Digital Ethnography

Internet and Big Business - How Can Change Benefit All Players

Professor Wesch's Simulation Video was thought-provoking and inspiring. The professor was right on target the web is us, we control the machine by providing content, links, pictures, sharing files, etc. However, the fact remains - in 1999, when I first came online, music was being purchased at Tower records (now defunct) on CDs because digital downloads were still only a concept. Then iTunes came along because Apple had the big bucks to launch that portal and thus MP3 downloads became a reality.

The web is changing everyday before our eyes, big business is now realizing that online is the next phase and they are coming with their big dollars and the rules are therefore changing rapidly. How is the small business going to survive online? What can we do on small budgets to compete with these bigger players?

Not so long ago, Google Adwords for some relevant keywords used to be charged from as little as 0.05-cents up to the sky would be the limit. Nowadays, those same keywords may still be relevant but in order to get shown for any of them, you have to start bidding at a minimum $10 and higher.

So my question, therefore, is how will the small guys stay in the game and still remain relevant? Will we have to concentrate only on niche areas? Do we focus on providing only content and hope that we can then sell that content to the bigger guys?

As I watched the professor’s video, these are some of the thoughts that entered my mind and I wanted to share this with my readers.


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http://www.rap4abuck.com - the place where indie artists get individual, undivided attention. Fans can find and listen to new original music away from the "clutter of mainstream MP3" - the indie's answer to iTunes.

Make More Money with Your Music

Would you Like to Make More Money with Your Music?

Give a man a fish and feed him for a day. Teach that man to fish and he's fed for life. Bring this concept to your music and very soon you'll have the knowledge needed to take control of your music business in an aggressive way and make money with your music.

The music business today has been transformed with several new tools at your disposal. There are mp3s downloads, podcasts, youtube videos - gone are the days of just waiting for radio play and to get on MTV. The musician today is aware that he has to start his own label and pave his own way by making money selling his own music.

A friend introduced me to How to Start Your Own Record Label a book that lays everything out on line in plain language that is simple and easy to follow. It's one of the best resources that I've read on the business of making money from music. Everyone knows how hard it is to find good, useful information in this business. Since Rap4aBuck is the indie's answer to iTunes, we wanted to share this with all the artists on the Rap4aBuck digital network.

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Jair Dynast RapReviews Top 10 Album of the Year

Jair Dynast Top 10 Album of the Year, VIALENCE is scheduled for release April 16th. Hip-hop fan worldwide can now download a copy of Jair's #1 hit single, "Vicious" from Rap4abuck. For a limited time if you download 2-tracks you'll get a 3rd one FREE.

The Coup/Mr. Lif Tour - Bus Crash near San Diego

The following is an excerpt from The Coup myspace blog that gives an account of the serious bus crash. We support hip-hop and feel their pain so we are asking you to give anything that you can afford to help them out.

"We lost everything in that crash and fire. We were packed to live and do shows on that bus for a month. Most of us had every stitch of clothing we owned on there. We lost clothes, computers, recording equipment, cameras, IDs, phones, keys to cars and homes. We lost cash. We lost all our damn instruments and equipment to perform with. We were and are happy to walk away with our lives. But now we're home. Most of the band touring with The Coup has kids, rent that won't quit, bills, and holiday expenses coming. We need money, because like I said the band doesn't have the tools that they make a living with. Not only did we lose cash and material things on the bus, but we also were depending on this tour for money to make it through. It may take a year for us to see any money from the insurance company".

Adam Bernard Top 10 Records 2006

Rap4aBuck prides itself in selling rap muisc online for emerging rap and hiphop artists. Listeners can download a song for their mp3 device: iPod, Xbox, choose songs as ringtones or buy an album from their underground favorite artist.

We have in our store for January 2007 Jair Dynast #1 single in North America - Vicious b/w Pull Up. This smash hit single is Jair's buzz record for his soon to be released album, VIALENCE that should hit stores in 2007.

VIALENCE was recently selected as Top 10 Album of the Year by well respected, accomplished tastemaker and entertainment writer, Adam Bernard for Rapreviews.com Top Ten Records of the Year 2006. Adam also writes for SOAK, Elemental Magazine, among others. http://www.rapreviews.com/year/06adamb.html

Tell your friends they can buy Jair Dynast VIALENCE here at Rap4aBuck.

Jair Dynast - One of Hip-Hop’s most Prolific Artists

Review by: James Johnson – Urban Connectionz

Hip-hop has been improving for quite some time, and it’s steadily on an up-spiral. More artists are holding themselves accountable for what they have to say and offer, and they are consequently putting our more socially conscious music that not only feeds their fanbase in the streets, but also teaches the youth who are also listening closely.

Jair Dynast is definitely among the handful of newer artists that are out to gain something more than a pocket full of money and a few screaming fans. His debut, “V.I.A.L.E.N.C.E”, is sure to strike a chord with many hip-hop fans. Just release less than a month ago, he’s already impacting the lives of many who have had the chance to cop it. (read the full review at www.urbanconnectionz.com)

Indie Rap Artists Jair Dynast and Rover Advertisement

Indie Rap Artist, Jair Dynast and Rover have teamed up to run an ad on Rap4aBuck. The ad space was sponsored by us at Rap4aBuck. Jair was the 1st featured artist and Rover the 2nd artist featured on our Indie Digital Music Distribution Network. That these two artists have collaborated in this way is great news for the other independent artists selling rap itune downloads on Rap4aBuck.

Felix, Coordinator for eMultimedia Group's Affiliate Street Gorilla Team said that he wanted to demonstrate that indie artists in the same genre can work together at all levels to expose their musical talents to a diverse audience.

Rap4aBuck was happy to support Felix and eMultimedia Group's initiative as we are out-of-the-box thinkers who want to make our indie digital network the place on the Internet to download rap, rnb, reggae and gospel music from emerging artists worldwide.