Underground Mix

Underground Mix --- The Vision

2009-07-12T07:21:00.004-05:00

Hello there! For anyone who is following this blog my name is Devon DeVries. I own/operate/direct/manage Underground Mix... I feel it is time to lay out the refreshed vision of this company. It is very simple!!!

The vision of UM is to empower and equip the independent music community through education and film/tv licensing. We work closely with music users listening to their needs and resourcing them with exactly what they are looking for.

Working with strangers is tough...so let me introduce myself!!! I have a Bachelors of Commercial Music from Belmont University in Nashville, TN. Yes, my background is in performance... I understand creative thinking / songwriting / studio work etc. etc. I have an additional emphasis in Music Business from the same university. While in school I interned at ASCAP for a year. After graduation my now wife and I moved to Los Angeles where we lived for almost 6 years. While in LA I worked at Paramount Pictures. My first job was as low as you can get booking the scoring stage on the lot!!! Humbling but very cool too!! Amazing to watch a 102 piece orchestra dive into a score!!! Not long after this I moved over into the TV Music dept. doing clearance and licensing. After about 2 years there I began working for a British music company in LA pitching their music for Film/TV placement. This included the studios, ad agencies, post houses, gaming, industrial and anything and everything else in between that used music! It was right after this that Underground Mix was birthed.

I have a passion to see the independent music community learn to function in this business and NOT be taken advantage of in the process. If you are an indie band or artists you should send me your music to check out. You can go to http://underground-mix.com and at the bottom of the homepage there is a place to submit mp3's for review. I look forward to hearing from you!

Devon

Existing Indie Songs for Commercials

2008-11-13T19:24:00.000-06:00

Brand development is a highlight of my job with Underground Mix. One of our tag lines is "We are listening...We are creating." Yes, we ARE listening to the needs of our clients and our bands and artists are creating the music of tomorrow on a daily basis. If you feel you have a song that would fit a certain product perfectly...send it my way. Remember... "We are listening...YOU are creating!!"

http://underground-mix.com

Does a songwriter/artist need a publisher?

2006-05-07T20:52:00.000-05:00

A good friend of mine who happens to be a songwriter/artist asked me this very question this morning. Does a songwriter who is an artist NEED a publisher? What role could they potentially play in my career?

1. The quick answer is that NO a songwriter artist does not NEED a publisher. If you are strictly a songwriter a publisher can be very benneficial to your career in terms of song placement, setting up co-writing sessions and making you write outside of your comfort zone.
2. Some publishers are in the business of "Artist Development." They may find a talented songwriter/artist and offer them a deal to develop them as a songwriter and an artist and in turn pitch you to their contacts at major labels etc. This can be a very cool thing...just remember that they aren't offering this for nothing. Expect to have them ask for 100% of your publishing plus a finders fee upon the execution of your record deal.
3. Another option is to form your own publishing company through ASCAP or BMI. Trust me when I say that your songs...if GREAT will speak for themselves to major labels. Keep playing out and exposing your music to a wide variety of listeners. It is hard work, but remember... a GREAT song will get a buzz! Sometimes these publishers hear your GREAT song and want a piece of the action before someone else gets it!

KEEP WRITING!

Independent Investors

2005-11-15T17:17:00.000-06:00

As an independent musician there is the dielmma of how do I afford to make my own record? Should I make a record? Is it time to make a record? How many songs? How much is it? How many do I press? What is a reasonalble recording budget?

These are all very valid questions that MUST be answered...honestly, these are only the tip of the iceberg so to speak when dealing with independently released records. Bear with me for a moment...lets say a close friend all of a sudden says..."I have an extra $25K laying around. I love your music and know that it would sell like hotcakes and your career would skyrocket if we did this!!!" What a great opportunity!!! Or is it?

This person may or may not have expectations in terms of involvement in your career, making their money back, marketing ect. Be very careful.

A great indie investor :
1. Can stand to lose their investment and not lose thier home, car or wife.
2. Sincerely desires to see your career grow.
3. Wants to operate as a silent partner/ not a record label.
4. Understands the uniqueness of the independent music business or is cool with giving you the reins.
5. Buries their expectations the minute they write the check.
6. Puts realistic expectations of recoupment they may have in writing.

