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-- Help TranceCritic win 25k for business!
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Posted by DreamTitan on Oct-26-2004 04:35:

Hello! Help TranceCritic win 25k for business!

Hello everyone, i'm new here so I would hope to recieve a warm welcome. First off let me tell you guys a little about myself and what im trying to do.

My name is Jonathan, i'm 19, a college student, and a trance addict in my own right. Theres nothing for me like jamming out to an awsome track or breathing a sigh of relief when im listen to long strings.

Anyway, I had an idea (which I am readily going after) called TranceCritic. This would be a trance review website that you would be able to legally purchase mp3z! We all know that our trance doesn't exist on itunes and any of those other online stores which leaves us to illegal sources, not cool. What i'm proposing is creating a business which bring artists and content to the people. Simple fee's like a $1 per song could apply making everyone happy. I already have 8 volunteers helping with various tasks that need to be done in order to make this happen, and we're always looking for other volunteers (possibly to be paid later), webdesigners, writiers, or just people who want to help make this into a reality.

So what am I asking? well i've already set over 2k aside for investment in this project, I want to reach 20k by about may 1st. However we entered into a contest at ideashappen.com and if we are one of four winners -- we get 25k to start our idea!

So please vote for us and help create an outlet of music for our global community.

Vote "Feelin' It"
Link: http://ideashappen.msn.com/Entries/...t.aspx?id=33710

Anyone who may have questions/comments/suggestions or interested in volunteering please drop me a line [email protected]

Thank you all.
-Jon M

Contact:
[email protected]


Posted by Tranc3 on Oct-26-2004 05:33:

Erm....this newfound idea of yours is already in place.


Posted by DreamTitan on Oct-26-2004 05:34:

show me the way...


Posted by Tranc3 on Oct-26-2004 05:36:

I know more and more labels are offering downloads now...off the top of my head I think Anjuna, j00f, and Yoshitoshi are doing it....oh and the 8 or so labels under Armada. Then there's beatport ( http://www.beatport.com/ ), and some other services like it.

Search around for legal download threads, you'll see what I mean.


Posted by Tranc3 on Oct-26-2004 05:42:

Found a few more...

http://www.audiojelly.com/
http://www.atsdigital.com/
http://www.3beatrecords.co.uk/digital/


Posted by DreamTitan on Oct-26-2004 06:03:

thank you for those websites, keep them comming. This is a learning experience and it will help me when i decide to put together my website.

These websites are a whole lot different to what im doing. They are selling their own music compared to me reviewing many label's music and then selling it -- big difference. Some services I would include are sound clips, reviews, and a thriving community. Im also going to be able to provide lots of exposure for the particular artist, by pumping a lot of money into advertising. I have many ideas, a lot that I wouldn't want to share completely. Back to other points, I will be able to protect the artists rights as well as give them some sort of income that they wouldn't have seen elsewhere. My idea is to start with small and medieum sized labels and work my way up towards the big 5 eventually -- hopefully.

If you have any other ideas on how I can fail please post them, those are just as important as ideas that can make me succeed, if not more important. I really do apprciate the time you put into getting those links and making me aware of their presence. Any other comments anyone might have please post them for me.

Thanks again,
-Jon M


Posted by Tranc3 on Oct-26-2004 06:09:

quote:
Originally posted by DreamTitan
thank you for those websites, keep them comming. This is a learning experience and it will help me when i decide to put together my website.

These websites are a whole lot different to what im doing. They are selling their own music compared to me reviewing many label's music and then selling it -- big difference. Some services I would include are sound clips, reviews, and a thriving community. Im also going to be able to provide lots of exposure for the particular artist, by pumping a lot of money into advertising. I have many ideas, a lot that I wouldn't want to share completely. Back to other points, I will be able to protect the artists rights as well as give them some sort of income that they wouldn't have seen elsewhere. My idea is to start with small and medieum sized labels and work my way up towards the big 5 eventually -- hopefully.

If you have any other ideas on how I can fail please post them, those are just as important as ideas that can make me succeed, if not more important. I really do apprciate the time you put into getting those links and making me aware of their presence. Any other comments anyone might have please post them for me.

Thanks again,
-Jon M


Uhh....those services don't all sell their own music. The ones to which I linked sell music owned by other labels. They ALL provide sound clips (this is a standard in the online music purchasing business), and as for reviews/community, they've got some form of one or the other already there.

