It’s no secret that the music industry is an area ripe for innovation.  As record sales have declined in recent years, both labels and publishers have felt their wallets getting lighter, causing some to question just how exactly the industry will bounce back.

However, if there’s one thing that has held constant throughout the history of the ‘biz’, it has been the industry’s ability to reinvent itself – and who better to embody that aspect than music industry veteran and CEO of Violator Management, Chris Lighty.

Today Chris and New York-based tech entrepreneur/Co-Founder Michael Dizon announced the launch of Please Listen to My Demo. It’s an online service that allows new and emerging artists to digitally submit their music recordings to top tier industry executives. There are a lot of musicians and artists alike out there that are not getting enough exposure. In the music scene, one place called https://musiccritic.com is helping budding musicians from all sorts of different genre get the opportunity to get their work out.

Upon hearing an artist’s track, executives will then provide both creative feedback, as well as marketing advice tailored to helping the artist get picked up by mainstream radio.

“I am approached by aspiring new artists on a daily basis on what they need to do to get their music heard,” says Lighty. “Please Listen to My Demo is a revolutionary concept which gives these artists direct access to a team of experienced A&R executives who can help them achieve just that.”

Music uploads to the site will reportedly be judged on four key criteria: Music Competition, Vocals, Song Lyrics, and Mainstream appeal.  If a song is deemed to have high potential, the artist may be featured as an “Artist on the Rise” on New York’s Hot 97.

Unlike Music180, another website that offers similar services but charges relatively high rates for access to it’s music advisers, every submission to PLTMD will cost the artist only $10.  One can assume that if an artist uses the service and is featured on the radio, or signs to a label, Mr. Lighty will look to manage that artist.  With that in mind, it could be said that PLTMD is simply a new channel to build the Violator repertoire.  Perhaps the assurance of having first dibs on any top rate talent that surfaces through Lighty’s website is what allows PLTMD to keep it’s prices in check.

“This is essentially an extension of a successful music management business,” says Dizon “our competitors don’t have that. They also won’t push your record or work to get you signed if that’s the road you want to take.”

Peering into the future, PLTMD is working on a number of other deals with additional radio stations, web based music services and opportunity market places.  Viewed from a distance, it seems this portal will provide sustainable value both to artists and company stakeholders.

What’s more, in a space that some venture capitalists consider to be the Vietnam of the start-up ecosystem (i.e. you continue to throw resources at it, but it doesn’t seem to create real value), it’s both refreshing and inspiring that those who know the music industry best are still willing to take chances on innovation.

Please Listen To My Demo