Congrats on launching! I can sort of relate with trying to pull off ideas on the side in a field completely unrelated to computer science as someone who wasn't bred from a young age to program. It's definitely hard, and I commend you for putting in the hours and the effort.
As for the product: It's a neat idea. I think it'd be cool if you actually gave people on Facebook and promoters in general a small cut of some sort of revenue. It'd give users two incentives, both monetary and social (being known for discovering great undercover bands). Have users compete to be the best 'agents'.
Don't mind the haters – it's the growing trend 'round here on HN. If you're not a CS guy, you don't deserve much, basically. That's even more so for people working in business. But you've done far more than the people here can claim to have done.
Best of luck!
Edit: What made you settle for that one idea? Was it the only one you had, or did you choose it from a list of others you were entertaining? I imagine working in an industry like Finance you haven't got much time to play around with ideas left-and-right, so there's a bit more calculation in picking an idea to move forward with.
I worked most nights during the week for a 1-2hrs and every weekend, sometimes spending full days working on the weekends. I found the time when I could and delegated work to my cofounders who did the same. It was just a lot of hard work and extra hours. I sacrificed some social life but still managed to enjoy New York hugely over the past year.
I am surprised that an ex-finance guy would start this type of company. The music industry is a startup death trap with more than 99% of startups failing. Of all the possible industries to make money, why would someone voluntarily join an industry with declining revenue, nasty lawyers, and a million other competitors?
While I agree with the points you make regarding the industry The OP answers your question in his post - albeit without directly addressing any of your negative points about the industry.
For whatever reason, this video incited a thought about the power of free music and the power of fans as promoters of the music they love. This concept consumed me.
And...
If you are ever consumed by an idea, focus on that idea and see where it takes you. Your obsession with it likely means that it embodies your passions and values.
Despite your quoted facts, there is still ENORMOUS room for disruption in the music scene. At least in my opinion, but my biggest problem is broadcast radio, and the fact that there are SEVEN BILLION people in the world, there is no way only five of them are making music I want to hear. I think broadcast and internet radio need to blend together somehow. (yeah yeah, mobile phones, data, pandora, it's happening) But I digress...
I like seeing sites getting launched, way to go to make things happen. But sign up with FB, and pollute my FB wall, Imma pass on this app. I think plenty of others don't have my mindset though, so you may gain some traction.
This reminds me of a startup mantra from the 90s: Eat like a fly, poop like an elephant.
So far there is nothing. A website with a music player and a share-on-facebook button. But the blog post sounds like Andy already turned this thing into a billion dollar company and now bows down to the mere mortals to share the wisdom he gathered. On his heroic journy to fame and riches.
>But the blog post sounds like Andy already turned this thing into a billion dollar company and now bows down to the mere mortals to share the wisdom he gathered. On his heroic journy to fame and riches.
Well yeah. He worked in finance. That's how they think in finance.
"If you are ever consumed by an idea, focus on that idea and see where it takes you. Your obsession with it likely means that it embodies your passions and values."
Obsession is a dangerous thing. It clouds your judgment and ability to think rationally. Sure, it provides the energy to work all day on Saturday and Sunday, but it also causes you to quit a high paying job to work on a webpage with a play button and a link to share on Facebook.
Can I follow up with you on your experience (even second-hand) with music promotion? This seems like a key part of any attack on the RIAA's stranglehold on music today.
Congrats on the launch! And thanks for sharing your experience with us. I'm at the start of a very similar process. I've been sitting on an idea over the past year and had a false start with a co-founder. I'm now pushing on on my own, so you've given me some great ideas on the various stages.
Thanks for the inspiration!! Good luck!!
Fourmii - I'm about a two months away from launching my site after having not one, but two false starts with co-founders that made me decide to go at it alone as well. In hindsight I wish I had a co-founder or at least a mentor who's built and launched a site before. Most of my decisions were off and/or not immediately necessary for the launch. Even choices that I thought were brilliant turned out not as expected. None of this has to do with the product itself, but just getting from development to launch. good luck!
I think the most important issue with building a company as you work full time is the need for absolute leanness.
Out of necessity you have far fewer hours than you'd like to work on a project, and this really forces you to focus on whether each thing you do takes you closer to being able to launch.
Seems to me like you can win by default for people like me.
Just want to click a website and start playing music that's decent in one click, I can't be stuffed researching or downloading albums. In europe all the sites I liked in the USA have we are coming soon banners, aka massive opportunity to win by default at the moment in terms of traffic (although to be honest I have no idea how you would get me to buy something, guilt me into supporting artists by showing them pictures of their kids maybe).
Minus points:
Keeps playing the same songs, I don't really even notice because I am music retarded, but my gf will kill me if I put your website back up.
Tried to login with facebook to see if that would play me some different ones, says it wants permission to post to my wall. No way in hell am I giving you that.
Very interesting, thanks for sharing. Although I think you should've delved into the details of working on your own project after coming home from a stressful job - it definitely isn't easy - even if you have the drive and are excited, your brain is tired and it's just super hard to work at your full capacity.
First off, congrats on the launching the site! It looks great. I played with it but I am having a hard time trying to figure out the business model. Is the key revenue stream advertising?
When I look at last.fm, it also sells other music related items such as ringtones, and also advertises. I can't understand last.fm as well.
Interesting post indeed. However, I was expecting you to quit your day job once this was able to pay for itself and the salary of three people. I did not expect to see you quit it to launch this.
Am I missing something? What's your monetization plan? How long before you're profitable?
