CcMixter's Patreon Campaign Remixes How Music is Valued.

Launched in March of this year, ccMixter's Patreon page is providing a way for fans of Creative Commons music to show their support of the site and it's artists.  This is a big step for the future of ccMixter, the site that helped launch the world of free downloads, free sharing and free use of source material.  With Patreon, ccMixter's rich history and archive of #ccmusic has a future where the music is still free, and the costs to maintain and expand the community that create it are provided for.

watch Jack Conte speak about Patreon and artist support

I asked Kara Square, who is at the forefront of this effort, a few quick questions about her thoughts on why Patreon is a great fit for the ccMixter community.  Kara runs her own record label, Thinkroot Records, writes and produces her own music under the pseudonym Mind Map That, and serves on the admin team at ccMixter.  She basically embodies the culture of music that is at the core of ccMixter's community, and thrives as an independent artist and entrepreneur.  This is what she had to say:

Q: Why is Patreon a good fit for the goals of ccMixter?

Kara: ccMixter artists love collaborating to create music. We pool our skills to make our music better than it is when we go it alone. Likewise, Patreon gives us the chance to pool our resources to keep ccMixter online and make it an even more awesome site.

ccMixter is one of the few spots on the web that doesn't have distracting advertising or mandatory subscription fees to participate, but the site still needs money to cover basic expenses and updates. Patreon is a platform that allows anyone who loves ccMixter to contribute financially and become a patron. The cool thing about it is that you can become a patron of ccMixter at whatever level you are able. With the different levels, rewards are offered to express our gratitude. Even contributing $1 each month adds up when we pool our resources. As more and more people join Patreon, ccMixter will have a sustainable income that can be counted on and used to make the site better and better.

Q: When ccMixter reaches it's initial goal, will there be future goals to hit, other features released?

Kara:  We have created 3 goals for ccMixter based on the sites needs. The initial goal is $770, which will cover our monthly server costs. The second goal is $2100, which will cover all of ccMixter's monthly expenses including: server costs, domain and email fees, accounting and tax fees, and personnel. It will allow ccMixter to regularly pay two part-time admins and one part-time tech director. Our third goal is $3000, which will be used to finish updating ccMixter's websites to keep everything relevant and functioning.

Q:  Many of the initial Patreon contributors are ccMixter artists, why is that?

Kara:  I think ccMixter artists are joining Patreon because they find the site personally valuable. They have experienced the magic of collaborating and connecting with musicians from all over the world. They have received the support of the community and want to keep it alive. And they know that they are expanding creativity by creating music that can be freely used by other creators.

Q: Who benefits from the contributions made at Patreon?

Kara:  Everyone who is part of the ccMixter community benefits. Everyone who visits ccMixter to find remixes, samples, and pells benefits. Everyone who visits Dig to find music for their projects benefits. Everyone who listens to ccMixter music all over the web benefits. Everyone who watches videos online that use ccMixter music benefits.

To visit ccMixter's Patreon page, follow this link.
https://www.patreon.com/ccMixter

Crack The Code Secret Mixter

Crack The Code

We want you down in the trenches developing the Next Version of what makes sharing music free and without bounds.

Hack it Crack it and Smack it.

If you have the code skills to make it happen, share it with world.

We'll create the soundtrack.  And together we'll remix reality.

http://ccmixter.org/thread/3971

Key of Love Remix Event

What are the keys to a great Valentine's Day experience?  One of them is certainly a great soundtrack of love songs to set the mood, and we're here to help you out!

ccMixter's catalog of music, free to download and share, is filled with a quality selection of love songs.  And with Valentine's Day on the horizon, we've decided to hold a remix event specifically aimed at creating new additions to the archive. Now singers, songwriters, producers and curators can unlock the gates.  Let love flow through your music with new vocal tracks, source tracks and mixes to choose from.  We're feeding the music with love.  For, as Shakespeare so poetically stated, "If music be the food of love, play on!"

