DSN Music Leads New Business Model in Music Industry

Sedona, AZ (PRWEB) February 1, 2010

Since the dawn of the digital revolution a decade ago, the music industry has pretty much imploded with the advent of new distribution platforms. No longer are record companies relying on selling plastic CDs in retail stores, as the new business model has moved to the online consumer.

Major record labels and distributors such as Capitol, Sony, UMG, and Warner Brothers Records have had to play catch-up with the digital download universe in order to survive.

Independent record labels are even worse off due to their limited budgets and distribution systems. Hundreds have gone out of business in the last ten years, leaving thousands of artists on the street.

However, some entrepreneurs have found ways to adapt to the marketplace and actually thrive against all odds. Social networking sites such as YouTube, MySpace, and Twitter have helped grass roots musicians raise awareness for their content.

This new generation of music moguls are rising from out from the ashes of a collapsed industry and taking it to the next level.

Former broadcast executives Guy W. Giuliano and Thomas J. King saw a growing niche and began building fledgling enterprises to accommodate independent artists looking to level the playing field .

Giuliano who began his career in radio, found himself at the dawn of the music download business when eMusic brought him aboard, after purchasing his internet radio firm in 1998. “I saw the future of the music business the minute mp3 technology was presented to me” said Giuliano, President of DSN Music. “The record companies appeared to be oblivious to its potential at the time and eventually paid the price.”

Meanwhile King, a former executive of Clear Channel Communications, financed a dozen independent record companies in Los Angeles and Portland, OR, with an emphasis on breaking independent artists and helping the environment.

“About 10 years ago I was working with Bonnie Raitt and she introduced me to environmentalism. Since working with her I realized the importance and the Impact the entertainment industry has with influencing trends, “King said. “I felt it was my duty to incorporate a zero carbon footprint and sound environmental practices with any enterprise I am involved with. We have incorporated these sensibilities in our labels such like Tom Kat Records.”

After the Universal Music Group acquired eMusic in 2001, Giuliano moved on and launched the free music download portal dsnMusic.com, which showcased emerging independent artists. Eventually independent labels began using the site as a way to promote their struggling artists, such as King’s labels.

DSN Music began to expand its business by placing indie artists into TV and Film projects, which is more affordable for the studios dealing with shrinking budgets. “We saw some of these artists making decent money off of placement deals, while raising awareness for their music in traditional media, a win-win situation,” he said.

In 2008, King sold DSN controlling interest in Tom Kat Records, which caters to an active and alternative rock audience. After the merger, Giuliano’s team wasted no time signing new talent, with out of the box and edgy names like Action Toolbelt, Dust, Mercury Bullet and Headless Charlie.

Independent musicians now have the same opportunity to compete with established artists, due to a growing hybrid of digital platforms, which the label proudly promotes.

“These days the new business model for record labels consists of a mix of online downloads and retail album sales. With an emphasis on digital sales and distribution,” stated Giuliano.

A fresh generation of record labels are launching, leaving the old corporate mentality behind, embracing a scaled down system in order to survive in today’s music industry and living environment.

Tom Kat Records | DSN Music, will release two new projects in the coming months, with Action Toolbelt’s “Sirens In Spades” due February 16th, and “Reconnect” by Headless Charlie this Spring. Both albums will be available via online retailers such as BestBuy.com, Sears.com and iTunes.

Fore more on Tom Kat Records visit www.TomKatRecords.com. DSN Music (www.dsnMusic.com) is a service of the Arizona-based Digital Syndicate Network.

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