Written by: Adam Christianson
Categories: Cool Stuff, News
I had been meaning to promote this earlier, but you know how it goes. If you get a chance and have an extra USD$0.99 to spend today, please go here and click the iTunes link to buy a copy of the track “Mine Again” by the band Black Lab. Why? Well, Christopher Penn from the Financial Aid podcast had this idea to show the power of podcasting and independent music promotion. He plans to take an indie podsafe music track to number one on the iTunes charts, at least for one day. He picked the track “Mine Again” by the band Black Lab because the band was dropped from not just one, but two major record labels (Geffen and Sony/Epic). To make matters worse, the band was forced to fight the labels just to get their own music back. So, if we as individuals can make them number one, even for just one day, it will remind the RIAA and the record labels of what they turned their backs on. We can prove to the labels that bands no longer need them to gain commercial success and artists have options beyond signing draconian record deals. The other great thing about this promotion is that Chris set up an iTunes affiliate link and every commission made on the sale of “Mine Again” will be donated to college scholarships. Not only that, but Black Lab has taken it up another notch and 50% of their earnings are going to be donated to the scholarship fund as well. So join me, other podcasters, and listeners today as we fight back for indie music artists and take back charts.
Interesting social experiment Adam. Bought it just to see if we can show. Nay sayers seem not to get it over at Digg. The song is no relevent. Showing the power of the web, podcasting and the people is.
Although I’m against buying DRM’ed media at iTunes, I bought the song, which I really liked. It is the only song I bought so far, and probably the last for a long time to come. I can put aside my “preconceptions” for a good cause, as can any critic on digg. Just for once do the right thing. Those poor students can use the money, and it is good to show that big media isn’t always in control of our music preference by doing payola.
Anyway, look at the Rock song charts:
http://www.apple.com/euro/itunes/charts/top10rocksongs.html
At this moment 21:48 GMT, in the top 10 of Netherlands and Sweden.
I know digg really isn’t the issue here,but the negativity on that site is disgusting to me and will be its downfall.
I too bought the track and kinda like it. I hope the experiment goes well.
I bought the track. I liked to see the experiment do well. I agree though that all the negative crap over on digg will not help matters. It simply is amazing that people cannot remember a simple rule- if you dont have anything constructive to say just shut up. Well I guess I will follow my own rule. Good luck.
Actually, Mark Nemcoff from Pacific Coast Hellway and Mike Yusi from UC Radio created Bum Rush the Charts. My role is as the scholarships guy.
Somehow this reeks of Adam Curry Podshow self promotion, much like when he changed his wiki entry to eliminate credit from someone else.
“So join me, other podcasters, and listeners today as we fight back for indie music artists and take back charts.”
Adam, as an old head who has been listening to music “left of the dial since 1977, I can assure you, indie, punk, new wave never really made the charts to take back in the first place. Billboard simply created a new chart for them calling it college or whatever. Besides, whenever someone made it big, the crowd cried sellout and moved on to the next new band.