Intro

WELCOME TO THE DIGITAL HARMONY MUSIC INDUSTRY INFORMATION WEB SITE VERSION 2

WHO ARE WE?

Digital Harmony is a music production company with our own recording studio based in Wahroonga. I have also managed a number of artists over the last decade and this site is free information for everyone. I just want to share with people what I have learned. I have given away my manager's license to pursue my own artistic endeavours both as a producer in the studio and as a bass player.

If you are looking to do some recording and are serious about doing a really good job on a couple of songs give me a call. I am especially good at producing female vocals. See the Services page for more information about what we do.

THIS SITE HAD HAD A RECENT REFRESH TO BRING IT UP TO VERSION 2 BUT THE REFRESH IS STILL A WORK IN PROGRESS

The Internet has changed everything in the last few years. There is still no "tried and true" road to success using the Internet as things are developing and changing so quickly. The Internet has become a primary tool for musicians to start building the buzz for themselves.

I have a commitment to quality and bringing you nothing but the best information for free. Things on the Internet are changing quickly so I will frequently update the site as I build my experience.

STRAIGHT TO THE POINT

The music industry is very much a victim of corporatisation and globalisation especially in the English speaking world. This means that product produced by a few companies in Hollywood and New York account for about 70% of the total music sold in the world. These companies have massive market research and marketing budgets and employ some of the best marketing and production people in the world. The trick is to find competitive advantages so the likes of you and me to compete with these global marketing machines.

If you have had trouble getting a deal with a major record company consider that Sony BMG knocked back Russell Crowe, the world famous actor, because they are were too busy with their existing acts to take on Russell. It is important to have a realistic appreciation of how hard it is to succeed in this industry, but it is not impossible.

Any plan that relies on 'sending stuff to record companies' is doomed from the start. This is more true today than ever before. A good plan involves building such a vibe that they come to you.

Signing an artist to remove them as competition

I have heard numerous alligations of record companies signing artists not with the intention of recording and releasing music but just for the purpose of taking them out of the market so they can’t compete with the artist the company is promoting. I don’t believe that this really occurs. However, if it did happen it could be a breach of Section 52 of the Trade Practices Act. It could be considered “deceptive conduct by a corporation” and if proven could open the record company up to legal liability that could get you millions of dollars in damages.

Section 52 of the Trade Practices Act prohibits misleading or deceptive conduct or which is likely to mislead or deceive. It is intended to promote a duty of care regardless of intent.

A plaintiff (you) must prove;

The defendant is a corporation;
Engaged in trade or commerce; and
The conduct was, or likely to mislead or deceive.

It is not necessary to prove that the action to mislead or deceive was intentional.

If you really believe that this has happened to you then I would love to become your manager. I will either get the record company motivated to fulfill their contract with you or have the lawyers on to them. Please call me if this has actually happened to you.

Usually to get a record deal in Australia as a you need to be famous from TV - Neighbours, Australian Idol or Home & Away OR build your own vibe using the Internet and playing live and leverage the activity around those gigs to build a vibe through coverage in the media. (The live work can include DJ work.)

We have studied the way many people in the industry have succeeded and how many have failed. There are common threads to stories of success and you can follow other people's path to success. At the same time you can avoid other's mistakes. Most of the advice you get from well meaning people is advice from people who have not been successful in the music industry. The result of this is that many commonly held beliefs about succeeding in the music industry are not true. In an effort to bring you high quality advice I have sought feedback from serious players in the industry. This includes artists who have had Top 10 records in Australia and USA, record company A&R Managers and other members of the Music Managers Forum. Most of the feedback has been totally in agreement and at other times I have changed parts of the site. What do YOU think? Send me your feedback.

MORE THAN EVERY IT IS ABOUT DOING GOOD ORIGINAL MUSIC

Listen to music on www.MySpace.com to keep in touch with what people are doing around the world. This is the quickest and easiest connection with the "Underground".

Get really good and practice. Being just another average singer, songwriter or band is going to give you average results. In April 1996, in an interview with Guitar World, when asked about how he went from playing his first open A chord to playing "Eruption", Eddie Van Halen replied:

“Practice. I used to sit on the edge of my bed with a six-pack of Schlitz Malt talls. My brother would go out at 7pm to party and get laid, and when he'd come back at 3am, I would still be sitting in the same place, playing guitar. I did that for years — I still do that."

THIS IS THE SECRET TO SUCCESS - SHORT AND SIMPLE

Basically you get famous by: Building a buzz around yourselves using the media, Internet and live performances. While the buzz is on the boil, record and release a series of "radio friendly unit movers" that become HITS. The HITS are what make you famous.

To sell an interesting number of CDs you need tens of thousands of people out there who have had a positive experience of your music. This experience can come from: Downloading an MP3 from your web site, downloading a QuickTime video of a live gig, seeing you live, hearing yon on the radio or seeing your film clip on TV. The experience can be reinforced by things in the print media and advertising. Advertising alone can not sell music. It is a numbers game.

It is just that it is easier said than done!

Check out the articles on this site that have been published by Drum Media, IMMEDIA!, BarFly and others. Note, I am not selling anything. These days I have too much money to be interested it trying to get my hands on your money. I am just giving away information for free.
info@digitalharmony.com.au

NOW PRESS EACH OF THE LINKS YOU CAN SEE ON THE LEFT TO GET TO THE GOOD INFORMATION

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I value your feedback and peer review. Please send me your comments to: info@digitalharmony.com.au