• On Metro North headed back to Mt. Kisco with my trusty MacBook Pro (courtesy of my former employ) and my Verizon EVDO card. #
• @emilychang Got your email. Will respond manana. Gift for you, enjoy! DJ Tony Z in the mix: http://tinyurl.com/43j7lq #
• GetClicky says visitors spent avg 3 min 30 sec on Netmix blog today. Up from avg 56 seconds few days ago. More content = more time! #
• @ericabiz duly noted…good call, will remember that next time I come into SFO…thanks for the tip! #
• Posting my mix to other famous DJ Facebook profiles is a good strategy for self-promotion. Good thing I know the all and they know me! #
• I’m ready for my first DJ booking off Twitter…any takers? I’m trying to get my first gig off Facebook too. Which one will be first? #
• Is it me or is Twitter having some kind of display error in Firefox for Mac? #
• okay, time to go get some food an work on some homework for tonight…I’m still so behind and my final projects are due next week…sigh #
• I think I’m going to start a blog about the world’s hottest female DJs…opinions anyone? #
• @dangrsmind thanks…we’ll trade: http://www.myspace.com/nikibelucci, http://www.myspace.com/djladymusic #
• @dangrsmind here’s my girl scarlett: http://www.myspace.com/scarlettetienne #
• @dangrsmind I registered "eroticdisco.com"…looking for a wordpress theme designer who wants create something hot for the PR op #
• @dangrsmind 3 column layout to incorp ads and of course, lot’s of black, red, purple or pink…and a hot photo collage for the header #
• On the metro north headed into Manhattan. #
• I think I officially hate my Palm Treo. $199 iPhone? Speculation on ZDnet http://tinyurl.com/5779wk #

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• @jeffdachis congrats! good stuff…good luck in Austin, great town! #
• TwitterTools for Wordpress by Alex King. Can update Wordpress by post or by end of day journal, get it @ http://tinyurl.com/33o3f8 #
• Going to bed! Def about time. I thought I’d stay up and post my DJ podcast to Facebook groups, that is until I got warned about spam; grrr! #
• I’m shutting down my computer on site #3 of a Top 100 DJ Sites list I’m working on. May finish end of week. #
• @jfkjohan okay, will do…thanks for the heads up. How’s your trip going? #
• @jeffdachis saw your response on Valleywag. Good reply. I don’t know why everyone’s so damn critical. Always a critic, never a leader. #
• @lifesabeat yep, he is…love Jon Stewart. Thought I’d post that to the blog. DJs should stay up on the latest politico talk #
• @sarahcarr84 psyched! I just checked the site and my B&J (does that sound bad…lol) has free cone day (that sounds even worse…lol) #
• @spossing definitely an interesting post…not something I’ll be doing anytime soon, that’s fo’sho #
• @jfkjohan I hear you my man…great you’re getting to travel so much…want to hear more about what you’ve been discussing for ASTRO #
• Okay, time to go and work from Cosi. Not only for the FREE wireless, but I’m dying for some of that bread. #
• BTW, I heart GetClicky.com. Much more fun than looking at Google Analytics. #
• @davidporter that’s my favorite place! #
• Finally getting back to working on my Processing homework. Two weeks away from programming is like a lifetime, especially when learning. #
• Just arrived at my Processing class. Web 2.0 Expo has put me sooooo behind. Time to catch up. #

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Wired interviews Muxtape founder, Justin Ouellete, but the issue of legality is skirted around like an 8-year old running from the rubber ball in a game of playground bombardment.

I’ve tried out Muxtape, but it’s too eclectic for me. Most of the programmers (regular Joe’s and Susie’s) who are creating their Muxtapes are pretty esoteric. I haven’t yet had the chance to find a Muxtape with the latest tech house vibes, nor can I easily find one because the site doesn’t break out any genres or any other filters for that matter.

It’s great for music discovery, but if you’re not into the broad discovery category, than it may fall short for you. However, if you’re like most Muxtapers, you’ll appreciate the high level of sophistication that goes into making the most obscure mixes possible. Good luck finding what you want to listen to. You pretty much have to sit back and let it be presented to you. Sort of like that good’ol standby…the RADIO! Remember that technology? Well…it’s coming back in more ways than one.

read more | digg story

You gotta love Jon Stewart. Here he is on John McCain and the Sweet Talk Express.

