Submitting things is pretty simple and straightforward, it doesn't need a lengthy handbook. You are getting one anyway though.
Submitting Music
Things to do:
The best thing to do is send me an email at jim@ayetunes.org.uk . If you are only sending a couple of songs go ahead and attach them, if there's more than that then upload them somewhere and email over a download link. There's loads of places you can upload a zip file to without much hassle, personally I like Dropbox, but others are fine too. Please don't attach a zip file to your email though, Gmail eats attached zips. I'll never get it, you'll think I just ignored it.An alternative is Soundcloud, you can upload tracks to my dropbox there.
If you don't want to give me a download for free (which is of course fair enough) then send me somewhere I can stream the songs easily. Again, Soundcloud is good for this, but even better is Bandcamp, where you can try and sell me something too.
CDs. You can offer to send me a CD, but I usually prefer to hear what is on it first. This reduces the chances of you wasting time and money on sending me a CD I don't like, which just lays in a pile somewhere in my house. If you still want to send me a physical copy go ahead and ask for my address.
If you are sending me something for review it is handy, though not essential, to include a wee bit about yourself or your band. A quick bio, any useful links, that kind of thing. Oh, and do try and include details on the release, most importantly the release date and where it will be available from, what format, etc. Don't leave me guessing, I'll just get it wrong, or not get round to checking! MySpace, Facebook, Twitter, all that kind of thing are handy too.
Things not to do:
Be a dick. That should go without saying, but every now and then someone gets the bright idea that I'll pay more attention if they act like an arsehole to me. I won't.
Show a complete lack of research. Half the stuff that clogs up my inbox comes from American PR firms that have missed the point. Music from outside of Scotland is always welcome, but the latest tour dates around LA are less useful to me. Others start off with something along the lines of "Hi Ayetunes". Aye Tunes isn't my name, Jim is. It says so on every post. You might be sending the same form email to every blogger around, but at least do a little checking on things like that first.
Send me straight to MySpace. I really don't like using MySpace, if that is the only option I have for listening to tracks from the EP you want me to review I more than likely won't bother. Apart from anything else, have you ever listened to your music on MySpace? It sounds awful! Increasingly MySpace is a last resort for me, please try and give me somewhere else to listen to your music and get some info.
Likewise, don't send me to straight to iTunes, I don't buy anything from it. Again, if you want to lure me into paying for your new release right away, Bandcamp is your best bet.
Likewise, don't send me to straight to iTunes, I don't buy anything from it. Again, if you want to lure me into paying for your new release right away, Bandcamp is your best bet.
That should cover the main things, any questions go ahead and ask.
I do my best to reply to all my emails, but it takes a while sometimes. If you think I've missed something feel free to remind me after a week or so. I can't review everything I'm sent, there just aren't enough hours in the day, but I do listen to it at least.
If I don't like something I likely won't review it, unless I can offer constructive criticism. Don't take it personally, again it comes down to available time, I'd rather use my time to write about something I enjoyed than something I didn't.
Also bear in mind that a lot of the Scottish bloggers talk to each other, if you bitch about us to the others, there's a good chance we'll hear about it!
If I don't like something I likely won't review it, unless I can offer constructive criticism. Don't take it personally, again it comes down to available time, I'd rather use my time to write about something I enjoyed than something I didn't.
Also bear in mind that a lot of the Scottish bloggers talk to each other, if you bitch about us to the others, there's a good chance we'll hear about it!
Gig Guide Submissions:
Dead easy, send an email to gigs@ayetunes.org.uk with as much information as you can.
Bands playing (ideally the full line up, not just the band you are in), where and when are pretty much essential, obviously. Links to the bands are helpful too, it saves me a bit of leg work when putting the guide together.
Feel free to include anything extra like a poster, link to Facebook events (these are good for stopping me forgetting things) and anything else you think will be useful.
Feel free to include anything extra like a poster, link to Facebook events (these are good for stopping me forgetting things) and anything else you think will be useful.