Just thought i'd open up a bit of discussion on this topic as I've always wondered if there's a certain etiquette regarding the requesting of promos and unreleased tracks.

With nearly every big name dj and producer on the myspace network these days, it's possible to communicate with them, like never before.

Recently i've had a couple of promos sent to me by fairly well known producers that i've been chatting to quite frequently, of tracks that have been signed but not yet released. As always there are tracks out there you will hear being played by big dj's that aren't yet released. Trust is obviously a big issue here, that it's not going to be distributed by yourself.

So the big question, is it rude to ask for a promo of a track you love and are most producers quite happy for you to create more exposure for their tunes, assuming you are a half decent dj?

Or would one normally have promos offered to them, without asking for them?

I'd like to know this too. There's one track by Orana Project, called She says. I really want to get my hands on it, but one of the guys from Orana Project told me that it will not be released.

I've been in touch with a number of producers and labels lately due to the feedback I've given to the Release Promo Pool. For the most part, anyone that's given me material thus far has offered it to me without my asking.

Some bigger names have taken my requests to be informed of any new material to be hitting the promo pools as misinterpreted requests for them to give me promo material. Generally the response has either been "No promo materials available" or "Keep an eye out for our new stuff on Beatport".

I suppose it can never hurt to ask, but it's not really something I like to do.

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Paul Van Dyk - Today [DJMaytag's Dreamy Dub Mix]

If a tune is signed artists aren't allowed to give them out as promos, they need label's permission and they usually won't give out stuff to people they don't know.

When you get a name for yourself you might start getting promos sent to you. Sadly most of them are utter shite that labels send out to any DJ with a bit of name in hopes they'd play them and give bits like "Ehh, it's OK I guess" for their press releases.

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Latest releases:
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It may be slightly cheeky, but it's not really rude to ask for an upfront copy of a tune.

As monsieur Mystery says, if the track's signed then technically the artist isn't allowed to give out copies... most artists will honour this.

Promos are normally offered rather than requested, although you can always ask to be added to the promo list of a particular label or distribution company, if you can persuade them that it would be worth their while... then from there on out you'll get them offered to you

On another site quite recently I interviewed a guy called Louk who deals with a lot of pre-release DJ reaction & promo, could be worth a read... here: http://www.harderfaster.net/?sectio...=11677&forumid=

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Stu Cox |

Once you get your hands on a promo I wonder:

(1) if it's OK to play a promo at a DJ gig you may get, I would think so (assuming you don't record and give out your mix),

(2) if it's OK to put it a promo in a demo mix that you put online, I'm assuming that is probably a no-no.

You could always ask permission first so you don't need to assume anything.

quote:

Originally posted by tvmann Once you get your hands on a promo I wonder: (1) if it's OK to play a promo at a DJ gig you may get, I would think so (assuming you don't record and give out your mix),

It's not only OK to play a promo at a gig, it's generally EXPECTED that you do so.

quote:

Originally posted by tvmann (2) if it's OK to put it a promo in a demo mix that you put online, I'm assuming that is probably a no-no. You could always ask permission first so you don't need to assume anything.

I gotta make some inquiries about this to the pool managers as to what's allowed and what's not. I wonder if you can even make a demo mix CD to give away with promo tracks on it?

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Paul Van Dyk - Today [DJMaytag's Dreamy Dub Mix]

quote:

Originally posted by tvmann Once you get your hands on a promo I wonder: (1) if it's OK to play a promo at a DJ gig you may get, I would think so (assuming you don't record and give out your mix), (2) if it's OK to put it a promo in a demo mix that you put online, I'm assuming that is probably a no-no. You could always ask permission first so you don't need to assume anything.

It depends on the premise under which I'm being sent the track - sometimes I get sent tracks by producers I know who tell me not to play it for a few weeks until the promos are out, basically to save them from getting in trouble if the label finds out.

If the track comes from the label (or another promo service), it's generally accepted that you can play it out & on radio shows, chart it and include it in demos cos it's all good promotion for the label - they've already decided that you having this track is beneficial to them.

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Stu Cox |

just go to stompy.com

i get a fairly normal supply of promos from 2-3 labels. really good stuff. i only hooked that up because the main producers of these labels are also the label heads. i met them for an interview, nicest guys i had met in a while. we talked a lot of shit afterwards as they got taken around beaches and such here.

of course, i would've loved to yell "YO! WHERE BE THEM TRACKS?" if that would have any positive effect. of course, i didn't. we did talk about DJing, producing, annoying flaws in hardware, and stuff.

when we're at the airport, waiting for them to board, they got out their laptops, asked me for my e-mail, typed it in and said "...for the online promos. this way we can send you a message whenever we've got something new." they also got the promoters' that organized the event's e-mail and send them the stuff, even though they don't DJ.

in essence, i guess it will vary from artist to artist, what the situation is with his label, and whatnot. i guess i lucked out, since these guys owned their labels, no one can say shit to 'em. but i don't think asking for the promos out of the blue would've gotten me anywhere.

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check out my guest mix for OndaSonora Podcast (aug.2009)

cheers mr c for the bigup

quote:

Originally posted by DJMaytag It's not only OK to play a promo at a gig, it's generally EXPECTED that you do so.

sorry to be the voice of contradiction here, but what if you don't like a track, I wouldnt expect any dj to play the tracks I send out if they didnt like them?

Louk

quote:

Originally posted by Louk cheers mr c for the bigup sorry to be the voice of contradiction here, but what if you don't like a track, I wouldnt expect any dj to play the tracks I send out if they didnt like them? Louk

That's cos you're one of the good guys

A lot of people expect you to play a track if you say anything other than "I hate it"... I've even told someone exactly that before, for them to reply (and he was being totally serious) "but the crowd will love it, I promise you, so you'll play it tonight yeah?"

I've also heard that some (maybe most) promo lists will strike off DJs who don't regularly (I don't mean every tune, but at least one a month sorta thing) support the tracks... but of course that makes sense, if a little strict, cos if they don't like any of what you're sending them then surely they're sending it to the wrong DJ!

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Stu Cox |