BANDS & MUSICIANS: Get on the Playlist! RadioFreeWT

[Doc]

This is now a 'living document" of instructions, so it will be updated as things change to reflect what's current.

Well, we've finally rolled out the all-new 'Radio FreeWT' music player! 
                     
             All we need now, is YOU! 

Here's how you get on the playlist:
Post (reply to this thread), PM, or email us links to your original music, and we'll do the rest!
Really!

As long as your file link ends in ".mp3", all is well. If not, talk to us and we'll see what we can do. If your songs live on a server anywhere on the internet, and can be linked to directly, then we can put you on the playlist. If not, WT can host your mp3 files on our servers for free (thanks to generous donations from our members - THANKS folks!!) We can afford to host maybe 2-3 songs per artist, for starters, assuming everyone doesn't rush us at once. We promise we'll do everything we can to accommodate everyone's situation.

Currently we can only support mp3 files (and you have to own the rights), but if you have them in any audio format I can convert them for you.

UPDATE: I will be updating the playlist over each weekend, starting March '07.
I'll collect new songs for a week, then post all of them at once by Monday morning.
 

NOTE: I haven't been able to find a way to 'pull' songs from MySpace yet, the best we can do is download them and host them on WT, IF you have permissions set to allow downloads.

Alternately (to save WT some cash), you could sign up for free file hosting, you can find free MP3 hosts with Google.
Create a free account, upload your mp3s, and send us the links to 'em. It's that easy.

We want this site to really grab the attention of the world and show it that Shreveport and the ArkLaTex really DOES Rock!
So send us your music, and let's get this show on the road!     


PS: We're not going to discriminate - any art that can be put in digital format will be considered:
spoken word poetry, interviews....all that is relevant, local and creative. 

[Gretsch6120]

Doc,

I have a bunch I'd like to contribute, but they're not online at the moment.  Can I just e-mail you the mp3s?

Thanks,
Will

[Doc]

Hey Will,

Yeah, you can email the files to me at doc@wickedtickle.com and I can host them, but if you can put them on your own website, or find somewhere to upload them to we'd prefer to use those options first. All we need is the URL to link to them if you can find a place for them. I'm currently looking for a free host that can take mp3s...if anyone knows of one, please clue us all in.

I think we're going to have to limit what I can host for each artist to 10 MB or so, that's 2-5 songs depending on how they're compressed.
Does that sound reasonable? I can resample large files, if need be. Send 'em on!

[Doc]

UPDATE:

We found a free hosting spot for mp3 files:   www.fileden.com
We're working on other ones too, we'll post 'em as we find 'em.

Upload your songs and send us the download link to them.
Voila!

TIP: Remove blank spaces from song filenames for best results!
Use dashes or underscores (- or _) instead of spaces.

[Sharon]

So what info do you need to be able to pull the songs from my myspace player?

www.myspace.com/rockhousesharon is the url to the site and we have four songs on a player there.  You have my permission to use them on your radio player. 

[Doc]

Hey Sharon (and everyone else who've messaged me about this),

I haven't been able to find a way to pull these songs from MySpace yet, MySpace munges the URL and you can't link directly to the songs.

BUT, since you guys already have your music on www.rockhouserocks.com, with direct mp3 links to 'em...I can just use those.
If your music is already online as mp3s, then all I need is a link to 'em, and we're ready to go!

Do you want me to add the 3 songs I see on your music page? 

[Sharon]

Yep.  I forget now which songs are where...there are four one place and four on the other, but one of the four is different from the other site.    Who's on first...
Go Doc!  You guys rock!

[Doc]

Sharon:
Sounds good, roger wilco! 
How can I get a copy of that one we heard you guys do that night at Harleys?
The one that -isn't- on the website? 


Just so's everyone knows, I can't add your music to our player without your explicit permission,
because it's going to be playable (which means downloadable) for free and I can't just give away your stuff!     
So if you're waiting for me to 'just add you'.... 

