AirPlay Direct Reaches A Very Important Company Milestone
On January 27th, 2008 AirPlay Direct hit a very important company milestone as we approved our 2,000th radio station member account.
AirPlay Direct also has over 9,400 artist / record label members, with current membership spanning 90 countries globally. And to date AirPlay Direct has delivered over 1,300,000 digital packages on behalf of our members saving them over $13,000,000 in the process.
“I am very pleased at the on-going and exponential growth AirPlay Direct is experiencing. 2008 is going to be a very big year for AirPlay Direct as the music industry continues to evolve and embrace digital delivery as never before.” Robert Weingartz, CEO / AirPlay Direct
AirPlay Direct… go straight to the source!
For more information on AirPlay Direct please visit www.AirPlayDirect.com
The Media Guide Sits Down With Airplay Direct’s Ceo Robert Weingartz
Much has been written about the upheaval that is engulfing the recorded music industry and while the causes, mistakes and mis-calculations have all been well documented there has been little in the way of solutions. When loss of corporate revenue becomes the central issue the first and most sensible reaction is to drastically cut costs. Other than payroll the largest consumption of budget in the recording industry is the manufacturing, packaging and shipping of promotional product to radio, press and media. Figure out a way to cut or even eliminate those costs and you’ve made a major leap in the right direction. Robert Weingartz and a dedicated group of industry veterans at AirPlay Direct have done just that. By pioneering the direct digital distribution of music to radio, AirPlay Direct offers a technologically advanced, user
friendly solution to the high cost of manufacturing, packaging and shipping promotional music and press kits. We had the pleasure of a Q&A with Founder and CEO of AirPlay Direct, Robert Weingartz to discuss the future of the business, indie artists and the dynamic landscape we all try and navigate.
MEDIA GUIDE: What exactly is AirPlay Direct?
Robert Weingartz: AirPlay Direct is a new, revolutionary, efficient and cost effective way to securely deliver your “broadcast-quality” music and electronic press kits to radio stations and music industry professionals around the world. AirPlay Direct is an easy to use digital file transfer system that was developed to streamline radio / artist promotion activities for today’s music industry. AirPlay Direct’s FREE services replace the unnecessary time and expense of putting together and sending out costly hard copy artist packages and press kits via snail mail.
MEDIA GUIDE: What prompted you to build this company?
Robert Weingartz: A few years back in the beginning of 2005 I was working a new release to radio domestically and there were a lot of requests coming from international stations requesting hard copy artist packages. Quite honestly, most of the artists I was working with just could not afford to send a package to everyone that requested one. There was a lot of discussion in the industry at the time about how digital delivery was going to affect the promotion side of our business. Major labels were already using digital delivery for radio promotion purposes. I saw a real need for a service that would support the global independent music community in this manner and AirPlay Direct was born.
MEDIA GUIDE: The digital delivery of content to radio stations and press seems to make perfect sense in a world where more and more music is being purchased digitally…how have the labels responded so far to the new technology?
Robert Weingartz: It is no secret that the music industry paradigm is rapidly changing; more and more, industry professionals and content providers alike rely upon digital methods of obtaining and distributing music, especially in the business-to-business realm.
The response has been positive but mixed based upon the size of the label, their geographic location and genres of music they work with. As I mentioned, all the major labels and major independents have been utilizing digital delivery at some level for promotional purposes for awhile now. The smaller labels that release the more progressive genres of music have embraced the digital delivery solution and rely on it as a part of their daily, on-going promotional process. Genres such as Rock, Pop, Dance, Electronica, Urban, etc. Other genres such as Blues, Jazz, Americana , etc. have been slower to adopt the
technology, but the number of artists and labels in these genres that have decided to get on board with digital delivery has been accelerating rapidly over the past year and is growing exponentially at this point.
AirPlay Direct’s membership now includes over 8,900 artist & record label members and over 1,900 radio tation members around the world. AirPlay Direct’s professional membership currently spans 90 countries lobally.
MEDIA GUIDE: What has been the response from radio regarding getting their music digitally?
