Style: Interview Portrait
The Future of Music Distribution
You also sell your music also digitally - for instance on beatport. Was it difficult to sell your music through beatport? How did you manage to sell your music there?
We’ve got a digital distributor, but also single contracts with separate platforms. We only sell the music as mp3 we sell as vinyl, too. We need the additional profit in this case. Our general mp3-way is free.
Is selling MP3s a lucrative way for musicians to earn money? Would you advise netlabels to sell their music through a music-shop such as beatport?
Yes, you can earn money with it. But I can’t advice it in every case. We don’t switch our label philosophy into only selling, because we think, we lose many fans with it. At this time, we are a good reference for our artists. In another way we would be a soulless label like others on beatport without an own face. As netlabel you can reach thousands of people, as mp3-sell-label with the same concept you’ve got maybe 20 till 50 downloads. Ok, you’ve got the chance to get more, but only great music isn’t enough. And you must know: Netlabel users and people who buy the music via beatport and so on are different target groups. So I must ask, what is more important for you, if you totalize?
If somebody discovers Broque the first time, what five releases should he definetely listens to?
Its very hard, because we aren't a label for one night. So I hope I found the right style mix for the first date with us. But I think, you can find some more treasures on our site, if these teasers are interesting for you:
Mike Breitfeld - Landflucht (broque 003)
Track: Technique4 (MP3)
It was our third EP and a real breakthrough. The chosen track is full of electric current and still one of our favorites. Its also a licenced demo track for Native Instruments Traktor DJ Studio 2.6.
10 Jahre Oderaufbrot The Remixes (broque 005)
Track: The Caine Controlfreak (Granlab Remix)
I chose this Track, because it was a part of the remixes of our 10 years anniversary compilation CD. The CD was the start of our label and also the beginning of a very successful compilation series. And this remix was the best ever of Granlabs works, I think.
Cheslo Spring Droids EP (broque 021)
Track: Mjidou
It was hard to decide between Lowtec and Cheslo to find a perfect example of our deep side. But I think, Cheslo was a real surprise with his great EP in his very own style and a real genius in his arts. But I really love Lowtecs EP, too!
Max Cavalerra Naturphenomenon (broque 024)
Track: Der Mensch und seine Gnsehaut
Max is the artist with the most tracks on broque.de. The history of his nature phenomenon is very interesting. At first, nobody took note of it. But step by step, the people found this great fusion of music and now this EP is his most succesfull one on Broque. Two Tracks are now only available on Karmarouge Rec.
Nils Hoffmann Kurz & Klein EP (broque 035)
Track: Goodbye Glamour
Maybe our greatest success ever? Ok, the tastes are different. But a real sample of our open sound policy. Music can bring you so much fun
Reviews, Links and More Information
Review on Phlow-Magazine.com: Nils Hoffmann - “kurz und klein e.p.” (Broque)
Netaudio-Charts from Heiko aka Granlab: Granlab/Broque Free Music Charts 2007
Netlabel: www.broque.de
Páginas: 1 2
About the Author
This article was written on 5.June 2008 by mo..
mo. is a music-lover. The journalist and author from Cologne/Germany enjoys supporting the global netlabel-phenomena. For years he has explored the netlabel underground and has written numerous articles on the free music culture. He is the main-editor behind Phlow. Read more articles written by mo..
(7 votes, average: 4.71 out of 5)
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9 comments
as these guys seem to know what they are doing- why is their website so ugly? it looks like just-another-netlabel and hasn't been pimped for years. people will probably refer to the design as "minimal", but that's not it. even the structure is weird. don't wanna piss you off too much but i think broque would gain more interest if you commit some basic changes in design and user guidance. disagree, anyone?
5. Jun 2008 at 1:23 pm
Link #1
I fully agree. But content rules and Broque offers some really nice music. There are some nice functionalities like the mp3-player but i would also perfer a more consistent navigation - but nevertheless great work, and thanks for the insights.
5. Jun 2008 at 6:31 pm
Link #2
Really Thank you for your feedback. That's what we need. Ok, designs are a questions of taste. But if you have some ideas for basic changes - just tell us some more words, please.
It's important to know, that we try to make a website without any technical restrictions for our visitors. We don't like too many colors or other gimmicks. We think, the most important thing is the quality of music, but we respect every feedback. So it isn't correct, that we haven't pimped our site for years. We do it in little steps, partly in the behind for your pleasure. The projects of the last months: for example we invested in an own server for the best download speed, we are using now a higher mp3 bitrate, we've got a new mp3 player and also a new rss.feed. Our team has a new art manager for our covers to get no more bad taste medal by phlow.net ;-) We made a new board for our links and special announcements, also a new podcast and so on. At this time we work out our booking section. Ok, at first we move our office this month...
6. Jun 2008 at 10:15 am
Link #3
one big step ahead would be a bigger font-size. for new visitors it's hard to figure our where to download mp3s. you only link the numbers it would be much easier if you make a link with "MP3 Download" - also the ZIP is hidden. think of the small font-size...
additionally i would advice to integrate a preview-mp3-player - very easy to use it the playtagger by delicious (http://del.icio.us/help/playtagger). it's a javascript that transforms a pure link to a mp3 directly into a mp3 player. if visitors don't have javascript enabled they see only the pure link.
you can change the coloured buttons to make them back and white... :)
6. Jun 2008 at 12:57 pm
Link #4
really enjoyed this interview. bettina sharp as usual made me smile. looks like tend and granlab should hire you the phlow mag staff to get the big money. ;)
6. Jun 2008 at 11:50 pm
Link #5
"Our team has a new art manager for our covers to get no more bad taste medal by phlow.net"
yeah, that's being diplomathic.
6. Jun 2008 at 11:52 pm
Link #6
"Our team has a new art manager for our covers to get no more bad taste medal by phlow.net"
*hehehe* that's a citation of an article I wrote about Broque in german on phlow.net a while ago. I know Christian Kausch aka Tend for a while now, and I am sure his comment wasn't meant bitchy. it was more some kind of a warm and smiling hug between friends ;)
7. Jun 2008 at 12:06 am
Link #7
Yes, you're right, Mo.
We are very glad about your hints. We'll chat about it - and after our summer break some things are optimized.
8. Jun 2008 at 1:26 pm
Link #8
lovely track mjidou, organic and humane, overlaying a modern structure. shame the sound quality is bad.
3. May 2009 at 3:20 pm
Link #9