10 Questions is a Musformation feature where we sit down and ask relevant bands, promoters, DJ's, engineers, etc. to tell us about what they do so that you might learn something from them. Even if it isn't your genre or style, pay attention - you might learn something or discover someone new that you like. This week we talked to NYC's Carmine P. Filthy - a DJ, promoter and now a co-founder of a record label (Buzzard Gultch) that is off to a great start with an awesome new electronic compilation called "It Came From the Blog" featuring all "Blog House" music. Follow after the jump and we'll dive right in with some interesting Q&A.
1. Your new Blog House comp "It Came From The Blog" is doing very well online with sites like Beat Port. It appears you guys only have a Myspace page. To what do you attribute your success?
The strength of the compilation relies on two main things. The first is the talent of the artists signed to the compilation and the second is our on-going dialogue with the top tastemakers in music right now, the bloggers. Without the bloggers constant flow of listening to and then covering new music, 'It Came From The Blog' would not have it's unique appeal. Our promotional arm of Coco Machete / Buzzard Gulch, Low Life Inc., has been working to create a dialogue with as many bloggers as possible over the last year, this certainly paid off as well. The follow up, 'Attack of The Blog' will be out in late July or early August and will involve the bloggers who first covered the artists even more so than this first edition in the series.
2. Your agreements with bands through your label Buzzard Gultch are non-exclusive. With the industry turned on its ear lately, what do you see as the best relationship for artists and labels now?
I really can't say I have one concrete answer for this question. The music industry has reached a point of limitless opportunities for the right labels and artists. The days of making any significant amount of money simply by selling your music has passed us by however, that isn't to say that with the right relationships some money can't be made through sales. I suggest new and upcoming artists realize these facts and not expect the type of advances artists may have been offered even five years ago. There is no stopping file sharing and bloggers posting tracks for free but, if you get to them first with the content you most want featured it will definitely lower the amount of other content being posted.
3. What is the biggest mistake you see in people promoting themselves these days?
If by people, you mean producers, DJs and Bands, I would say not involving themselves with the music bloggers. Also, a constant flow of music to the bloggers certainly helps too. It keeps you in their ears and on their blog hopefully. I look at the careers of Crookers, Santigold, Justice and dozens of other acts that have had saturation on the blogs for a long time prior to their massive success we know of today.
4. What is the biggest mistake you see a bands/DJ's make in playing live?
Taking themselves too seriously, but that's been there forever. I've always involved myself in music because I have no other choice, it's what gets me going in the morning and what helps me get to bed at night. I just suggest that bands and DJs remember that this is fun.
5. What advice can you give for a band/DJ to build up a buzz?
Send your music to your favorite blogs every time you have new material you want feedback on and want to share or hire me to help you do it.
6. You're a guy who seems to know everyone. What tips can you give on networking?
I wish there was a simple answer to it. I have a rather strong personality so in some circles you might call me infamous and in others I may be adored and respected. The truth is that there isn't a formula for getting people to know your name and what you're about. Even when you spend a great deal of time making it clear, there still is a chance it will be reinterpreted.
7. I know you've promoted to radio in the past. Where do you see radio fitting in now with promotion?
Well standard radio is becoming a smaller and smaller market. With the rise of sites like Jango.com and Pandora, not to mention the satelitte radio movement, the days of Commercial and Non-Commercial radio are slowly fading away. When the megamediator (the Internet) is in the game, you might as well through in the towel.
8. Especially in NYC, everyone is a DJ. But what do you see as the difference that separates those who actually make money at it and those who don't?
I never got into Djing to make money or be famous. I got into DJing because I loved dancing at clubs. I wanted to be on the other side of it, so I started playing parties. I just feel that anyone entering an artistic venture with making money as their main focus is doing it for the worst and wrong reasons.
9. How has the importance of playing live/touring changed in the industry for DJ's and Electronic music?
It's important because it is the main way to make money these days. If you're in it, make remixes and DJ mixes and original productions and get them out there for people to listen and download. I suggest Fairtilizer.com or SoundCloud as a great free tool to post your tracks and get stats on where the tracks is being listened and downloaded from.