I wish this article included a rough range of the monetary spend since it looks like most of the work was "outsourced" to others. Unless it was all equities?
It would be less impressive if the money amounted to a huge sum! Just wondering...
Did you have a non-compete agreement with the firm you worked for? I would have thought working in financial services your employer would technically have first dibs on anything of value you create.
>Surround yourself with smart people always.
I've been struggling with this one for a while. I've cut time drains and people that keep me down, how to go the next step?
Building a product is obviously extremely important, but without the bzdev skills and ability to launch and scale a business you need a well rounded team. Not just an all start programmer.
we all too often beat up on founders that stay at their jobs before committing full time to a startup. staying at your job isn't always a bad idea at first. taking the risk out of the startup lifestyle suggests this guy will do the same with investors' money when it comes to the life of his new company.
[+] [-] reason|14 years ago|reply
As for the product: It's a neat idea. I think it'd be cool if you actually gave people on Facebook and promoters in general a small cut of some sort of revenue. It'd give users two incentives, both monetary and social (being known for discovering great undercover bands). Have users compete to be the best 'agents'.
Don't mind the haters – it's the growing trend 'round here on HN. If you're not a CS guy, you don't deserve much, basically. That's even more so for people working in business. But you've done far more than the people here can claim to have done.
Best of luck!
Edit: What made you settle for that one idea? Was it the only one you had, or did you choose it from a list of others you were entertaining? I imagine working in an industry like Finance you haven't got much time to play around with ideas left-and-right, so there's a bit more calculation in picking an idea to move forward with.
[+] [-] upthedale|14 years ago|reply
Based on the title, I was expecting more. Something like how you managed your time?
That said, congrats on launching.
[+] [-] andyokdj|14 years ago|reply
[+] [-] jcampbell1|14 years ago|reply
[+] [-] antoko|14 years ago|reply
For whatever reason, this video incited a thought about the power of free music and the power of fans as promoters of the music they love. This concept consumed me.
And...
If you are ever consumed by an idea, focus on that idea and see where it takes you. Your obsession with it likely means that it embodies your passions and values.
[+] [-] ImprovedSilence|14 years ago|reply
[+] [-] icode|14 years ago|reply
So far there is nothing. A website with a music player and a share-on-facebook button. But the blog post sounds like Andy already turned this thing into a billion dollar company and now bows down to the mere mortals to share the wisdom he gathered. On his heroic journy to fame and riches.
[+] [-] freshhawk|14 years ago|reply
I have a feeling this project is going to turn out just like those ones from the 90's did too.
[+] [-] eli_gottlieb|14 years ago|reply
Well yeah. He worked in finance. That's how they think in finance.
[+] [-] breckinloggins|14 years ago|reply
"If you are ever consumed by an idea, focus on that idea and see where it takes you. Your obsession with it likely means that it embodies your passions and values."
[+] [-] jcampbell1|14 years ago|reply
[+] [-] PaulHoule|14 years ago|reply
one of the seo masterminds of our time tried to build a site that featured new bands. the backlinks were a work of art.
i guess it ranked well for a bunch of bands nobody had ever heard of but that doesn't help you when people are searching for "hootie and the blowfish"
[+] [-] 286c8cb04bda|14 years ago|reply
[+] [-] j_s|14 years ago|reply
[+] [-] fourmii|14 years ago|reply
[+] [-] desertfox508|14 years ago|reply
[+] [-] andyokdj|14 years ago|reply
[+] [-] tomgallard|14 years ago|reply
Out of necessity you have far fewer hours than you'd like to work on a project, and this really forces you to focus on whether each thing you do takes you closer to being able to launch.
[+] [-] corkill|14 years ago|reply
Just want to click a website and start playing music that's decent in one click, I can't be stuffed researching or downloading albums. In europe all the sites I liked in the USA have we are coming soon banners, aka massive opportunity to win by default at the moment in terms of traffic (although to be honest I have no idea how you would get me to buy something, guilt me into supporting artists by showing them pictures of their kids maybe).
Minus points:
Keeps playing the same songs, I don't really even notice because I am music retarded, but my gf will kill me if I put your website back up.
Tried to login with facebook to see if that would play me some different ones, says it wants permission to post to my wall. No way in hell am I giving you that.
[+] [-] seivan|14 years ago|reply
[+] [-] andyokdj|14 years ago|reply
[+] [-] jakeonthemove|14 years ago|reply
Hope everything works out though, good luck!
[+] [-] yitchelle|14 years ago|reply
When I look at last.fm, it also sells other music related items such as ringtones, and also advertises. I can't understand last.fm as well.
[+] [-] kappaknight|14 years ago|reply
Am I missing something? What's your monetization plan? How long before you're profitable?
[+] [-] fatbat|14 years ago|reply
It would be less impressive if the money amounted to a huge sum! Just wondering...
[+] [-] jimmytucson|14 years ago|reply
[+] [-] demoo|14 years ago|reply
>Surround yourself with smart people always. I've been struggling with this one for a while. I've cut time drains and people that keep me down, how to go the next step?
[+] [-] Shane_Wolf|14 years ago|reply
[+] [-] madsravn|14 years ago|reply
It could be cool if you could integrate something like promoters got points for dj'ing the song in some club or something.
[+] [-] goatcurious|14 years ago|reply
[+] [-] joshu|14 years ago|reply
I also built a project that became a startup while I was at a wallst bank. Although it didn't become a company till after I left.
[+] [-] thong|14 years ago|reply