We have some wonderful members on Indieheaven. They have been sharing on our IH Network what membership to Indieheaven has meant to them and what has happened for them because of their affiliation with Indieheaven. Here are a few of the testimonies. If you are an indie artist, consider affiliating with Indieheaven, we'll do our best to serve you! Click HERE for more info on the benefits of affiliation and to apply for membership.
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The value of IH for me is that I have seen my mission expand tremendously because of my affiliation. I thought back through some of the things that would NOT have happened had I NOT joined IH. These are in no particular order...and please dont read this like me bragging... I know it could come across like that, but I had very little to do with these opportunities presenting themselves, this stuff happened because of IH not me.
1 - I would not have opened for Sean Smith's CD release concert in Atlanta at Alpharetta First Baptist in February of 2006.
2 - I would not have won a free website from Eyescream design because I wouldn't have known to enter the contest they held at the CIA Summit.(www.ciasummit.com)
3 - I would not have met the worship pastor at Alpharetta First Baptist (through Sean's CD release concert) who has since invited me back 2 times for special music where I added a lot of people to my email list, made new friends, and sold a lot of CD's.
4 - I would not have been invited by 94 FM The Fish to play at the Festival in Murfreesboro. They were scanning IH for artists and called me because they heard my tunes.
5 - I would not have been featured on a TV program called The Remix which is shown
on Direct TV's NRB (National Religious Broadcaster network) as well as several other networks nationally and internationally. Rachel put me in touch with her friend who is the host.
6 - I would not have met Harry Offutt, Chris Combs, Beth Crosby, Bill Petty, Rick LaRocca, and many others of you who have become my family and who have invited me to do concerts at your churches and supported me in many different ways.
7 - I would not be on the radio in a lot of different places like Baltimore, Blue Earth, MN, Mason City Iowa, and many different internet radio stations.
8 - I would not have been published on the charts in CRW magazine
9 - I would not have been nominated for the acoustic artist of the year
10 - I would not have received the encouragement I needed from my friends here on the network when I felt like giving up.
11 - I would not have been able to be on the CRW i-disc a while back because many IH members on my prayer team would donate the finances.
12 - My CD would most likely not be finished because of lack of funding... So many I have met through IH helped with the funding of the mastering and various aspects of the project.
13 - My CD would not have been reviewed in CCM magazine which was great exposure.
14 - Most importantly I would not be impacting as many different people with the music God has given me.
15 - I would not have had 30 concerts since February because many of those came from people who have contacted me through IH or they were joint efforts with other IH artists.
I have made friends all over the country and I have received email testimonies of how the songs have ministered to people. That is what it is all about to me. Giving away something God has asked me to give away...His truth through the gifts He has given... all of these tangible things above were made possible thanks to the mission of IH and the interface that it provides with others.
All of this stuff with the exception of the 1 CRW i-Disc happened without me paying for extra services. This was stuff that God was driving and He included many many people along the way to make it all happen. All of this was due to my affiliation of IH. Im not saying all of that to make it appear like Im something Im not... Im saying all of that because that is the value of IH to me. Helping me further God's call on my life through connections and exposure that I don't have on my own.
Thanks Keith and Kelly and Sue (and Tim and Rachel even though you have both moved on) and everyone who has ever been a part of the staff of IH.
What would NOT have happened had you not joined IH?
Brad Reynolds
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Had I not joined IH:
1. My song Real would not have been selected for the Radio Chart in October of 2005 - therefore it would not have gone #1 on Christmas Day and hold on to be the first song on the IH compilation disc.
2. I would not have contacted Brad about opening for me in February 2006 for my CD release concert - that has led to Brad and I teaming up a number of times since to partner in music and ministry. I would have missed out on a life-long friendship there.
3. I would not have received any of the Momentum Awards that God has used in some amazing ways to bring credibility to my mission.
4. I would not have sold any CD's - which led to Keith introducing me to TAG Artist Group - which lead to National Distribution - which led to LifeWay and Family Christian Stores - which led to selling more CD's by February of 2007 than all of 2006!
5. I would not have the anchor that I feel IH provides in many ways. Too many times as an independent you feel as though you're just floating along with no connection. IH provides that place of connection in a very real and significant way.
6. I would not have had the credentials to get radio play in many parts of the country.
7. I would not know RockinRon up at KBCU Radio in Netwon, KS.
8. I would not have the ability to share with other artists what I've seen God do in and though my ministry and encourage them with the fact that He can do the same for them if they will just listen and be obedient, pursue excellence with everything that is in them, and believe what they say they believe.
