Gottyboy inked by Vai!!!

@Richard Lundmark 9450 wrote:

Congrats to Gotty!
Well-deserved! However, Digital Nations is not exactly Favoured Nations. Digital Nations allows
for distribution, so basically what he has here is a distribution contract, where he pays for all the production and copies of his album, and digital nations offers him a sales channel for digital downloads,
sort of like Spotify or iTunes would, but guitar-oriented. Don’t get me wrong, it’s still a great deal to
get promoted by anything even related to FN 😀 Just that it is not actually a record-deal in the traditional sense of the word, but non the less a great way to spread your music, if you have already recorded a finished product (seeing how you need not even cover the cost of physical records).

Hi Richard, 🙂

You are correct! 😉 I noticed that after I sent this message that it was probably a separate subsidiary company that had something to do with online distribution and what-not. As you said, it’s still pretty cool! 😎 I just think it’s a good thing for ALL of you guys who are in the instrumental-guitar music genre that tthis type of music is getting any kind of attention! That’s the part that makes me happy I suppose (plus the fact that I’m a huge fan of Daniele’s playing!) 😎

~Bill Meehan~ 😀

@chrisbrooks 9458 wrote:

Digital Nations is basically doing what CD Baby has been doing for years… digital distribution to all the digital retailers rather than record deals. I guess the sticking point for me would be the 1yr exclusivity thing. It only benefits the “label” (not the right word but…) but not the artist. It’s far more lucrative (though very time-consuming) to go it alone, as I did with my first album The Master Plan, and sell through iTunes, CdBaby, Guitar Nine, Amazon, CD Universe and your own website most importantly. You have to have your marketing chops honed but I think that’s part of being a musician in this age. Anyone who doesn’t is pissing away half their income on letting someone else do it.

Lower-tier artists are way better off without record deals than with them, financially speaking. It only makes sense to split the pie when there’s enough for two. The smaller guitar music labels are only going to do the same online promotion that the savvy artist is capable of. The difference is, the artist isn’t going to move on to another album’s promotion 6 weeks later leaving your album dead in the water, promotion-wise. I know there’s a nice badge attached to saying “XYZ Label Artist Joe Bloggs” in Joe Blogg’s promo, but the pitiful amounts that some of the labels you know sell these days is almost criminal. I know Lion Music artists that have sold 500 copies of an album…1 pressing. 500 copies at $8 wholesale and half of that for the artist = $2000 for an album you might have spent $5000 making. It’s bad business. Tommy Emmanuel would probably do well with his FN deal because he’s well established and far too busy on the touring circuit to hand pack and mail CDs himself. But down here at the bottom it’s better to get the whole pie even if it’s smaller.

I think it would be cool to see Gotty’s name get out there even further, but honestly: I think his name is out there enough for him to have benefited substantially from a fully independent release without the restrictions of an exclusive arrangement. Hopefully he’ll further his profile and get his own operation set up for the next album.

Hey Chris, 🙂

Wow man, you really know your stuff! 😉 That was a very interesting read man. I hadn’t considered the downside of exclusivity. I guess I’m one of those people who actually puts a lot of stock in “XYZ artist so-and-so” where XYZ in this case is Steve Vai. Also, I thought when Gotty mentioned about Steve Vai offering to produce his next record (at least that’s what I thought he said, I’ll have to go back and read that again…) that would be a really good opportunity for associated-recognition AND an opportunity to learn from a true (and wildly successful) master/artist! 😎

Great perspective on all that business/marketing stuff Chris! 😉

~Bill Meehan~ 😀

@Jack Gardiner 9464 wrote:

Sorry to be a bit off topic guys, but I managed to get hold of the album last monday and i must admit, it’s AWESOME. It’s got that whole film score vibe to it, with a few drum ‘n’ bass, and dance tracks in there too! Watch out for a song called Piccions (pigeons). Daniele told me it’s that complex in terms of 8 finger tapping that he can’t transcribe it. Guitar Sbrego (Guitar Idol ’08 piece), is the most beautiful sounding track on the album imo. Apparantly he’s transcribing Guitar Sbrego and Marrakesh Market soon too 🙂
If you’re into fusion, classical, blues, with a bit of dance and metal and some over the top 8 finger tapping I’d seriously recommend buying it! Well worth £7 (he deserves more!). Although i don’t think the album’s being released ’til the 3rd December now.
Can’t wait for Rick and Tom’s solo albums now!

Hey Jack! 🙂

Thanks for the insight/preview bro! 😎 You’re DEFINITELY an authority on understanding Daniele’s music, since you’ve deciphered quite a bit of his techniques and style. That’s awesome! Yes, I can’t wait to buy my copy too! 😉

~Bill Meehan~ 😀