#ArtistData

[brendenmulligan]

My note to ArtistData users about introducing our revenue model

On January 16, 2010, ArtistData introduced a completely new site with premium features and a new user interface. Some previously free features were now part of the premium set. It was a tricky thing to introduce, and this is the note I wrote to the ArtistData community about the transition. Overall, it went well. There was minimal backlash.

The New ArtistData

Today we released the single largest revision to the ArtistData platform. For the past few months we've been reworking and improving the user interface to develop a framework that will allow us to drastically expand our site's capabilities. We are thrilled to share it with everyone today.

Our old user interface was suitable when we initially launched in 2008, but we quickly outgrew it. Today's release is an interface that has a stronger foundation to support future growth, and we believe it is an easier site to use based on your valuable, ongoing feedback. 

So, what's new at ArtistData.com?

There are many back-end upgrades, including time-zone support to make our timed notifications more relevant, full character support so users all over the world can use their native characters and a ton of smaller bug fixes just to make the site work better.

The biggest and most visible user interface change is the way we organize our features. While previously the features were mashed together on one huge, confusing screen, now they are presented as separate installable applications. You can expect to see this application library grow this year as we introduce more apps that we build, as well as introduce 3rd party applications. This is a major step in our goal to provide artists with a central platform containing a robust set of apps built by a number of different developers.

All of this leads to the biggest change of all for the company and our users: not all apps are free.

For the past 18 months we've been working through our initial beta, adding functionality and helping artists. And we've been doing it all without charging.

Today, we're taking an exciting step that will help us support the growth and development of our platform. Think of us as the local band that's been playing free shows while building a fan base. Now we need to tour, pay for gas, and reach new markets, but we'll need to ask our fans to support us by paying for our shows and merch.

We didn't come to this decision lightly. I've personally spent a large amount of the past year debating the most responsible way of asking working musicians for part of their earnings. I've talked to mentors, industry partners, and most importantly, many many artists. We've conducted surveys and have had hundreds of conversations with ArtistData users.

Our top priority has always been and will continue to be to keep unlimited use of the site's core functionality absolutely free. We do not want to charge artists to sync their basic data across websites. Most advisors thought we were nuts, because it is for this very feature that artists use and love our site. They said giving it away for free was a bad idea. I don't disagree with them, but I also believe that bands should be able to update their network in an efficient way without having to pay.

So we're not charging for our core syncing app. Unlimited updates to as many sites as you want. Free.

What we have done instead, and will continue to do, is build value and enhancements to that core product. Users can choose the enhancements a la carte or upgrade to one of our bundles.

We know going from a free service to a partially paid service is a tough transition, and we're expecting to hear frustration. But we're excited to make this transition because it will just make ArtistData stronger, smarter and more valuable not only for our users but for the music industry as a whole. Just as artists can buy better gear after their fans support them by buying albums and concert tickets, we will be able to build a stronger platform when our users support us. This is a major, exciting step towards providing the entire community with better resources.

We hope you all understand why it's important for ArtistData to take this step, and we also hope you think we've done it in a responsible way.

I'd like to thank everyone for their support through this journey so far. I speak for the whole team when I say it's an honor to be able to serve such a creative, inspirational community.

Speaking of the team, I'd like to personally thank our newest members Brandon and Matt for quickly acclimating and making the new site even better. Also, a huge debt of gratitude goes out to Lincy Peyoli, who for the past two years has worked tirelessly on building ArtistData and is about to take some much deserved time off to welcome her first child into the world. You guys are amazing.

Lots more to come from ArtistData in 2010. For now, go check out the site.

Brenden

[socialsoundsystem]

‪@Onesheet Introduction‬‏

via youtube.com

[quentin-david]

Recap of the week : Soulbeats, Barbey et Bordeaux Rock

Au menu cette semaine, que du bon !

A Soulbeats Records, entre référencements pour des dates de concert et la création d'un mini dossier expliquant l'intérêt de l'optimisation du site internet ainsi que les bases du SEO, je cherche les outils qui peuvent faciliter la vie du musicien et du label. La plupart sont déjà connus d'entre nous, et pourtant ils ne sont que peu exploités.