9. I would not have been invited to come up to Maryland for a concert promoted by Harry Offutt.
10. I would not be sharing the stage with the likes of Bob Bennett.
11. I would not have received the many encouraging emails from folks that have listened to my music online or purchased a CD online, where they let me know how their lives and hearts have been touched by God through the music.
12. I would not be able to call Keith, Tim, Kelly, Rachael, Sue, or anyone else with IH for that matter, FRIEND and have them as a valued member of my ministry team.
I seriously could go on and on ...... God has used IH in a mighty way to encourage and equip me and my ministry and provide opportunities for me do something that doesn't make sense most of the time! God is good though.... ALL THE TIME!!!
Thanks Keith and IH for helping me be a better me. I will celebrate my 2 year Anniversary next week. I joined the night before I left for Write About Jesus 2005. Thanks for an awesome 2 years!
Sean Smith
Friday, October 12, 2007
We are excited to announce Indieheaven is now a reporter to SOUNDSCAN, the industry standard reporting service for music sales.
What does this mean for our members of Indieheaven?
* If you sell your CDs through Indieheaven, we will report your sales to Soundscan each Monday.
* If you move a good amount of units through us, not only will you be paid 100% of your sales, you also may hit the BIG sales charts, which would be highly beneficial to you as an artist.
I suggest now more than ever to push your sales through Indieheaven!
Not only are we now a reporter, we also monitor our member sales closely and we report them to key industry alliances here in Nashville. It could lead to something much bigger and better for your music mission! It already has for several of our members!
What YOU need to do in order to have your sales reported:
JOIN INDIEHEAVEN if you haven't already. Click HERE for more info.
There are MANY benefits of Indieheaven membership. We would love to partner with you in your music mission! Almost 700 already have! They are seeing value from their membership!
What does this mean for our members of Indieheaven?
* If you sell your CDs through Indieheaven, we will report your sales to Soundscan each Monday.
* If you move a good amount of units through us, not only will you be paid 100% of your sales, you also may hit the BIG sales charts, which would be highly beneficial to you as an artist.
I suggest now more than ever to push your sales through Indieheaven!
Not only are we now a reporter, we also monitor our member sales closely and we report them to key industry alliances here in Nashville. It could lead to something much bigger and better for your music mission! It already has for several of our members!
What YOU need to do in order to have your sales reported:
JOIN INDIEHEAVEN if you haven't already. Click HERE for more info.
There are MANY benefits of Indieheaven membership. We would love to partner with you in your music mission! Almost 700 already have! They are seeing value from their membership!
I've been helping independent Christian musicians in their missions since 1996, over 10 years! I've always had an independent spirit, some will say I'm a bit of a rebel, a renegade, a loner, driven, even prideful. Well, no wonder! Those are some of the attributes the majority of independent, entrepreneurial people possess.
The term "indie" has changed over the years, especially since the recording industry has been changing so drastically recently. Indie used to mean alternative, underground, even inferior. For bands and artists who desired a record deal, indie meant the curse of death.
Things are definitely changing. Artists who used to be big dogs on record labels are leaving them and returning to their independent roots. Switchfoot recently left their label and are now indie. Mainstream artists like Prince, Radiohead, Trent Reznor, and many others are saying bye-bye to their corporate leashes and going at it on their own. Just recently, Radiohead released a new multi-song compilation CD and offered it to their fans on their own website for whatever the fan wanted to pay for it. They had over 1.2 MILLION downloads the very first day, and their server crashed.
I know this is not applicable to the majority of emerging indie artists, but lets face it, the tide is turning and the indie uprising has begun! Artists are now able to reach fans and consumers directly, and distribute their music without all the red tape and control of a record label. The old stadium is crumbling, and a new one is being built. This should make new artists very excited!
My friend, Bob Baker, who is a well known mainstream indie music guru has an excellent description of the term, "indie." Take a read of Bob's description.
The best way to explain my angle on this is to use an acronym. So here's my definition of I-N-D-I-E, with every letter standing for a separate concept (and I didn't even use the word "independent," which was tempting considering I had two I's to work with).
I - Inspired
To embrace the indie frame of mind, you must be inspired. You have to know in your gut that music is what you are meant to do. You must become energized when writing, recording and performing your music. Hopefully, this is something you already experience fully, without having to force yourself to feel that way. When this kind of natural inspiration comes over you, it's a sure sign that you're on the right path. And you will need this desire to carry you through the ups and downs of pursuing the independent music path.
