DANCE MUSIC’S NEW DOWNLOAD WEBSITE

Trax2burn.com is the new online music download website created for DJs, dance music and it’s supporters.

Launched now - December 2003 www.trax2burn.com allows DJs and music fans from all over the world to download a single track, an album or an entire label catalogue online. For music fans it allows easy access to their favourite labels online with minimum cost and effort; you can download from your PC or Mac at a fraction of the price of CDs and vinyl. For DJs, trax2burn will also act as an online promotional company; the most up-front music from the world’s top independent labels will be sent and received within minutes as opposed to days.

Norman Cook (Fatboy Slim), owner of Southern Fried Records and Darren Emerson, owner of Underwater records are the first to sign their labels up to the site. Online you can get both labels’ back catalogue. More labels will be coming on board from January 2004.

FOR THE PUNTERS…
Trax2burn is an online dance music shop. The logistics are simple, online buyers browse the site, choose a track, mix package or album (buyers can listen to a total of 45 seconds of each track online - the beginning, middle and end) and download it. You can search by label, by artist or by track. Each label signed up to the site has their own page which will include the label’s back catalogue, label, artist and track info, downloadable artwork, unreleased mixes, DJ tools, accapellas and more - it will be to each label’s discretion what they add on, some you may get more, some less. Having dance music online gives easy access to what can be the best and also the most difficult to get hold of music - all over the world.

"It's really a case of ‘if you can't beat 'em, join 'em!’ so now Southern Fried tracks are available to everyone on-line. As I once said: "more of everything for everyone!" - Norman Cook (Fatboy Slim)

FOR THE DJS…
DJs all over the world, mostly due to the advent of the CDJ 1000s (voted as the most important technological development by DJs such as Yousef, Steve Lawler, Hector Romero, Smokin Jo, Tom Stephan and many more), are increasingly using CDs more than vinyl when playing out. Trax2burn, by giving unique passcodes to premier league and WORLDWIDE club-resident DJs, allows them to access new music FIRST. Every week, based on said DJs own preferences, they will receive an email from Trax2burn saying they have new music waiting for them to listen to (as with a standard mailing company, except it won’t be in their letter box). The DJ will then go to the site, enter their passcode and go onto their own private page where the music will be waiting for them to listen to. They will then listen to the track, download if they like it and play out that weekend. All downloads are of high enough quality to play out.

"DJs from all over the world contact me via the web-site for vinyl. This way they can access Underwater’s music at any time at the click of a button (and it stops them bugging me!). For me, as a DJ, I’m always on the move from country to country and record bags always get lost. CDs are easier to carry about and if my bags do get lost I can always download any tracks that I really wanted to play out. Plus, for busy DJs it saves you sifting for hours through vinyl mailers every week, you can see straight away where it’s from and what you’re getting." - Darren Emerson

Record sales, due to (mostly) the advent of Internet downloading piracy, are down (Official figures states that in 2002 there was an average of 63,283 12" sales a week. In 2003 there is an average of 53,564. Therefore the sell through 12" market has dropped by 15%.); a new addition is needed as people’s tastes, interests and accessibility to the web evolve. This is it. Trax2burn is not trying to replace vinyl, it is simply exploring a new market in the current declining climate.

"With Downloads initially affecting the industry I think its time for them to help rebuild it. It’s the perfect time to embrace the new download culture as an important outlet for record sales today." - Matt Stuart (Label Manager - Underwater Records)

"Now you can listen before you buy; check out all the mixes, see the artwork, read the release and download the lot. Trax2burn will also provide a mini news site with all the latest music news online. We’re looking to considerably develop on what you can get over the next year too - ringtones, downloadable DJ voicemail messages, a weekly download chart so you know what the most popular downloads are, competitions… the possibilities are endless. More of the world’s top dance labels are coming on board in January 2004 too. Up until now you couldn't buy our music as a download. We know it’s out there for free, but now you have a choice, and we hope the extra value that’s available makes it worthwhile to you." - Amy Thomson and Garry Blackburn (Trax2burn)

Now online you can get the entire Southern Fried catalogue including tracks from Space Cowboy, Grandadbob, Percy Filth, Heavy Rock and more. Plus the entire catalogue from Darren Emerson’s Underwater imprint - including Tim Deluxe’s album "The Little Ginger Club Kid" and singles releases, "Underwater Episode 1" and "Underwater Episode 2", tracks from Wally Lopez, Paul Jackson, Gus Gus, Sharam Jey and more.

Also available will be deleted stock you can’t buy in the shops. More labels are set to follow in 2004.