• Still reeling from the seasonal allergy, combined with a bit of jet lag and working all day on this project. Combined, not a great day. #
• I’m making my 5th cup of tea today. Pass the honey please. #
• Setting up a lens on Squidoo: http://www.squidoo.com/djculture #
• Squidoo’s iTunes search is not very good…couldn’t find Moby’s new album, not could I find Madonna’s. Amazon feed is better. #
• Another day of allergy attacks…I thought the rain would mute the pollen. It has a bit, but not enough for a nice long break. #
• My girlfriend was exposed to mold and is now adversely affected by chemicals…so I got the car detailed this weekend…oops! Sorry babe. #
• My girlfriend is also adversely affected by Twitter. She loathes this thing, but somehow she’s begun to check up on my Tweets…hmmm? #
• When mags or list builders join Twitter and just post links to stories, I’m not interested in following you, if offers nothing to the party #
• I could spend all day just managing my social networks…can I get paid for this? Have to figure out how to monetize my social life. #
• Former Razorish founder and entrepreneur Jeff Dachis partners with Austin Ventures in a $50 Million venture - http://tinyurl.com/3kupoa #
• If you are looking for a venue for a party for Web 2.0 Expo NYC in September, let me know. I can book the venue and DJs for the event. #
• @ccindy I saw you’re looking for a DJ for a launch party #
• @emilychang thanks for posting that link, that’s really cool…I’m checking it out now, searching the term "dj"…very very cool #
• @ccindy I don’t have any specific at the moment, but D.C. is a train ride away. When you say "indy dance" what do you mean? #
• Applied for blogger press credentials for the Virgin Mobile Fest in August: http://www.virginmobilefestival.com/media/ #
• @ccindy I see…yeah, that’s not my speed…no worries…in the meantime download my podcast at http://www.netmix.com/category/podcasts #

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Austin Ventures, the VC and private equity firm, has launched its eighth mini-rollup fund in the last five years, and this is an intriguing one: it is putting $50 million into a vehicle led by former CEO of Razorfish, Jeff Dachis.

Valleywag, a tech gossip blog, reports that Dachis will move to Austin, TX to head up the venture. Dachis former company, Razorfish, was a cutting edge digital design studio building web sites for corporate clients in the Web 1.0 era. He founded Bond Art + Science, another high end digital shop in the years after he sold Razorfish.

In the 90’s, he had also bankrolled RSub, a network of web sites using the latest Flash technologies to publish artsy content from subculture publishers, which was loosely attached to the Razorfish organization. The site is still live, but I’m not sure from glancing at it if it’s been updated recently or if any of the publishers in the network are still live. It looks cool though!

I’m reporting on this, because at one point, I entertained the idea of selling Netmix to Dachis in 1998. At that point, I wasn’t sure if the money was right, so I held out. Maybe I was a bit overwhelmed by the Razorfish organization, but one of my chief concerns is that I would be selling into RSub and not the Razorfish entity, so I chose to back out of the deal and keep the company. In hindsight, aligning myself with Jeff probably wouldn’t have been a bad thing and we all make our decisions and have to live with them. I still have own the URL and I’m still independent, so maybe that’s a good thing. History will tell.

read more | digg story

For the past two weeks, I’ve been running around like a lunatic. Between night school at NYU, traveling to Boston for a meeting with Going.com and a quick visit to BurstMedia!, then onto San Francisco for Web 2.0 Expo–it’s been quite a whirlwind past few weeks.

Last night, I performed an Ableton Live set up in Monticello, NY for my friend, promoter and producer, Dirty Stereo. Needless to say, the turnout wasn’t what we expected, but that’s Monticello for you.

This weekend, I have to pound out some work for a client, so things are going to be a little quiet on the blog front for a moment while I complete that work.

I’ll be back on Monday with some more info about the Web 2.0 Expo, things I learned and people I met. Stay tuned.

Tony Z

So, I’ve been trolling the Expo floor looking for music industry compatriots. Nada. Nill. Nothing. I haven’t seen one person I know from the music industry here at the O’Reilly Web 2.0 Expo.

Now, I know we have our own conferences and agendas, but this Web 2.0 Expo is about SOCIAL MEDIA! One would think there should be record industry folk, artists, managers and other music industry people trying to learn and understand Facebook application development, how Open Social is going to transform their online promotion efforts, what cool mobile and web applications are in the works. Companies that showcase here don’t showcase at Music 2.0 conferences and vice versa.