N - Nontraditional
Indie musicians don't mind learning about what has come before, and they are happy to listen to the "rules" that others say are required to have a successful music career. However, the smartest indie artists keep their minds flexible and constantly ask questions about how the supposed "rules" of the past really apply to them. They actually develop a mindset that seeks out the road less traveled. And when they spot a good idea that's off the traditional path, they fearlessly go after it without apologies.
D - Determined
Successful indie artists are fixated on their goals and determined to reach them. They still leave room to veer from the original plan, when needed, but they are steadfast in their desire to produce more and better music, reach more fans, sell more CDs, etc. With this attitude, obstacles become short-term learning experiences along the road to higher levels of success.
I - Innovative
Being an indie means thinking outside of the proverbial box and looking at fresh opportunities from every angle. It means not promoting yourself the same way a thousand other acts have done it. It means being resistant to knee-jerk marketing tactics and open to new ideas and overlooked avenues for exposure.
E - Empowered
Indie musicians don't wait for someone or something else to come along and rescue them. They don't pray for a "lucky break" or to "be discovered." They know to the core that the power to succeed with their music resides inside of them. And they understand that it's their mission to tap into that personal power and use it to share their music with the world.
Visit Bob's Buzz Factor website at: www.thebuzzfactor.com
Bob really hits the nail on the head. However, I still run into Christian indie artists who beg, plead and practically prostrate themselves to find someone to rescue them. I see artists with entitlement attitudes, who get angry at you if you don't drop everything to help them become better known. I recently had one artist lambaste me because I asked him what's in it for anyone if they help them. This artist could not understand that people have lives, work, careers, family, and they can't just stop their lives so they can get someone's attention at a record label.
Some think since god called them, and that god is on their side that things should just happen for them, or people should help them for nothing, and promotion should be free. I call this a "lifesaver" mentality. They spend their days copying and pasting their information on as many "friends" pages as possible, hoping someone will give them something that will save them.
This is a defeatist mentality, because they are believing they need someone or something to get them to wherever or whatever they think they have in mind. Many have no real plan, many have no idea what they are doing. It's sad to me that these artists are adrift in a sea of mediocrity.
It goes back to the "bigger is better" mentality I see out there in "indie-land." Many spend their time trying to get better known, working at being exposed, but what they do not realize is their content is inferior and all they are doing is letting the world know how mediocre they are faster.
I encourage all indie artists to embrace your independence. Take what Bob has shared and get it ingrained in your spirit. You can do it, it can be mission possible! However, it doesn't mean go at it all by yourself. I believe it is important to get involved with an artist community that will speak the truth about life, and the pursuit of the indie mission. Lone Rangers usually do not succeed. When you have Tonto's in your life, you have the wisdom and council of others. That is invaluable!
There is another acronym out there, D.I.Y. It stands for "Do It Yourself." I think it's better to "Do It Together." It gets back to the value of community. Indie artists face a myriad of challenges and tribulations in their desire to "make it." Going at it alone is almost certainly going to be overwhelming and lead to failure. The enemy attacks and sends arrows of rejection and bullets of disappointment. When indie artists come together, those arrows and bullets are less likely to hit their targets.
I moderate an incredible indie musician community at: The Indieheaven Network. I encourage you to check it out and see what is happening there. God is really moving in our midst and artists are praying for one another, gig sharing, and helping one another succeed, imagine that!
Also, make time next March 26-29, 2008 to attend our next Christian Independent Alliance conference in Franklin, TN. It's our 5th one, and its a great time to meet other artists, learn from excellent teachers like Bob Baker and many others. Bob will be there, plus many other indie minded people! Check it out at: CIA Summit.com. We hope to see you there!
Blessings!
Keith Mohr
President
Indieheaven
The term "indie" has changed over the years, especially since the recording industry has been changing so drastically recently. Indie used to mean alternative, underground, even inferior. For bands and artists who desired a record deal, indie meant the curse of death.
Things are definitely changing. Artists who used to be big dogs on record labels are leaving them and returning to their independent roots. Switchfoot recently left their label and are now indie. Mainstream artists like Prince, Radiohead, Trent Reznor, and many others are saying bye-bye to their corporate leashes and going at it on their own. Just recently, Radiohead released a new multi-song compilation CD and offered it to their fans on their own website for whatever the fan wanted to pay for it. They had over 1.2 MILLION downloads the very first day, and their server crashed.
I know this is not applicable to the majority of emerging indie artists, but lets face it, the tide is turning and the indie uprising has begun! Artists are now able to reach fans and consumers directly, and distribute their music without all the red tape and control of a record label. The old stadium is crumbling, and a new one is being built. This should make new artists very excited!
