1) Why and when did you start your blog?
Started the blog in Jan of 2006 as an outlet to write about new music. I had just started working in the music industry at a label and I was discovering so much music on a daily basis. A friend suggested I try a blog instead of mass e-mailing all my friends when I found a cool song/band.
I started my blog in 2004. I had just come to college and was starting to explore independent music. I had a lot of time on my hands and figured I'd put it to use trying to turn my friends on to new music. A few months later, other people were reading and I realized that I wasn't just writing for my close friends any more.
I started my blog in February of 2007. It was a joke with a friend - we thought it'd just be a good way to share music. Then we got a stat counter and realized that people were actually reading it so I kept it going.
3hive started as a way for friends who'd moved far away to easily share new music.
2) What is your goal as a blogger? Or for your blog?
The best feeling is having a friend (or even better a complete stanger) come back to you and tell you that the song you recommended meant so much to them, or made them dance, or happy, or extremely sad. Or provoked some kind of reaction. Music should do that. The goal of the site is to keep creating that feeling.
I have no goals as a blogger or for my blog. As a matter of fact, I don't really care for blogging all too much.
My goal is to continue to inform myself and others about new music.
3hive is all about sharing free and legal mp3s. We aren't a critic's site, in that if we don't like something, we usually don't post it, as opposed to posting it and ripping on it. So, "Sharing the sharing." That's the idea.
3) Is this a source of income? Why do you do it? How much time does it take? Where does it rank for you as a priority from 1 – 10?
This is a source of some of my income, but probably less than 2% of what I make in my day job. Its a hobby, but also acts as good A&R practice (choosing bands to sign, keeping up to date on new music) for my day job. I'm a music publisher in Toronto, Canada and it helps for me to hear whats out there. As well, I've found that people who I pitch music to in my day job read music blogs. Helps my credibility I think.
Writing takes probably 2-3 hours a day (30 mins to 1 hour of writing, 1-2 hours of checking other music blogs, correspondences, etc). Priority would be 8 for me.
I don't make any money off of blogging. I keep it up 'cause I get advance tracks and whatnot that are good for mixing into my sets when I DJ. Having a blog also helps me get gigs in places I wouldn't otherwise - for example, I can book a NYC gig every once in a while even though I'm from Dallas and school in New Hampshire.
My blog is a source of income. It's tough to decide how much time I spend on it, since my free time is also spent looking around for new music. I'd say I spend probably five hours per day on it. It ranks as one of the biggest priorities for me. I guess I'd put it at a 9.
No one at 3hive makes any money from the site, as we don't sponsor advertising. We do get promo cds, which is cool, but yeah, it's not paying the bills. In terms of why I blog there, it's mostly a social thing. I've known most of the rest of the crew for almost 20 years, and we all live miles away from each other, so it's a way to keep in touch. As for time, it can be draining, and the infrequent posting this fall on 3hive is indicative of that. It's become a low priority lately, maybe 3/10.
4) What is the most rewarding part of being a blogger?
I guess some bloggers get money and whatnot, but I'm happy with tickets to shows, free club entry to see DJs, and booking gigs.
Positive comments on my posts, sharing good music with my friends, and keeping at least a little bit current with what kind of music people are making.
5) Why is blogging Important to you?
I like to think blogging levels the playing field when it comes to new music. It provides more choice for people to be exposed to new music than was available previously. The songs/artists deserve attention. And just because commercial radio won't play their music, doesn't mean they shouldn't be heard.
It's not.
6) Do you believe that there is a blogging “culture”? If yes, what do you think are some of the defining characteristics of this culture?
Thats tough to say. I've met a bunch of bloggers in the past. Most are huge music fans, or even music nerds.... or even fanatics. As for the culture, I'm not quite sure.
I think so, but I try to avoid it at all costs. It's so much about being cool for the sake of being cool. Like remixing the latest big-name track just because it's a big name track. Quite stupid.
I'm not terribly sure what a "blogging culture" is, but there is definitely a large pool of people who read blogs and those who don't. Music bloggers are a very incestuous group of people and spend a lot of time chatting with regular readers and each other.
Probably, but I really don't have time to read other blogs. there are some good music blogs too, and then the parenting blogs, Detroit blogs, cooking blogs, etc. I'd love to read them all, but I don't have time. Also, most of them are blocked on my work computer.
7) Do you feel your blog creates a community? If so how?
Its nice when people comment on my posts, so it is nice how conversations start between strangers. As well, if bloggers are supporting indie artists, I think this creates a community of support for musicians.
I guess so. I know lots of DJs read it and like to play out the tracks I post. I guess.
In a way. Some bigger blogs like Brooklyn Vegan definitely do.
I don't know. We added a membership/community aspect to it a year or two ago, and all it seemed to do was screw up the way the page loaded. If people find something they like on 3hive, great, but I'm not really expecting to gain any real life friends from the site.
8) What are other blogs you really respect? And why?