Robert Weingartz: The response from radio has been much the same as the response by labels. It ppears to be based upon their geographic location, size of the station and the genres of music they work with. International stations that are starving for content have embraced digital delivery as a way to gain access to domestic artists and labels that have no budget to send out hard copy artist packages internationally. They have also been excited about the ability to receive “broadcast-quality” music in a couple of seconds versus waiting 2 weeks to receive a package. The same is true for forward thinking domestic radio stations looking for fresh, new Indie music from international artists and record labels.
More and more the global radio community is understanding the huge financial drain physical packages and mailings place on the already strained budgets of independents… the very artists and labels they support. They are also recognizing the convenience and efficiency of digital delivery. It really is just a matter of time before I expect that we will hit the “tipping point”.
Quite frankly, when there is content that the stations really want and the only way to get it is digitally, they make the jump and embrace the technology. For example, when we made the announcement that AirPlay Direct had the previously unreleased Gospel record “Farther Along” that Willie Nelson recorded with his sister Bobbie, the label was inundated with requests from radio for hard copy packages. The label told all the stations that there was no budget for hard copy packages, but that the “broadcast-quality” music had been made available to radio exclusively through AirPlay Direct…we had over 100 radio stations register with our service in 24 hours. This record has become one of the most downloaded CDs
on AirPlay Direct to date.
MEDIA GUIDE: Can you talk about the economic advantages to both record companies and independent artists in regard to moving their product digitally?
Robert Weingartz: The economic and speed to market advantages for artists and record labels is overwhelming and undeniable. As we all know, the time and expense of putting together and sending out costly hard copy artist packages is a drain on manpower and financial resources. In today’s music industry, it is a totally unnecessary waste of time and money.
In a time of shrinking revenues from recorded music sales, the best way to put more money on your bottom line is to cut costs and improve efficiencies in your manufacturing, promotion and distribution processes. To date AirPlay Direct has now delivered over 1,000,000 digital packages on behalf of our members, saving them over $10,000,000 in hard costs in the process. By utilizing AirPlay Direct’s FREE services and digital delivery platform artists, record labels and music industry professionals have cut their costs, grown their global distribution footprint and increased their speed to market. These valuable savings in financial resources can then be re-purposed for other critical needs such as radio promotion, PR, tour support, etc.
And how about the piece of mind that comes with knowing that your music was tracked and delivered to the intended recipient all of this in a matter of seconds. No re-sends or CDs ending up on e-Bay for $3.00.
MEDIA GUIDE: One obvious advantage I see is the environmental impact of eliminating packaging, mailing envelopes etc…has anyone approached the advantages from an environmental aspect?
Robert Weingartz: More and more we see artists and industry professionals taking a very strong look at how they might re-think their processes and approaches to the industry in a way that would have a positive eco-impact. Examples are bio-diesel for touring, recycled products being used for packaging and merchandising purposes, etc. It is important to realize the long-term issues we face with respect to the health of our planet and environment, and the responsibility we have to future generations. I am very proud of AirPlay Direct’s track record and eco-friendly solution to the issue of CD and packaging waste in our industry. By utilizing AirPlay Direct’s digital platform artists, record labels and music industry
professionals have cut their costs, increased their speed to market and contributed to the health and well being of our planet it just makes sense. There is no simple answer to the global eco-problems we face, but AirPlay Direct is excited to be a part of the solution on a daily basis.
MEDIA GUIDE: What are the major obstacles AirPlay Direct is encountering while moving the industry in a completely new direction?
Robert Weingartz: When I first launched AirPlay Direct in 2005 the number of professional issues and major obstacles was overwhelming. It has been a very big undertaking to serve, and also help to educate the professional independent music community regarding the evolutions, advances and opportunities taking place in our industry.
But fortunately, once disruptive technologies are now being seen more and more as resources and digital “smart-tools” that are very powerful in the hands of an informed, experienced and motivated artist or industry professional.
I believe AirPlay Direct was ahead of the curve, part of the future in 2005. But today, we are a part of the everyday professional business landscape in the newly emerging digital music industry.
If you do not have an effective digital strategy for promotions and sales in today’s global music industry, you are way behind the professional curve and may soon become extinct.
The professional methods and distribution channels that made the music industry great in the past, will not serve us very well where we are going now. Our industry is in a state of re-definition and it has come down to the survival of the fittest… evolution. Only the most innovative and forward thinking minds will emerge profitable and successful when the dust has finally settled.
