Between updating their subscription plans and experimenting with more visual profiles (still in early beta), SoundCloud has been on fire lately. ComScore even recently reported that their traffic increased by 26% in one month, making SoundCloud the 8th fastest growing site in the U.S. Though it’s certainly evolved since its launch in Berlin in …
You might know The Orchard as a global music and film distribution company but do you know much about the people behind the name? We have over 175 employees worldwide all hailing from different backgrounds, boasting different lines of expertise, and coming from all walks of life. We thought it’d be fun …
Videos are by far the most engaging form of social content. This isn’t exactly a new discovery, but there’s a lot of missed potential by bands that claim to have a YouTube presence. The common misconception is that your music videos go up on YouTube and you’re done. Although MTV …
Between Amanda Palmer and Veronica Mars, crowdfunding has proven its worth beyond the shadow of a doubt. In one year alone, global crowdfunding initiatives grew 81% to generate a reported $2.7 BILLION. Of that, music-related projects represented a very respectable $202.5 million, i.e. 7.5% of all raised funds and 4th most …
For our latest Marketplace case study, we invited the folks at iPluggers to share some success stories from their users. From Latin to Pop, Electronic to Classical, these artists have all seen great results with the service. Read up below, and be sure to check iPluggers out in The Orchard Marketplace. Find out more about them, including special pricing for The Orchard’s clients, on their One-Sheet.
iPluggers is a digital plugging platform, servicing over 30,000 radio stations worldwide. Artists and labels have successfully used iPluggers to get airplay in countries all over the world, further strengthening their fanbase.
We have asked a few artists to share their stories with us.
Bongomatik
Genre: Latin / Pop / Jazz
Background: JJA Jazz Awards nominee
We choose iPluggers for our radio promotion due to its enormous reach and network: iPluggers spreads our music to radio stations we could have never reached by ourselves.
Before we started looking into digital radio promotion, we hired a traditional radio promoter which would promote our single to radio stations in The Netherlands. Costs were approx. €2500. Although we gained some airplay from his activities, we found that with traditional radio promotion, getting insight in the results is not always that easy.
When we started working with iPluggers, the costs of radio promotion of a single is about 10% of what we’d normally pay, we have direct insight in the results and we reach radio stations worldwide instead of being limited to our own country.
We would recommend that artists who have the resources to pay for traditional radio promotion do both traditional and digital radio promotion. Every band or record label should consider using iPluggers for their (digital) radio promotion: they just do what they promise to do and the communication with them is extremely smooth.
In addition to radio promotion, we make active use of our social media networks like Twitter and Facebook. Additionally, we also send our album for reviews to the press (both online and printed music media).
For some folks, it’s the return of baseball season. For others, it’s Easter. But for us here at The Orchard, nothing heralds the return of warmer weather quite like Record Store Day! This internationally celebrated event has been getting bigger and better every year since its inception in 2008, and this year looks to be no different. So let’s dive right in and let you know what exclusive vinyl releases we’ll be bringing to the party this year.
First up is Orchard favorites The Black Angels with Clear Lake Forest. Hot on the heels of their acclaimed album Indigo Meadow, this EP features seven new tracks on 10” clear vinyl. Next is Jimmy Page & The Black Crowes Live At The Greek. This classic live collaboration will be available as a triple LP set on red, clear, and blue vinyl. Then there’s Sam Roberts Band with We’re All In This Together/Shapeshifters 12” single on clear vinyl. Or how about a four song EP from Creepoid called Wet that features a B-side etching. And last, but certainly not least, is The Glitch Mob’s Drink The Sea/We Can Make The World Stop.Words cannot do this release justice, so just check out the accompanying packshot to see it in all of its glory.
Over in Europe, Transgressive Records are releasing Africa Express Presents: Maison des Jeunes, featuring the likes of Damon Albarn and Brian Eno, available as a double LP set in blue vinyl. Additionally, metal-heads across the pond will be excited to pick-up their copies of Death of a Dead Day by SikTh and Circles‘ incredible debut, Inifinitas on LP for the first ever time courtesy of Basick Records.
And don’t forget, Record Store Day isn’t just about records. There are also the in-store performances! Be sure to check out Cincinnati natives Tweens, who will be appearing at their hometown shop Shake It Records.
