Difference between revisions of "Case Studies/Tom Benjamin"
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|Quote=My aim is to do the best versions of the most famous songs of all time. | |Quote=My aim is to do the best versions of the most famous songs of all time. | ||
|Quote_Attribution=Dr Tom | |Quote_Attribution=Dr Tom | ||
| − | |Mainurl=www.tom.com | + | |Mainurl=www.radio-tom.com |
| − | |Author= | + | |Author=www.tom.com.au |
|User_Status=Creator | |User_Status=Creator | ||
|Tag=music, playlist, mp3, download, free, public domain | |Tag=music, playlist, mp3, download, free, public domain | ||
Revision as of 01:42, 13 May 2009
My aim is to do the best versions of the most famous songs of all time. — Dr Tom
Overview
Dr Tom Benjamin is from Detroit. He was reared on the Early Great American Songbook. As a teenager he sang in frat-party-rock bands. The version of House of the Rising Sun listed in the Music section below is typical of those days, but back then it was real bands with real instruments, not virtual ones.Media:House of the Rising Sun.ogg== Media ==
In his career as a Clinical Psychologist he often participated in music therapy groups. The geriatric wards loved the old songs from his childhood. But after being a 'rocker' these tunes now seemed a bit lifeless. They pre-dated syncopation. Play-along instruments like tambourines only made things worse as they made it sound like a 1900s Temperance Movement march. This was fine for one or two songs but deadening for a party. All that changed with midi. Dr Tom was a pioneer in introducing midi music and karaoke to the music therapy movement. Now Dr Tom is a researcher in a Centre for Learning Innovation in Sydney. His earlier music experience has come in handy as internet radio gives him the outlet and incentive to test-drive Web 2.0.
www.Radio-Tom.Com is the result - an mp3 playlist of free music with lyrics for download and sharing. For most people, Dr Tom's will be the first time they have had a chance to hear famous and songs that they'd only read about.
License Usage
These songs cost Dr Tom next to nothing (but time) to record and hosting is now free. This lack of costs is passed on to his listeners.
The Creative Commons link boosted search engine placement immediately and dramatically.
Motivations
The goal is to generate interest. If people like what Dr Tom does with these ancient tunes they may well want to hear what he can do with more modern songs as well. The latter cannot be done for free as there are permissions, licenses, and fees. Oh, and did we mention the not-so-minor detail that you can buy recordings of the later songs done by the most famous artists in history? So this would clearly call for a conventional recording deal so that these could be done to everyone's satisfaction. In the meantime, there are enough public domain songs to keep Dr Tom busy feeding Radio-Tom.Com.
Media:House of the Rising Sun.ogg== Media ==
Music example
