Motion Picture Soundtrack on Tunited.com // Official Launch - July 2010

Check out MPS on Tunited.com @ http://beta.tunited.com/motionpicturesoundtrack 

We're very proud to be part of something that has the potential to change the face of the independant music industry for the better by putting the control back into the hands of artists all over the U.K, something we have always felt very passionate about.  Please read the following from Tunited to see what its all about, make sure you sign up too!

Stay in touch,

Nick // Motion Picture Soundtrack

What is Tunited?

Tunited is a new community website for independent music. Dreamt up by Live 8 legend Midge Ure, Tunited is set to make the independent music industry a better place, a fairly traded kinda place. Music makers get paid more money from downloaded music - Tunited does not profit from downloads. Streaming is pay-as-you-go. Music lovers can build up a bank of streaming credits when they get friends to join the site, buy merchandise, promote or download music they love. Tunited will plant a tree (yes, an actual tree) in your name every time you download to offset emissions – it’s part of our ethos. Cut with edgy editorial, Tunited is a new fan networking site packed with the best signed and self-released independent music.

Listeners can make playlists, recommended tracks, blog or review bands for the Tunited magazine. Share music by using your widget and become a Tastemaker so you can shape the music scene. For artists, as well as getting paid more money from every download and reaching more fans, there’s free music software, collaboration projects, online rehearsal rooms, your own personalised Tunited shop, music business guidance and tailored, cost-effective merchandise packages. All music is chart-eligible and a pool of A&Rs, producers and promoters will be on the site to offer advice and find new rising talent. Tied together with truth, trust and transparency, Tunited will see the music industry change - for good.

Why does the music world need Tunited?

Recently, the music industry has struggled to make money from a public that expects to listen to music for free. Step forward Spotify and others such services. In their basic form, these are funded solely by advertising and micro-payments are then made to artists and writers every time a track is streamed. Sounds good in theory, but the figures tell a different story. There have been claims that such services don’t pay a fair rate through to the artists (even biggies like Lady GaGa) and it makes you wonder how this model can benefit smaller, independent artists. But at Tunited, all artists - signed or otherwise - will get paid for their streamed music and, by rewarding listeners, we actively encourage them to download music too which will create more cashish for the artists.

Midge explains: “As soon as Napster was launched, it was clear to me that the music business was about to suffer because of the shareware and illegal downloading phenomenon. Now, ten years on, we can all see the effects: major labels don’t have the money to invest in as many new acts anymore. They are taking fewer risks and as a result, new music is being crushed. Without nurturing the fresh talent that’s out there, the industry will kill itself off.”

The independent music industry has long been underfunded and overlooked. When we were talking to Sir George Martin recently about Tunited he said this:

“There is a lot of young untapped talent in our country, and this is the life-blood of creativity. Any process that encourages and develops that talent is vital for the future of good music.”

“With Tunited, we’re not just opening doors for new artists – we’re blowing the doors right off, Italian Job-style!” says Midge.

Sounds good so far. If you want to know even more about Tunited like how much artists will get paid, how listeners will get rewarded for their fandom, how pay-as-you-go streaming works, why we’re planting a tree every time you download a track on our site, our business model yadda yadda yadda, click on to read about how Tunited works. Or see below for who works on this mother of a music website.

Who works for Tunited?

Founder:
Midge Ure

Managing Director:
Matt Stanley

Commercial Manager:
Duncan Reid
advertising@tunited.com

Editor:
Susie Bowers
susie@tunited.com

PR:
Andy Hart
andy@tunited.com