Stampede Records, a Buffalo-based independent record label, is changing their marketing strategy to adapt to changes in the music industry. The Internet, commercial radio, and superstores like Best Buy and Wal-Mart have made it very difficult for independent artists as well as independent record stores to survive.
Stampede’s founding members Joseph Orlando and Matt Roberts say that in order to make their music reach a larger audience, they will give it away for free. The strategy involves showcasing their signed artists at free shows and giving away albums to everyone in attendance. If you cannot make the show, then you can download tracks from Stampede’s website, for free, of course.
This Saturday at 9:00 pm, Stampede will host a free concert for those 21 and over at Nietzsche’s. The show will showcase the label’s newest bands, Mother Red and Siren Street Shutdown, with a double debut/CD release. Not only is the show free, but so are both bands’ new albums.
Stampede has already debuted another artist, Handsome Jack, and is constructing their website to allow free music downloading here. “We're an all local label with some great bands just trying to get our music out to as many as possible,” concluded Matt Roberts.