In the past (like 10 years ago) I used to receive physical copies via Progfreak.com because I had put my actual address on the about page. So artists and record companies would send me CDs to review. It was nice, but sometimes caused issues with customs declarations (where I had to prove that the goods were tax-free gifts).

How does it work (for you nowadays) - do you have to write to each major label and ask?

Hi,

I don't ... but my friend Guy Guden (Space Pirate Radio) probably gets more stuff from several folks in Europe that we can count in hands and feet! And often, it is not released, that I can find or hear. It also looks like at least one or two labels, send him the whole caboodle ... as far as I know. Not to mention that at least a couple of artists have written pieces for the show and about the show!

But I'm not sure this helps your information gathering ... but Guy may have had a huge ... advantage ... he made friends going back to 1974 and the listing of "friends" and folks, that even did an ID for his show, is not only insane, you can not even stop counting at 100 ... and some of them are far out and neat! Not to mention special! The only sad part? You want all the stories and he had a bunch on the blogspot for a long time, which he has taken down since ... or the site had a limitation ... not sure which.

In your case, I think the label of "progressive" is a problem as it will intimidate a lot of folks doing something else, and they don't (maybe) define themselves as such ... I think that you have to be more open minded, in order to maximize your chances.

I'm guessing that if you did a show, weekly let's say, with several hours and it was open enough and with enough variety ... that you would get a better response than all the postings you have ... not sure why I feel that, although I am more aware, of how Guy did things, than anyone else since some of those folks came through the door ... so to speak. But I bet that if yo did that, your postings would suffer some .... which, while not my cup of tea, are very thorough and deserving of attention!

I'm fine with waiting until release day ... it is a more authentic approach in any case. But it would be cool to get the occasional glimpse into upcoming releases. And after all, being able to post a review before the release day promotes your website and the artist simultaneously.

Hi,

I, honestly, think that Guy's main advantage is that he made "friends" with a lot of the folks involved. And he has an incredible library of interviews, that I'm not sure many of us will EVER hear. I do have the one with Robin Williamson, and that one is an incredible fun hour and super neat and far out ... something that many interviewers might not exactly be good at ... when so many of them try to spank your face with "progressive" ... stop it!!!!! 

I think, maybe, that your ability to do so, might not be as easy, especially since your ability seems to center more on the listening side and posting some lists, although I might think that being a part of a list of 30 or 40 or 50, is not going to get me enough attention ... thus, it might feel like it is minimizing the effect and ability of the specific band, as opposed to playing it outright ... 

I'm not sure I am saying this right ... you deserve to get attention, however, if I run a label (let's say) and I have 5 artists in it, and you might mention one in the lists, and not the consider the other 4, it might not help things much ... and in this area, Guy is favored ... because the label plays ... let's say what we consider Electronic materials, and Guy would play most of them, and let his audience know which CD and piece it is playing, which helps with the individual attention to the band from the fan perspective ... but I can not say that some of the folks that do stuff on the Internet, have the same ability as Guy does ... I think too many of those shows are not original, are still stuck on the radio mentality of "song/hit" and the mixes are centered with too many "known" entities ... that are over played. Ex: I love YES, but for crying out ... any show on the Internet playing it, just lost me! Often, hearing the same thing, to boot!!!!!! Good gracious ... give me Julie London again for sure!

I wish I had a better suggestion for you ... I think you have earned that right and ability for your work ... 

Hi,

I am not too sure that Guy's ability to get so much stuff from Europe, and a couple from America, is an issue with advance copies or not ... though many times Guy has played stuff that would be on an album or CD later. But so many works in this situation, and I don't even have that CD .... to tell you more! I just have the recording of Guy's show!

But there are some nice bits when you have fun with some folks ... c'mon, after all the fun and jokes that flew around "Barenaked Ladies" and Guy ... do you not expect to find something else? AND, shown in a manner of fun or surprise to your audience, which is the clue. Don't try, or think yourself the gosh of progressive bs! Just have fun with that person, and what they wish to have fun with!

Advanced copies are not, often the great thing that we think, specially if the material changes and you never hear that piece again. All artists do their work according to their taste and touch, not our ideas and desires!

The fun, for me, has been hearing a couple of folks create various specific things ... which shows the band's ability ... which is just fine with me ... but expecting it is not a good idea, since one day it might be there, and the next day it isn't.

I'm not sure that anyone would wish to depend on the advance material ... you don't need it to do your show. Concentrate on the good/new stuff and have fun with it ... and the fans ... and you don't want a missing advance, or jerk on the other side, ruin the day for you! 

AND, remember one thing ... the copy you got in the mail, was sent out at the same time to 150 distributors, but you were able to play it right away, while all the others have to wait for their website guru to add the work, and then the links, etc, etc ... which makes it a week later, at least ... all of a sudden the "advanced" copy was not an advanced copy at all!

Hi,

Thx ... I was close to adding that ... I don't think that CD's are going out as much anymore, but I imagine that many other folks also do some advance stuff that will be different in the album, when/if it makes it out ... this has happened to at least 2 folks in Space Pirate Radio ... who have created exclusive material and was not on the "album" later, because it was exclusive to the show ... not the album ...