Having said that, as the industry has become more educated on the benefits of digital delivery, our mission has become increasingly easy over the past year and the professional obstacles are falling away rapidly at this point.
MEDIA GUIDE: How do you see the independent musician benefiting from a global access to this technology?
Robert Weingartz: Beyond the obvious financial and speed to market benefits we have already covered, there is wonderful opportunity here for indie artists and labels to really educate themselves on the business as a whole, and on the professional processes of radio promotions and PR / media campaigns.
The major labels will always have an advantage with financial resources, industry experience and deep relationships. But we live in the information age and via the internet Indies now have a global reach and access to limitless quantities of educational material and professional information on the music industry. Properly motivated, educated and informed artists can leverage this knowledge with the use of existing digital “smart-tools” like AirPlay Direct to close the gap, advance professionally and help to truly level the playing field for themselves.
MEDIA GUIDE: How have press and other media embraced the technology?
Robert Weingartz: Oddly enough, over the past few years the press and media have been resistant to digital packages for music review and feature purposes. But as we have come to understand their needs more and shape our services to their purposes, we are starting to see more rapid acceptance and use of digital technologies.
MEDIA GUIDE: Predict, if you would, the future of digital delivery…at what point do you see this as becoming the industry standard?
Robert Weingartz: I am very optimistic about the music industry as a whole in 2008 and the role that AirPlay Direct will play. I believe that 2008 just may be the year that the music industry finally comes to terms with itself, stabilizes and then figures out the equation on how best to partner with our artists to serve our common goals; as well as the needs, wants and preferences of our common clients… the music consumer.
Digital delivery is already the standard for the majors and most of the major independent labels. I believe that by the end of 2008, the majority of indie artists and industry professionals globally will be on board with digital delivery for promotional purposes. Again, I believe that if they are not, they may not be around for much longer… you must evolve or you will fade away.
For more information on AirPlay Direct please visit www.AirPlayDirect.com
AirPlay Direct Member Scores Major Film/TV Placement
AirPlay Direct member and Bolero Records recording artist Armik recently had a very big song placement in the hit TV show, “Ugly Betty”. The song was “Little Drummer Boy” from Armik’s “CHRISTMAS WISHES” CD. The show was aired on KABC, Channel 7, on Thanksgiving Day, prime time, 8:00pm CST / 9:00pm PST. Needless to say this placement has created tremendous exposure for Armik, as this hit TV show airs in 50 countries worldwide.
Bolero Records had this to say about the placement, “The whole process that led us to this great opportunity was simple and free. AirPlay Direct issued a film & TV music call that we responded to by using their free DPK / Digital Press Kit submission platform. Once our music had been reviewed and approved by AirPlay Direct they introduced us to their film & TV partner MusicSupervisor.com . The rest is history… it really was that simple. Many thanks to AirPlay Direct for creating this free and easy to use platform that creates such wonderful opportunities for Indie musicians.”
“We are very excited as a company to be able to offer these tremendous and valuable opportunities to our AirPlay Direct members. Armik is a genuine and talented artist and we are glad to be able to contribute to his professional success as a member of our community.” Robert Weingartz, CEO / AirPlay Direct
A little about Armik and Bolero Records:
Bolero Records is your source for passionate music! World renowned Nuevo Flamenco guitarist, Armik began this independent record label in 2002 based in Southern California. Since it’s commencement, Bolero Records has introduced several Billboard Best Selling New Age chart topping releases. Our catalog is home to some of the world’s most talented recording artists. Armik’s internationally acclaimed recordings have sold over a million units worldwide.
AirPlay Direct… go straight to the source!
For more information on Armik and Bolero Records please visit www.bolero-records.com
For more information on MusicSupervisor.com please visit www.MusicSupervisor.com
For more information on AirPlay Direct please visit www.AirPlayDirect.com
AirPlay Direct Inks Exclusive Radio Show Distribution Deal with “Big Kev”
AirPlay Direct is pleased to announce a new exclusive radio show distribution deal with Americana/Roots radio personality Big Kev.
Big Kev is the Co-Creator, Co-Producer and host of the “Living Room Series” and the “It’s Motel Time Again” radio programs that currently air on numerous stations. Both radio shows are Co-Produced by the Artist Development Co Op. www.artistdevelopmentcoop.com
Well known and respected in the Americana music field, Kevin “Big Kev” Ploghoft has been in the radio industry for over 20 years and is currently the Talent Coordinator and Content Consultant for WXLV-Roots 90.3 in Schnecksville, Pa., and also serves as Music Director for Regional Roots Radio.