I call for a convergent strategy. Music 2.0 folks should embrace Web 2.0 product development so they can learn how long it takes, how much it costs, how things go viral, the power of blogs and search and all the other intangible factors that going into making the 2.0 world such a force. They should be reaching out to the technology folks here to understand the power of the medium. I mean, how many folks do you know Twitter each other to meet at parties in NYC? Not many that I’m aware of. They may use it, but being out here you get the ethnographic viewpoint of why Twitter is so powerful. Artists should be using Twitter. DJs should also use Twitter to announce tracks they are playing, as they are being played. There are all sorts of uses.

I learned a lot here and will bring it back to NYC for much discussion. There is a Web 2.0 Expo scheduled for NYC in September. Maybe everyone’s holding out until then?

Oh…I almost forgot. The one company I met with, MixMatchMusic.com, are currently in beta. They’re building an online sequencing tool for musicians and DJs to produce with. It’s a software as a service online application. Their competitors are companies like Jamglue.com and SpliceMusic.com. They’ve got a bit of a different angle on it. I got an invite to the private beta and will let you know what I think in a future post.

Okay, so I promised myself I would blog about the O’Reily Web 2.0 Expo yesterday. Well, promises never last, or do they? I dunno. What I do know is that I’m exhausted from the following:

1. A 3-hour delayed flight Monday night on US Airways. Why I chose that airline is anyone’s guess. To make matters worse, I had the window seat in the last aisle behind the lavatory. Not a good look.

2. Getting 5 hours of sleep and hitting rush hour traffic on the 580 into the Bay Bridget. Fortunately, I made it through the tolls and go to the Flex workshop on time–with muffin and tea in hand.

3. Multiple workshops yesterday and then running to the Castro to pick up business cards from ClubCardPrinting.com, who did an excellent job by the way!

4. Not eating a thing between lunch and 12:30 am. So busy, I forgot to eat.

5. Heading to the Clearspring and Digg parties after the workshops with Jeff Roberto from Friendster and then standing outside of Mighty in the rain, all while waiting for a taxi to get back to the garage where I’d left the Ford Escape I should have driven to Mighty in the first place.

One of the top things I learned yesterday about blogging: make top five and top 10 lists, which have a higher probability of showing up in search results.

I’m headed out to San Francisco for next week’s O’Reilly/TechWeb Web 2.0 Expo. I’ll be arriving in San Fran on Monday night and attending the conference, workshops and trade show on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. I hope to be able to blog and Twitter my travels and experiences all week, so stay tuned.

I’m actually looking for a last minute DJ gig in San Francisco on Tuesday or Wednesday night. I have my Ableton set up and would love to do a guest slot somewhere. So if you know of any cool parties that are going on, please let me know!

An artist manager I’m working with emailed me to inquire about what the digital music industry’s position is on TuneBroomPro, a service just popping up on my radar, which allows anyone with a music profile on MySpace to artificially increase their number of spins (listens) for a given song. Is this illegal? Not that I’m aware of. Is it ethical? Well, that depends on your idea of ethics.

In my view, it’s highly unethical for an artist to artificially inflate their MySpace spins using a service like TuneBroomPro. Why? Here’s my reasoning:

1. If a minority of artists begin to artificially increase their spins on MySpace, then it calls into question the entire system and whether or not music fans are really listening to artists on MySpace, and if MySpace is even that effective in breaking new artists. Once you tarnish the results, it casts suspicion on everyone else.

2. You need more than just MySpace spins to get noticed. You need good songs, a great voice and you’re marketable. If you suck but have a million spins, it’s not gong to matter because everyone knows you gamed the system.

3. Artist who think that paying to increase the number of spins on their profile page will help them get signed are fooling themselves. The jig is up. We’re all going to know about TuneBroomPro in the next 5 minutes, so you’re wasting your time and your money.

4. If an A&R rep thinks MySpace spins are the ultimate measure of success, then he/she should be fired.

5. Can anyone say, “payola.”

Aren’t people smart enough to realize that if you can track spins at radio, then you can track them on the Internet too? Whoever runs this service is making a small killing. They’re smiling all the way to the bank.

So, I posted the question from my manager friend to a digital listserve I participate in and I got a number of replies. Here are two notable ones from Brian Zisk and Michael Robertson.

