Exclusive partnership: Amazon.co.uk

 

SellaBand teams up with retail giant!

 

SellaBand is proud to announce a confirmed partnership with Amazon.co.uk as our exclusive retailer for the United Kingdom in 2008. As a result, a dedicated SellaBand Store (www.amazon.co.uk/sellaband) will be launched in January and the Sales and Marketing team of Amazon in the UK have already started to pre-order the albums of Nemesea, Cubworld and Second Person, which are set for release on January 21, 2008.


There are times when something new takes a course of its own. When we discussed our UK gameplan for physical CD releases in the UK with our UK distrbution partners Proper, the first thing they arranged for us was a meeting with the music team from Amazon.co.uk, because according to Proper this could potentially be our most important retail partner. Already after the first meeting, the music team at Amazon came back with a very interesting question: What if we were to become your exclusive retail partner in the UK?


It’s a natural fit. This may sound like a cliché, and we may have used the expression before, but it is absolutely true. The power of Amazon is the power of the people who buy their product. All charts, reviews and search engines are consumer driven and user generated. Just like SellaBand. Our community produces the music, theirs sells it...


Says Amazon’s Head of Entertainment, Jeff Belle: “Amazon.co.uk is enthusiastic about new music and helping our customers find it, which is why a partnership with SellaBand makes perfect sense for us””, said Jeff Belle, head of entertainment at Amazon.co.uk.”


Our UK distributor Proper Distribution fully support this brand new alliance.

Says Steve Kersley, Proper’s Head of Operations:  “These days there aren't many music businesses that are growing and at the same time changing the way that the industry works. Sellaband and Amazon are two such companies. As a recognised world leading retailer, Amazon provides Sellaband with the marketing strength and audience reach to assist artists on the next stage of their musical journey. And it's by forging exclusive partnerships with breakthrough companies like Sellaband that keeps Amazon ahead of the competition.”

 

 

Highlights of the partnership:

SellaBand Store. Amazon offers SellaBand its own ‘home’ on Amazon.co.uk. There will be a dedicated store on Amazon, with SellaBand product only. For reference, check: www.amazon.co.uk/proper.


Amazon Associates. There will be a button on Amazon.co.uk that links directly to SellaBand and vice versa. This is the perfect way to cross promote each other and for SellaBand to be introduced to the Amazon community.


Amazon Pre-order. Amazon will ‘pre-order’ SellaBand albums. What this means? As soon as an artist has raised $30,000 on SellaBand, Amazon.co.uk will automatically add 100 Parts to the budget, as a sign of faith and support for emerging talent.


Final countdown on Amazon. As soon as the 35K mark is reached, an artist will get the opportunity to promote his/her/their music on Amazon.co.uk. Details of which will be announced shortly and this should commence early 2008.


The Vine. This is Amazon.co.uk’s new and already very successful reviewers program. Theirr 50 top reviewers (i.e. most read and most influential) will receive copies of SellaBand albums to write their reviews on Amazon.co.uk.


Targeted e-mails. A direct approach of the impressive consumer database of Amazon.co.uk. Think along the lines of: You have recently bought an album by Jack Johnson. You may also like Cubworld…


SellaBand wants to be perceived as the Music Label of the future. We are convinced this is the right way to move forward. As we continue to make distribution and retail deals per territory, who knows what else this groundbreaking alliance with Amazon in the UK might inspire…

 

Vienna Calling!

 

And our Austrian friends are at it again. This time with an evening full of SellaBand artists in their wonderful capital Vienna. The date to pencil into your diary is February 8, 2008 and our friends from SolidTube give you all the details…

 

 


By SolidTube

"Vienna Calling" really came about after the success of "Roll over Austria", which Markus from Confused5 had so perfectly organised. What is closer than to call for the other active Austrian bands on SellaBand - Kontrust and Rooga - to combine forces for a special concert in our hometown Vienna.