And while the new songs are being created, you can dig the archives for previously released Valentine's Day music.  Search "Valentines" at Dig.ccmixter or "love" to get started.  CcMixter's Editorial Team will also be selecting tracks and promoting them on our facebook and twitter feeds as we get closer to Cupid's special day.  We're feeding the fire of love.  You bring the chocolate, and we'll bring the music!

Follow us on Twitter @ccmixtermusic
Visit Dig.ccmixter.org
Participate in the Key of Love Remix Event

Transfusion: New Blood for the #ccmusic Scene

Transfusion: The John Kluck Remixes is a welcomed addition to the Netaudio world of music. Released on Internet Archive, the platform is easy to use and makes listening to this collection even more enjoyable.  This electro-lounge chill release is filled with cameo appearances from ccMixter artists including Stateshirt, Snowflake, Zep Hurme to name a few.

Misery starts of the 12 song repertoire, featuring StateShirt and Remy Shand, with a downtempo fusion of lyrics, electronic loops and catchy beats.  The journey continues with songs that you can get lost in, but don't beg for attention.  Definitely check out "Could Be", "Happiness is a State of Mind" and the retro-funky track "Miracle."

This release is available under cc-by-nc-nd license.  Free to download and share in non-commercial environments.

Three Thumbs Up!!!  Thanks John, aka Gadziller at ccMixter.org

https://archive.org/details/Transfusion

Call Out for Editorial Staff Members 2017

We are looking for a few tech savvy music critics to dig into the archives of ccMixter and find remix gems to Ed Pick write reviews for our listeners.  Are you a fearless music aficionado that understands the nature of netaudio and creative commons licensing?  We hope so. The experimental nature of our community and the openness of our sharing culture has and continues to influence modern music on all levels.  We look to our editorial team to frame the experience in ways listeners can digest.  Join us!

All of our current Ed Picks are listed here:

http://ccmixter.org/editorial/picks

If you're interested please submit links and relevant writing examples to our review team:

contact us via e-mail

We’ll be releasing our new Editorial Team Staff List in the next few weeks!

Read the guidelines for Ed Picks Here.

Hope for the Holidays Remix Event

Raise your Voice in Song for Hope

As the winter holidays approach, much of the world prepares for traditional celebrations. ccMixter has an annual winter tradition of its own: our holiday remix event.

Artists on ccMixter are invited to share original and traditional, holiday and seasonal pells, samples, and remixes. With so much heart-wrenching turmoil and conflict all around us, we encourage a focus on HOPE for this year’s holiday event.

The ccMixter musical community of collaboration and sharing is built upon unity, harmony, inclusivity, and generosity… together we will create music that expresses our collective sentiments with the world!

To learn more about the Hope for the Holidays Remix Event, visit this ccMixter forum post. Click to listen to PELLS, SAMPLES AND REMIXES.

Hope lies in dreams, in imagination, and in the courage of those who dare to make dreams into reality. ~Jonas Salk

May Day Secret Mixter

- Answer the Distress Call by Creating New Music -

May Day! This term is not only a distress call, but May Day is also a holiday that celebrates the emergence of spring, flowers and new life.

From our founder and inspiration Lawrence Lessig, "May Day is a word used to signal distress and call for aid, and ironically also an ancient festival that celebrates the emergence of new life each spring. At a time when there is rampant corruption in governments around the world, we are answering the current call of distress by creating change and new possibilities from the grassroots at MayDay.us. We are thrilled the global community at ccMixter.org is sharing awareness through its creativity in the May Day Secret Mixter."

But what happens when old systems of corruption are rooted out? Well, new life is suddenly made possible. And THAT is what the May Day Secret Mixter is all about. 

So Mixters, let’s make some great music! Music that not only addresses the May Day distress call, BUT music (in secret!) that celebrates the emergence of new life and new possibilities.

The details? Sign-up through April 23 and your assignment will be emailed to you April 24 when remixing begins. Upload day is May 8 -- and block out the day to listen. Yes, you'll want to listen all day!

Read about the rules of the May Day Secret Mixter HERE.