I don't really see anything new that you'd be bringing to the table.

edit: I realize you wouldn't want to share all your ideas, but I just can't justify voting for your idea if you think it's new without (apparently) having done much research in this area.


Posted by DreamTitan on Oct-26-2004 06:31:

You provide good points, i didn't browse each website as indepth as i should have initally. audiojelly seems well established. However in browsing these websites they lead me to believe that competition is possible but like i said before you bring good points.

Like i mentioned before, I don't want to type down all my ideas - that would be stupid and leave them open to be taken avantage of someone else.

What i'm going to provide, what these websites aren't that i can see. Reviews are going to be the main focus of my website, dominating all else. By having a reviewer building a relationship with a customer, IE: same tastes in music, this will deliever somewhat of a personal relationship which i feel will make this customer return. How do u develop this? buy something that he recommends, like it? now you know can give this writer some credibilty for the next time he reviews a song.

Another thing to consider but not etch into stone, the prices on those sites where around $1.25-$1.49 about 50% higher then what i plan to charge, that is subject to possible change.

The most important thing to consider is your budget for advertising. If people cannot find you or your product/service then it isn't going to sell. Advertising is extremly important because it will bring customers, contacts, and labels/artists.

Another assumption I think your taking on this is that just because i'm not offically the first means i'm not going to be successful. I know you didn't actually say that but it seems like your implying it indirectly. However, i do still apprciate your comments/suggestions. Making me think is not a crime.


Posted by Tranc3 on Oct-26-2004 06:43:

quote:
Originally posted by DreamTitan
You provide good points, i didn't browse each website as indepth as i should have initally. audiojelly seems well established. However in browsing these websites they lead me to believe that competition is possible but like i said before you bring good points.

Like i mentioned before, I don't want to type down all my ideas - that would be stupid and leave them open to be taken avantage of someone else.

What i'm going to provide, what these websites aren't that i can see. Reviews are going to be the main focus of my website, dominating all else. By having a reviewer building a relationship with a customer, IE: same tastes in music, this will deliever somewhat of a personal relationship which i feel will make this customer return. How do u develop this? buy something that he recommends, like it? now you know can give this writer some credibilty for the next time he reviews a song.

Another thing to consider but not etch into stone, the prices on those sites where around $1.25-$1.49 about 50% higher then what i plan to charge, that is subject to possible change.

The most important thing to consider is your budget for advertising. If people cannot find you or your product/service then it isn't going to sell. Advertising is extremly important because it will bring customers, contacts, and labels/artists.

Another assumption I think your taking on this is that just because i'm not offically the first means i'm not going to be successful. I know you didn't actually say that but it seems like your implying it indirectly. However, i do still apprciate your comments/suggestions. Making me think is not a crime.


Setting up reviews like that would be good, but isn't that what Amazon already does?

The average price for a track you can sell online and get a razor-thin profit margin is 99 cents. Dunno how you'd get it to about 75 cents.

I'm in no means assuming that you won't be successful because you aren't the first, I'm assuming you won't be successful because you won't stand out.


Posted by DreamTitan on Oct-26-2004 06:50:

by 50% i was talking about for the $1.50 i saw on one of the websites. My ranges are going to be around $1, hopefully.

Another service I hope to encorporate is going to be a Trance Radio, which I know has been done already. But i'm going to use this free stream as a tool to sell music. I also have other plans that I would not rather mention at all.

Another idea of mine that I would like to do is offer vinyl's for DJs only, expanding my market from consumers only to including Disc Jockies. This is important because DJs are frequent spenders of new content and therefore will provide good return business. This coupled with steady reviews should be able to provide almost any DJ to what their looking for content wise.

On a side note, Tranc3, i've told you a little bit about myself -- why not you tell me a little bit about you?


Posted by swisstoni_uk on Oct-26-2004 09:24:

lol do you 2 guys want a private room?

As its already been mentioned, you have to provide a service that will stand out. You have to reach out to a wide range and diversity of artists. ATSDigitial got noticed by me beacause they had Kuffdam & Plant for download when its only available on uber-rare vinyl, and PvD is releasing an Edit on Vandit soon. Release records caught my attention as it had Girl Nobody - Cages on download ages ago when i couldnt find it anywhere, and 3Beat has Nikola Gaya - Swing to Harmony when its hard to find in England. Extensive catalogue is the way to go


Posted by Ian on Oct-26-2004 11:24:

why not just split the 25k amongst us all, counting the active members that'd be a nice sum each


Posted by DreamTitan on Oct-26-2004 18:49:

sure why not!

