The road to indie artist fame and fortune got a fast lane this week with the launch of four new Web sites designed to aid up-and-coming artists distribute their music as well as attract the attention of recording industry players.
The new sites are the latest developments resulting from the relationship between major label Universal Music Group and music distributor TuneCore, which distributes, for a fee, indie artists’ music to online music services.
The sites – UniMoDigitalDistribution.com, InterscopeDigitalDistribution.com, Republicdd.com and IDJFirstLook.com – have similar functions in that they enable new artists, through TuneCore, to distribute their music to online stores such as iTunes, Rhapsody, Amazon MP3, Shockhound, eMusic and Napster.
However, each Web site will be monitored by A&R execs from various labels within the Universal family.
Interscope / Geffen / A&M Records is behind InterscopeDigitalDistribution.com, Island Def Jam Music Group is involved with IDJFirstLook.com, and Universal Motown Republic Group will work with two Web sites – UniMoDigitalDistribution.com and Republicdd.com.
But the game plan for each site is the same – not only enabling artists by distributing their music, but to connect those artists with major label execs as well as established artists monitoring the Web sites searching for tomorrow’s stars today.
Sure, there have been DIY music Web sites for aspiring artists before, but never has a major label been so deeply involved. By creating four separate sites, unsigned artists can determine which Universal imprint they want to direct their music to, and hopefully get a little lovin’ from record company execs.
TuneCore founder and CEO Jeff Price refers to the new Web sites and his company’s alliance with Universal as “DIY done right” and will help artists reach wider audiences while retaining control of their music.
“It’s our job to serve and connect artists with opportunities they choose and want,” Price said. “If an artist’s goal is to be part of one of the most recognizable names in music, this relationship will potentially provide them a direct in to help them get heard and discovered by the people they want to reach, all while having complete control.”
Click here for UniMoDigitalDistribution.com.
Click here for InterscopeDigitalDistribution.com.
Click here for IDJFirstLook.com.
Click here for Republicdd.com.