As record labels and Napster quibbled over the Internet, a duo of technologically inclined Phish heads developed a Web site that benefits both the music industry and music fans alike.
In 1998, Ted Kartzman and Andy Gadiel founded JamBase, an extensive online database that provides information on thousands of rock, jazz, funk, trancefusion, bluegrass and live electronica bands from around the world.
The site, which is conveniently located at www.JamBase.com, ingeniously caters to both buyers and sellers by providing tour dates, news, reviews, merchandise and concert tickets for thousands of up-and-coming bands. For fans, it’s a one-stop spot that provides a surfeit of information on a surfeit of bands; for the industry (musicians, promoters, booking agents, artists management and record labels) JamBase provides the opportunity to promote shows for free by listing upcoming tour dates in a comprehensive online database. JamBase, which is based out of San Francisco, also functions as a music marketing company by running banner and newsletter advertisements, offering contests, and sending e-mails to registered JamBase users.
According to the company’s folklore, JamBase would never have come to be if it weren’t for Phish, the funk rock band with the Grateful Dead-like cult following.
Back to the mid-’90s, Andy Gadiel was a computer science major at Michigan State University. On his way home from his first Phish show (Deer Creek Music Center, Indiana, 6/19/95) he had an epiphany. He realized he could teach himself to use HTML by starting a Web site dedicated to his new favorite band Meanwhile, Kartzman was in West Philadelphia at the University of Pennsylvania.
“I was a math major,” said Kartzman, who grew up in East Brunswick. “But I always say I minored in Phish studies.”
After graduation and a series of unsatisfying jobs, Kartzman and Gadiel’s paths crossed in Chicago while they were organizing an after-Phish concert fete. After hours of brainstorming, searching for a way to earn a living while providing music fans and the bands they love with up-to-date information, they came up with JamBase.
“It’s kind of a good story,” Kartzman said. “All of these dot-com companies are blowing up one after another and we took our business and grew it slowly.”
Part of JamBase’s success is that its users submit almost all of the site’s content.
“A lot of the dot-coms blew up because they were paying 30 salaries for people to write articles,” explained Kartzman. “All of the articles we post are from people who have written in. And as we grow, we’ll become a great resource, because all the stuff gets archived.”
Users are also responsible for maintaining the site. For instance, bands, band representatives or fans of bands are encouraged to add groups to the web site’s database by simply clicking on “Add Band.” The site also encourages its users to add links about the bands.
“There are so many micro niches, like jam and jazz fusion, that it’s hard for the big record companies to get in and market these crowds,” Kartzman said. “That’s where JamBase comes in.”
Despite their egalitarian system, Kartzman and Gadiel have maintained their discriminating taste.
“We won’t work with just any band,” Kartzman said. “If we don’t like the music we won’t get behind it.” They will promote the band further if they like the band, Kartzman said.
“The goal of the business is to help bands sustain their careers,” Kartzman said. “We want to help bands in every way possible because we love them.”