Message From The Top (of WeMix)

WeMixers,

There's recently been a lot of back and forth about the site.  A lot of comments and ideas and questions about what we're doing and also what we're not doing for artists at this site.

We've spent a lot of time trying to create as many opportunities for our community as possible.  We had the Torii Hunter contest which produced a great new song - and national spotlight for Tazuh and Ripchord, the artists who made it.  We're about to choose finalists for the Mike Shinoda contest, and we're launching several big new contests in the next few days.

Contests are important because it's the same game for everyone.  Even if you don't have 1,000,000 plays at the site, you can enter a contest, win it, and fast-track your musical career. It's about quality and talent.  So don't get caught up in the hype about how many plays you have at WeMix - take advantage of the contests and opportunities, because that's still the best way for you to get your music onto the scene.

But WeMix isn't just contests.  You're telling us that you want more ways to communicate with each other, and you need more ways to get props and recognition. 

We're listening.  And here's what else is coming:

* Yesterday we launched Artist Spotlight Podcasts, hosted by DJ Alamo.  Our first featured artist is Phokuz,  who has already won our first Open Mic Throwdown and continues to do it for WeMix at all times.  To hear the podcast with Phokuz, click here.

* We are also building more artist spotlight features into the homepage so that new talent can promote themselves to the community - look for WeMix Artist Billboards right on the homepage.  And if you know a hot artist, you have to tell us and tell us about it so we can get them a shot in the spotlight.

* Also, this very blog is about to change.  Due to popular demand, it's no longer going to be Luda's blog.  It's going to become the WeMix Blog, controlled and run by artists who are really feeling the site.  We're still figuring out how to open it up to as many people as we can. As soon as its done we're gonna give you the power to promote artists and make public comments about what we can do better.

* In the next few weeks, we're also launching the WeMix Widget which will enable artists to take the WeMix experience off site - to myspace, facebook, and other communities.

* We're also planning to build a WeMix Shoutout Board where artists can promote themselves and put up digital flyers about upcoming gigs, songs, and collabs.  Just another public venue for you to communicate.

* Finally, don't be surprised if Luda and WeMix sign an artist or two by the end of this year - we have our eyes on people and are getting ready to make some noise.

This is just the first step toward making this a better site.  You spoke, and we heard you.  Remember that it takes time to make everything happen.  We're still growing, and more than ever we need your help to make it work.  Don't ever forget that.

Go Get It.

Matt + Luda

Comments

[dee jiggy]

i am a stone cold beast,i can make magic i just need a team, give me a chance put me up against tha best sign me to dtp let's go.i dummied up my flow and still killing anything they comming with, believe me its easy

[80 deep]

yo i like what i read, i have called the hotline number a few times wondering about a wemix mixtape that wemixers could all contribute to make for free, and sell it to get new stuff for the site or something in that direction. hit me back matt or luda 1

[Mr.E]

I just want to say that u dont even exactly have to win a contest to Get exposure on wemix!! Just mingle with The Community!! I was a finalist in the competition that Zii won!! and I was Mentioned in DJ Alamos Top Ten at one time!! And both of those events really helped move me up the charts and Get my music heard by so many ppl!! so Haters!! Lay OFF!!!! Wemix is the Shit!!! Its Mr.E Signin out

[Sound P]

Wemix is nice man, all you negative ass people fall back man. Matt stay up!!! Sound P...

[Dcamp]

I think we should have some type of weekly track battle!! A sort of battle of the beats type thang!! 2 artists come with their hardest track! Users can let the artist know what they feel by either hit a button that say--[HOT] or [NOT]!! Also Each registered wemix user can only vote one time per week for each artist! This will make the process much more fair for the two artists! Users wont be able to come back and keep voting for there friend and shit! One vote and thats it!! Artists should be randomly choosen, This way more artist can get coverage and promotion for their music! Not just the same heads that are always always in the spotlight!! Give the guy that is ranked #793 , that has a hott track but got buried in the pile and no one ever heard it! Give that man or woman a chance too!!! Right now on wemix I feel that there is just alot of comment promoting going on here and alot of people on here are just tryin to get people to their pages! Lets give artists something more to be involved in on wemix! This idea will also boost artist plays in more of a rotation of artists--which should then cause changes in ranking threw out the site--which will inturn cause more competion and more activity of the site overall!! Not to mention Inspiring artists to wake up and work that much harder!!! I hope that you find this comment with great excitement and Find it a great help!!!!!

Just remember that I should be one of the first 2 artists if you decide to use my Idea!!! Thanks for your time and God bless wemix!!!

~~One of wemix's most underated~~~Dcamp

[matty wemix]

It's Matt again. Good to see these comments... good and bad...

WeMix is a partnership. We're providing as many opportunities as we can for new artists to make music with each other and with celebrities.

It might not work out for everyone, but it sure as h*ll worked for Ripchord and Tazuh, and for Zii, and for Phokuz - who won contests, got paid for it - even a little - and most importantly elevated their careers to a higher level. There's more coming.

There's no scam here. WeMix will NEVER charge anyone for anything at this site. We are transparent and open about everything we do. But at the same time, new artists have to take advantage of these opportunities and the tools at WeMix to promote themselves and build their fan bases. Do1 hit it on the news: sites like WeMix provide the opportunities, but it still takes a lot of hard work and sweat from the artist.

