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We're obviously not the only site specializing in a certain kind of music. There are a lot of sites focusing on independent artists alone (Mp3.com, IUMA, Planet CD and CD Baby spring to mind), or particular genres such as jazz (sometimes inadvertently excluding independent artists). When you visit these sites, keep one thing in mind. Can I really get to know the artists behind the music?
One important facet of Guitar Nine, in comparison to many of these sites, is that we feel the more you know about an artist (especially one you've not heard of before), the greater the chance you'll feel comfortable buying their music.
Here's the issue -- when a guitarist chooses to express himself or herself instrumentally, they know there is a tough road ahead of them where exposure is concerned. Radio won't touch their stuff and even magazines specializing in guitar, such as Guitar Player and other national publications, are not keen on covering instrumental music -- the market is just too small.
A short review. Guitar Nine is about focus. Our focus is Instrumental Guitar. A key part of servicing the fans of instrumental guitar is to help them get to know the artists that create the music.
So on our site you'll find hundreds of artist biographies, interviews, guest columns (about everything from guitar technique to the music business). news and tour dates, links to their personal web sites, and even Undiscovered Artist reviews from artists whose CDs we don't even carry!
The artists associated with Guitar Nine have to be proactive. They have to want you to get to know them. That desire is what drives them to share their knowledge with you via instructional columns. That desire motivates them to share their biographical information, their current news and their tour information. That desire is what causes these artists to take a good, hard look at the world and try to find the best place for potential fans to get to know them. If they produce instrumental guitar recordings, whether it's now or sometime in the future, they'll come to recognize the power of focus that Guitar Nine brings to combat the chaos of the Internet.
On the Guitar Nine site, you'll find CDs by independent artists, mid sized label artists and major label artists (even ex-major label artists that are now independent). Why? Again, our focus is instrumental guitar music, which is primarily underground and independent at this particular time, but which does have some breakout success stories on labels such as Epic and Shrapnel. I rejected the idea of focusing on independents from the beginning because I know there are a lot of artists who would love to be where Joe Satriani, Al DiMeola, Steve Vai or Craig Chaquico are today. I think it's in the artist's best interest not to try to label themselves primarily as an indie artist (what's an 'indie' anyway?), but to position their CDs (and their careers) alongside instrumental guitarists at every level.
Most instrumental guitarists will be independent artists all their lives, that's just the reality of creating music for a relatively small audience. Maybe it makes for better music in the long run, given that pressing your own CD means you have total creative freedom. In fact, after you sample some of the incredible guitar recordings available on the site, I think you'll agree that whether the artist is independent or major label is completely unrelated to the ultimate enjoyment of the music.
Don't buy labels (really artist groups) such as Sony, Warner, Shrapnel or Epic, as if you were buying jeans or shoes. Don't buy into concepts such as 'independent' or 'major-label'. Get to know the artist as an individual. Sample the music. Then decide for yourself.
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Other Information in English
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- And 58 more in the Other Information in English series, view the index
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