Hello, everyone. Thank you for taking a few minutes to browse our company blog. Things have been a little slow this week, but that is due more to our staff battling colds than a lack of ideas. We’re currently bundled up on couches, and by the time a new week arrives we hope to be back in tip top shape. Until then, we thought it best to recap our week, as well as share a song that we think everyone will be talking about soon. Enjoy:
As I mentioned above, each and every weekend we like to take a brief break from our regularly scheduled programming to update and reflect on everything happening at Haulix HQ. We are far more than a music blog, as many of you already know, and posts like this give us an opportunity to share more our efforts with all of you.
DEVELOPMENT NEWS:
Since our updated platform is still a month away from launch we thought it might be fun to share two new features coming to Haulix that we feel will benefit clients immensely:
– Press Release Creator (no more need for MadMimi or MailChimp)
– Drag and drop customization on all promos and press releases
We will continue to unveil additional changes/updates in the week(s) ahead. Stay tuned.
BLOG NEWS:
If you wanted to know who made us sick, go ahead and blame blog editor James Shotwell. For the past week James has been growing increasingly sick, and at this point he has no voice at all. We’ve forced him into bed rest, so hopefully things will pick up next week. In the meantime, use these links to catch up with our latest content offerings:
Hello, everyone. Thank you for stopping by our blog. Whether it’s your first visit or your hundredth, we’re happy to have your attention. This is our weekly recap post, which runs every Friday, and in it we talk all things Haulix. Before we get there however, we like to share a song that has been on repeat in our offices this week. With the weekend only a few short hours away, this track will help you celebrate your impending freedom like no other. Enjoy:
As I mentioned above, each and every weekend we like to take a brief break from our regularly scheduled programming to update and reflect on everything happening at Haulix HQ. We are far more than a music blog, as many of you already know, and posts like this give us an opportunity to share more our efforts with all of you.
DEVELOPMENT NEWS:
Work on our impending relaunch continues, but at this point we have no new information to share on the development front. We completed several new screens this week, as well as the drag and drop functionality of the new promo customization screens. Everything is coming along smoothly, so hopefully we will have new stills to show you soon. Stay tuned.
BLOG NEWS:
We are incredibly proud of this week’s content. I know we say that every few weeks, but something about the last five days has been incredibly special. Not only did we deliver a wide array of content, but we managed to cover a number of interesting subjects along the way, including feminism and the current state of mainstream rock and roll.
In case you missed anything, use the links below to catch up before a new week of content begins:
That’s all the content we have to share right now. Check in over the weekend for a new episode of INSIDE MUSIC featuring Burn Halo vocalist James Hart!
Whether you’re an artists working in pop, country, rock, rap, hip-hop, black metal, doom, grindcore, folk instrumentalism, post-modern opera, or some obscure combination of everything in between, everyone in music owes Taylor Swift a bit of thanks for speaking up against Apple’s new royalty plan for the launch of Apple Music over the weekend. Her open letter, which called the plan to not pay artists during the company’s three-month trial launch ‘disappointing,’ went viral just jours before senior vice president of internet services and software Eddy Cue tweeted that Apple would, in fact, pay artists during the 90-day period.
In an interview with Billboard, Cue elaborated that it was Swift’s letter that turned him around on the issue. “When I woke up this morning and saw what Taylor had written, it really solidified that we needed a change. And so that’s why we decide we will now pay artists during the trial period.”
Everyone expected the tech giant to respond to Swift’s letter, but the seemingly immediate change of policy came as a surprise to many, including Swift herself. “I am elated and relieved,” she tweeted after the new broke. “Thank you for your words of support today. They listened to us.”
Some in the music community, while happy about the news, were concerned that it took an artist as big as Swift to complain before action was taken. As you may recall, we ran a story early last week that shared the concerns from numerous people in the indie music community. Those same concerns were shared on countless blogs and news outlets, but it seems Apple didn’t think to respond until Taylor Swift made it a point to get involved. To his credit, Cue told Billboard he had heard “concern from a lot of artists” before hearing from Swift. You can draw your own conclusions as to whether or not that had the same impact.
Apple will be eating the cost of the royalty payout, as the company intends to not charge any consumer for using the service during its first 90-days of existence. That will no doubt be a big bill to pay, but considering the company is expected to be valued at $1 trillion by 2016 it seems like a tab they will be able to cover.
Apple Music is set to launch on June 30, and we are planning to run an editorial with our initial impressions not long after. For now, spread the word of the new royalty plan so artists make a it a point to claim their Apple Music Connect profile as soon as possible.