We decided on the "Replugged" as location for the concert, a cellar like venue, central in the middle of Vienna, easy to reach by public transport. The "Replugged" can hold about 200 people in one big room with a long bar for your drinks during the concert. Upstairs are some tables located for sit and talk in a more quiet environment. Tickets are 8 Euro in advance and 10 Euro at the door - ask your favourite "Vienna Calling" band for special believer deals. 

We have 3 bands, all from Vienna, all with female lead singers and their unique voices, but all in different styles. All 3 bands have their own fan community already and this event is the perfect opportunity for SellaBand in Austria to really show what it is all about: Beyond the traditional channels - artists and fans are deciding together on their music and their events.

As a Sellaband event we are planning to have a little program around the concert for all the Believers who take the effort to travel to the historic city of Vienna. The 'theme' around "Vienna Calling" is somewhere between the historic "The Third Man" and the more modern music of Falco (One of his hits was called "Vienna Calling"). So we are planning for believers on the day of the concert in the afternoon a tour in the spirit of "The Third Man". On this occasion a special thanks to MaWa, who created the concert poster. More coming together will happen for sure if the interest is there. We will show you Vienna from its best perspective when you come.


Atmo

He hasn't confirmed yet, but we have invited @tmo as special guest for the concert. @tmo is a 16 year old boy from Austria, who has recently signed up to Sellaband and who's music is showing a very surprising depth and wholeheartedness. Please give him a listen and we would pleased if he could be with us.



Solidtube 

Solidtube - A perfect mixture from Blues & Country & Rock. Keep straight, powerfull and tender.The songs have definitly a unique style and the are a class of its own. It is the mixture, contains the "The Woodstock feeling" from the 60's, the though Rock guitard from the 70's and The Blues from beyond of all.

 


Kontrust

Kontrust - A female and a male singer share the support of a powerful instrumental accompaniment that is characterized by drums and percussion elements which are unmistakeably original. Together, they create a unique style in which they excell: TRIBAL CROSSOVER!

 


Rooga

Rooga - "Funky Nu Rock" is the self definition of their style. A fancy cocktail of hand-made rockmusic, in-your-face crossover and a pinch of groovy funk vibes gives their music the characteristic spice.

SolidTube, Kontrust and Rooga - 3 bands in Vienna on the 8th of February - Sellaband in concert - we would be delighted if you could join us! Austria will be the next big thing for Sellaband in 2008, and we will make sure of that.

 

 

Heineken Netherlands supports SellaBand Music in the New Year

 

'SellaBand Presents... CD' will be back in 2008! 

 

SellaBand and Heineken Netherlands have confirmed their partnership for 2008. The Dutch beer company, who also supported our live events in 2007, has now confirmed that it will also support SellaBand Recorded Music in 2008.

 



The new year will see the return of the 'SellaBand Presents...' compilation CD's. In conjunction with Heineken as the main sponsor of this initiative, SellaBand will release 4 such Believer compiled albums in 2008: Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter.

Additionally, Heineken has indicated that it wants to do more to support unsigned talent and sees SellaBand as the perfect partner for this. "SellaBand music will be availble through Heineken.nl", says Heineken Brand Manager Robert Bernink: "We fully support SellaBand's innovative way to discover and promote unsigned music talent from all genresSellaBand enables those talenst to record a professional album and sign with the label. By furthering and intensifying our relationship with SellaBand, we want to make more new music available and introduce music from all over the world to a broad Dutch audience, which is a perfect match with our music strategy and program; Heineken Refreshing Sounds."

Further details will be announced shortly, but this deal was closed just in time to be included in today's Tribune and we wanted you all to know about this a.s.a.p.

 


Q + A
Jess King

 

Of all the artists who are doing well on SellaBand, the contingent of talented solo female artists is by far the most dominant. Among them is Jess King who has been with us for quite some time, has been active since her arrival and has a lot to say as well…

 

Who is Jess King?

"Jess King is a fantastic artist who needs to be heard by the world (laughing). Sorry, the third person aspect kind of threw me. I try not to take myself too seriously, although I am absolutely dedicated and serious about my career as an artist and songwriter. Performing, writing songs, and connecting with listeners are what I am most driven by as an artist and person."