However, i'd like to thank you guys so far. we have a 76% "feelin' it" percentile and are ranked 953, a bit better then 15,623 from yesterday!

The main thing on what I plan to bring to the table is basically a place not only for Trance but for all kinds of music, including trance, techno, jungle, d&b, chillout, house, electronica, plus any others that I cannot think of at the moment. The websites listed prior to this are not really as in deph as I am planning to be and really don't seem to have much going on in my opinion, but I could be wrong. My website is going to be a site for EDM heads by EDM heads.

If anyone has any other advice/input/or inqueries please let me know, I seriously want to hear what anyone who wants to say something has to say.


Posted by Luke Cartwright on Oct-26-2004 19:21:

I don't really see how reviews will make your download service better than others, most people tend to make their own mind up about music, correct.

For example my friend likes hard trance, I prefer trance and even if he says a tune is good it doesn't mean I'm gonna like it.

We all hear tunes being played by Dj's, radio and other sources nowadays so If we like a tune and say audiojelly has it for dl we don't wanna sit there and read someones review on it when we have already made our mind up about it.

As for undercutting these already established sites I think that an artist/label is gonna go for the one that will give him a better return for his music. I would rather my tracks be sold for say 1.50 dollars than 1 dollar would'nt you? Fair enough these sites are not gonna sign up every artists/labels work but if its good enough they are not gonna turn it down.

Good idea but these are just my views, I realise competition is good but be prepared to accept a great loss and some very pissed off artists if it does'nt make it.


Posted by mike_stefan69 on Oct-26-2004 19:23:

why the hell should we vote for you since the idea is not exactly new?

you havent even bothered to do your research properly


Posted by DreamTitan on Oct-26-2004 23:28:

Luke Cartwright:

"I don't really see how reviews will make your download service better than others, most people tend to make their own mind up about music, correct."

People do make up their own mind about music, espcially when they punch in their credit card number to actually spend money on it. Im not making up the mind for the customers, i'm simply assisting them in making a choice amongest hundreds of artists and thousands of tracks.

"For example my friend likes hard trance, I prefer trance and even if he says a tune is good it doesn't mean I'm gonna like it."

Excellent example, because you know your friend prefers music that you don't like you generally wont take his word for it. What I intend to do is a bit different.

Lets pretend your friend is a reviewer/writer. You've read his reviews and even bough because of those reviews once or twice, each time a little disappointed. I, on the other hand, have also purchased from your reviewer friend and I find my tastes similar with his. This leaves me with a reviewer who will be reviewing songs, upon thousands of songs, and suggesting to me which ones I will most likly prefer based on my associatation with his tastes.

"We all hear tunes being played by Dj's, radio and other sources nowadays so If we like a tune and say audiojelly has it for dl we don't wanna sit there and read someones review on it when we have already made our mind up about it."

I'm not forcing you to read a review, but the service is there if you want it. Its for people who want some type of dance music but don't know where to start, good for getting new comers into the scence quickly. We all know the more popular it is, the better it becomes.

"As for undercutting these already established sites I think that an artist/label is gonna go for the one that will give him a better return for his music. I would rather my tracks be sold for say 1.50 dollars than 1 dollar would'nt you? Fair enough these sites are not gonna sign up every artists/labels work but if its good enough they are not gonna turn it down."

But is that particular label protecting its self interest, what about its rights?, is it getting enough traffic to sell a significant amount of music? Advertising is the major component which I would plan to budget more then enough to drive customers to my website over the individual label's website. It could be more economical to sell 20,000 mp3z (25cents each)and make $5,000 then it would be to sell 400 and make $750. This you cannot argue.

"Good idea but these are just my views, I realise competition is good but be prepared to accept a great loss and some very pissed off artists if it does'nt make it."

Failure is very common in this world, everything we do is a risk and success is not measured by how much we gained but the risks we took along the way. Im greatful for your views and your constructive comments, shows intelligence to make points without being nasty.