Stereogum, You Ain't No Picaso, Gorilla Vs. Bear. Those guys get the best news, best new bands and songs. Update regularly. Write interesting/thought provoking posts. Those are good ingredients to good blogs I think. But as well, bloggers sometimes need to get to the point. I've stopped reading sites that post novels on bands. 2 favorite now music blogs out there are Fail Blog and Hipster Runoff. When I need a laugh.
Big Stereo has been around for ages, Disco Dust has the hardest working blogger in the game, Nah Right is incredible for hip-hop, and the Discobelle and Fluokids bloggers are on top of their DJing game.
I'm a big fan of Gorilla vs Bear because it's apparent that he spends a lot of time pouring through new music to find the best of the best. Also he's got great taste. I like what Brooklyn Vegan does for the New York community as well; his site is like a news site and a message board rolled into one. Also I think original content blogs like Daytrotter and La Blogotheque are probably the best thing to happen to independent music in years.
I wish I had time to read LargeHearted Boy, Sweet Juniper, Dooce & Blurbomat (part of the 3hive family), Pioneer Woman, Songs:Illinois and Swedesplease. They're good product.
9) What kind of real space events have you participated in under the heading of your blog? What events have you gone to of other bloggers? (This could be a party a show a get together...)
I've never put on a show, don't think I'll get into that. Have been to Hot Freaks in Austin for SXSW (which was a blast).
Like I said, I've gotten a lot of gigs due to my blog. So of course the Panda Toes name is attached on fliers and whatnot. I guess I've been to club nights of other blogs. Like I DJed at Big Stereo's CMJ party. And I mixed at some blog's SXSW event with Ghislain and the Death Set, but I can't remember which blog it was.
I throw an event every year at SXSW with a few bloggers. The show is called Hot Freaks! and we book dozens of bands to play over two days at a free show. It's me, Gorilla vs Bear, My Old Kentucky Blog, Chromewaves, Largehearted Boy, and Brooklyn Vegan. I've also been to Brooklyn Vegan's CMJ event and Gorilla vs Bear's SXSW show.
None.
10) Are there any bands that you have been the first to break?
Thats another tough one. I'd like to think I was involved in getting the word out about Annuals, Arkells, The Coast, The Dodos, Wintersleep. But can't really know if I was the first to blog.
Yea. I know there have been some, but I can't remember who. I mean it's hard to say you were the first or whatever, but I know that I've been the first dance blog or whatever to write up some artists. Especially some bands I blog about as a favor 'cause they're friends.
I wrote about Vampire Weekend in February 2007; I've been covering MGMT for a while before this year's major label breakthrough; and I've been pushing Of Montreal since the start of my blog.
Not the first, as we're famous for NOT being the first, but there are bands we've hit at the right time. Check the archives, and there will be bands that would never post a free full-lenght mp3 these days because they don't have to anymore.
11) How crucial do you feel your role is to make or break an artist, or in the industry in general?
Breaking a band is about staying on that radar as long as possible, not necessarily riding a huge wave of buzz then disappearing. With blogs, you can send any kind of news to bloggers who are fans, they'll figure out a way to get a post out on the band. So this kind of press can work, in conjunction with working the record to standard press, radio, marketing money from labels, etc. Blog Buzz (or Bluzz as I like to call it
Mine personally? I dunno. I don't pay too much attention. Obviously blogs as a whole carry a whole ton of weight. Especially in the dance, club, DJ, etc. culture. Like Grindin (started by Discobelle - includes Panda Toes, Big Stereo, Disco Dust, Fluokids, Electrorash, Hipster Runoff, Good Weather, and a lot of others) is a blog mailing list that we share songs and thoughts on - stuff like that has a lot of power.
Truthfully I feel like it's not that great of an impact. However, I've had many bands or record label people tell me that I've had a huge impact, so who knows.
None at all.
12) How much of an impact do you think your blog has on your readers?
I have no idea really. Some days its quiet on the comments, other days I get more of a reaction. Normally I have about 1500 unique visitors a day, so I know people read it, but I don't always know what they think.
No idea. Probably not too much. I feel like most of the stuff I post will be posted elsewhere anyways eventually (if it hasn't been already), so yea. I see my blog as just a way to get a bunch of different styles together that wouldn't exist elsewhere. I guess.
I feel like many of my regular readers identify with me. Hopefully there's some impact there. A lot of my regular readers regularly email me and keep up with me over instant messenger, so at least I know some people aren't just there for the free music.
Minimal.
13) Do the same people seem to comment over and over?
I do have people who comment more than others, yes. Every blog has those.
Not really. Mostly random bloggers and DJs.
Yes and no. I'd say that about 50% of comments come from regular commenters and 50% are from random readers.
Not really.
14) How do comments and reader(/artist and industry) feedback guide your blog? Helpful or not helpful?
I listen, but I don't really use that feedback to change the way I do things on the site.
Comments and reader feedback don't guide my blog in the least. So not helpful I guess?
I've actually become infamous among press people for not returning emails. I actually am sort of in my own bubble and rarely interact with industry people. Bands are almost overwhelmingly positive, though.
In terms of industry stuff, there's a guy in Canada named Jesse who works for Killbeat Music, and I really like a lot of the stuffhe sends me.
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