The “Living Room Series” was created to put the artist in a comfortable setting to speak freely and perform as though they were sitting in their own living room with their friends and family. The results of which are inspiring.
The “It’s Motel Time Again” series started at the Americana Music Association’s Music Conference in a small motel room studio in Nashville TN. These are short interviews and performances with top artists in the Americana format, that are not only fun… but enlightening.
Both of Big Kev’s radio shows are now available exclusively on AirPlay Direct as “broadcast-quality” downloads for syndicated programming on your station.
Listen to and download Big Kev’s “broadcast-quality” radio shows at http://www.airplaydirect.com/BigKev
AirPlay Direct… go straight to the source!
AirPlay Direct Taps Music Executive Roger Smith
AirPlay Direct Celebrates Two-Year Anniversary
Cutting edge online company streamlines and defines industry standards for independent artist promotion in a digital world.
Atlanta, GA - In just two short years, AirPlay Direct has become the global leader in digital music delivery services to radio for indie artists and record labels around the world. The AirPlay Direct community has grown exponentially over the past year and includes over 7,600 artist and label members, and over 1,700 radio station members. AirPlay Direct’s professional membership now spans 87 countries globally.
It is no secret that the Music Industry paradigm is rapidly changing; more and more, industry professionals and content providers alike rely upon digital methods of obtaining and distributing music, especially in the business -to-business realm.
Each day artists and record labels turn to AirPlay Direct to get advice and guidance on how to improve their professional growth. The company’s loyal and growing member base is the result of personal recommendations and personal relationships. Each month over 30,000 unique visitors view more than 1,900,000 artist pages and are responsible for over 2,700,000 hits on AirPlayDirect.com.
To date AirPlay Direct has delivered over 700,000 digital packages to music industry professionals on behalf of their artist and label members; including over 37,000 new tracks to radio. With the average cost of a hard copy artist package set at $10, AirPlay Direct has saved their members over $7,000,000 in hard costs and has become the #1 free electronic press kit service in the world.
“As I look back over the past two years I am filled with a deep sense of pride at what we have accomplished as a company. We have helped to shape and define the current landscape of the newly emerging digital music industry, and we will continue to strive earnestly towards our goals of true independent artist advocacy, education and empowerment” said Robert Weingartz, CEO and Founder of AirPlay Direct. “I am also very proud of AirPlay Direct’s eco-friendly solution to the issue of CD waste in our industry. By utilizing AirPlay Direct’s digital platform artists, record labels and music industry professionals can cut costs, increase their speed to market and contribute to the health and well being of our planet.”
For more information on AirPlay Direct’s free digital delivery services and how you can start putting more money on your bottom line please visit www.AirPlayDirect.com
AirPlay Direct… go straight to the source!
Modico Wins AirPlay Direct’s “All Things Digital College/Alt. Rock” Artist Contest
Throughout the month of August, AirPlay Direct and our Sponsors Gorgeous PR, Arketype Film, Apples and Cats Media and CDman ran our first “All Things Digital College/Alt. Rock” artist contest for our members. The winning band Modico will receive the Grand Prize package which includes:
• An 8 week national PR/media relations campaign (print and online) and an internet radio campaign from Gorgeous PR ($10,000 value)
• Arketype Film, Inc. will produce a music video for the winning band in a completely custom and tailored manner ($12,000 value)
• A 12 week national radio promotions campaign to 500 College radio stations from Apples And Cats Media ($3,600 value)
• A merchandise package from CDman that includes 500 professionally replicated CDs in jewel boxes, 100 full color posters and 25 digitally printed t-shirts ($1,000 value)
• A premier “Featured Artist” advertising package from AirPlay Direct ($1,500 value)
The Grand Prize Package is valued at $28,000.00…!
