A lot of the best labels are run by people who have seen the music industry from both sides - the perspective of an artist and the perspective of someone running a music related business. Such is the case with Stones Throw Records. Chris Manak, aka Peanut Butter Wolf, knows from experience what it is like to be trapped in a record deal without any creative control and working with a record label that just doesn't get your music, so he makes sure none of his artists have to put up with that. Instead, he only releases music he loves, and he involves his artists in every step of the album release process. A nice little bonus is that he's built one of the most respected indie hip hop labels along the way. Learn more about Stones Throw Records, including the label's demo policy.

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OK, I don't mean "paying your dues" as in you have to ride around in the back of stinky van playing shows for years on end before you're ready for the big time - I mean it in a more literal sense, as in paying for music career. Most people who work in the music industry in any capacity are seldom short on ideas, but they are short on the cash to pull them off. Unless you have deep, major label style pockets, working in music is usually more a labor of love than a labor of getting rich quickly (or slowly, for that matter).

That doesn't mean you have to push aside that notebook of ideas, dust off your nice clothes and start looking for a "real" job. There are ways to fund your music career and keep the dream alive. They're not easy, and they require a lot of hard work and patience on your part, but it can be done. Check out this guide to the basics of what you need to be thinking about when it's time to start looking for the cash to get your music career off the ground, and keep coming back over the next few weeks to dive more deeply into the subject of money for music.

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Music festival season is upon us, and in my humble opinion, it just doesn't get any better than Spanish festival Benicassim. Benicassim loosely translates into "best music festival ever." Ok, that's not true. The festival is actually named for the small Spanish town that hosts the event, which is situated between Barcelona and Valencia (Spanish readers may know the festival as FIB). It's an absolutely beautiful setting for an outdoor festival, the mood is laid back and inviting, and the music is fantastic. Plus, if you ever get a chance to get a backstage pass to the a festival, this is the one you want - there's a swimming pool, go-carts and lots more. I'm not really an "ooooh, it's magical" kind of girl, but just between us, Benicassim is a little bit magical. I won't get to make it this year, but if you can swing it - go. Really, you must.
But enough about me. What's your fav music festival? Which ones will you attend this year? Let me know!

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Just a reminder that Tuesday, May 13 is the last day to submit your questions for Sonicbids. Thanks to everyone who has sent in questions and comments already - there has been a really great response to this - and whether you want to let Sonicbids know how much you love them or you want to let them know that you have a few bones to pick with them, now is your chance. Questions will be submitted to a Sonicbids rep and all of the answers will be posted on this site - your comments and stories of your experiences working with Sonicbids will be posted here as well. Email me and let me know what's on your mind!

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When you're starting a record label, who says you have to stick to just one genre of music? Not Scott Macdonald of KFM Records. His label has been going strong for years on a "if it's good, we'll release it" policy, and fans of everything from hip-hop to indie rock can find an album on KFM they just have to have. Scott recently sat down for a chat about his label philosophy, the future of record labels and how to mine your record collection to get the start-up cash to get your label off the ground - find out what he has to say.

Interviews Galore:

• Scott Macdonald of KFM
• MC Serch
• Ed Pybus of SL Records
• Francis Macdonald of Shoeshine Records
• Lauren Barberena of Tall Girl Publishing
• David Rose of KnowTheMusicBiz
• Sound Engineer Simon Kasprowicz
• Jay Flanzbaum of Onlinegigs
• Rod Hsaio of Live 365

A few days ago, I asked for people to send in their comments and questions about Sonicbids - and wow, it turns out you care about Sonicbids - A LOT. If you've been sitting out on the sidelines, now is your chance to jump in. Email me with any questions you have about Sonicbids, and I'll put your questions directly to a Sonicbids manager. Send in your comments and your stories of working with Sonicbids as well, and I'll report on what you have to say. When you email me, be sure to mention if you're commenting off the record or if you would like to be quoted in a future article on this site about Sonicbids.

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Calling all hip hop artists....as you might know if you read this site often, I had the chance to speak to the oh-so-lovely MC Serch recently about his new Peace in the Middle East project - and now you have two chances to get your music heard by the man himself:

• Contribute to the Peace in the Middle East project - click here to learn more about how you can involved
• Send your tracks to Serch for a chance to have them played on his new radio show, Saturday Night Serchlite, which is broadcast on Detroit's Hot 102.7 and streamed on their website - click here to learn where to send your tracks

If you get involved in either of these things, I want to know about! Good luck!

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A few days ago, I asked you what you thought about Sonicbids and your experience with using the service (and many thanks to everyone who has already responded to me). Here's a chance, however, to get the story straight from the horse's mouth. Send me your questions about Sonicbids, innocent or fully loaded, and I'll put them to the Artist Relations Manager to get the facts. All questions and answers will then be posted here. So go on and get those burning questions in to me by May 13 and find out exactly what makes Sonicbids tick.

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Chicago's Touch and Go Records have been keeping it indie since 1979, and what makes their story stand out is that even through big successes, major label band poaching and Butthole Surfers-gate, they have stayed all indie, all time time. That's pretty unique. Another thing that makes T&G different is that they've always used their success to give other, smaller indie labels a leg up whenever and however possible, especially by acting as a distributor for small labels that might otherwise struggle to find a company willing to work with them. Learn more about how they've made it work all these years in this Touch and Go Profile.

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There was a time when applying for a showcases at a music trade show or music festival meant packaging up a CD and sending it off somewhere with your promo package and crossing your fingers. These days, it seems like if you want to apply, you'd better be a member of Sonicbids. Sonicbids introduced the world to the EPK - electronic press kit - and their site is designed to make the interaction between promoters and bands go a little more smoothly (and involve a lot less postage costs). All well and good, perhaps, but not everyone is in the love with the way that Sonicbids has the showcase application scene on lockdown. After all, membership in Sonicbids isn't free, and besides, maybe some people would simply prefer not to use it. Further, some people are highly suspicious of the company, whispering about collusion with festivals to get the maximum amount of money out of applicants.

I can see both sides. Trades shows and festivals gets an enormous number of applications, and getting them all via one, paper free source can only make the evaluation process go a little easier. On the other hand, although none of the sinister stories of Sonicbids make much sense to me, I get the notion that people would like a chance to opt out of becoming a Sonicbids member and still be able to apply for showcases at trade shows. So - I want to know what you think. Do you use Sonicbids? Are you happy with it? How do you feel about them being the gatekeeper to so many important music events? Let me know your thoughts, and I'll report on the opinions I receive.

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