Unique Eye In The Sky Musicians’ Collective Presents Major Unofficial SXSW Showcase

Eye In The Sky Collective, based in Austin, is a hybrid business and organization for musicians that offers discounted services for member artists as well as direct to fan sales on their recently relaunched web portal. To be part of the collective, artists enter a non-exclusive agreement and maintain control of their work.

Eye In The Sky promotes member artists on the web and through events.  They've also organized an unofficial showcase during SXSW called The Future Of Music with free shows March 16 and 17.

Eye In The Sky Collective was founded in January 2011 by Anthony Erickson in partnership with Coleman Stevenson. They began producing events and providing artists with such services as graphic design and CD/vinyl manufacturing via their one-stop web shop. Initially focusing on releases for Wild Child, The Couch and The Dalles, they are now expanding their platform to include a broader range of artists.

Eye in the Sky Collective Promo from Eye In the Sky Collective

Collective member artists are promoted on the site, via a blog, on Vimeo and other web channels as well as through events.

During SXSW they are hosting The Future Of Music Showcase at Shiner's Saloon from noon to 2 am March 16 and 17. The bands are also featured on a digital sampler that can be downloaded for free.

[Note: I was unable to submit my email to get a download link using Mac OSX and Firefox but was able to do so using Safari.]

Though they maintain that participating artists keep 100% of proceeds from sales made through the site, as noted on the faq, that's only if kept within the Eye In The Sky system and used for services accessed through Eye In The Sky. Such services include

"recording,mastering, CD/Vinyl manufacturing, graphic or web design, merch production- tshirts, stickers, sunglasses, etc, as well as photography, videography, PR, marketing and even legal counsel."

If you withdraw cash from the system, they keep 15% of proceeds.

Overall Eye In The Sky Collective sounds like an interesting approach to pooling resources and supporting bands. If you'd like to find out more or apply to join, check out their contact page to connect directly.

Hypebot Features Writer Clyde Smith maintains his freelance writing hub at Flux Research and music industry resources at Music Biz Blogs. To suggest topics for Hypebot, contact: clyde(at)fluxresearch(dot)com.