BitTorrent: an excellent medium for indie labels

Written by Smaran on October 12, 2006

Over the past year or so, BitTorrent as a medium for independent artists and labels to distribute content has grown immensely. It’s good to see that BitTorrent.com, the ‘official’ BT site is spearheading this movement.
Just a couple of weeks ago we saw bands as popular as Death Cab for Cutie, The Postal Service and The [...]

Over the past year or so, BitTorrent as a medium for independent artists and labels to distribute content has grown immensely. It’s good to see that BitTorrent.com, the ‘official’ BT site is spearheading this movement.

Just a couple of weeks ago we saw bands as popular as Death Cab for Cutie, The Postal Service and The Shins (among others) put up songs and videos for free download. Being a huge Postal Service fan, I was extremely excited to get three music videos and two remixed songs of theirs for free. Sure, record labels have been offering downloads like these from sites for a while now, but it’s lovely to see them embrace BitTorrent and make use of it.

Saddle Creek Records on BitTorrent.comLast time it was SubPop Records, this time it’s another independent label, Saddle Creek Records that has published a sampler of their artists “exclusively available on BitTorrent.” Artists on the sampler include: Cursive, Eric Bachman, Ladyfinger, Now It’s Overhead, and Bright Eyes, all of whom have new records coming out this fall.

Hopefully we will see more labels and artists upload content to BitTorrent. It’s pretty clear that this technology is here to stay. Isn’t it time mainstream labels, specifically those that make up the RIAA stop resisting it and join the revolution? After all, hasn’t Apple already proven that the only way to combat music piracy is by offering an easy-to-use legal alternative? Arr’

If you don't like torrents try MP3 Fiesta. They hold nearly 67,000 albums from nearly 17,000 artists. Prices are around the $0.10 mark for single tracks with full albums coming in at roughly $1.00. Tracks are available from 192kbps and they take major credit cards and PayPal

Previously: Private Torrent Sites Overemphasize Share Ratios According to Bram Cohen

Next: TorrentPod Episode 8

20 Responses (Add yours or TrackBack)

1 Oct 12, 2006 at 15:46 by Bardicknowledge

I totally agree. Using bit torrent to spread ones music is the best way to gain popularity. All labels, in particular the smaller ones, should all be releasing sample cd using bit torrent and advertising it! I’m sure small bands that want to gain popularity would have no problem with having a few if not a whole album on their site for free download through bit torrent if it means people will listen to them.

2 Oct 13, 2006 at 15:58 by lkratz

(disclaimer, i work for jamendo)

On jamendo you have 1600+ complete albums of very good indie bands hosted on BitTorrent …

Jamendo is a service, band upload their demo CD, define the Creative Commons Licence they prefered, their music becomes automagically hosted in BT and ED2K/KAD networks for free !

Band then put the links to the .torrent or the ed2k: links, and it works !


Laurent

3 Oct 17, 2006 at 16:11 by bardicknowledge

thats awesome ^_^ I will be defintaly checking out the site later *currently i’m sitting in class be bored*

4 Dec 21, 2006 at 03:57 by jonny568

jonny614

5 Dec 21, 2006 at 22:36 by Alisson

http://btbeat.com is a torrent music download site, but more.
Read music reviews first, then download if you want.

6 Jan 03, 2007 at 00:50 by car accident lawyer and manhattan ny

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7 Feb 28, 2007 at 13:43 by W3C

Nice Site!!! (p)2

8 Apr 29, 2007 at 19:27 by Tomasia

Nice Site!!! (p)

9 May 01, 2007 at 03:17 by Nucca

Nice Site!!! (p)¸

10 May 01, 2007 at 11:20 by Giuliana

Nice Site!!! (p)

11 Jan 22, 2008 at 21:01 by MyMusicSite.com

MyMusicSite.com helps you the independent artist sell your own music. You can sell individual songs, albums or even have your fans, friends and family be able to instantly create ringtones for your original music. The next time your phone rings…have it be your song that is heard! MyMusicSite.com also offers you the ability to shop for independent music and discover new and hidden talent. Be the first to hear the hottest songs that can be tomorrow’s mega hit songs.

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