Posted by DreamTitan on Oct-26-2004 23:32:

quote:
Originally posted by mike_stefan69
why the hell should we vote for you since the idea is not exactly new?

you havent even bothered to do your research properly


I didn't know you had the inside scoop to my business plan, I did do my research and these stores, while although ahead, are not what I plan to do. My idea is not new, I knew that before hand. itunes, napster and other online stores have already begun to sell music over the internet before I even submitted my entry (but not before I originally came up with the idea, like 3 years ago). My idea is new to the point where I want to become the central "go-to" place for electronic music over the internet, we currently do not have one of those, and i cannot give audiojelly THAT much credit. While although some is deserved.


Posted by DreamTitan on Oct-27-2004 13:41:

I just wanted to post an update of our position and rank.

As of Oct 23 we are ranked 253 in our Category and overall ranked 602 out of 19,004 ideas. With an 88% feelin' it average. Thank you guys for the ones who did vote.

Also thank you for pointing out the things you did point like, Tranc3,Luke Cartwright. It has helped me identify loopholes and fill them in with other business ideas.

If anyone has any other feedback (constructive) please share it, cause hopefully in a few months we'll all be able to enjoy the service i'm trying to provide.


Posted by DaveT on Oct-27-2004 17:55:

Creating a "reviews" site and a "e-commerce" site where the staff works on both sides ia a HUGE conflict-of-interest and very bad journalistic integrity.

You are leaving yourself wide open for people to slam you because they may believe the e-commerce side of things directly interfere with your decisions on reviews in some cases (ala, some artists/labels/etc pay you off).

The "reviews" side of things and the "e-commerce" side of things should be kept completely seperate from each other. It's perfectly find to have them both under your design palette, but at the same time people should know w/o a doubt that other than the design palette, there is nothing in common amongst the running of the two sites.

If you can't do that, then don't bother. Your editorial work will have no integrity on the site and your credit-value will be wiped out.

Dave


Posted by torontotrance on Oct-27-2004 18:06:

Go for it, avoid what jetgroove did wrong, you could get all the labels that wanted to completely sue them till kingdom come, to help you with yours, if you found the right mix or everything.


Posted by Swamper on Oct-27-2004 18:28:

DreamTitan, I can let it slide that you came on here to promote your cause (since it is Trance related - albeit - for financial gain) but, please, don't bump this thread with statistical 'updates'.


Posted by DreamTitan on Oct-27-2004 19:07:

Swamper:Sorry about that.

DaveT:

Your point are very true, in fact i've heard that arguement before. Leaning on a particular artist or being biest to a particular song for the wrong reason would be any mp3 store down, however its a thin line. What I have to do is evaluate my position, my logic is that I will only make money if the customer makes good decisions for them. I cannot control this fact, only to an extent, but having unbiest reviews could turn from a conflict to a competitve advantage. All songs will be priced evenly, so if a customers downloads artists A or artist B i'm still making my money.

Another idea (Yours) would be to create two seperate entities which are linked to one another, It makes sinse because I could also be a reseller for another store (Independent label/artists) which has artists that I do not carry, for legal purposes.

Setting up two different entities, deffinitly something to think about.

Thank you for the feedback, your helping me in more ways then you know.


Posted by DreamTitan on Oct-27-2004 19:10:

quote:
Originally posted by torontotrance
Go for it, avoid what jetgroove did wrong, you could get all the labels that wanted to completely sue them till kingdom come, to help you with yours, if you found the right mix or everything.


Thank you for the positive comments. Unlike any other stores that opened i'm going to make sure I protect myself legally. One way of doing that is signing contracts, protecting artists rights, and letting everyone make money.

If you would be so kind as to explain the story of what happened with this particular mp3 store I would be most greatful.


Posted by Thracky on Oct-28-2004 04:48:

Competition is good for any market. Period.

Just because you're opening an online music store that isn't ITunes and caters to a similar market doesn't mean you're going to fail. Just because you aren't first doesn't mean you're going to fail. If you do it better than the competition, or even if you're just on par with the competition, both can still surivive quite easily. Now I know we're not aiming for ITunes here but it's aiming for a market that is largely untapped. Frankly I consider myself to be very into the trance scene from a music perspective and I never had a clue that a site like audiojelly existed, so obviously whatever advertising they're doing is not reaching a person like me, let alone the casual listeners. So there is definitely room for growth and improvement in this area.


Posted by DreamTitan on Oct-28-2004 14:25:

I'm sorry swamper, but I have to post about our current position.

We are ranked #4 in our category, we're on MSN front page! holy shit we're doing awsome!

Please everyone, lets keep this going, I actually have a good chance of winning this thing!


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