#diyartists

OPEN CALL TO ALL #ZINE MAKERS 

Registration for Street Cat Zine Fest is ~~OPEN~~

Register Here: https://goo.gl/forms/RqDA75bWKTcpCas13 Deadline: August 1st 2018

Accepted exhibitors will be announced August 5th 2018 

                                                        *

If you can’t make it in person please consider sending your zines in the mail*   You can send them here: CWP attn: Street Cat Zine Fest 527 Goodwin Ave Lancaster, OH 43130

deadline is August 1st 2018

*If you send your zine(s)/artworks in the mail please fill out the registration form so I can use the information for the Exhibitor List and for your display at the event. If you would like to have an image representing you since you can’t be there in person, please email this image to: [email protected]

The Cauldron: Where Music Discovery Turns Music Discovery Into a Vote

A listener-driven site aims to shift power away from algorithms and toward real participation.

Music discovery is one of the most talked-about issues of the current state of the modern industry. With streaming platforms, AI generated content, and user-curated playlist, it seems that we’re inundated with options, and it can get increasingly difficult to connect with something new. As a result, looking for new songs often feels like a passive, quasi automatic process. Sure, streaming platforms might trigger suggestions; playlists are filled with “similar style” songs to what you might use as a reference. However, the convenience of such platforms feels less involved. The Cauldron, found at thecauldron.rocks, proposes a different model, which puts the user first. In other words, algorithms do not listen to songs. People do.

At its core, the Cauldron is a music discovery site where fans vote on tracks to decide what gets featured next. The idea of voting is elegant, simple and timeless, leading to a very direct concept. Listeners can preview songs, cast a vote in seconds, and move on. There is no complicated setup and no sign-ups needed. The action happens at https://thecauldron.rocks/vote, where each click helps determine which artists gain traction.

Votes shape the site’s structure. Songs with the most support move into a Top Songs of the Month list, so they’re easily discoverable. From there, standout tracks can enter yearly collections and, over time, metro-area “top voted” groupings. The idea is cumulative visibility built through listener choice, not ad spend.

The project has such an intuitive style and flow, perhaps because it was actually built by a musician, for music lovers. Rob Barr, a working artist who performs with Witch Kitty and also releases solo material under his own name, wanted a new way to help people find new music. At 52, and after experiencing a minor stroke just over a year ago, Barr began questioning how sustainable the current system is for independent artists and listeners alike. Many musicians cannot afford marketing packages that run hundreds of dollars. Promotion services often favor those who can pay. During and after COVID, local scenes thinned out as venues closed and live exposure shrank. Barr wanted to create something practical, not another pay-to-play funnel.

The Cauldron positions participation as the solution. Instead of rewarding passive behavior, it rewards connection. Listeners decide which songs move forward. Over time, the site plans to highlight top voted artists by metropolitan area, giving venues and promoters a clearer signal of real local interest. In theory, that data could support bookings and showcases shaped by listener support rather than social media metrics.

There is also a secondary layer aimed at playlist curators. Curators with at least 1,000 listeners can apply through the site and are paid for their involvement and valuable contribution. It is another attempt to redistribute attention in ways that feel transparent.

The Cauldron does not present itself as a silver bullet. It is a modest proposition: discovery shaped by votes instead of a faceless string fo algorithms. For fans who want a more active role in what rises, the next step is simple. Help decide what gets featured next by voting at https://thecauldron.rocks/vote

Dear Listeners,

Hey, another year has gone by! Do they get faster for you too?

I have some new concerts to announce for in 2019 and there will be more! I’ll be honest, I really love to perform but I find touring as an only parent to be tricky and emotionally fraught. That said, I WILL have a few more concerts next year in Europe and North America. Until then, you can get tickets for the ones below at zoekeating.com/live and sign up for my mailing list to hear about new ones.

Feb 9 Burlington, VT ArtsRiot Mar 31 NYC, NY Joe's Pub (two shows!) Apr 4 Chicago, IL Thalia Hall Apr 5 Detroit, MI The Cube at DSO Apr 6 Toronto, ON Great Hall Sep 21 London, UK King's Place Sep 22 London, UK King's Place

Along with thousands of other artists, I got a year in review message from Spotify. The annual summary has some neat data and snazzy infographics in it and I commend Spotify for putting it together.

Since I seem to have a habit of publicly releasing my earnings, I thought this was an occasion to share some more data about my year*. Here you go: 2,252,293 Spotify streams -$12,231 1,448,186 Pandora listens - $2,818 127,313 Amazon Prime - $427 62,426 Amazon Music Service - $716 23,636 Deezer - $151.85 16,838 WiMP - $253 9,453 Napster -$71 5,812 GooglePlay - $109 3,936 Youtube Music - $15 3,443 Tidal - $47 673,000 Apple Music streams - amount, don’t know yet, around $3,900*? Anyway, I have a lot more to say - I’d like to talk about my analysis of the DIY music landscape in 2018 and what I learned after releasing “Snowmelt” - but...I just have to do it later!

For now, thank you! A special thanks to everyone of you who supports my work directly on Bandcamp, downloads it on iTunes etc, comes to concerts and continues to tell people about my music. I appreciate you very much. Happy New Year to you and yours

celloly, Zoë

Notes: