But even the most ardent fans rarely associate their favorite artists with particular labels. He was general manager at Warner Bros. for two years and led programming at MTV before that. He hopes Farmclub will have the same forceful personality and strong following. A quick visit to Farmclub leaves no doubt about its music preferences, which might have scared off a few blissed-out flower children. The site specializes in macho rock and rap from artists like Limp Bizkit and Eminem.
Singers can upload their songs in hopes of making it into the site's top five download list.
Fittingly, considering the aggressive presentation style of many of the hopefuls, it's on right after the World Wrestling Federation's Raw is War . But Schuon says the company's core business will come from established singers, not unknowns. The company is launching a monthly subscription music service later this year, which will let customers sign on for one of several paid music packages. The problem with Napster is that you never know what you're getting, it's inconvenient, and there's no other value built around it. He points out that radio stations typically win ratings points not just because they offer hit music, but because they have the best morning show or promotions.