Listen to and download “broadcast-quality” tracks at http://www.airplaydirect.com/Modico
With cannon fire bass, bullet time drums, and guitars that will coax you to sleep before bombarding your senses, Modico take the stage as if it were a battlefield. Steadfast and ready for action, this band has an objective that exceeds superficial stardom. Modico is concerned with the world they see, and passionately try to do their part to facilitate its improvement. They see a lot of fear in the world today and an overabundance of depression. Hopelessness plagues many people and deceives them into believing that this life is pain. Modico is at war with that mentality. Hope does exist; that’s the message the band wants to share with anyone who is willing to listen. Modico recently finished recording its debut full length
album, “Axe At My Feet”. The band hopes to produce art that the ear begs to hear and the soul yearns to feel.
“Modico is a perfect example of Indie Rock at its best. They are a smart, relevant, engaging and explosive force that has the talent and dedication to step easily onto the national stage. I expect that you will be hearing a lot about this band in the coming months. Record labels would be wise to take a very serious look at this act if they are currently looking for new artists.” Robert Weingartz, CEO - AirPlay Direct
AirPlay Direct would like to thank our Sponsors who have contributed their time, resources and expertise to make this fantastic FREE TO ENTER artist contest a tremendous success.
For more information on Gorgeous PR please visit www.gorgeouspr.com
For more information on Arketype Film please write to markpetro@gmail.com
For more information on Apples And Cats Media please visit www.applesandcats.com
For more information on CDman please visit www.CDman.com
Music Connection Features AirPlay Direct’s
Music Connection features AirPlay Direct’s current FREE “All Things Digital College/Alt. Rock” artist contest in their current issue. Look for the contest profile in the A & R Report by Bernard Baur see http://www.musicconnection.com/currentissue/arreport/arreport.lcgi .
“Submissions are being accepted for an AirPlay Direct sponsored College Alt-Rock Artist Contest. The competition is also being sponsored by Gorgeous PR, Arketype Film, Apples & Cats Media and CDman, ” All Things Digital College/Alt. Rock” is open to artist and label members. This contest is free to enter and very simple… the best song wins. The only three requirements are: (1) you must be an AirPlay Direct artist or label member (free to join), (2) your music must fall into the College Alt-Rock genre and (3) you must submit your AirPlay Direct DPK prior to the official deadline date of Aug. 31st.
This is a “winner take all” contest, with a Grand Prize Package that includes an eight-week national PR and media relations campaign from Gorgeous PR: a custom made music video from Arketype Film, that will be a full-production “broadcast-quality” video with attention on the mood and style of the band; a 12-week national radio campaign to 500 College stations from Apples & Cats Media; a merchandise package from CDman that includes 500 professionally replicated CDs in jewel boxes, 100 full-color posters, 25 digitally printed t-shirts; and a premier “Featured Artist” advertising package from AirPlay Direct. This Grand Prize Package is valued at over $28,000. For additional information, visit www.AirPlayDirect.com or www.gorgeouspr.com .”
AirPlay Director Founder Robert Weingartz Discusses Digital Music Delivery with Amplifier Magazine
It wasn’t long ago that the notion of delivering broadcast-quality music to radio stations via the internet was an exciting, albeit unattainable concept. Thanks to evolving technology and ever-broadening bandwidths, the service is now here - much to the pleasure of independent artists and radio promotion companies who spend most of their toiling hours pressing promo CDs, preparing expensive press kits, and dumping a good percentage of their budget into postage costs.
Leading the charge on internet delivery of music to radio is AirPlay Direct (http://www.AirPlayDirect.com), an Atlanta-based company birthed from the passions of a few hard-working veterans from the music industry. The service is a no-nonsense, easy-to-use interface to link record labels, radio promo firms, and independent artists with radio stations (terrestrial and internet) worldwide.
On the back-end, labels and artists can upload broadcast quality tracks and create extensive profiles and digital press kits. The front-end of the service is specifically designed for radio station programmers to stream and/or download tracks from all artists signed on - all in a secure, copyright-protected environment. As of now, the service is free for both front and back-end users.
The ultimate objective of APD is to create an online exchange where artists and record labels can deliver new music to radio stations without the labor and expense of sending out CDs and press kits. I had a moment to sit down (virtually!) with AirPlay Direct Founder and Chief Marketing Officer Robert Weingartz to discuss the revolutionary concept of digital music delivery and APD’s role in its ever-shifting landscape.
What prompted you to start Airplay Direct?