A questionable investor:
1. Starts with great intensions but then reads an article on how to start a record label and decides you need to be his/her first artist.
2. Knows zero about the music business
3. Is greedy
4. Wants creative control
5. Is cool with a hand shake
5. Wants to own your publishing/masters.

The music business is a big sea full of life and exciting things...be careful of the occasional shark(whether they know they are being a shark or not!!!)

Beyonce wrote that????

2005-10-22T01:48:00.000-05:00

Are you confused about who wrote your songs? Do you co-write your songs with anyone? The article linked below sheds some light on the reasons why you need to establish in writing who owns what. It is so easy to "claim" you wrote something. Beyonce does!!!

Make sure that your songs are registered to your publishing entity with your PRO (Performing Rights Organization) and your writers share as well. Then register the songs with the Federal Copywrite Office. This will relieve any doubt as to who wrote what and when. The business of being creative takes time, but it will pay off in the end...literally!

I have already met with to many independent musicians who DO NOT have any of their songs registered with ASCAP or BMI to a publishing company. News flash...you can be your own publisher. Just sign up!!!

Beyonce Claims Songwriter Credit

Indie Music Marketing

2005-09-14T16:25:00.000-05:00

So often as creative people we find ourselves wrapped up into the creative process and forget about the marketing of our creativity! This is a common thread in the independent music community. Lets face it...we would all want to make a living with music. We are 100% into writing music and recording it but are a little "lazy" if you will at marketing ourselves and our music. Below I've listed 3 quick marketing strategies that ALL growing bands/artists should take full advantage of outside of regular gigging...

• Web presence. Have you posted your image, songs, bio, gig dates on purevolume.com, myspace.com, starpolish.com etc. ? Do you have your own website. Are you googleable?!!

• Do you have a few of your songs pressed on a disc and placed in a paper slip sleeve with a plastic window to give away for free? Press about 1000 and get going!!!

• Seek out independent magazines that reflect your interests. Not necessarily even a music magazine. Most indie mags that have content about current culture have a music section. Contact them and find a way to gain some publicity.

Why Mainstream Radio is Horrible

2005-07-25T20:14:00.000-05:00

Ever wonder why the same songs are played over and over again on the radio. Not only the same songs...but really bad songs? Here is the answer!!!!

Bad business with Major Labels and Radio

Independent bands that are amazing will never be heard on a larger scale as long as major record labels are paying off the program directors and DJ's to spin their records. Shame on them!

Changes to UM's Official Website

2005-07-01T11:32:00.000-05:00

Check out

Underground Mix

There are a few changes that might peak your interest. If you are a musician or in a band...please link us up to your web site. We are currently pushing for some name recognition and spreading the word about Underground Mix.

Band Promotion 101

2005-06-15T18:49:00.000-05:00

I have gotten the sense lately that there are many discouraged indie bands/artists out there that aren't getting the exposure they need or haven't gotten the response they expected. I want to encourage you to persevere! If you have vision and aren't just doing music to do it...Then press on! I encourage you to develop your songwriting and live performance. You may never be a " celebrity," but do you really want that anyway? Success isn't measured by dollars and cents or number of records sold etc.
Consider this... Would you truly be at peace with just recording 10 songs that you were really proud of? I hope so...but now this is where passion needs to kick in! Passion to find a following of people who are as into your music as you are. How do you find them? Who are they? I guess your mom can count as one, but you need a lot more than that. So go and book a few shows, start a mailing list, burn some discs and GIVE your music away (at least for a little while), start a blog

, post your info on

and

. All of these tools are just the beginning of Marketing your music!

Pay to Play in LA

2005-06-14T12:36:00.000-05:00

Just an FYI for those of you who carry around the idea that you must be in NY or LA to "make it"... you don't need to be here.
There is more value in gaining a regional following in Madison, WI than working yourself to the bone in Los Angeles trying to get a following.

An industry friend of mine told me that on any given Saturday Night there are over 500 bands in the Los Angles area playing out. That is what we call "saturated." Most all of those clubs are pay to play. Bands must front the money for 60 tickets and guarantee at least that many people will show up. If tickets are 10 bucks a pop times 60...that is $600 bones you have to front just to get a gig at some of these places. If you can only get 30 of your friends to commit and you gave away the other 30 tickets you just ate $300 bucks to play your music for 45 minutes. What a deal.

