FREE Exposure of your music

[DwaneHollands]

OK, it's not like winning the Public Exposure Lottery, but it's still FREE and who knows, maybe you'll sell a few songs.

Background Information
My Parents and I own a printing company in Darwin, Northern Territory. We print things such as business cards, magazines, brochures, flyers etc etc. As a promotional mechanism we give away A3 deskpads to our customers and business prospects. We generally print 500-1000 desk calendars per print run. 25 sheets per pad of the same print. It's printed on a 110gsm uncoated (or commonly referred to as 'Bond') paper. All in full colour.

Instead of printing really boring things like pictures of our equipment - like most printers do - we like do things a little different. We pick a topic or look for interesting photographs to showcase our print quality. We've done things such as images from the Mars Rover project, Boats in Docks and most recently Vintage Stamps.

Well it's coming up to the end of the financial year and I've been asked to do a financial year calendar. Being a TRM Forum addict I thought I would do something that benefits the members of the forum. I would like to do an iTunes artist series. Something along the lines of "Quality Australian Music from the Hidden Gems of the Music Industry" (I'm still working on that title. lol)

Conditions
The offer is this. I'm looking for 1 major and 8 minor itunes artists. Major artist has been chosen, just waiting on confirmation. The artist/music must be family friendly music. (no swearing, booty shaking, or any kind of explicit content etc).

Requirements (please list your info 1 through 6)
1. I will need the Album or Single cover artwork in high resolution PDF or PSD format.
2. Description of the artist/style or song if it's a single. (3 sentences)
3. the Long URL for your music on iTunes
4. the best "Search Term" to find your album in iTunes.
5. The music category in iTunes
6. (optional: myspace URL and/or Bandsite URL)

Major Artist will get the 'primary branding position'. The 8 minor artists will each get a thumbnail of their album artwork, their info etc printed on the desk calendar. We will distribute these to our clients and prospects in Darwin NT.

Can the artists get a few copies of the Deskpads?
Yes, we allocate 5 FREE deskpads for each artist who makes it onto the calendar. You don't have to pay for them. However, you'll need to pay shipping. I will need to see if they can fit in a 5KG auspost airbag which is about $20. (we're not trying to make money out of this process, but we do need to charge freight)

Again, it's not like all your Christmas's have come at once. But it is free and who knows whether you can sell a few records through it. I certainly hope it's a run away success for all the artists!

How do I get in?
First 8 members to post after my initial post with all the information completed will get in. (There is still an approval process, if the Directors aren't happy for whatever reason with the artwork or content of the music or anything, they still have the right to boot you. sorry)

The High Resolution album artwork will need to be forwarded to:
s a l e s @ h o l l a nd s . co m . au
(without the spaces - we hate spam too!)

We will need the artwork shortly after. I understand tracking down the designer can take a little time. We are reasonable. But if we simply cannot get the artwork, I'm afraid you'll get the boot. We have to produce these for the financial year which is quickly approaching.

I will need the format of your information in list format one through six, like I formatted. This way people who want to ask a question, don't have to fear 'upsetting' the apple cart. I'll only count those posts which have the list format.

Why bother, the first 8 are already taken?
Post your info anyway - even if there are 20! If we get a great response to this, we may pull out a few more stops ; ) I have a contingency plan.

When?
Your time starts now. Gentlemen start your engines. Turn your key sir!
(of course ladies are welcome)

Dwane Hollands
Business Development

Hollands Print Solutions Pty Ltd
Phone (08) 89 327 400
Fax (08) 89 327 411
www.hollands.com.au

P.S. Feel free to call if you want to discuss it. It is a long distance call, so you may want to PM instead. Up to you. Good Luck.

[TimS]

Dwane,
I will email you tonight.

[SteveL]

PM'd you Dwane.

Steve

[Chinagraf]

Good onya Dwayne, nice gesture. (Don't count me as one of the 8 though. I have nothing to peddle atm)

[rick]

Looks like a great idea if you have an act to expose get onto it me thinks

[Chris H]

I will take a spot on the list for one of my clients.

[DwaneHollands]

Good onya Dwayne, nice gesture. (Don't count me as one of the 8 though. I have nothing to peddle atm)

Hey Andy.

It doesn't have to be your latest works. It does have to be already on iTunes. But if you have gems that you've published before from years ago. That's fine.

What I've been telling the guys is that it's about digging up those little buried treasures that the general public would likely never find on their own.

Oh, and instrumental music is fine aswell!

[DwaneHollands]

PM'd you Dwane.

Steve

OK I have our first Approved Artist by Steve Lindsay of Oceanic Records.

1. Artwork coming (I'm setting up an FTP account - so not his fault for the delay)
2. "If Your Love is Real" is the debut single from gorgeous 18-year-old Sydney singer/songwriter Laura-Leigh. This catchy motown-styled pop stomper is infused with soaring strings, brass and a groove that goes on for days! Released by Oceanic Records, Sydney.
3. http://itunes.apple.com/au/album/if-you ... =306932294
4. Laura-Leigh
5. Pop

Congratulations Steve! (this is a good example of the list format that I'm so obsessed with ; ) Great description too!

[DwaneHollands]

We have our second approved artist. Stephen Angus with his song "Lest We Forget". We were thrilled with this Patriotic Australiana Ballard which we think will strike a chord with the local community!

