Enter WaP Album Recommending Contest. Support the Cause!! [Jul 18th - Aug 1st]

Why an album recommending contest?

Everyone can agree that music is a big part of our lives. Since the introduction of digital technology and Internet, music became an even bigger part of our lives. More artists can create music freely at low costs and distribute it to fans. A myriad of music services began to emerge, like Last.fm, Pandora, MOG and more recently in the US, Spotify.

Though these services are brilliantly designed, they encourage mass consumption of music at no cost to the listener. Nothing is memorable anymore. People’s appetite to purchase music significantly drops, taking a non-committal attitude towards music. So what is the big deal?

In order for an artist to make minimum wage in the US, they would have to obtain 4.5 million monthly plays on a site like Spotify, a figure that is non-realistic for most artists on a consistent basis. Bottom line is, artists cannot survive off music streaming sites, they need revenue from album purchases, in addition to touring and merchandise.

Music is a social product. People buy an album if they feel connected to it. They buy an album because a friend, a DJ or a local record store owner recommend it to them. They buy an album because they had their first kiss while listening to a song from a particular album. If you are reading this, you are probably among those who actively seek out music and are passionate about sharing music with your friends. While music companies are scratching their heads, trying to figure out how to make sense of the future of music, the answer actually lies within you.

This contest is just a fun way to encourage you to recommend music. But we encourage you not to stop here. Support music and artists that you care about. Help us make buying music hip again.

Prizes include a Dark Night of the Soul deluxe box set, LPs and CDs by artists like Danger Mouse/David Lynch, Radiohead and The Head and the Heart. Click here for more details.

Enter contest now and win some music!

In The Mountain In The Cloud - Portugal [period] The Man (Release 7/19/2011)

No question a timely release in time for the summer, with energetic high male vocals (frontman: John Gourley), in a shimmery pop-y fashion. Melodies though hooky and pleasing to the ear, are not really breaking any new grounds.

In The Mountain In The Cloud feels very much like a study of popular independent music with diffused indie-pop group vocal treatment throughout. It lacks a sense of continuity leaving listeners feeling disjointed. From the opening track quoting heavily from Radiohead’s OK Computer (Guess which track? Hint: guitar riff) to riffs in “You Carried Us” that came straight from the Cold War Kids’ (Another group with high male vocals) early bible, this record is seems like Atlantic Record’s attempt at an indie all around pleaser. I cannot hear the bands own personality poke out, though I suspect that the band’s music would translate better live.

I like how Pitchfork puts it re their previous release The Satanic Satanist:

The Satanic Satanist tailor-cut for indie approval, seems to throw everything on the table to make a groovy album with wide appeal.

So here’s your chance to judge for yourself, especially for you Angelinos. Below is from PTM’s site:

Portugal. The Man will be performing at an exclusive album release show at El Cid that is free to fans that bring proof of purchase of the album or download. Very limited space, first come first served, doors are at 9pm; you must be 18 or over to attend.

Fans can also pre-order the album at Fingerprints in Long Beach where the first 100 fans to buy the new album will receive a guaranteed entry ticket.

OR fans can win tickets by listening to KCRW next Tuesday (7/19) when Portugal. The Man performs on Morning Becomes Eclectic.

Written by Darius Fong