10. What should artists be concentrating more on (or what can bands to better than labels)?
Make it precious and personal.
Carmine P. Filthy can be reached at various spots online. He is currently working on the third compilation 'Evil Blog 2' for an October release as well as running Low Life Inc. promoting artists and labels to Blogs and online media.
Myspace
Fairtilzer
The strength of the compilation relies on two main things. The first is the talent of the artists signed to the compilation and the second is our on-going dialogue with the top tastemakers in music right now, the bloggers. Without the bloggers constant flow of listening to and then covering new music, 'It Came From The Blog' would not have it's unique appeal. Our promotional arm of Coco Machete / Buzzard Gulch, Low Life Inc., has been working to create a dialogue with as many bloggers as possible over the last year, this certainly paid off as well. The follow up, 'Attack of The Blog' will be out in late July or early August and will involve the bloggers who first covered the artists even more so than this first edition in the series.
2. Your agreements with bands through your label Buzzard Gultch are non-exclusive. With the industry turned on its ear lately, what do you see as the best relationship for artists and labels now?
I really can't say I have one concrete answer for this question. The music industry has reached a point of limitless opportunities for the right labels and artists. The days of making any significant amount of money simply by selling your music has passed us by however, that isn't to say that with the right relationships some money can't be made through sales. I suggest new and upcoming artists realize these facts and not expect the type of advances artists may have been offered even five years ago. There is no stopping file sharing and bloggers posting tracks for free but, if you get to them first with the content you most want featured it will definitely lower the amount of other content being posted.
3. What is the biggest mistake you see in people promoting themselves these days?
If by people, you mean producers, DJs and Bands, I would say not involving themselves with the music bloggers. Also, a constant flow of music to the bloggers certainly helps too. It keeps you in their ears and on their blog hopefully. I look at the careers of Crookers, Santigold, Justice and dozens of other acts that have had saturation on the blogs for a long time prior to their massive success we know of today.
4. What is the biggest mistake you see a bands/DJ's make in playing live?
Taking themselves too seriously, but that's been there forever. I've always involved myself in music because I have no other choice, it's what gets me going in the morning and what helps me get to bed at night. I just suggest that bands and DJs remember that this is fun.
5. What advice can you give for a band/DJ to build up a buzz?
Send your music to your favorite blogs every time you have new material you want feedback on and want to share or hire me to help you do it.
6. You're a guy who seems to know everyone. What tips can you give on networking?
I wish there was a simple answer to it. I have a rather strong personality so in some circles you might call me infamous and in others I may be adored and respected. The truth is that there isn't a formula for getting people to know your name and what you're about. Even when you spend a great deal of time making it clear, there still is a chance it will be reinterpreted.
7. I know you've promoted to radio in the past. Where do you see radio fitting in now with promotion?
Well standard radio is becoming a smaller and smaller market. With the rise of sites like Jango.com and Pandora, not to mention the satelitte radio movement, the days of Commercial and Non-Commercial radio are slowly fading away. When the megamediator (the Internet) is in the game, you might as well through in the towel.
8. Especially in NYC, everyone is a DJ. But what do you see as the difference that separates those who actually make money at it and those who don't?
I never got into Djing to make money or be famous. I got into DJing because I loved dancing at clubs. I wanted to be on the other side of it, so I started playing parties. I just feel that anyone entering an artistic venture with making money as their main focus is doing it for the worst and wrong reasons.
9. How has the importance of playing live/touring changed in the industry for DJ's and Electronic music?
It's important because it is the main way to make money these days. If you're in it, make remixes and DJ mixes and original productions and get them out there for people to listen and download. I suggest Fairtilizer.com or SoundCloud as a great free tool to post your tracks and get stats on where the tracks is being listened and downloaded from.
10. What should artists be concentrating more on (or what can bands to better than labels)?
Make it precious and personal.
Carmine P. Filthy can be reached at various spots online. He is currently working on the third compilation 'Evil Blog 2' for an October release as well as running Low Life Inc. promoting artists and labels to Blogs and online media.
Myspace
Fairtilzer
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