1. Sent
2. A powerful and stirring piano based ballad written and sung by Stephen Angus as a tribute to all the Australian's who lost their lives in conflict and for those who are left to mourn - Lest We Forget! (We are forever grateful for their sacrifice.) Published thru Hardrush Music Corp.
3. http://itunes.apple.com/album/lest-we-f ... d312783917
4. Stephen Angus Lest We Forget
5. Inspirational
6. http://www.myspace.com/stephenangus

Congratulations Angus!

[DwaneHollands]

We have third artist. Lyndon Wesley with his Stupid Adventures album. Thanks to Chris Hallam.

1. Being Sent
2. "Lyndon Wesley moves from shimmering jazz to urban folk and edgy pop in an album of precocious musicality…this is cool music with a touch of finesse."(Paul Isbel, The Age)
3. http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/too-la ... mpt=uo%3D4
4. Stupid Adventures
5.Rock

Congratulations!

[heathen]

Knew it would be popular mate. Just wish we had some stuff without @#$%'s and #$^#'s and #$%@'s in the songs.

[DwaneHollands]

Knew it would be popular mate. Just wish we had some stuff without @#$%'s and #$^#'s and #$%@'s in the songs.

Yeah man it's a bummer, would have loved to have your stuff on there!

[DwaneHollands]

Keep 'em coming guys. Still have spots free!

[DwaneHollands]

Just thought I'd show a current work-in-progress of the deskpad design. I normally hate doing this before I've finished it.

But anything for the Trockers! Yes, I know the information is not correct in there. Don't worry, I will be inputting that soon. Mainly working out the overall layout at this point.

[SteveL]

Looking good Dwane! Thumbs up for a great initiative.....

Steve

[DwaneHollands]

Thanks Guys. Getting there now. I have two more spots available...There were 8, now there are 10... So if anyone has any eligible albums or singles, PM me the info!

[DwaneHollands]

Here the latest progress on the DeskPad Calendar.

Added some Chicken Head knobs that I photographed and 'deep etched' off the new Vox Satchurator pedal. haha. It looks rough as a preview, but it will turn out smooth in the final printed result. (common display issue)

And a little reminder to anyone who still needs to get me artwork. Thanks guys.

Picture 16.png

[Sammas]

Looking good, Dwane!


Keep me posted on the progress as I will shoot you some dosh to bang a few in the mail. =)

[DwaneHollands]

I had emailed Apple's iTunes marketing team a while ago and only got a response back today. But the good news is I can use the 'Available on Itunes" logo on the deskpad with their consent. Just a nice 'credibility stamp' to add to it.

They made a great suggestion too about creating an iMix with all the artists songs into one playlist, and have a link to that playlist, which I'm thrilled with since it makes it one link the end user has to use and they get all the music we've recommended. Great for Techno-phobes.

So I'm just re-hashing some of the instructions on the deskpad and re-shuffling a few things. Soon, very soon now!

[DwaneHollands]

OK Guys,

This is pretty much the final version. Just need to run it past management and get final approval.

HPS_Deskcalendars2010B.jpg

We're not using the long iTunes links for each artist. Just using the keyword search terms. Apple recommended we create an iMix and include all the artists which I've done. So it has this crazy long link which again is not the most practical. But I created a TinyURL for it, so it's nice and short and does the trick!

So we've got 10 artists all up. Thanks for everyone's participation and comments. Will let everyone know when they're printed up!

[DwaneHollands]

Hi Guys,

Just posting an update on the Deskcalendars. They went to press today

Here are some snapshots of the progress: If you're wondering the A3 Calendars are printed 2-UP to an A2 sheet since the press is an A2 format press and it cuts the time in half. That's why you see two copies of the desk calendar per sheet.

P1010013.jpg

P1010021.jpg

P1010023.jpg

P1010040.jpg

[Sammas]

By geez... that isn't your usual printer

Looking great, Dwane!

[DwaneHollands]

Thanks Nath!

Can't wait to get them into peoples hands!

Yeah that's 12.5 tons of printing press! That's how we roll! Lol.

[Chinagraf]

Could probably get some decent drum sounds in that room hey....

[DwaneHollands]

Could probably get some decent drum sounds in that room hey....

Hey Andy,

Actually, I haven't even tried it to tell you the truth. Yeah we've got a lot of room here in the factory. But, I'm over the whole "10 mic preamps, mics, stands, leads, getting in a drummer to make a song, waiting for a good performance etc". Hence my obsession with BFD2. I can start working on a song at any time. Because, I can't drum to save myself. haha.

However, BFD2 still needs a lot of work to get the kit sounding good, and I haven't by any stretch of the imagination, nailed it yet. Been focusing on buying higher quality outboard gear for mixing and tracking other instruments.

Then again, I pretty much said I would never try and mic an guitar cabinent again and just stick to Amplitube 2.....I haven't used amplitube 2 (or any sim) for 6 months +. I don't even have it installed anymore. lol.

[DwaneHollands]

The time has come my fellow trockers!

The Deskpads are now ready! As promised each artist (or their studio) is entitled to 5 free deskpads. $20 for an Australia Post 5kg overnight satchel (chosen for size, not weight). Paypal fees will make up the difference.

If you want to stake your claim to what's rightly yours, send your 20 via Paypal to:
sales@hollands.com.au

DeskpadFinished.jpg