I'M KERBLINGING ON KERCHOONZ. COM

As the internet market explodes with artist/band social networking sites, I was initially hesitant to take a look at one more site, but since I handle much of the internet marketing with my partner Sy Smith for her product, I decided to check this site out.

My initial thought was, "wow, this is a brilliant idea, wish I had thought of it! cha ching kerbling!!".

Kerchoonze, besides being a social networking site for artist, musicians, labels, Dj's, industry pro's, and fans, is one of the new sites popping up on the internet as an answer to the need for a new model of "Record Companies". This site offers a fun and unique approach to finding, listening, and reviewing new music in every genre to the people that are out there looking for it.

A UK based site, Kerchoonz offers exposure and payment for any artist/band that will stream their music from the site and offer free downloads. This site regularly spotlights the artist on the site on their front page, with links to the artist page that will also allow the artist to provide links to anywhere else on the internet that their product is being sold.

Look at it as a non exclusive agreement for your music, that offers payment. Legally, the site has to report to any publishing affiliations that you have associated with a song to properly distribute royalties to the writers and composers of the material. A fair deal. If you solely own the rights to your material and do not have any publishing affiliations, the full royalty amount is paid directly to you. Presently in it's beta stages, Kerchoonz uses the Paypal system to distribute money directly to artists and bands, and to your publishing affiliation if it applies. Another fair deal.

Moving around on the site and setting up your profile is seamless and user friendly. What I like about the site is that it's fun. It offers games while you wait during upload time and download time, or just in general, interesting forums, and little fun percs like Kerblings, boonzes, privacy in contacting other members, a real time site activity for your home page, account activity and visitor monitoring as well as profile stats at your finger tips, so you always know what's happening with your music.

It's a friendly atmosphere with a well designed web approach. Even in it's beta stage, with the minor tweaks being attended to immediately and daily, Kerchoonz is one site I'm enjoying getting the hang of. I found some great connects and music I just had to have in my iPod on the first day, along with making a new friend that I plan to stay in touch with. So, if you're like me and many other artists who are now understanding that you have to take your own career into your own hands, I suggest you add Kerchoonz to your list of sites.

Internet marketing and promotion for music is evolving daily, and the opportunities for artist and bands to have their music discovered by the masses who are obviously not satisfied with having only what's marketed to them by the majors are exploding. Take matters into your own hands while waiting for that big break and get your music out there while it's still not monopolized and owned by major corporate entertainment companies. If you're tired of the old model of the music industry, welcome to the future of the new model.

Pattie Howard:

I'M KERBLINGING ON KERCHOONZ! KERCHING CHING!