Connaissiez-vous ArtistData ? Cette plateforme en ligne permet de synchroniser différents comptes sur les réseaux sociaux (Facebook, Twitter, Myspace, Purevolume) et de poster à tous ces endroits en ne rédigeant qu'un seul post ! En outre, ArtistData permet d'indexer vos dates de concerts sur plusieurs plateformes dédiées, telles que Bandsintown, également de créer vos fiches recap' de tournée... Les groupes US ont la chance d'avoir les médias locaux qui sont prévenus lorsque vous entrez une nouvelle date de concert. Bref, l'outil est une tuerie. Au rayon de mes préférés, nous retrouvons LiveStream, qui permet de diffuser de la vidéo en streaming, et ce en direct ! Super cool si vous voulez partager votre répét' ou un bout de résidence. Mention spéciale également à Tweet for a Track, permettant de télécharger un titre gratuit en échange d'un partage sur les réseaux sociaux.

Au fait, l'album de The Skints "Part & Parcel" sort aujourd'hui en France ! N'hésitez pas à aller écouter l'album, à vous tenir au courant de l'actu et à acheter si vous aimez ! Certains outils vus précédemment pourraient bien être mis en place prochainement, et c'est tout benef' pour vous...

Autre grand moment de la semaine dernière, la première partie de Kenza Farah à Barbey ! Ce fut ENORME, sincèrement. Kila a un véritable public qui le suit, et le courant est très bien passé sur scène ! Mention spéciale au moment où tous les briquets et portables étaient en l'air, ça m'a coupé le souffle ! Ce qui fait extrêmement plaisir quand on est musicien, c'est de voir que les gens vous suivent dans ce que vous faites. Un véritable échange, et vous étiez présents ce vendredi soir, merci beaucoup ! Merci à tous les autres zicos, aux choristes, à Kila, et à vous, à vous dans la salle. Thanks a lot ! ça donne envie de vous en mettre encore plus plein la vue sur scène !

C'est également la sortie de l'album de Kila, Inégalable, pour seulement 2€ ! L'album est dispo sur le net, et en physique également ! Petite info, certains Leclerc abritent déjà l'album dans leurs bacs, et ce n'est pas fini ! Nous reviendrons plus tard sur la stratégie mise en place par cet artiste qui se bouge réellement pour son public et sa musique.

Toujours au rayon actu musique, l'album de notre groupe Clyde n'est pas encore sorti que les covers circulent déjà sur le net ! Vous pouvez écouter une version acoustique de No ID Card faite par notre chanteur Cheeps sur Youtube.

Et rayon journalisme, retrouvez comme prévu l'interview des joyeux lurons de Smooth Reverend sur Room 72, ainsi que le recap' de la première partie de Booooordeaux Rock !

[brendenmulligan]

Acquired

On Monday, we announced that ArtistData had been acquired by Sonicbids. It marked a major milestone in my career as an entrepreneur and was day full of excitement, emotions, joy, exhaustion, and plenty of other feelings.

The deal was actually signed a few weeks ago, but we wanted to wait to announce it so we could get our ducks in a row. We needed to come up with a valuable offer for users of ArtistData as a welcome gift from Sonicbids, write FAQs, create graphics, and align our messaging.  Truthfully, we also wanted to wait for some of the iPhone 4 buzz to die down.

Waiting was painful. Panos and I had been talking about this potential acquisition for over a year and recently had been consumed by getting the deal done. When we got it finalized, all we wanted to do was tell everyone we knew. But we decided to wait, which was the right move.

I'm going to do a series of blog posts about the whole process. It was a fascinating journey that led me to the most exciting day of my career. I'm thankful that i was given the opportunity to take that journey, and thrilled for whats ahead.

[brendenmulligan]

Matt Moran, a longtime ArtistData user, reached out to ask me some questions about the past, present, and future of ArtistData, as well as entrepreneurship, living in different cities, and music in general. Check it out ..