If you live in LA and are pushing your career...lets work together and find some places where you can play for free and start gaining some exposure. Post in the comments section coffee houses, clubs, street corners etc. Also give your thoughts on pay to play.

If you live outside of LA and have questions about live performance here...just ask!

We've Got Vision

2005-06-09T11:16:00.000-05:00

Many of you have heard of Underground Mix and our vision for the independent music community and Film/TV Music. Briefly, our vision is to bring 10 bands (2 songs each) together every three months and press a promotional compilation (10,000 copies). Each band on the disc would then be given 1000 discs to distribute for free thus creating some great cross promotion. I had originally envisioned the bands sharing the cost of the pressing. You know, the whole “community” thing!! That cost was estimated at $850 per band. A total cost of $8500.00. This same compilation would then be pitched to Film/TV for placement.

NEW APPROACH TO THE SAME VISION!!!
We are keeping this vision for a compilation for cross promotion. It is key to the success of the bands and that is truly what we want. However, I understand the hesitation to participate due to the cost. UM is now going to find several corporate sponsors to fund this venture every 3 months. We are going out and gaining sponsors so that YOU gain exposure and placements in Film/TV. We believe in this vision and we believe in the music we support and represent. So…now every 3 months we will pull 10 bands from our growing pool of band/artists that we represent to be on the mass produced compilation for FREE!!!

WHAT NEXT?
Submit Your Music for representation by Underground Mix.

email mp3's to: info@underground-mix.com

Upon musical approval from UM, bands may have up to 4 songs chosen by UM to be represented for licensing. The Criteria is that the songs have to be great or unique and must be broadcast quality. There will be an administration fee of $25 per song to burn discs, press labels and ship your music all over the country. Every three months we will then choose 10 bands with the MOST amazing songs to go on this compilation that will be sponsored by different corporate entities. It will garner some amazing exposure for the bands involved. If you know of a corporate entity that would be interested in sponsoring please let me know who to contact with our presentation.

Artist Development??

2005-06-07T15:47:00.000-05:00

I was talking with a good friend the other day about artist development. Specifically, the lack thereof. It saddens me to see so many independent bands/artists spending their money creating a product that is less than satifactory only to see their project die in the uphill battle to promote it.

Believe me, I do think that young bands/artists need to work through thier creative process, however I don't believe that just because they wrote a song that they need to spend the money to record and promote it. An indie band will have a better chance to be sucessful if they are patient enough to weed through their good stuff to get to their GREAT stuff. There is a big difference between good and great. In my opinion this is what separates a successful indie band/artist and a mediocre one. When the GREAT material presents itself... spend the money to record a short EP that is broadcast quality and find a company like Underground Mix to push it to Film/TV and cross promote it while still retaining ALL of your ownership and gleaning 100% of your backend royalties.

Now...go write a hit song, record it, and send it to me!

A New Approach

2005-06-06T16:15:00.000-05:00

It’s time for a new vision in the music industry!! Specifically a vision designed for independent artists fighting that familiar uphill battle to gain exposure and fans. It usually ends up as the 80/20 rule…spend 80% of your money only to gain 20% of it back, never getting the exposure or fans that you expected. Well, through much planning the vision of exposure, music business education and potential income is becoming reality!!

Don't get me wrong, if a bit of money isn’t invested to gain exposure then indie artists/ bands will continue to struggle along wondering why they don’t have fans. Wondering why they don’t draw enough people to their shows. If you have great music and nobody hears it…then you are just another band who “thinks” they are great. You very well may be… but if the masses do not know who you are, then you are sunk.

How many people are considered masses? I personally believe that if you aren’t reaching at least 10,000 within a 4-6 month period that you aren’t hitting the music industry/consumer hard enough. Record labels want to see exposure and mailing lists before they will seriously consider a band. Once again…if you have great music and nobody knows who you are, how do you expect an A&R executive to find you. It just won’t happen.

I personally believe that the blending of co-oped indie promotion and Film/TV placement a bands can essentially gain great exposure and potentially make all of thier money back and more. How do you get your songs placed you may ask without getting ripped off? The answer to that question will come in the following entries into this blog. I am excited to share my knowledge of the music industry in this format and hear your input as well.