Manifesto
towndowner records aims to present music by a small group of people in a large number of styles, emphasizing high quality, low cost, and easy business.
two all-important factors enable it:
- internet technologies and ideologies have engendered extremely cheap production and distribution systems. a recording studio that would have cost hundreds of thousands of dollars to equip thirty years ago now costs under ten grand. the only appreciable limiting factor to someone in the middle class is having a good-sounding room to record in. similarly, multi-million dollar budgets for vinyl/cassette/compact-disc manufacturing and transportation, for brick-and-mortar places to store and sell the things, and for mainstream media promotion (and, increasingly, mainstream media itself) have all given way to mere internet presence.
- dan has a bunch of smart and musical friends.
it holds the following beliefs immutably:
- music should be free, but there are costs to making it, foremost of which are groceries and rent or mortgage, and for some, support of a family.
- enjoyers of art should have the opportunity to contribute to the making of it. they should have the freedom to do so, or to not do so: access to the art should not be contingent on such a decision, and both options should be pleasant and rewarding.
- creators of art should be able to do so in a relaxed fashion, following inspiration rather than financial demands. they should enjoy the company and input of their collaborators. time and energy spent promoting and distributing their creations should be minimal, freeing more resources for composition, performance, and recording.
towndowner works toward these ends via:
- mp3s freely given on a web site, with donations encouraged
- drm-free digital media sold via itunes/etc.
- cd-rs sold at performances / events
- cd-rs sold online via cdbaby.com
- live shows
- word-of-mouth
- local media
- social networking sites (myspace, facebook, twitter)
- media portals (youtube, flickr, archive.org)
if you enjoy the work of our artists, please become a patron, via donation or purchase. also, please contact us with any thoughts you may have on any aspect of our work(s). if you're an artist who would like to work with us, please contact us soon! whichever flavor you are: in this effort, as in all, we're looking for existence of, and communion with, kindred spirits. thanks for your attention.
