creative deconstruction

Why You Should Be Excited About the Independent Music Industry in 2010

Posted on 22. Dec, 2009 by refe.

Many bloggers and artists seem to be ending 2009 on a note of cynicism. While the year began with a sense of excitement about new possibilities available to artists, the independent music community has begun sounding unusually negative lately, even jaded. It’s like everyone is racing to be the first to declare the DIY revolution [...]

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Creative Deconstruction, the Music Industry and DIY in 2010

Posted on 18. Dec, 2009 by refe.

As 2009 comes to an end I thought it might be a good time to evaluate how things are coming along here at Creative Deconstruction. I began work on the blog around February of this year, and published the first posts in March. Since then I’ve humbly watched as a nice little community has developed [...]

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The Only Reliable Way to Get Your Band Covered on Music Blogs

Posted on 07. Dec, 2009 by refe.

Despite my reluctance to chime in, I have noticed an important omission from most of the articles on the subject of music blog coverage. Very few seem to highlight what I consider to be the most effective tool of them all – relationship.

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Music Technology Recap – November 2009 Edition

Posted on 02. Dec, 2009 by refe.

This is a guest post by Gabriel Nijmeh, a business analyst and music technology enthusiast.
Another month whips by since Refe first asked me to write the October music tech recap and I’ve really started feeling deja vu. You probably are feeling the same way but doesn’t it seem like we keep discussing the same issues and topics [...]

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A Tale of Two Formats: Digital Downloads and Vinyl Hit New Sales Records

Posted on 24. Nov, 2009 by refe.

Last week’s Soundscan numbers tell the unlikely story of two very different formats rising to record breaking heights side by side.
According to Billboard three artists (Michael Jackson, Lady Gaga and Black Eyed Peas sold over 10 million tracks each, with Taylor Swift expected to do the same next week. These numbers shatter the previous record [...]

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Spotify No More Indie-Friendly than Radio?

Posted on 23. Nov, 2009 by refe.

When Pandora and Last.fm arrived on the scene and Spotify was still just a twinkle in Daniel Ek’s eye, many independent artists and fans looked to online music streaming as a new beginning. These services promised a more democratic approach to music discovery than traditional radio and offered the chance to wash away the stains [...]

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Backlash: Does Fan-Engagement Do More Harm Than Good?

Posted on 16. Nov, 2009 by refe.

You can’t really go anywhere in the music industry today without hearing the phrase ‘fan-engagement.’  While most bands have (hopefully) always made an effort to connect with their listeners and fans in a way that goes beyond the music itself, social media has thrust the practice into the spotlight in a big way. Services like [...]

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Social Media and Fan-Driven Promotion

Posted on 11. Nov, 2009 by refe.

This piece originally appeared as a guest post at Audiolife.com.
Social media has brought us into an age where consumers, not companies, determine the market’s perception of brands. This can be frightening for those who are accustomed to doing business at arm’s length with the masses. But there are huge opportunities for those of us who [...]

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The Problem With Music Streaming and Why It’s Only the Beginning

Posted on 08. Nov, 2009 by refe.

There isn’t usually much to talk about when a product is perfect. People may rave for a while, but there’s little to discuss aside from the accusations of a few inevitable dissenters. A product or service that is truly newsworthy, however, is one that is almost perfect – but not quite. An excellent product that [...]

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Mother of All Music Tech Recaps – October Edition

Posted on 02. Nov, 2009 by refe.

This is a guest post by Gabriel Nijmeh, a business analyst and music technology enthusiast.

What a month of news and announcements coming from the digital music and tech world. The big Internet guns (Google, MySpace, Facebook) and a pack of known and new startups were battling for the top digital music business headlines. Funding, new [...]

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