Jason Merle - Holding Down House Music in Fresno California, Ep. 28
Explicit content warning
08/27/24 • 63 min
Jason Merle and 4E&A Links
https://www.instagram.com/jasonmerle_/
https://www.instagram.com/4eanda/
https://www.traxsource.com/label/57152/4e-and-a
Summary
In this episode of the House Music Connection podcast, Tony Fuel connects with Jason Merle: a house music artist, DJ, producer, and owner of 4E&A Records based in Fresno, CA. They discuss Jason's background in house music, the music scene in Fresno, and the challenges of running a record label. They also touch on the changing landscape of the music industry, the importance of artist experience, and the role of charts in promoting music. In this conversation, Tony Fuel and Jason Merle discuss the challenges of promoting and charting music in the digital age. They explore the role of charts in the industry and the motivations behind charting tracks. They also discuss the decline of music sales and the shift towards streaming, as well as the importance of supporting artists and the labor of love involved in the music industry.
Takeaways
Jason Merle started in house music in 1996 and has been involved in the Fresno music scene for many years.
The music scene in Fresno is vibrant and diverse, with different crews focusing on various genres within the house scene.
Starting his own label, 4E&A Records, allowed Jason to have creative control and learn about the process of releasing music.
Promotion in the digital age has evolved, with social media and video snippets playing a larger role.
The challenges of running a record label include managing artist expectations and finding the right balance between different ways of doing things.
Traxsource charts can help get more exposure for music, but they are not the sole determinant of a track's success. Promoting and charting music in the digital age can be challenging due to the vast amount of music available.
Charts can be helpful in gaining exposure and recognition, but their impact on sales is uncertain.
The decline of music sales has shifted the focus towards other revenue streams, such as merchandise and live events.
Authenticity and genuine support from other artists can be more valuable than chart positions.
Throwing parties and organizing events can be a labor of love, and the focus should be on celebrating the music and the community.
Receiving and listening to demos is an important part of the music industry, and it's crucial to provide timely and respectful feedback to aspiring artists.
Chapters
0:00:00 Introduction and Background
0:03:03 The Fresno Music Scene
0:07:51 Starting 4E&A Records
0:13:19 The Changing Landscape of Music Promotion
0:15:43 Managing Artist Expectations
0:20:04 Keeping track of all the tasks
0:23:26 The Role of TraxSource Charts
0:30:20 Are Traxsource Charts Helpful?
0:33:31 The Challenge of Music Promotion in the Digital Age
0:41:41 The Decline of Music Sales and the Shift to Streaming
0:51:34 The Labor of Love in the Music Industry
0:59:27 The Importance of Listening to and Supporting Demos
1:02:38 Release Roadmap Template
Jason Merle and 4E&A Links
https://www.instagram.com/jasonmerle_/
https://www.instagram.com/4eanda/
https://www.traxsource.com/label/57152/4e-and-a
Summary
In this episode of the House Music Connection podcast, Tony Fuel connects with Jason Merle: a house music artist, DJ, producer, and owner of 4E&A Records based in Fresno, CA. They discuss Jason's background in house music, the music scene in Fresno, and the challenges of running a record label. They also touch on the changing landscape of the music industry, the importance of artist experience, and the role of charts in promoting music. In this conversation, Tony Fuel and Jason Merle discuss the challenges of promoting and charting music in the digital age. They explore the role of charts in the industry and the motivations behind charting tracks. They also discuss the decline of music sales and the shift towards streaming, as well as the importance of supporting artists and the labor of love involved in the music industry.
Takeaways
Jason Merle started in house music in 1996 and has been involved in the Fresno music scene for many years.
The music scene in Fresno is vibrant and diverse, with different crews focusing on various genres within the house scene.
Starting his own label, 4E&A Records, allowed Jason to have creative control and learn about the process of releasing music.
Promotion in the digital age has evolved, with social media and video snippets playing a larger role.
