| The winter months have hit us and unless you | | | | music collectors. |
| live in Southern California, most people | | | | |
| aren't swimming in open-air pools any longer. | | | | Here are a few record pools I found on the |
| | | | web: (they represent an assortment of music, |
| Until recent times, Indie Artists and the | | | | including R&B, Hip-Hop and Dance.) (they |
| labels they set up for themselves had a hard | | | | represent Hip Hop, Latin, World and Jazz) |
| time getting their music heard by anyone | | | | (they represent Dance, Hip Hop, and Latin) |
| outside their own backyard pool of fans. With | | | | |
| guerilla marketing finally becoming common | | | | Recently I had a chance to talk to one of the |
| practice and online music stores becoming a | | | | managers of V.I.P Chicago, DJ H.Vargas, about |
| main stay for the music aficionado, record | | | | what they do and here is what he had to say, |
| pools are now open for business to the | | | | "One has to understand the reason why record |
| general indie population. | | | | pools truly exist, and it should not be just |
| | | | to pass out product to their members. |
| What is a record pool? Basically, a record | | | | |
| pool is a membership of DJ's that act as an | | | | Some records pools are in the process of |
| intermediary between DJ's and the music | | | | becoming more involved in the overall |
| makers. The power behind a record pool is | | | | promotion of the new artist. Creating product |
| that it can reach a mass, global market in | | | | awareness with merchandising, sponsoring |
| lightening speed. | | | | special events at local nightclubs and record |
| | | | stores, and naturally keeping their ears to |
| As of 2005, there are over 7000 DJ's and | | | | the ground on what's selling and what are the |
| industry professionals who are part of this | | | | current trends within their market. |
| digital revolution. In order for a DJ to | | | | |
| belong to a record pool, they must pay a | | | | With their pool of DJ's the office managers |
| monthly association fee to obtain the latest | | | | are able to have overnight results, and more |
| and most current music. | | | | importantly, feedback. Feedback that is |
| | | | essential to the company's that service the |
| Frequently this music is available to them | | | | pools as an option that some C.E.O.'s |
| before it becomes available to mainstream | | | | consider essential, and for that we thank |
| radio, and because of that, record pools | | | | them. |
| quite often have more of an initial impact | | | | |
| than the popular mainstream outlets. | | | | These factors, along with an undying love for |
| | | | music, allow the office director and their DJ |
| The power radio programmers have over radio, | | | | members the opportunity to be involved in |
| clubs and street music is now handed over to | | | | something which many of us consider a |
| the DJ's who participate in the record pools, | | | | blessing from above. No fanfare, no glory, |
| allowing them to have control over what they | | | | just great product and the excitement of the |
| "break." | | | | dance floor." |
| | | | |
| So how can you get an invitation to swim in | | | | The time for indie artists is upon us, but |
| their pool? No invitations necessary, but you | | | | you better take advantage of record pools |
| must have a good professional product that is | | | | now, before someone puts a "no swimming |
| available in digital format (although I did | | | | without a lifeguard" sign out. Jaci Rae - |
| find one that accepted vinyl). | | | | "The Rae of Hope TM" Copyright 2006 |
| | | | |
| Some of the record pools now require that you | | | | Jaci Rae is the #1 Nationally Best Selling |
| have your own label, meaning that you don't | | | | author of "The Indie Guide To Music, |
| submit as your band name. That is easily done | | | | Marketing and Money" ISBN 978-0-9746229-4-1 |
| by setting up your own label (too much | | | | and "Winning Points with the Woman in Your |
| information to go into here, but you can find | | | | Life One Touchdown at a Time." |
| the information inside my book The Indie | | | | |
| Guide to Music, Marketing and Money). | | | | Jaci also hosts the popular "Jaci Rae Show," |
| | | | heard live around the world. With top music |
| Once you have the business side taken care | | | | executives that share insiders information |
| of, start searching the internet using the | | | | such as: Thom King (former VP of Clear |
| keywords, "record pool," and then contact | | | | Channel who now tells it like it is and works |
| them to be certain that your style of music | | | | in getting sponsors for artists), Mike Corbet |
| is part of their repertoire. | | | | (former A&R for Mariah Carey, et.), Peter |
| | | | Visvardis former Director of A&R for Sony |
| Don't randomly send out your online or hard | | | | Records, Harvey Cooper former VP of RCA |
| copy press kit to every record pool you find, | | | | Records, Jordan Keller legal counsel for The |
| just as you wouldn't send your music to every | | | | Backstreet Boys, etc. |
| station you discover. E.g., a country record | | | | |
| pool isn't interested in acid rock and a | | | | To gain valuable career advice, tune in every |
| classical record pool won't be interested in | | | | Thursday night at 8 PM PST, by going to: and |
| spinning a blue grass tune. Then begin to | | | | clicking on the weekly show link to find out |
| submit your CDs using the contact information | | | | who's on and how to tune in. Guests can email |
| you acquired. Do you homework and beware of | | | | their questions live. |
| companies that don't post charts or may be | | | | |