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Innovator spotlight: IODA
One of my favorite pieces of schwag is the IODA t-shirt (here shown off by VS subscriber, Emily Allstot). It’s a cool design to be sure, but what makes it really cool is what the logo actually is.
Constructed of little 0s and 1s, it’s one of those spindle adapters used to play 45 singles on a record player. For you teenyboppers or memory challenged, here’s what they look like:
The center hole fits onto the phonograph’s smaller spindle, and allows records with the bigger hole to be snugly spun ’round on the turntable. This is old school stuff, but it makes perfect sense for IODA, which is harnessing some old-fashioned concepts to rejuvenate the decaying music distribution business.
IODA is bringing back the single as a way to promote new albums. The company’s most interesting service to us bloggers is Promonet. This is becoming the world’s largest database of music samples and free songs from independent artists. Yes, they make it easy and free to download uncut mp3s that we can drop straight into our iTunes. But the interesting part is this: they allow anybody to post whole songs to their Web sites, as well as use them in videos, podcasts and mashups.
So next time you’re looking for a background track for a podcast or want to post sample music from your favorite new indie band, consider pulling down a whole MP3 from IODA’s promonet. It goes down a lot smoother than a copyright violation lawsuit.
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Here are a few nifty tracks I discovered while poking around. Go ahead and download the whole songs, courtesy of IODA.
The Shanghai Restoration Project
The Shanghai Restoration Project
Undercover Culture Music
Buy at iTunes Music Store
Download “Jade Buddha Temple” (MP3, 192kbps)
Haircut Fantasy Exceptional Records
Transparent Sound
Buy at iTunes Music Store
Download “Voyeurs Chance” (MP3, 192kbps)
June 27th, 2006 at 11:57 am
WOW!
Just about an hour ago I posted a quick blurb on my site listing a few of the free(and legal!) MP3 sites out there… what timing. This is a great addition to the list.
Oh yeah, Emily has a great smile too.
June 27th, 2006 at 1:33 pm
That is AWESOME. Promonet is going to be very helpful in my search for license-free podcast theme music. Thanks for the link!
Can I place my order now for one of those fabulous IODA shirts now? ;O)
June 27th, 2006 at 1:47 pm
I’m happy to say I recognized that symbol with out the explanation. Although I’m not sure I should be happy to be an old fogey.
June 27th, 2006 at 1:56 pm
I’m happy to report that I didn’t recognize it until Amy pointed it out. Apparently, I’m just this side of old fogeydom.
June 27th, 2006 at 2:13 pm
I recognized it as the shape of a little plastic disc that some plastic gun I had as a kid used to fire. And I think I always have associated that shape with that toy gun, rather than records. Weird.
June 28th, 2006 at 4:45 am
Nice find Thor!
Promonet is quite cool, I never heard of it before this post. Its always neat to see a logo that actually resembles something and doesnt look like a blog of random ink.
June 28th, 2006 at 6:00 am
Iaanba…you’re not alone! I can remember having a couple of them around. Repeat after me, “I am only as old as I feel, I am only as old as I feel.” Okay…off to check out IODA.
June 28th, 2006 at 8:20 pm
I think any of us DJs out there would recognize that symbol instantly. The IODA rocks my socks.
June 29th, 2006 at 12:54 am
These blog entries seem to preempt valleybeta…
Nice. Can’t wait to hear from them…
June 29th, 2006 at 6:04 am
@Olaf: Not at all. Just a warmup.