FAQ

nobody@vox.com(DemosFAQ) — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 18:52:24 +0100

1. So… how does this work?

· Be sure to enter via www.columbiademos.co.uk or www.rcademos.co.uk and then register and set up your own blog at Vox.com. This is important because only by coming via this entry page will you be automatically added to the RCA or Columbia Online Artist & Repertoire (A&R) group, which means that your blog will instantly show up in our virtual neighbourhood. This allows our A&R managers to find you very quickly, listen to your music, and get in touch with you, if desired.

· Your blogs can contain whatever you want (audio, video, pics, links...) and they will be available to anyone that visits them (unless you make your posts ‘friends or family only’). We don’t have any control or input on what you present on your blogs – it’s all up to you, and you are fully responsible for anything you put up.

2. Will this cost money (now or later)?

No – to have a blog at Vox.com and to join the A&R group is free of charge. Columbia / RCA / does not charge anything to review your blogs and your music. However, do keep in mind that Vox’s offering and terms may change over time and that SonyBMG UK does not control what changes Vox.com may implement at what time.

3. What should I put on my blog?

· Pick a Vox design template that reflects your style

· Quickly describe what you do and post a few audio tracks (not 50… 5 or 6 songs is probably enough – be sure to focus on your best tracks, and make them obvious)

· Be sure that you actually have the rights to post the music on Vox.com (i.e. it must be fully owned by you – in this context please note Vox’s Terms of Use)

· Add some videos if you have them (live footage is fine)

· Add some pictures (gigs, parties, rehearsals, key people etc)

· Add links to press coverage, your websites etc

· Add tour schedules, reviews etc

4. Do I have be in or from the UK to be a part of this?

· In principle, you can be from anywhere in the world to join our A&R network. However, while we will consider bands from all over Europe (and beyond), RCA / Columbia is primarily focused on UK-based bands at this time, so, yes, it helps if you are UK-based.

5. Is this a Columbia/ RCA UK project only, or is this a worldwide project?

· For now, this project is UK based.

6. Is this a competition?

· Definitely not. No artists or bands will win a prize or any award for being part of this - the sole purpose is to make it easier for you to present yourself, and for us to find you and get in touch with you.

7. So what is the difference between this blog and my website?

Unlike a website, a blog is like an ongoing, never-ending, always-changing journal, an interactive conversation, a user-generated content platform, a quick way of publishing your opinion - and it’s constant ‘work in progress’. A blog is definitely not a substitute for your band’s website, rather, it should complement it – the same goes for social network pages such as myspace, bebo, facebook, hi5 etc.
A blog is the perfect place for quick comments and short postings that can be instantly published and spread to your readers using RSS feeds, email and search engines.

8. What is the difference to Myspace?

· Myspace is primarily a social network while this is blogging – the basic functionalities are quite different, and the purpose is different, but they are highly compatible. Our A&R blog is specifically for the purpose of ‘finding and being found’, i.e. for us to find and check out new talent. We do recommend that you cross-link your Myspace pages with your new blogs.

· There is (almost) no limit as to how much content you can put on Vox (audio and video)

· The blogging format has several advantages that Myspace does not offer, such as private posting to group members, unlimited linking and widgets etc

· Blogs such as these allow RSS feeds, syndication, commenting, and all kinds of other things that Myspace does not really offer (or need)

· The bottom line: it’s a different thing; so therefore you’ll probably want to have both (and not just at Myspace of course).

9. Why is RCA / Columbia, and SonyBMG doing this?

Blogging is one of the major trends in music, media and entertainment, and we think it’s about time that a major record label uses the new medium to find and communicate with new artists
We want to offer all those artists out there a new, efficient way of presenting yourself to our label’s A&R managers, and using blogs for this purpose will be drastically easier for all involved parties.
Because we are open for submissions and conversations with interested artists, and the market-place, in general.

10. Why did SonyBMG choose Vox.com and Six Apart as a partner for this?

Six Apart, Inc is one of the most accomplished and experienced social media and blogging service providers in the world, running the leading platforms with millions of users, such as Typepad, and Livejournal – and we liked Vox.com right from the start.

11. How do I get attention once there are 1000s of new bands in this A&R network?

· It’s simple: the more neighbours and friends you have, the more they comment on your music, and the more great music, video and pictures you post and make available, the more likely it is that one our managers will visit your blog and check it out.

· The bottom-line: if you get a lot of buzz on your blog we’ll be there to check you out! Your task is to make the buzz.

12. So… how do I get a good buzz around my blog?

· Invite all your friends to visit your blog, and comment on your music, or start their own blogs and become your ‘neighbours’, and talk about your music

· Use your mailing list to direct people to your new blog

· Link to your blog from your websites, social network pages (such as bebo or myspace)

· Post something new every day: pictures from rehearsals, lyrics excerpts, concert recordings or videos, comments from a gig etc - keep things updated

13. Can my music or my videos be downloaded from these blogs?

· Right now, Vox offers streaming audio and video only (using the flash format), so people cannot download it - but of course if one wanted to one could record the streams using various computer programs that do that.

· If you do want to offer free downloads for a track or video you will need to put a link to a site where that track can be found, such as another blog (typepad.com allows that, for example), or your band’s web-site

14. Does this mean I have to become a real, bona-fide Blogger in order to get a record contract?

· No. All you have to do is to maintain a strong profile on Vox.com, and shows us your music. However, you may find that blogging is a great way of promoting your band, in general, so… just wait and see how this will grow on you!

· Keep in mind that just the fact that your blog is being found by our A&R Managers is a long way from getting a record contract with one of our labels. That process is a lot more involved. This is still a better process than just sending us an unsolicited CD

15. What happens if you guys like me / my band?

· If we like your band we will first bounce your blog links around internally and collect feedback, and see how high the collective level of interest is. We may contact you, or visit one of your shows, or request more information, at any time.

· If things get more serious we may offer you a development deal or some other form of collaboration – this all depends on the individual A&R manager that will engage with you but you will be engaged in normal A&R process.

16. Do you offer any guarantee that your staff will actually listen to my music, or will you offer a deal to a certain minimum number of new acts per year?

· No. There is no guarantee for any minimum number of deals or any minimum amount of attention you will get from our staff – that all depends on many different variables. However, we are committed to actively engage in this new A&R blogging environment and we will make our best efforts to pay attention to all interesting bands and artists that join our neighbourhood. If you are good we will find you!

17. How do I contact you guys?

· You can contact James Lambert – Martin, SonyBMG ’s Online A&R Project Manager at onlinedemos@googlemail.com

· You can contact our A&R Managers via their blog pages, provided that their profiles allow public contacts, otherwise you can just post a comment

· Please keep in mind that the best way for us to notice your band is not to send us a lot of messages but to have lots of comments or other interesting activities on your blog – the sites with the most views and comments tend to get looked at first! It’s pull not push…

18. How do I find SonyBMG people in my neighbourhood?

· Many SonyBMG staff members have blogs that are already linked to RCA / Columbia Demos (just look at the neighbourhood). However, there is no real need to find their blogs and promote yourself as they are already constantly looking around the virtual neighbourhood, scouting for blogs that have a buzz. Your best bet is to just have a great blog that attracts our attention!

19. General questions on Vox

· Keep in mind that all functionalities on Vox are offered and run solely by Vox.com, a division of Six Apart, Inc, therefore you need to consult their own help section to get assistance on all general Vox issues. Here are a few good links: Vox help section, Vox knowledge base, Vox team , Youtube video on how to use Vox.com.

20. Some more resources for further reading:

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