I got about 12 songs to start with so far...I know we can come up with more. 

[Doc]

OK, the list of free hosts that you can use for your mp3 files (and allow direct links, etc) is now up to 2:


www.soundclick.com - more geared towards artists, but has a 24-hour wait for downloads to work.  Nevermind, the downloads don't work.   
www.fileden.com - 'just a place for your files', but works immediately. (searching for faster alternative)

Create a free account at either place, upload your mp3s, and send us the links to 'em.
It's that easy.

We have 10 songs ready to go for the playlist so far:

- 3 from Yours Truly
- 3 from Rockhouse
- 4 from Wil Maranto

These will be added as soon I can link directly to them (see above comments on MySpace links):

- Reflections Burn
- Ghari

I'm waiting on some more music before I put up the player...send me what ya got! 

[Doc]

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[Sharon]

I like the artwork.  anxiously awaiting the player.....

[Doc]

We need a few more songs...that and one tiny technical glitch and we're live!

You guys who haven't yet better get busy sending me links, 'cause I'll have the glitches worked out tonight - if I can hold my eyes open long enough! 

[Doc]

After hours of ripping up code, I finally have the solution for our technical glitch:
All of you need to switch to Mozilla Firefox. 

I'll have the problem worked out by tonight hopefully, but I can't do a thing about the shortage of songs for the list....hint hint. 

Surely you guys want to hear something besides me. I got some SMOKIN' tunes sent in so far.
<cheese>But without your help, these tunes could go hungry and neglected.
Won't you give generously of yourself, so others can see the light of day too? </cheese>

[Sharon]

Maybe some folks have read Matters more Mondane, and the post should be moved to Music and Musicians or something? 

[Doc]

Yeah, you're prolly right....whooshing it there now!   

[BALDROCKER]

Hey Doc, if you don't mind, you can download some of our original music (both old and new) off our myspace site.  myspace.com/southernrockoverdrive

Also, I have a couple of my originals at my website.....baldrocker.com.

Thanks,
Steve

[Doc]

Hey, need you folks' input on something real quick...

I can set it up so that when someone is listening to your song in the RadioFreeWT player, and they click on your picture in the viewer up top,
a new window will open containing, well, pretty much whatever you want!

Would you prefer it to open new a window containing:
-  The song's lyrics
-  Your band's webpage/MySpace site
-  Your WT Profile
-  (insert your idea here)?


Lemme know

[gmati]

"Band Website" gets my vote...

I feel so ashamed for being gone so long from this site!! There has been some tremendous amount of work done here!!!
Very, Very good job, and very much appreciated!!!

[Paige]

"Band Website" gets my vote...

I feel so ashamed for being gone so long from this site!! There has been some tremendous amount of work done here!!!
Very, Very good job, and very much appreciated!!!

Don't sweat it, man... who knew what was going to blossom here?  Not us.   

Welcome back!

[Sharon]

I also vote for band website for the link.  I also have one suggestion and one question about the radio player.   1st, can you add a link to it under WTRK'd or someplace on the right hand side frame.  2nd - would it be possible to add a shuffle feature/option to the radio so instead of going down the list, it would randomly play and jump around.

[Doc]

Link on the right is a good idea, it'll be done soon as I have a few minutes to stop. I've been slammed with (real client) work since yesterday.
Shuffling can be done too, I'll set it up. Because of the way this flash player works, it'll have to be done with one link you click on for an ordered list and another link for a shuffled list.

I'm so relieved that everything works. <whew!>
Thanks for all the feedback, I'll be making some changes tonight.

Doc

[Doc]

Just added two new artists to the Playlist - welcome Ghari and Reflections Burn!   

[Cracka]

sweet tom got us uploaded

[Sharon]

The player is working both at home and work for me now.  Thanks Doc.  Glad to see the list is growing and that the word is getting out for people to upload songs here.

[Doc]

Added a new free file-hosting site to instructions at top:

 www.SnapDrive.net is a good host and handles 2GB of mp3s.   

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