James Shotwell is the Marketing Coordinator for Haulix. He is also a professional entertainment critic, covering both film and music, as well as the co-founder of Antique Records. Feel free to tell him you love or hate the article above by connecting with him on Twitter. Bonus points if you introduce yourself by sharing your favorite Simpsons character.
Hey there, everyone. It’s the end of yet another work week, which means it is time once more to recap our recent activity and tease what the future might hold. Before we get there, however, I wanted to introduced you to Thugli. They’re an incredibly production outfit, and earlier today they shared a Drake remix that is destined to be a highlight of your weekend. Check it out:
Each and every Friday we like to take a brief break from our regularly scheduled programming to update and reflect on everything happening at Haulix HQ. We are far more than a music blog, as many of you already know, and posts like this give us an opportunity to share more our efforts with all of you.
Kicking things off with development updates, I have to be honest and say there is nothing major to report this week. Our dev team has patched a few minor bugs in recent days, but otherwise they have been hard at work on some longterm projects I’ve been asked not to discuss just yet. I will say, however, that we are evolving. The Haulix you have known and loved will always be here, but we’re currently working on rounding out our growing arsenal of anti-piracy tools in hopes of redefining digital security in 2015. I’ll tell you more when I’m allowed to do so.
Before we get to the blog updates, there is one company-wide promotion I need to tell you about. This April, just after the cold from winter has left your bones, the Haulix team will be hosting a panel at LAUNCH music conference in Lancaster, PA. There will be a ton of great guests, including nightly performances by some of the biggest bands in music today. It’s our first real conference appearance in over half a decade of existence, and we would be thrilled if you could make it out to join us. Here is a recently released poster revealing the first round of conference talent:
On the blog end of things, this week was a wild one. We ran this incredible podcast with Clinton Sparks, which over a 1000 of you already listened to (Thanks!), and I think the longform content really held its own. I also put five reviews in the can for future blog updates, but for the sake of promotion I’m not going to reveal their identities at this time. Sorry!
If you missed anything, take this as a sign you need to catch up and click these links:
Happy 4th of July, everyone! I know not every Haulix client lives in America, but it’s still Friday and that’s reason enough to celebrate. We have been working tireless this week to bring you the absolute best digital distribution platform on the planet, and as you’ll soon learn we’re taking steps THIS WEEKEND to secure that very title.
Each and every Friday we like to take a brief break from our regularly scheduled programming to update and reflect on everything happening at Haulix HQ. We are far more than a music blog, as many of you already know, and posts like this give us an opportunity to share more our efforts with all of you.
So, what happened last week?
Good question. To make a long story short, James, the editor of this blog, was very sick. He’s recovered now, and coincidentally he’s done so just in time to bring you this update. He’s also going to stop writing about himself in the third person at this point.
ANYWAYS. Today we are pushing out a new profile system for Haulix clients. This will make creating and maintaining your contacts easier than ever before. You can look for a full rundown of the feature to appear on this very blog in the days ahead.
We are launching the first-ever Haulix podcast next week. It’s a music industry show with a focus on the individuals behind-the-scenes, which is the very same idea that brought this blog to life. We will be interviewing industry veterans and newcomers, sharing stories, and discussing this crazy business we all love to frustrate ourselves over.
In other news, we have been quietly developing a promotional video for Haulix. It’s a colorful and animated clip explaining who we are and what we do to help publicists, records labels, and members of the press. You can view a screenshot below:
In case you missed anything this week, here is a roundup of our latest content offerings:
Hello and welcome to the final work week Haulix blog update. We recently moved to a seven-day posting style, but we still reserve Friday afternoons as a time for company updates and content reflection. This edition is particularly lengthy, so settle in now and prepare to be wowed. If you have any questions regarding the content of this blog, or if you would like to learn more information about the services offered by Haulix, please email james@haulix.com and share your thoughts. We can also be found on Twitter and Facebook.
Starting off with the topic that may very well have inspired you to click the link that brought you to this post, we are thrilled to announce our mobile platform is finally ready for launch. Our plan is to release the update later this evening, which will immediately allow journalists worldwide to stream promos on their smartphones for the first time ever. Keep an eye on our Twitter for updates on the official launch, and stay tuned for a complete walkthrough to appear on the blog later this weekend.