Don’t know if an off the shelf software package was allegedly used, but do
know of one relatively recent subject of a bidding war where it is widely
rumored that the MySpace numbers were inappropriately incremented, While I
can’t speak to the veracity of that rumor nor would it be appropriate to
mention the subjects name, they put out an album, it tanked, and the act was
quickly dropped. Not sure if the cause was primarily lack of sales, or if
they were busted for faking numbers, but let’s just say that almost all of
the massive number of people this act had friended on MySpace and how many
listens they were getting came before the signing, with the massive flow
shifting to barely a trickle at the same time as the label’s PR machine was
spinning into action.

Pretty much everyone at this point realizes that these numbers can be easily
manipulated, so doubt any new signings from this point on will occur purely
due to MySpace numbers. - Brian Zisk

At MP3.com we had “payback for playback” program where we distributed money for plays. We distributed $1 million per month at the peak. This gave people a huge incentive to try and game the system and artificially inflate their plays.

We were required to build sophisticated AI type of programs to identify suspicious behavior. We created a predictive model which would look at many factors to identify artificial behavior. One of the most effective ways was to look at the distribution of IPs for playbacks. Given any defined amount of traffic it implies a certain statistical distribution of listeners. Especially as the numbers get bigger you expect playback to come from a diverse distribution of listeners. If you spotted concentrations out of character for other high traffic songs then you could suspect that something is generating artificial traffic.

It was a real mental exercise for my engineering team to stay ahead of the scammers. - Michael Robertson

On the heels of that discussion, Wired’s Eliot Ban Buskirk posted something about TuneBroomPro here. He’s waiting to hear back from MySpace with their position on the matter.

The jury is still out, but if history is a guide, TuneBroomPro has a fairly short time to make all the money they can before everyone abandons this idea as just another MySpace scheme.

For tix and info, hit http://www.madeevents.com

Check out the Paul Van Dyk Global DVD.

Call me crazy, but isn’t the purpose of LinkedIn to set up a profile and network with other users yourself? I got this message today from from a colleague of a guy named Pete Basset of QuiteGreat.co.uk. If Pete couldn’t take the time to contact me himself, then why should I take the time to network with him? So, I hit delete.

Now, it seems that Pete owns a PR and communications company. I guess he must be using LinkedIn like he does the press. He’s got his lackey blanketing everyone to see what sticks.

How many of you use someone else to troll through your LinkedIn or Facebook friends to make your connections, instead of doing it yourself? If you’re a fairly discerning person, why would you entrust someone to make friends or business relationships with people you might not really want to know? And, lastly, what if your lackey started hitting up people you really don’t like? Not much of a filter, is it?

There are people I come across on LinkedIn that I’d never invite into my network of friends. If the person I assign the task to has to come back to me and ask if it’s okay to send a message to this person or that person, did you really save time in the first place?

That being said, until technology advances to the point someone can think like me, act like me and be just about as picky as I am about who I let into my social web–be sure you’ll never get a message from someone I directed to use my profile to contact you.

Are you shopping for that suit for your trip to Ibiza? Need something sexy for Goa, Rio De Janeiro or the French Riviera? Want to catch the eye of that superstar DJ mixing it up, while you dance on a bass bin? I think Insight definitely has the suit for you.

Like any respectable DJ blog on the Internet, we’ve got to cover (or uncover) just about anything that has to do with DJ culture. Surely we’d be neglecting our readers if we didn’t at least show important advances in fashion (yeah, right!). As we’re an equal opportunity blog, we’ll hit you with some men’s suits over the next few weeks. For now, we’re pushing the female Lycra.

This morning, I was thinking that we here at Netmix would dread it if we were deemed as being (a) irresponsible to our readers, and (b) catering to Neanderthal males who care more about tweaking tracks in Abelton, sequencing in Logic and arguing over why p2p should be legal, than sipping Coronas from a beach chair at the pool at The National while checking out the glistening skin of girls with names like Bianca and Alexandra getting in their morning swim.

Of course, my girlfriend, Missy, is going to ask me, “is this all really necessary? My answer to that would be, well…YES! I just hope she doesn’t show her new boss this blog today. Doh!

Okay, enough of the preparation. These bikinis from Insight are a great example of street wear with bright color palettes gone sexy. They are available at Karmaloop.com.

Been looking for Obama’s “Yes We Can” speech set to house music? Well, here you go. Not sure it’ll rival Fingers Inc. vs. MLK, “I Have a Dream,” but it’s pretty damn good. It’s been on the Beatport Top 10 chart for a few weeks now.

Go to Beatport with via the link below to check it out for yourself.

Yes We Can - Original Mix