Dirtbag Music launches social music network

The current music industry stalemate between content providers who control Digital Rights Management (DRM) and those who are call for an open file sharing universe has done little in terms of moving the music industry forward for the artists and fans caught in the middle.  Music used to be about the interaction and connection between artists and fans.

Dirtbag Music expects to change that convoluted tune. 

Represented by Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, the same Silicon Valley law firm behind giants Google, YouTube and Apple, Dirtbag Music has launched a first-to-market social music network that provides the music industry with a radical new platform to aide musicians and fans.  Dirtbag Music provides free world wide video and voice calls for every user, a complete e-commerce engine to monetize online digital content and advance mobile applications that ensure artists and fans can stay connected.

The site’s peer-to-peer world-wide Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) functionality utilizes an advanced multimedia instant messenger system, termed “Blab Box” creating real-time social interaction between users.

“Dirtbag Music provides everyone the ability to interact in real-time,” said CEO, John Alves, “bands and fans can now interact in real time through video sessions, personalized lessons, chats, concerts, interviews, rehearsals, tour bus updates and other reality based campaigns.  Having the ability to directly interact with your favorite artists or by attending a backstage meet and greet, in real-time, becomes a revolutionary new way of personalizing a user’s musical experience.

When fully implemented in late spring of 2008, the site will also provide individualized e-commerce platforms, like eBay, which allows each member to choose which products or features they want to monetize. For example, a band can choose to sell music tracks, merchandise, video chats, lessons, ringtones or whatever else the bands can invent and market.

“Real-time interaction is not something that can be duplicated or shared and therefore does not fall victim to the same DRM issues associated with downloading and sharing music tracks,” explains Mark Evans, Senior Vice President of Business Development, “it is a single one-off experience between the artist and the fan and one that radically changes how the music industry operates.”

That is just the tip of the iceberg for the new start-up.  Dirtbag Music’s proprietary mobile application enables real-time interaction right down to a users’ mobile cell phone.  

“Providing a single sign-on portal that is device independent and can be accessed through the user’s current home computer, laptop, cell phone or smart phone while providing direct access to your network of friends and artists is a core function of Dirtbag Music,” said Managing Director of Dirtbag Communications, Patrick Hauwert, “artists now have the ability to control, grow and monetize their fan base in ways never before possible.” With over 474 new proprietary features being rolled out in the next year, Dirtbag Music seeks to move the music industry forward by elevating interaction between artists and fans.

Dirtbag Music’s new platform is gaining industry support. With advisory board members as diverse as VH1 host and founding guitarist for Anthrax, Scott Ian, Hip-Hop artist DJ Skribble and Guns N' Roses guitarist Ron Thal, Dirtbag Music is not just a social network site catering to one genre of music.

With support from music partners DW Drums, Basson Sound, ESP guitars, Schecter guitars, Dunlop, Boogie Street Guitars and Kahler music, the new start-up has even opened its platform to music manufacturers who will be demonstrating the company’s new technology during the National Association of Music Merchants’ (NAMM) annual convention starting January 17th in Anaheim, California.

To reach the site, click here www.dirtbagmusic.com – sign-up for free.

Dirtbag Music is a privately held company and a spin-off of The Dirtbag Clothing Company, an 11 year old lifestyle apparel company boasting over 400 artist endorsements and sponsorships from today’s top rock, pop and country artists. Dirtbag Music is headquartered in San Diego, California.