Mobile is not the only news we have to discuss this week. In addition to rolling out that long-awaited feature, we recently pushed out a new email engine. This is probably the biggest improvement we’ve made to the system in years. In the past, 10,000 email invitations would of taken 3-4 hours to go out – sending out small batches every 4 minutes or so. Now, we can do 10,000 in about 60 seconds! Isn’t technology wild?
On the blog end of things, the past seven days have been a whirlwind of interviews and preparation. We introduced a brand new column (How To Kill Your Band), and made progress on several upcoming features that will be revealed in the weeks ahead. We also made this:
(*Cough Cough* It’s a clue *Cough Cough*)
In case you missed anything on the blog this week, a link to every post since Saturday can be found below. We’ll be back tomorrow with an in-depth interview you will not want to miss.
Hello and welcome to the first blog post of the week here on the official blog of Haulix. We have a lot of great content planned this week, starting this afternoon with a piece on an individual who is making a big name for himself in the digital age by covering technology many consider to be outdated. If you have any questions regarding the content of this blog, or if you would like to learn more information about the services offered by Haulix, please email james@haulix.com and share your thoughts. We can also be found on Twitter and Facebook.
Digital music sales may have dipped in 2013, but for vinyl sales continued to rise, ending with a 32% improvement over the year prior. While we could dispute whether or not the resurgence of vinyl is a passing fad with a considerably long shelf life, this post is about something else entirely. This post is about pursuing your interests, and how sometimes that pursuit can land you at the forefront of a global community.
Chris Lantinen was working the crime beat at one of America’s remaining print publications when had the idea to launch a website dedicated to his interest in vinyl records. He had never written about music before, but something about the topic intrigued him so much that he purchased the domain name Modern-Vinyl.com and dedicated any free time he had outside the office to creating content. Two years and several months later, that same site is now the go-to authority on all things vinyl, and in the paragraphs below you will learn how it all came to be.
I have been reading Modern Vinyl for well over a year at this point, but it wasn’t until I began working with Chris on this feature that I realized the level of thought and care put into each post. Chris and his team of contributors are creating content for the sake of celebrating (and hopefully helping further) an area of the industry they are passionate about, and their clear adoration for the subject matter keeps you coming back again and again. No one knows where vinyl sales will be at the end of 2014, but I have absolutely no doubt Modern Vinyl will continue to grow.
If you would like to stay up-to-date with everything Chris and his team are working on we highly recommend following Modern Vinyl on Twitter. Additional questions and comments can be left at the end of this post.
H: For the record (no pun intended), please give us your name, job title, and the publication you’re here to discuss:
C: My name is Chris Lantinen and I’m the owner/editor-in-chief/everything else over at Modern Vinyl.
H: Thanks again for taking the time to do this. We like to start with a little bit of history. When you think of your formative moments with music, be it a band/album/concert/etc, what comes to mind?
C: My earliest musical moments were most certainly made in the back of my family’s Ford Bronco, as my father played albums from groups like Queen, The Beatles, Kansas and Simon & Garfunkle. So I certainly grew up on a steady diet of classic rock. In regard to personal taste, I know it’s not quite the same these days, but MTV and MuchMusic had a huge impact on what I listened to growing up. Between MTV2’s “Rock Countdown” and MTV’s “Hard Rock Live,” they actually used to play music on those channels! And good music!
H: What was the first album you purchased with your own money? If not a vinyl release, please also include your first vinyl and when it was purchased.
C: The first album I ever purchased with my own cash was most likely Third Eye Blind’s self-titled, which is somehow still in the rotation today. In terms of vinyl, the first record I purchased was Beach Boys’ “Endless Summer,” which came from a Goodwill store out in Oil City, Pennsylvania. The record was in rough shape when I purchased it, but it’s still hanging in there, haha.
H: Speaking of vinyl, we’re probably going to talk about vinyl a lot in this interview. Let’s start with the basics on the site. When did you first come up with the idea for Modern Vinyl, and what was the first post featured on the site?
C: There wasn’t really a lightbulb moment as to when the idea initially came to me. I was working in the print journalism industry, writing on the crime beat, while also putting together features on a variety of topics. Modern Vinyl was just my way of having another creative outlet. There were no monetary goals when it started and it was more of just a hobby than anything else. I’d work on the site before going to work from 3-12 and then I’d come home and work on it some more. It’s just been a day-by-day experiment since then. The first post was about The Dangerous Summer’s “War Paint.”
H: Did you write online elsewhere before stepping out on your own?
C: I did not. I would keep on on the pop-punk/alt-rock scenes through Absolute Punk, but that’s about it. Wasn’t even a forum member or anything.