What made you join SellaBand?

"I heard about SellaBand while performing in Tokyo last spring.  An executive from Best Buy was in the audience, and he explained the concept to me, and encouraged me to join. I was drawn in right away, after seeing the wonderfully supportive community that exists here on SellaBand.”

 

Any complaints, so far?

“I certainly can't complain, as I've made some great connections with Believers and artists, and have also had the privilege of meeting and speaking with some of them (like Lily and Jon R, and Isca and Albert in London this summer) in "real life". I am not the type of artist who will send out a hundred emails each day promoting herself, not because I don't believe in myself or care, but because I simply don't have the time and energy to invest in this type of self-promotion. By the nature of SellaBand being an online community, it is important to self-promote a great deal in order to achieve the 50k at a reasonable rate. I have not been as active in this area as perhaps I've needed to be in order to grow more quickly; however, I am enjoying this community a lot, particularly the connections I've made with believers and artists alike. That experience has been really rewarding and special to me."

How does a single person from the big apple get noticed these days?

"That's a good question, I'll let you know once it's happened (kidding). I am growing a following in New York City and elsewhere; as with any artist who wants to 'make it', this takes time, strong marketing and true persistence."

What are your ambitions?

"My ambitions are pretty great. I want my songs to be heard by a very wide audience, and to perform as often as possible. There are so many possible ways for this to happen, so for now I'm enjoying the journey and am evolving a lot through the process."

 

How did you get involved with Sella-Jam in Boston?

"I am thrilled about this upcoming show – and to have been offered this opportunity by Dennis Todaro (better know as "Hogdaddee") and also with the support of Jon R, both whom I met here on SellaBand. Jon and I had chatted about this tentatively awhile ago, and I'm psyched to perform there, as well as to see the other talented artists do their thing – like Lily, JR, and Wetwerks.  And of course, I'd love to connect with any of you who are able to make it – it's sure to be an evening to remember!"

What can people expect from your performance there?

"People can expect to see a talented artist do her thing. I hope to connect with the audience by performing my heartfelt and personal songs in the most honest and natural way I know how (on piano and vocals).”

Why should people Believe in Jess King?

"Come to the show, and you'll know why…"

 

COMMUNITY SINGING


Rio Grande Rocks!

 

On behalf of the very exciting SellaBand Rio Grande Festival, Believer Ray Baisden brings you the latest update for this event which will take place on Feb. 22/23, 2008.


By Ray Baisden

The ghost of Tribunes past has been known to rattle his chains occasionally and wonder how to reach the USA market. Well, there’s no substitute for initiative, so a group of American artists are proud to present the first SellaBand music festival on this side of the pond. It’s the SellaBand Rio Grande Festival. Artists performing will include:


*Cubworld
*Lucia Iman
*Mysti Mayhem
*N’Kenge
*Jon Robert
*Mandocello
*The Dusty Buskers
*SPELLBOX

and unpredictable numbers of multi-media artists and jamming players and Believers at the after show parties – did I mention the after show parties? There will be a special Fire Performance by Phoenix to a sound track of the festival musicians for the sellabanders staying at La Paloma. Mandocello has threatened a suit optional swim of the Rio Grande, but the mineral hot springs, where Geronimo’s Apaches used to relax, may be a little more widely popular.

All, well most, of this is going to be immortalized in a movie – audience participation invited – and a streaming webcast is in the works. This is happening in the beautiful setting of Truth or Consequences, New Mexico on Friday and Saturday, February 22 and 23.

People are coming from all over the country and the world. This is an official SellaBand event, so Pim will be there. The local community is enthusiastically behind the event with active sponsorship from the Sierra County Arts Council. And there will be some nice corporate perks from Frito-Lay.
Make your travel and lodging plans now because you’re going to want to catch both days. More and regularly updated information is available at myspace.com/sellabandriogrande.