My friend, Bob Baker, who is a well known mainstream indie music guru has an excellent description of the term, "indie." Take a read of Bob's description.
The best way to explain my angle on this is to use an acronym. So here's my definition of I-N-D-I-E, with every letter standing for a separate concept (and I didn't even use the word "independent," which was tempting considering I had two I's to work with).
I - Inspired
To embrace the indie frame of mind, you must be inspired. You have to know in your gut that music is what you are meant to do. You must become energized when writing, recording and performing your music. Hopefully, this is something you already experience fully, without having to force yourself to feel that way. When this kind of natural inspiration comes over you, it's a sure sign that you're on the right path. And you will need this desire to carry you through the ups and downs of pursuing the independent music path.
N - Nontraditional
Indie musicians don't mind learning about what has come before, and they are happy to listen to the "rules" that others say are required to have a successful music career. However, the smartest indie artists keep their minds flexible and constantly ask questions about how the supposed "rules" of the past really apply to them. They actually develop a mindset that seeks out the road less traveled. And when they spot a good idea that's off the traditional path, they fearlessly go after it without apologies.
D - Determined
Successful indie artists are fixated on their goals and determined to reach them. They still leave room to veer from the original plan, when needed, but they are steadfast in their desire to produce more and better music, reach more fans, sell more CDs, etc. With this attitude, obstacles become short-term learning experiences along the road to higher levels of success.
I - Innovative
Being an indie means thinking outside of the proverbial box and looking at fresh opportunities from every angle. It means not promoting yourself the same way a thousand other acts have done it. It means being resistant to knee-jerk marketing tactics and open to new ideas and overlooked avenues for exposure.
E - Empowered
Indie musicians don't wait for someone or something else to come along and rescue them. They don't pray for a "lucky break" or to "be discovered." They know to the core that the power to succeed with their music resides inside of them. And they understand that it's their mission to tap into that personal power and use it to share their music with the world.
Visit Bob's Buzz Factor website at: www.thebuzzfactor.com
Bob really hits the nail on the head. However, I still run into Christian indie artists who beg, plead and practically prostrate themselves to find someone to rescue them. I see artists with entitlement attitudes, who get angry at you if you don't drop everything to help them become better known. I recently had one artist lambaste me because I asked him what's in it for anyone if they help them. This artist could not understand that people have lives, work, careers, family, and they can't just stop their lives so they can get someone's attention at a record label.
Some think since god called them, and that god is on their side that things should just happen for them, or people should help them for nothing, and promotion should be free. I call this a "lifesaver" mentality. They spend their days copying and pasting their information on as many "friends" pages as possible, hoping someone will give them something that will save them.
This is a defeatist mentality, because they are believing they need someone or something to get them to wherever or whatever they think they have in mind. Many have no real plan, many have no idea what they are doing. It's sad to me that these artists are adrift in a sea of mediocrity.
It goes back to the "bigger is better" mentality I see out there in "indie-land." Many spend their time trying to get better known, working at being exposed, but what they do not realize is their content is inferior and all they are doing is letting the world know how mediocre they are faster.
I encourage all indie artists to embrace your independence. Take what Bob has shared and get it ingrained in your spirit. You can do it, it can be mission possible! However, it doesn't mean go at it all by yourself. I believe it is important to get involved with an artist community that will speak the truth about life, and the pursuit of the indie mission. Lone Rangers usually do not succeed. When you have Tonto's in your life, you have the wisdom and council of others. That is invaluable!
There is another acronym out there, D.I.Y. It stands for "Do It Yourself." I think it's better to "Do It Together." It gets back to the value of community. Indie artists face a myriad of challenges and tribulations in their desire to "make it." Going at it alone is almost certainly going to be overwhelming and lead to failure. The enemy attacks and sends arrows of rejection and bullets of disappointment. When indie artists come together, those arrows and bullets are less likely to hit their targets.
I moderate an incredible indie musician community at: The Indieheaven Network. I encourage you to check it out and see what is happening there. God is really moving in our midst and artists are praying for one another, gig sharing, and helping one another succeed, imagine that!
Also, make time next March 26-29, 2008 to attend our next Christian Independent Alliance conference in Franklin, TN. It's our 5th one, and its a great time to meet other artists, learn from excellent teachers like Bob Baker and many others. Bob will be there, plus many other indie minded people! Check it out at: CIA Summit.com. We hope to see you there!
Blessings!
Keith Mohr
President
Indieheaven
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