Since I’ve created this little niche in the music blog world a few years back I’ve been encouraged to see independent artists embrace the digital age. Typically the types of artists I write about are not exactly computer savvy. So it’s nice to see artists like Hang Jones from San Francisco jumping on the digital bandwagon to promote their new music. Here’s bandleader Stephen Grillos on the new music marketing realities:
“Traditional music distribution is failing, and the record companies are having a tough time finding a business model that works,” said Grillos. Direct digital marketing using the internet has worked for bands like Radiohead and Nine Inch Nails, and Grillos believes it can work for indie artists too. “In this internet world, the fans, not the record labels, decide what they want to listen to. But, with so many bands trying to cut through the static, you’ve got to give the people something worth noticing.”
Hang Jones’ new record chronicles the Outlaw William Bishop; it’s called The Ballad Of Carlsbad County. The songs I’ve heard are rooted in this fictional character and the music of the american frontier. Each week the band will release one song (each one a “chapter” in the story) on their website. Here’s the first, “Caroline”, which sets up the story with a woman named Caroline in the middle of it.
The record’s not scheduled to be released until the fall but you can sign up here to be on a mailing list to receive news of when it is available.