Free Indie Bands download site in S'pore

[Cheez]

Today in Straits Times:


"MUSIC fans can now download songs by indie acts from Singapore and the region from a new website. Phone giant Nokia set up the site, called the Independent Artists Club (IAC), and has set aside 3 million euro (S$6.25 million) over the next three years for the venture. Launched last Thursday, it already has over 40 tracks available for download from Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines. Local bands Firefight, Great Spy Experiment and West Grand Boulevard are featured, with Nokia aiming to add '10 to 20 tracks every month', said company spokesman Lim Wee Khee. The songs, which are not copy protected, are in the MP3 music format and can be played on computers and portable players like iPods or used as phone ringtones. Registered users can download up to five tracks a month free while Nokia phone owners can download 10.
Home-grown indie musicians here looking for an audience are also welcome to upload their music, said Ms Lee. For now, Nokia will administer the upload process but will allow self-uploads by December.
She added: 'We hope to make IAC a living entity for artists to showcase their talent and a resource for consumers to get their music fill.'
While there is no way for the music acts to collect money for the downloads, those that do well will be able to sell their music on Nokia's online music store, which is expected to be launched in the first half of next year.
The store will feature a catalogue of two million songs. Users will also be able to download them straight to higher-end Nokia mobile phones. In Europe, where it will be first launched, each song will cost about 2 euro, with the pricing for Singapore still to be confirmed. Apple's iTunes store, which was launched in 2003, is not available to local users."

 

[soft]

"S$6.25 million over 3 years". And artistes don't get paid?

It is true that mobile phone will emerge as the all-in-one personal entertainment device. Apple is on it too.

 

[Colarndo]

LOL I like the "no way for the music acts to collect money for the downloads"
Not copy protected. Wow, some indie artists spends money on recording and sells his EP, and we can get it for free with no copy protection?
Can we stop buying local albums then if everyone goes the Nokia route?
Just download all the songs and enjoy?

 

[soft]

Digital products like music/video have to re-invent their value proposition. Consumers are NOT going to pay for things they can get for 'free'. So what some marketing gurus are doing is to use these products as an attraction for advertisment.

Something like what radio is doing.

Copy protection is a fading trend. It is costly and not effective. Worst of all, consumers detest it.

 

[litford]

true, i for one and very pleased with this route. i think people should download our music, to try it out, listen to it for themselves, use it in short films, experimental mash-ups, WHATEVER, just get our music out there (but very importantly, if you're downloading and sharing, do it for non-profit purposes. if you're making a profit thru free downloadable music, you are seriously destroying the good name of music and filesharing)

the ones who really like our music, or actually believe in supporting the band, somehow, they'll pay for the music.. i'll admit, this is the part that needs re-jigging

but hopefully we will see more things changing, more venues to play, more gigs, bands collaborating with other bands to do gigs, sharing door sales while the venue gets a bar tab.. more interesting and creative merchandising

i've signed up for the Nokia IAC, and Nokia has always had a good rep in helping local bands. just look at Baybeats.. local bands could do with more avenues, and its great the big companies are seeing value in local acts to invest time and money into our scene!

 

[MadWerewolfBoy]

I've checked it out yesterday. The library of songs seemed small. Maybe they haven't uploaded much yet since they've just started. But it is a good idea to promote music though.

I think they will not make all songs available eg only Flights of Fancy from WGB and Ladeda by Allura is up. I think they're going to keep to one or two songs per band just for promotional purposes.

 

[litford]

bands can look at this in another way, that yes.. do record your songs, take the effort to record it well, and apart from mainstream radio and myspace, or a band's own DIY promotional channels,

there is now a portal that brings like minded bands together, and gives us a platform to showcase our work, and for the chart-minded, it's got a chart to 'compete' on.

well, if you believe that competition helps raise the bar.

i personally believe that singapore music should be constantly raising the bar.