H: From my personal experiences, labels are sometimes unwilling to share vinyl with press ahead of release. Sometimes it’s for security reasons, but more often than not its because of cost. How did you convince labels to send you music early on?
C: Cost certainly plays a part, but I think it’s more because of the pressing timeline and just how close some releases cut it to the release date (or don’t cut it at all, as in delays). I’ll certainly admit that it was tough early on, though. When your blog is getting 100 views a day, there’s little benefit to labels sending out an expensive record. Luckily, people like Jenna over at Razor & Tie and Jake at Pure Noise Records were willing to help us out. So it wasn’t really anything that I did (I just asked), it was the kind people who made it happen. It also helped that I just bought a whole bunch of records during those opening months to make sure we had solid content and reviews.
H: People who are active in vinyl culture can no doubt find content on your site that would appeal to them, but do you offer anything for those just getting start in the world of turntables and vinyl?
C: It’s not that we offer content specifically for beginners (even though I’d love to get to turntable content eventually). Instead, I try to treat beginners, especially when they reach out to me via social media, with respect. Not everyone who reads our site will be a seasoned collector and people will have questions, whether they relate to turntables, who’s a good outlet to buy from or just general knowledge. There’s a tendency to treat these questions with disdain, though, in certain circles of record collectors. I just try to treat them with respect and help in any way I can. Our content is designed to appeal to passionate collectors, but our attitude is that anyone is welcome.
H: What would you say is the ultimate goal of Modern Vinyl?
C: Our goal is pretty simple. We just want to provide as complete of a vinyl news experience as possible. I’m not sure any other outlets on the web have quite hit this goal, so I really do believe we offer up something unique. We recently started covering cassettes, which I think is another valuable and physical music medium. All this being said, we still have a long ways to go if we want to hit this end goal.
H: How do you monetize your efforts? Do you plan to explore additional avenues for revenue in 2014?
C: Primarily, I’ll utilize the Amazon Affiliate program, which succeeds because of all the Modern Vinyl readers expanding their collection. Google ads is our other source of income at this time. Record labels and indie record stores can also advertise with us and we have very reasonable rates. We don’t sell too much merchandise, and when we do, it’s either for charity or at lower prices so that customers don’t have to break the bank for us.
H: When it comes to receiving music for review, do you only work with vinyl?
C: Mostly. A digital copy is always great to get a start on the music portion of our reviews, but we obviously need the record for sound quality and packaging purposes. To tell you the truth, some albums are even improved upon when throwing it on the turntable. The most recent example was The World Is A Beautiful Place.
H: The new year has just begun. What can readers expect from Modern Vinyl in 2014?
C: Hopefully, we can continue to provide the constant news, while keeping up on our regular features more often. Other obligations have taken hold recently (such as graduate school, other life responsibilities) and things like interviews, reviews and opinion pieces have been hard to come by. I’m hoping to bring those back in a big way this year.
H: If you could change one thing about the music industry, what would it be?
C: I could go on and on about this, but I’ll try to keep it short and sweet. In my opinion, major labels are playing a large part in the creation of a vinyl bubble, which will burst in case we’re not careful. Just like the inflation of compact disc prices prior to their slow, painful death, vinyl record prices have continued to increase. Single LPs are often times $20 each, which in the long run, will kill this habit. The hardcore collectors won’t really go anywhere, but if prices keep increasing, the casual collector will be pushed aside. There’s a really good interview on the subject over at Record Collector News, which everyone should check out (http://recordcollectornews.com/2013/05/the-rising-cost-of-new-vinyl/).
In terms of music blogging? An emphasis on “hit-whoring” articles or sensationalized material is really hurting the credibility of many blogs and as I’ve become more and more involved in the scene, it’s only been getting worse. I’m not going to start calling people out (I’m sure they know who they are), but music journalism needs to get back to what people really deserve out of it: solid and informed music coverage.
H: How many people are currently on the Modern Vinyl team?
C: Currently, we have 3 individuals (including myself) who are contributing regularly and a couple more who add in a review every now and then. I contribute almost all of the news material, while throwing together a review whenever time allows. James Cassar and Bill Houck deserve special recognition as people who have contributed much over the years.
H: Keeping on the subject of contributors, what do you look for in new recruits?
C: A passion for music is a must, as is some writing skill. The flow required to construct a solid article or review is tough to teach, but when you see it in someone’s writing, its a thing of beauty. Very few can actually write with purpose and poise.
H: What advice would you offer to someone hoping to get their start in the music industry, be it an artist or aspiring professional?
