Here is the scoop so you can understand my process & motivation for the 15 x 1 min. series. I've been collaborating with fellow home-tapers since I started my label in 1984. In general I have been using myspace to trawl for new contacts to trade & collaborate with worldwide.
Here's a basic rundown of the 'process' which you want to know more about. The project is rather open-ended. My label name ZH27 hints at my 'mission' which goes something like this. I'm 22 years into my 27 year mission to explore new audio realms including outreach to fellow explorers worldwide.
My obsession with international collaborations is long-running and deep-seated. The activity of my label is as a reference point and a clearing house for my activities. I have never intended or been able to run this on a commercial basis. I honestly don't remember a year in my whole history where I made more than $100 is sales.
My releases take physical form as 30 minute works copied two apiece on a cdr with a cover on each side of a one fold cardstock paper. Every copy is hand-produced and nothing is ever done in bulk. The distribution I able to afford of these releases is actually quite limited - as this is not what I do for a living, and what I do for a living does not make me rich enough to make this a serious commercial activity.
But that said I am quite passionate about the creative activity that I am engaged in. I am professional in my approach to the audio work & the graphic design for cover & packaging. And I'm very serious about giving credit to, and rewarding, everyone one I collaborate with.
Here's a rundown of what happens when you (or someone else) sends me recordings to use for collaboration:
When I am inspired & I have enough interesting recordings to work with I set forth to make a new release. Sometime I know in advance what directions I am taking, and other times I let intuition lead the way. When I am pleased with the results of my efforts a 30 minute release is born.
Then a cover is made (with credits for everyone involved - name + country of origin). A high-resolution version of the cover goes online & I send out mp3 contributor copies so that the artists can immediately hear results instead of the old way of waiting for a physical copy to arrive by post. Eventually I send a cdr copy (a perfect digital copy of my master) to everyone by post.
This speed of this step is always effected by my current state of finances. I'm not a rich man & my jobs vary over the years in affording me extra money for my "hobbies". So the 1st stage happens really quickly nowadays, as sometimes an mp3 is available to contributors just hours after the release is formalized! But the second stage of a physical copy is open to delays due to my personal finances, but here is the exciting part... rights.
As a contributor to an ZH27 release you have full permission for any arrangements you wish to make about distribution. You can duplicate/sell/trade/give away/find alternate distribution, etc. etc. for any release you appear on. The cover that I use is online for you to replicate, I send a digital master for you to make use of, and I confer all rights to you for whatever you wish to make of it. As I like to say, your "rights" pass right through me. I am NOT in any way, shape, or form, interested in taking your recordings and gaining fame/fortune from your efforts and leaving you hungry.
I'm interested purely in the creative side & I honestly have not the power to explore the distribution side. I like giving people's recordings a new lease on life. Bringing new and exciting things to play upon your works & giving you the joy of experiencing your own recordings in ways you have not anticipated. That's what I "bring to the table" so to speak.