Indie Artist Brian Hartzog Reaches 5,000 Web Visitors per Month |
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Indie Artist Brian Hartzog Reaches 5,000 Web Visitors per MonthAugust 8, 2004 (Charlotte, North Carolina.) Brian Hartzog, an indie songwriter/artist from Charlotte, NC, has reached his goal of bringing 5,000 unique visitors per month to his website (http://www.brianhartzog.com). Brian Hartzog, working without the help of a record label, now gets as many people listening to his music online as he does by playing live at clubs and bars. He does this on his own without paying any money for online advertising. As a result of the increased traffic, Hartzog has also received more sign-ups to his mailing list, increased CD and MP3 sales, gig opportunities, and more requests from DJ's about his "funk and roll" music. "I'm excited that more people are getting a taste of what I'm about," Hartzog says. "I really took my time with One-Way Ticket (his new cd)...and I'm glad people are finding it--despite my having no music industry connections or record deal." Hartzog's music may be the perfect alternative to today's Clear-Channel-owned, major-label-dominated, RIAA-outlawed, failing music industry. He calls his style "funk and roll". It's really a mixture of classic rock (a la the Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, and Bob Dylan) and funk (Prince, Parliament, and James Brown)...but its not his musical style that is a counter to the major label system--it's his true do-it-yourself attitude. In fact, Hartzog may well be the poster boy for DIY, having taken full control of all aspects of his new CD, One-Way Ticket. On it, Hartzog wrote all the songs, performed nearly all of the instruments, arranged the horn parts, produced and engineered the recordings in his home studio, created his own website and CD release plan...and is now driving folks to his band's shows and to the web to download his songs. As he says on his website, "Who needs a major label?" Listen to Brian Hartzog's Funk and Roll Hartzog created his website (http://www.brianhartzog.com) a year ago, and has seen consistent increase in traffic every month. "I have a background in web design, but I've really had to figure out how to increase web traffic", Hartzog says. "And, believe me, it takes a lot of work." Hartzog says he's not only working to increase the number of unique hits to his website, he's also trying to ensure they are the "right" kind of hits. He says, "It doesn't matter if you increase the number of visitors to your site, if they're all people trying to buy office supplies and you're pushing alternative music. You have to reach the people that are looking for what you've got." As a decidedly indie artist, Hartzog says he's not looking for a record deal. "I'm trying to reach my fans directly...and the Internet is a great way to do that." His sales goal for his new CD is 5,000--he plans to use the money to upgrade his recording equipment. "I think I can do it", Hartzog says..."and if I do, I may write a book to show other indie artists how they can do the same." Hartzog laughs, "and I'll probably offer it for sale on my website..." Listen to Brian Hartzog's Funk and Roll
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