My girlfriend asked me what Google Feed Reader was the other day. I resisted the urge to launch into a lengthy discussion of how uber-geek cool RSS feeds are and the interesting details of every feed that I’m subscribed to. I was pretty sure that wasn’t the answer she was looking for. Instead, I just said that it was a way to subscribe to new posts from the blogs that you like.
However, with you, dear Reader, I will geek out for a minute. I don’t use Google Reader, I use Mac Mail. I used to just subscribe to 1 or 2 blogs in the attempt to keep my little viewer window nice and neat. Now I have a healthy core of about 20 blogs that I subscribe to, and another 10-20 that I’m trying out. As you might expect, a lot of them are musician-related, but not all of them.
Here’s a few of my favorites…
Music Related:
Music Careers and About.com – I dig the way Heather writes. And she’s prolific. I always learn something new when I read her site.
Adaptistration – This is a blog written by Drew MacManus. He writes about the business of symphony orchestras.
Between the Music – Cameron Mizell, the other main writer here at MW, writes this blog. After all, I gotta keep up with my peeps.
KnowTheMusicBiz.com – A lot of different, interesting music business-types write for KnowTheMusicBiz. The editor, David, is a friend of mine.
Sound Music Sound Money – This blog is really informative, relevant, practical, and – I think – underrated. I plug this blog every chance I get. Doug Ross writes a mean post.
Tales from the Pit – This is Dave Jolley’s blog. I literally MADE him start this blog. I may have even set it up for him. As in, I set it up, then emailed him the username and password with a note that said “START WRITING JOLLEY.” He’s a really funny writer, he’s on the national Broadway tour of Footloose, and I wanted to hear about it. He’s getting his feet wet in this blogging thing, and I don’t think he’s been convinced yet that it’s an interesting hobby. Do me a favor and please go leave a comment on Dave’s blog!
Non-Music Related:
Seth Godin – I have to admit, I’m only subscribed to this blog because I feel like I’m supposed to be subscribed to this blog. Anyone that is cool reads Seth Godin. It’ll blow you’re mind man! Well…according to my feed reader I’m about 60 posts behind on my Godin reading. Maybe somebody can just give me the jist of the last 60 and I’ll mark them as read?
Enviromom - This is a blog written by two environmentally-minded Moms in Oregon. I’m not exactly their demographic, probably, but it’s great writing and I know one of the moms. They have a very practical, step-by-step approach to going green that I really dig.
Six Revisions – I dabble in web design (see: this site), and this is a really sexy blog about good web design.
Those are the blogs I’m currently subscribed to. What about you? What’s in your feed reader?
David J. Hahn
David J. Hahn is a Broadway conductor and keyboard player. He co-founded MusicianWages.com with Cameron Mizell in 2008. Visit his new project, Songwriter.fm and sign up for his songwriting newsletter.
A feedreader without Dubber’s new music strategies is a feedreader without sunshine.
I have a ton of RSS feeds set up and don’t think I could live without them at this point. Does that make me a geek??
Here is a partial list of the RSS feeds I read daily:
http://www.musicianwages.com/
http://musicians.about.com/
http://www.hypebot.com/
http://digitalmusicnews.com/
http://www.billboard.biz/
http://newmusicstrategies.com/
http://www.musicthinktank.com/
http://blog.artistshousemusic.org/
http://digitalaudioinsider.blogspot.com/
http://arielpublicity.com/blog/
http://www.indiemusictech.com/
Thanks for the mention Dave!
Keep the great info for musicians coming!
David
shameless self promotion below…
http://blog.artisanslabel.com
Great post David, it helps to see what others are reading. Unfortunately, it adds to my list!
-jc
MusicianWages.com! Most definitely :-)
The first blog that got me into the whole RSS thing was New Music Strategies by Andrew Dubber. I also subscribe to Chris Anderson’s Long Tail blog. Had Kevin Kelly’s Lifestream on before, but it doesn’t seem to update well.
My feed reader is divided into these folders:
1. Art (RSS feed from favorite Flickr photographers)
2. Entrepreneurship (feeds from Godin, Chris Brogan, Mitch Joel, etc)
3. Ideas to Share (TED feeds)
4. Life Enhancing (Gretchen Rubin, Ali Hale, Merlin Mann, etc)
5. Music Making (Gary Ewer, Berkleemusic Blogs)
6. Music Strategy (Hypebot, Derek Sivers, Music Think Tank, Owen Kelly, this site, etc.)
I find that if you follow these people on Twitter also, it’s almost the same as subscribing to their feeds because they also Tweet their new blog posts. I try to keep it under 40 feeds, because I like to read each and every one :-) Right now I’m behind by 39 posts from all of the feeds.
Cheers,