The challenges of running a record label include managing artist expectations and finding the right balance between different ways of doing things.
Traxsource charts can help get more exposure for music, but they are not the sole determinant of a track's success. Promoting and charting music in the digital age can be challenging due to the vast amount of music available.
Charts can be helpful in gaining exposure and recognition, but their impact on sales is uncertain.
The decline of music sales has shifted the focus towards other revenue streams, such as merchandise and live events.
Authenticity and genuine support from other artists can be more valuable than chart positions.
Throwing parties and organizing events can be a labor of love, and the focus should be on celebrating the music and the community.
Receiving and listening to demos is an important part of the music industry, and it's crucial to provide timely and respectful feedback to aspiring artists.
Chapters
0:00:00 Introduction and Background
0:03:03 The Fresno Music Scene
0:07:51 Starting 4E&A Records
0:13:19 The Changing Landscape of Music Promotion
0:15:43 Managing Artist Expectations
0:20:04 Keeping track of all the tasks
0:23:26 The Role of TraxSource Charts
0:30:20 Are Traxsource Charts Helpful?
0:33:31 The Challenge of Music Promotion in the Digital Age
0:41:41 The Decline of Music Sales and the Shift to Streaming
0:51:34 The Labor of Love in the Music Industry
0:59:27 The Importance of Listening to and Supporting Demos
1:02:38 Release Roadmap Template
Previous Episode
DJ MJ: Launching Back2House Radio, Ep. 27
Interview with DJ MJ, Founder of Back2houseradio.com || Overwhelmed with producer tasks? Learn how my free Release Roadmap tool can help: https://tonyfuel.com/roadmapDJ MJ Linkshttps://back2houseradio.com/https://www.youtube.com/@djmjofficial6141https://www.instagram.com/theofficialdjmj/https://www.traxsource.com/artist/281829/dj-mj?ipp=100SummaryDJ MJ, a versatile underground DJ, producer, promoter, and radio station owner, shares her journey and experiences in the house music scene. She recently started her own radio station, Back to House Radio, after broadcasting on MixLR. DJ MJ emphasizes the importance of supporting others in the industry and being a team player. She discusses the challenges she has faced, including threats and negativity, and the need to develop a strong mindset. Networking and social media play a crucial role in getting bookings and promoting oneself in the music industry. In this conversation, DJ MJ discusses the importance of putting yourself out there and sharing your story on social media. She emphasizes the power of being authentic and opening up about your experiences. DJ MJ also talks about the need for collaboration and unity in the music industry, particularly in terms of gender representation. She shares her journey into music production and the joy she finds in creating tracks. DJ MJ encourages listeners to keep it real, do it for the love of music, and not be afraid to promote themselves.TakeawaysSupporting others and being a team player is crucial in the music industry.Developing a strong mindset is essential to overcome challenges and negativity.Networking and social media are important for getting bookings and promoting oneself.Being proud of your achievements and promoting yourself is necessary in a competitive industry. Put yourself out there and share your story on social mediaAuthenticity and opening up about your experiences can lead to more engagementCollaboration and unity are important in the music industryGender representation should be balanced in lineups and eventsMusic production can be a fulfilling and enjoyable creative outletKeep it real, do it for the love of music, and promote yourself without fearChapters00:00:00 Introduction and DJ MJ's Background00:02:39 Starting Back to House Radio00:07:02 The Decision to Start a Radio Station00:10:22 Expanding the Lineup and Looking for DJs00:11:23 DJ MJ's Journey in the House Music Scene00:16:10 Influences and Musical Eclecticism00:21:22 Networking and Getting Bookings00:24:23 Promoting Yourself and Being Proud of Your Achievements00:27:02 Putting Yourself Out There on Social Media00:29:32 The Importance of Being Authentic00:36:42 The Journey into Music Production00:43:47 Keeping It Real and Doing It for the Love of Music00:51:59 Release Roadmap Toolkit
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