Keep it coming, we love the new ideas and will continue to roll out new ways to help you elevate.

Matt

[Do1]

I forgot to add, that sometimes it seems like sites that have contests like to pick those that are young, inexperienced, etc, because they are prone to be more easily manipulated than someone that may have more experience. Not saying that is the case here, but it does occur I have noticed.

[Do1]

Chris,

I respect what you had to say, and it was definitely info that I did not know. Unfortunately people do think that hey can be discovered on a website and be the next big thing. I don't know, I guess anything is possible, but I think everyone should really take these type of sites as places that can just give you additional exposure. It is not the be all, end all for you.

Getting your music out there takes a lot of hard work, whether you do shows locally, or make tracks for others, etc. Yes, some good opportunites have come my way from exposure on certain sites, but it also took a lot of work, and to actually know what your market is, and to figure other ways to either make money off of it, or get some exposure with it.

I do like the site, and think the contests can be a good idea, even if winning is just something to add to a resume.

I will be interested in seeing the changes that occur.

[Chris Webber]

(This is the same poster from the previous comment)
p.s.
I also heard that Luda was completely DRUNK during the Webby Awards party and did not even acknowledge or connect with either of the WeMix artists that were invited to the event. Yea, he really seems to love his artists on here. It's very obvious that this site is just another way for him to promote himself and his side projects.

[Anonymous]

Everything about this site spells SCAM. I heard that for the WeMix Webby Awards event, you invited certain artists and didn't even cover the cost of their bus or train tickets to New York yet want to call them "WeMix Artists". Forgive me, but if you want to invite artists to an event and calling them yours, isn't it a little ridiculous to not even cover their travel or hotel? I've also heard that you've tried to offer artists cheap "merchandise deals" where you use their logo on shirts and stamp on the WeMix logo and split a $10 profit leaving the artist $5 a shirt. I don't even know where to start with this, but again you guys are better off setting up your own merchandising. There's an artist on here who uses MerchDirect. Setup your own company and do it yourself.Also...how are you guys even able to sign people when it still isn't clear what your distribution model is? If you couldn't afford to pay for a $70 bus ticket, how are you going to sign an artists? If you want to really get recognition for your work, it's better to submit your music for competition such as the International Songwriting Competition, the grand prize is $25,000.00. Giving someone $500.00 for winning a song is (again excuse me) CHEAP and there are artists on here worth many more times that! Instead of going back and forth trying to understand this site, you guys should really hook up with companies like TuneCore.com and Catapult Distribution to distribute your music. Don't sit around until these people try to get it together. The music industry is dead and while you guys on this site have presented another option, I wouldn't say it's a viable idea. Until you've proven that you yourself have developed and produced a successful artist on the level of artists from other majors (not artists who are already independently successful that you put your name on and claimed to develop) that's when it will be clear that WeMix really is a big contribution to the industry. I think you guys are trying to use the same major label tactics by recruiting people who formerly worked for big labels such as Columbia. I read about one of the guys you have working for your company and I read that he was FIRED from Columbia, he did not leave. You guys are still trying to use the same business model as a major, but are dressing it up by having a celebrity who co-owns the company so that poor naive artists will automatically be star-struck and forget that they are still giving up their copyrights, publishing and other rights to be "signed" with you. This isn't meant to be harsh, but is just my outlook of the site having talked to a couple of artists from the site and making my own deductions. I am an artist who was formerly signed and dropped from a major label and I honestly don't see how you all are helping. If anything you're just creating yet another place for artists to be "discovered" and taken advantage of.

[Bilistic]

That's wassup! Wemix is the shit!

[Chawko]

I just wanted to say If u can add something on wemix to let u view the people who came to your page leeting u know who mix your songs and who fix your songs especially when there the ones who judge your music.

[Phokuz]

Hey Luda, Matt, Bex, Chaka Zulu, DTP, Alamo, & da whole Wemix Family,Like da old sayin my Grand Ma said patience
is a vertue, & good things come to those who wait. I've had a dream of getting into da Music Industry, since early childhood. I feel that if I keep makin good music,
& work hard & stay humble & true to da game things will start to happen.

[D-Bizz OH NO!]

ITS COOL THAT YOU GUYS ARE MAKING CHANGES TO THE SITE BUT TAKE YOUR TIME...YA CAN'T RUSH PERFECTION. THIS SITE IS ALREADY FREE!! NOT TO METION IN THE HANDS OF ONE OF THE MOST RESPECTED MC'S/CELEBRITIES IN THE GAME SO I DUNNO WAT ALL THE NOISE IS ABOUT. IF PPL ARE COMPLAINING THEY NEED TO CHILL THE HELL OUT! FOR REAL. AND TO ALL MY FELLOW WEMIXERS, D-BIZZ IS ASKING YOU TO STAY HUMBLE AND LET IT FLOW B. PEACE-D-Bizzle OH NOOO!

[Mr.E`]

I LOVE WEMIX!!! Wemix is going to be the biggest thing to ever happen to the music industry!!

[Ali Kat]

WOW you have your hands full there! Sounds exciting, and know that it is GREATLY appreciated here! More reasons for me and the others to stick around.

Thanks~!