Netlabel

From Free net encyclopedia

A netlabel, also called online label, web label or MP3 label, distributes its music in digital audio formats (mainly MP3 or Ogg) online. Netlabels often work like traditional record labels to produce and promote music projects (such as albums or compilations). Most employ guerrilla marketing to promote their work. Few netlabels earn money for participants.

The primary difference between netlabels and record labels is that netlabels emphasize free downloads, as opposed to physical publishing (CD, vinyl or DVD). Often, the music is released under licenses that encourage sharing, such as the Creative Commons Licenses. Artists typically retain the copyright.

[edit]

History

Online music groups date back almost as far as the history of personal computers, and share close ties with the demoscene, and video games. Early music groups released music in MOD formats, typically as part of a music disk, which often included a MOD player, accompanied by visual effects and textual information.

Netlabels began to branch out from the tracker scene when the MP3 file format became popular in the late 1990's, but most are still dedicated to electronic music and related genres.

Early netlabel pioneers include the Kosmic Free Music Foundation (a.k.a. Kosmic, 1991 - 1999), Five Musicians (a.k.a. FM, 1995 - 2000), and Tokyo Dawn Records (1997 - present).

[edit]

See also


[edit]

Additional links

es:Netlabel fr:Netlabel nl:Netlabel pl:Netlabel ro:Casă de discuri virtuală ja:ネットレーベル

Retrieved from "http://www.netipedia.com/index.php/Netlabel"