See you all on Saturday, April 19th!
Not only is it Friday, but it’s the second day of spring, which is kind of a huge deal for those of us situated in the northeastern US. It’s been a rough one, guys, but looks like Old Man Winter is finally ready to let loose and make room for spring. So here’s not only to getting your weekend started, but also springtime on the horizon!
We’re kicking things off this Friday with Tony Molina’s fuzzy full-album stream. The short, choppy, garage-rock jams will put you in just the right laid-back groove. Now, to really go along with this sunshin-y, spring-y tinge of excitement, have a listen to Kina Grannis’s latest track; it’ll have you skipping down the sidewalk in no time. Equally as feel-good is the latest from The Black Angels. But heads-up! This gem of a psychedelic-rock track will only be available on their upcoming vinyl EP, set for Record Store Day release. Speaking of psych-rock, the newest Triptides tune is a perfect tripped-out haze of a melody to add to your weekend playlist.
On to the world of visually enticing music videos. Thee Oh Sees’s newest ditty is precisely that — a cut-out cartoon video of an astronaut falling to a tie-dye clad sort of earth. But if you’re in the mood for a hardcore, hardrock 80s throwback, Winger has a perfect example. And if that’s not enough hardcore for you, just jump on over to Epica’s latest lyric video release.
Whether you’re planning on late-nighting it tonight, brunching it up tomorrow or having your first BBQ sesh of the year, get outside and enjoy this long-awaited springtime goodness. Happy Friday, Freeloaders!
Tony Molina: Full album stream via Pitchfork Advance
Dissed and Dismissed out March 25 on Slumberland Records
Kina Grannis: “Dear River” track premiere via Glamour
Elements out May 6 on One Haven Music
The Black Angels: “Diamond Eyes” track premiere via Consequence of Sound
Clear Lake Forest EP out April 19 on Blue Horizon
*Vinyl Only
Triptides: “Throne of Stars” track premiere via CMJ
Colors out April 29 on Jaunt Records
Thee Oh Sees: “The Lens” video premiere via Pitchfork
Drop out April 19 on Castle Face Records
Winger: “Rat Race” video premiere via Ultimate Classic Rock
Better Days Comin’ out April 22 on Frontiers Records
Epica: “The Essence of Silence” lyric video premiere via YouTube
The Quantum Enigma out May 6 on Nuclear Blast
Magnolia Memoir, the up-and-coming “Noir-Rock” quintet out of Los Angeles, are making waves with the music video premiere of “Odds & Ends,” the first taste of their soon-to-come full length album. Set in the famed Hand Prop Room in L.A., the video features a myriad of guest appearances from the likes of Will Forte (SNL; Nebraska), Doris Roberts (Everybody Loves Raymond), Fred Willard (Best in Show), Jorge Garcia (Lost) and James Kyson (Heroes), just to name a few.
With a unique blend of Rock, Jazz and old sensibilities, Magnolia Memoir have found the perfect sound to accompany lead singer Mela Lee’s classic yet instantly familiar pipes. Described from critics as “Fiona Apple meets the Killers with a dash of The Clash,” Magnolia Memoir has truly created a unique concoction of influences and vintage sounds to separate themselves from the rest.
“Odds & Ends” is the lead single off of the upcoming album Pale Fire, set to hit stores through the band’s personal label, Pale Fire Records, on April 29. We cannot wait!
If you’re a fan of the hit TV show Vampire Diaries and tune in tonight, you’re in for a treat. “Fire Breather,” a stirring song by 19-year old British prodigy Laurel, will be aired on the show. I won’t give away any more details, except that it airs at 8pm EDT. And that there will be vampires.
For those (blood) thirsty for more, Clash Music recently premiered the video for the lead track from her new EP, Into the Hills, which is set for release on 7th April alongside more new material.
Laurel is also out on tour this month in the UK with Dan Croll, with a couple of North American dates to follow in June.
19 March – Ruby Lounge, Manchester*
20 March – King Tut’s Wah Wah, Glasgow*
21 March – The Cockpit, Leeds*
23 March – The Institute, Birmingham*
14/15 June – Northside Festival, Brooklyn, NY
19/20/21 June – NXNE, Toronto, CA
* = w/ Dan Croll
You can purchase “Fire Breather” on iTunes here.