C: My advice is simple. Stop planning, start doing. And if you want to be a writer? Start blogging. It’s free and easy. What the hell are you waiting for?
H: What are your career goals?
C: To be honest, it will be curious to see how Modern Vinyl progresses after I graduate with my master’s degree. I’m hoping for it to be a solid source of income by then, so that I may continue to expand its operations. If it’s unsustainable, I’d still love to be involved in the music industry, either in the PR or social media avenues. The professional plans are definitely a toss-up at this point in my life.
H: I think that just about covers everything. Before I let you go, is there anything else you would like to share with our readers?
C: For anyone that reads Modern Vinyl, thank you from the bottom of my heart. It makes all the hard work I put into it worth it. You can always reach out to me at news@modern-vinyl.com or through Twitter, @ModernVinyl.
Hello and welcome to the beginning of an all-new week of music industry insight here on the official blog of Haulix. We’re turning the tables just a bit this afternoon and kicking things off with a brand new Advice column that aims to put one digital debate to rest for good. If you or someone you know has an idea for a future installment of this column, please do not hesitate to email james@haulix.com and share your suggestion.
Like it or not, there is definitely something to be said for artists who have the ability to amass a large online following without the help of a record label or top 40 single. Labels and managers love this kind of artist because it paints the perception of a successful, or at least well-liked artist even though everyone knows Facebook likes and Twitter followers do not correlate in any way to sales or actual financial success. Still, in a business where image means a lot there are those who are willing to do anything to raise the numbers associated with their so-called digital ‘supporters,’ and all too often that means turning to companies that offer guaranteed likes/follows for a price. These businesses may seem legit, but today we’re going to look at 4 reasons why going this route almost always ends badly for the artist.
1. Engagement means more than your like or follower count ever will.
You know that saying about how you can lead a horse to water, but you cannot force it to drink? The same goes for gaming your social media stats. You can make it seem like 25,000 people love your one-man band from the middle of nowhere, but you cannot force their nonexistent bodies to show up at your next gig. Likewise, unless you go all-in and decide to buy followers as well as social engagement (plays on Youtube, streams on Facebook, etc. – it’s all possible for a price) it will not take long for the actual, living people who view your profile to notice a severe discrepancy between followers and people interacting with your account.
2. You increase the risk of spamming actual fans.
The idea of giving some unknown entity twenty dollars in exchange for 10,000 followers seems relatively catch-free, but anyone digging into the agreement users make when signing up for these companies will notice they more often than not require clients to allow the company to post on their behalf. That mean that at some point down the line, likely when you expect it the least, messaging will be blasted from your account to everyone connected with your group. If you’re on Twitter, this often means mass private messaging, which most people will report as spam. When that happens enough the fine folks at Twitter HQ will shutdown your account, and upon review of your activity it’s likely your recent ‘social boost’ will come to light. That will result in the loss of your account, and at that point you’ll be even worse off than when you began.
3. No one wants to work with someone who is trying to game the music industry.
No one holding a position in music that can help your career is stupid. That should go without saying, but click around the social media accounts of unsigned artists long enough and you’re bound to find dozens boasting followings that in no way reflect their actual status as performers. These people brag endlessly about their hype ‘on the streets,’ and for awhile this tactic may work, but there are a growing number of tools that industry professionals are using to unmask those hiding behind fake followers. People who are caught or discovered to be engaging in this practice of gaming social stranding are often blacklisted from many press outlets, and we’ve even heard from multiple PR reps who claim they have refused to work with artists in the past because they suspected them of boosting their stats.
4. You will get caught.
Music is hard for everyone, and that includes both professionals and artists. Those who make a career in this industry have worked extremely hard to get that far and they do not take kindly to people who try to cheat the system. Do the work. Post interesting content whenever you’re able, engage with the people who are already following your efforts, and over time you will begin to organically develop an online following. Anyone promising you a massive social media change over night is either lying to you or withholding key details that will eventually come back to haunt you.
It’s Tuesday once again, which means it’s time to continue our ongoing series highlighting the best and brightest behind today’s online music scene.
Hailing from the border of New Hampshire and Massachusetts, Angela Mastrogiacomo has spent the last few years carving a niche in the music industry by developing the news and opinion outlet Infectious Magazine. Covering everything from rock to pop with a variety of columns and video features, Angela has single-handedly built a blossoming entertainment empire with Infectious that continues to grow with each passing week. Her love for music and passion for writing is only matched by her creativity, and as we learn in our exclusive interview, she has her eyes set on big things in the months ahead.
