A Collection of Long Island Local Talent. 8 Bands, 8 Albums, Pay What You Want.
The idea was simple: Gather together 8 of the most talented up and coming local music acts and, through combined forces, put together a showstopper for music fans in the area and beyond. Created by Michael Perlmutter, The Long Island Music Bundle was built to help share and spread local Music. Perlmutter contacted the CEO of Groupees.com, a website specializing in content bundles, and formed a partnership. This distribution method is a first for local music being packaged this way. Music fans can pay what they want (with a small minimum) to receive full length albums from some of the biggest local talent the scene has to offer. The genre spanning compilation includes Heavy Duty Super Ego, Christine Sweeney & the Dirty Stayouts, Rice Cultivation Society and much more. The Bundle is slated for release on the weekend of March 21st and will be available as a digital download for 2 weeks. It will also be paired with a live music performance by many of the bands to be held midway through the release on March 28th at The Velvet Lounge in Setauket. In addition 20% of all proceeds will go to support charity of Community Solidarity, the local chapter of Food Not Bombs.
The full band list of the Bundle includes: Heavy Duty Super Ego, Vigilance Committee, Christine Sweeney & the Dirty Stayouts, AllOne, Rice Cultivation Society, This Damn Universe, More Than Skies and one more surprise guest TBA is a clear example of both the quality of musicianship and of sound recording that Long Island is capable of. Stony Brook University radio station WUSB has joined us as partners in promotion as well, creating promos and inviting Bundle musicians on the air to play their music during their Vinyl Library sessions, as well as spinning entire albums available from the bundle heard regularly on their programming.
“This is awesome” says WUSB music director Michael Gusev. Bundle creator Michael Perlmutter had this to say: “The Bundle can help elevate a music scene that’s boiling over, ready to be set off. This very well can help bring our local music into the spotlight where I have no doubt it can hold up with the big guys.”
In addition to the 8 full length albums to be released there will also be shorter EPs that unlock as bundle goals are met. Every purchase of a bundle will also include additional music depending on total amounts sold. There are also prizes for top contributors ranging from rare signed merchandise from the bands all the way up to being able to select your own playlist for a live performance or even to have a song written about a contributor! The inclusion of the charity Community Solidarity will keep the bundle tied to its local roots. In addition to providing a larger stage for our homegrown talent the Bundle will both raise awareness and funds to assist our community as a whole.
The Long Island Bundle, which will be available for digital distribution through Groupees.com will be here in no time with release for the 3rd week of March. The live band performance at The Velvet Lounge on March 28th is not to be missed for local music lovers and will truly showcase the diverse range and talents of all involved. All in all this will be a fantastic way to support local art and artists and still walk away feeling thrifty.