I had produced and released an album on an Americana artist I manage, Clay DuBose, in early 2005. We had a very successful domestic radio campaign with the album breaking into the “Top 10″ and going all the way to #6 on the AMA/ Radio & Records Americana chart. But there was no budget to send out hard copy artist packages to all of the stations globally that were requesting the record. I started thinking about how much of a problem and an expense radio distribution was for all Indie artists globally and believed that I could create an easy to use digital distribution platform that would solve those problems. A few days later I Founded and started AirPlay Direct.
What is your ultimate vision for APD? Do you see massive growth potential?
Ultimately AirPlay Direct will evolve into an artist development and advocacy platform that will focus on helping artists and record labels to continue to educate themselves on the industry and grow their businesses. With respect to growth potential, there is no limit.
Are there other online venues for digital music delivery to radio? And if so, how does APD differ from them?
There are only a handful of companies globally doing digital distribution to radio. The biggest difference between AirPlay Direct and them is that our services are free to our members. AirPlay Direct is the only company in the world that offers our suite of digital “smart-tools” free of charge to our members.
With the exception of a handful of major label artists, APD’s roster is almost exclusively unsigned nd independent artists. Do you feel your model is sustainable under this scenario…or is your long-term success dependent on getting more well-known indie and/or major label artists on board?
Yes AirPlay Direct is focused on the Indie artist community. However we are seeing more and more wellknown artists and record labels utilizing our services. I do not believe that our long-term success depends on us attracting major label artists. More so I believe our long-term success will be dependent upon our on-going commitment to indie artists and labels and AirPlay Direct’s continuing commitment to create, develop and deploy exciting new ’smart tools’ aimed at helping to educate and empower the professional independent music community.
What are your current thoughts/predictions on the current music industry landscape? Do you see massive changes ahead due to the increased ease of digital music delivery across the internet?
Well the music industry is obviously in a very transitional state at this juncture. It is a very unstable and confused global marketplace currently. I believe there will be unprecedented changes and opportunities in the industry over the coming months with respect to the way new artist deals are structured and how labels will bundle and deliver products for sale.
Labels will want a percentage of all of the artist’s income streams such as touring, merchandise, publishing, etc. They will also start bundling products as never before; a strong blend of physical products (CDs, t-shirts, concert tickets, etc.) and digital products (music downloads, ring tones, videos, etc.) will be the way of the future. As an industry I believe we will also finally learn how to incorporate more consumer/fan input into our sales and marketing efforts.
Most importantly artists and labels will be looking to cut costs, increase their global distribution footprint and increase their speed to market. Digital music delivery to radio is a service perfectly positioned for this purpose and I predict it will be a major force in helping to shape a newly digitally evolved music industry.
–Jeff Shelton
For more information on AirPlay Direct please visit www.AirPlayDirect.com
AirPlay Direct… go straight to the source!
Performer Magazine Features AirPlay Direct
AirPlay Direct Celebrates one-year Anniversary
Atlanta-based digital music promotions company AirPlay Direct recently celebrated its one-year anniversary. The pioneering business serves as a digital middleman, helping to connect independent musicians with radio professionals for no charge to the artists, labels or the radio industry. AirPlay Direct securely delivers broadcast-quality music files from thousands of independent artists and record labels directly to radio programmers around the world. Once artists sign up, they can submit up to three songs to be digitally sent to radio stations. Once their songs are uploaded, artists can track their progress and see which stations are downloading their songs.
Founder and CEO Robert Weingartz started AirPlay Direct to educate and empower independent musicians. Weingartz saw the music industry and promotions becoming increasingly digitally based and identified an opportunity to bring one part of the promotions process up to date. AirPlay Direct streamlines label and artist promotion activities by eliminating the time consuming and often expensive process of mailing press kits out to individual stations. Since the company launched last year, AirPlay Direct estimates that it has saved independent artists over $1,000,000 in postage and material costs. www.AirPlayDirect.com www.performermag.com
Since the publication of this article AirPlay Direct has now delivered over 450,000 digital packages globally for our members. The average cost on a hard copy artist package is $10 (CD, photo, bio, envelope, postage, etc.). The result is that AirPlay Direct has now saved our members over $4,500,000…! AirPlay Direct is the only company globally that offers our suite of digital services to independent artists and labels free of charge.
AirPlay Direct… go straight to the source!