In my vague and incoherent struggle with the idea of digital distribution, I once had the idea of offering downloads of otherwise unreleased tunes. Tunes that never got signed, or that did get signed only to see the labels die or reorganize, with said tunes getting dropped along the way, etc.

I've started thinking more about this again, and have more or less resolved to try an experiment. Assuming I manage to follow through on the idea, what I'm going to do is offer a tune a month to download as an mp3. I'm not sure yet what bit rate I'll settle on, as a balance needs to be struck between efficiency/bandwidth and sound quality. For the moment, I'm thinking mainly of tunes that might or might not have some appeal to DJs who are playing out, so it sort of matters that they not be too squirrely sounding. I may decide to expand the palette later and start including things that have nothing to do with DJing at all. Last night, when I was going to sleep, I even started thinking about really embarrassing myself and digitizing some really, really old tracks by old bands I was in; maybe even as far back as like 1983 or something. Probably won't do that. I'm just not sure how many people will care to listen to my badly recorded not so very great punk bands, but, I'm shameless and more than willing to expose myself to ridicule! But, the option is there of course. There's also nothing stopping me from uploading any other random piece of weirdness I might have been responsible for; sketches, unfinished ideas, alt mixes of tunes that did get released, etc.

I think 128kbs is probably enough for the non-DJ oriented stuff, since it's not intended for anything other than home listening (and laughing). But, I know I've got a few tunes kicking around that generated some interest among the DJ classes, and I'd like for them to be playable. Burn them to CD, take them to the club with you, whatever. Like everyone does now. CDJs and maybe Final Scratch and Traktor and all that are the future of DJing I think, so nobody has to go through the trouble anymore of cutting dubs and all that nonsense.

So, it's a way for me to release things that never got released, maybe some people will like them, and they can play and have them. The option to donate whatever amount of money you like will be available, through Paypal and Amazon, but there are ultimately no strings attached. It's up to the downloader: do you want to help support and pay for music that comes to you directly from the artist? Do you like the idea of bypassing all corrupt institutions of mediation? Do you want to poke the RIAA in the eye?

It's a test; an experiment. It could suck, but I'm already half way done with the page, so let's see what happens. Any constructive criticism or opinions on how to make this idea work better would be appreciated. I'm not a good businessman, and don't stay terribly apprised of all the debates that circulate around the inherent issues, but I know I've got a lot of old music that was always meant to come out in some way shape or form, and better that a few people get it and hear it and hopefully like it than let it disappear forever on a DAT in a drawer.

I like it! Was just drinking at the Hilton with my friend Justin, who comes from that whole Weezer gang in Massachusetts or wherever, and he was saying how much it pisses off the record company that Weezer runs unreleased stuff on its Web site "radio station." And the kids love it, and buy up every official release & pack the live shows.

What you're doing in this case is running a little Pieter K radio station. Just as when somebody tapes a song they like off the radio (we used to do that, right?), some people will keep the mp3 and not buy yr record. But what the hell, especially in the case of DJs. A DJ plays yr track and many people hear it ... what is that, a sort of mini radio station from yr radio station??

Oh yes...taped many a song off the radio. I still have quite a few of those cassettes, and it's often with them that I'm playing my silly game of musical Russian roulette (most don't have labels). It's funny listening to them; there'll be a clipped syllable of Jim Ladd or or this or that other KMET or KLOS DJ from those days overlapping an abrupt beginning to a song; usually missing the first few notes.

Man...amazing how compelling radio used to be. Nearly tragic how bad it is now.

So yes, I like that idea: radio...of sorts. I'm also more or less on board with the Weezer model. I think Chuck D said that Napster and all that was kind of like new school radio. You don't make money on it, but it might generate some revenue elsewhere. Maybe.