Read on to discover Angela’s history music, the uniqueness of Infectious, and how this twenty-something plans to turn her hobby into a career by unveiling a new component to her master plan. If you want to see some of Angela’s work, be sure to visit Infectious Magazine and follow the site on Twitter.
H: For those unaware, please state your name, the site you work for, and your role at said site:
My name is Angela. I am the founder/editor of InfectiousMagazine.com. I run and oversee daily operations at InfectiousMagazine.com
H: You are the first female we have featured in our Blogger profiles. What inspired you to begin writing in the first place?
That’s awesome! I first began writing when I was about 6, with a collection of short stories aimed at children. Eventually, that grew into creative fiction, and then once I began the magazine, feature writing (though I still dabble in creative). It’s hard to pinpoint what exactly inspired me—I hate to use the cliché that it helps you work out your emotions, but it’s an incredibly useful outlet, and whenever I’m writing, there’s a sense of calm and accomplishment.
H: Once you realized you wanted to write, how did you know music was the type of content you wanted to cover?
To be honest, this was completely serendipitous. I’ve always wanted to make writing an integral part of my life, but it had a tendency to be more fiction based. After happening across a local band (The Coming Weak) opening for a national act, I was instantly awe-struck. I believe there are instances in life where we will, for whatever reason be drawn to and inspired by certain people and instances, which will end up shaping our life. For me, this was it. I felt so compelled to interview them, review their album, and just do anything I could to get their name out there. This was the birth of Infectious and there was no looking back.
H: Infectious is one of many sites that covers the alternative, or as some say “Warped Tour” music scene. What do you think sets your site and its content apart from others covering the same talent?
I think every site has a selling point in a sense, and I think ours is the interviews we do. Anyone can bring news, but it’s those features (columns, contests, etc) that make a site stand apart. I like to think that in addition to being reliable, and quick to bring our readers the news, we offer a unique perspective in our interviews, with unique, interesting questions. I also like to think that the passion oozing from each and every one of our staff members comes through. We live and breathe Infectious, and it is always on our minds. I believe it makes a difference.
H: Speaking of the world’s largest and wildest traveling festival, do you have plans to cover Warped Tour 2013? If so, who do you look forward to covering?
We do! We’ve covered Warped’s Boston date for the last three years and each year is just such an honor. The entire week or two surrounding the festival date are the most chaotic and fun of the entire year. We have been able to cover some really amazing people in the last few years, and I know this year will be no different. From a personal perspective, I’m really looking forward to Middle Finger Salute, The Exposed, The Swellers, The Tower & The Fool and Action Item.
H: I noticed you have a large amount of video content on Infectious. How do you find readers respond to interview videos as opposed to those posted in text form?
Absolutely. I think in one sense, being on YouTube brings with it a lot of competition, but in another, we’ve found the response to be really positive. The thing with video interviews is that they bring a lot of life and perspective into things. Text is easily misinterpreted, but when you can see your favorite band, watch their emotions and perspectives play out in real time, it’s a truly interesting experience (I think!).
H: When it comes to writing and featuring new bands, what do you look for talent wise?
The thing is, talent and taste is so subjective, and I think it’s important to be aware of that. What I look for most, is passion and drive.
H: Let’s say a band wants to contact you about featuring their music on your site. What advice would you offer bands to help themselves stand out for from the others vying for your attention?
This is an excellent question. If you personalize your email, I am MUCH more likely to take notice and want to work with you. This sort of circles back to the last question, but I’d much rather work with a band that is just starting out and full of passion, drive, and ambition, than a band who may have a larger following but is just totally complacent and only interested in putting in minimal effort.
H: When it comes to receiving music for review and feature consideration, which services do you prefer and why?
Haulix is by far one of the best services for review and feature consideration. It’s incredibly simple, customizable and best of all, it really does help protect against leaks, which I think we can all agree is an industry sigh of relief.
H: If you could change one thing about the music industry, what would it be?
Ah, this is a tough one! There’s so much I’d want to do, but it all comes back to passion. It’s so cutthroat, and I think that passion and talent gets buried under money and greed much of the time.
H: You tweet a lot about having big plans for the future. Before we let you go, can you tell us a bit about what Infectious Magazine has planned for the remainder of 2013?
Definitely, thanks for asking! In addition to continuing to bring you loads of content and contests, and expand the magazine side of things, we’re just launching a public relations side as well, and currently taking on new clients. You can find out more about that here:
