhile commentary..."sounds like...", "from [state]", formerly in this band, and i want a genre clasification)
- Other Press (links to Daytrotter Sessions, review by YANP, etc)
-Youtube links (both live shows and their videos)
-Other bands they've toured with..
provide a lot of info, but do it in a concise way..we have too much to sort through, and simplification is most likely going to get you on the site... -
Emails from ANONYMOUS hipster.tipster79@gmail doesn't work for me.
If you are a PR person say so - don't go all anonymous or hipster on me. kthnx -
yeah i got that one too
if you want to leak bloggers a song just put it on bit torrent like everybody else -
I'm not picky or need too much:
first I want a link to mp3s - not a stream, not a link to some file hosted on mediafire, no zipfiles, not a video, not a website - a direct link, please (shell out a little money to host it). And I want a statement providing permission to use it and whether direct linking is okay or not.
then tell me what you want about the band or give me the link to a website (not myspace if you can help it).
(also I don't need to hear that some mega-super-big sellout blog got some exclusive video of your artist, it's not exactly a positive thing to me) -
I just immediately deleted that email, although I do like Sea Wolf. I'd just prefer people to be up front when trying to sell me something.
I can tell you one thing I'd like from labels/pr firms/etc. - Don't email every writer on the blog in one email. If you send a mass email and we see every writer we have cc'd, we're all equally likely to delete it as respond to it. Take the time to read through the blog (it shouldn't really require THAT much effort) and make an informed decision about which one of us would most likely be an appropriate contact. I don't like taking the time to write a post and discovering one of my fellow writers has already written something up at virtually the same time. Humor me and give me some sense of being unique in your eyes. -
Interesting (Backseat Sandbar)...I hadn't considered sending links to other reviews in my eNews. I probably still won't, but if anyone is ever inquiring about a band I have a whole set of tags for each artist linking to all their reviews.
I would also suggest to bloggers that if you are into a band, just ASK for things like interview time (phone or email), show tix, physical copy of disk, alternative mp3, etc. I can't always get these things, but I'm always happy to try.
I won't just jump for people who write me out of the blue and who I have no relationship with, but certainly for anyone who has been on my radar for a while I can usually accommodate these types of requests in some fashion.
Right now, we have a very interesting release schedule and roster of artists' projects coming up, so if anyone wants the comprehensive list in advance, write me a note (wendyattoolsheddotbiz). -
I can vouch for Wendy's ability to make things happen. When Merge didn't want anyone to post "Marine Life" by Oakley Hall she was able to finagle a stream for me. Not ideal, but for the best song on the album she was able to make at least some concession :-D
Wendy, you truly are one of the best :-D -
Just got an e-mail addressed to me as "Hi Blog."
Why not just pull my glasses off and pee in my eyes?
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man, that is classic.
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you'll def want this!!
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