I'm done with EqD

[Lavender_Harmony]

You know what, I'm gonna soapbox right here right now, because threads like these really, really piss me off.

First of all, I'm on the prelistener team, and I see how things are done, and the prelisteners know what's up. They know what to look for when you submit your track, what to look for in terms of quality and pony relevance. What you might see as a track 'having nothing to do with the show' we may see as being based conceptually. Haphazardly shoehorning pony samples into a generic techno song won't increase your chances anymore than doing something without. What really helps is actually understanding what conceptual music actually is. I've talked with a lot of people and I've often asked how they come up with a concept, and they just look at me funny, and they say they just make "what sounds good lol". Making something good and calling it Fluttershy's Song isn't going to get you featured either.

You have to bear in mind, EqD isn't a repository for all music, not everything is going to be featured, that's why sites like EQBeats exist, to get your music on the air and listened to, and EqD is a spotlight blog. A lot of submissions get reviewed on a daily basis, and sending feedback for every single track just isn't viable. The pre-listeners take a chunk out of their day to listen to everyones songs and judge them, and the fact is if you guys are going to act like a bunch of immature, entitled children then we might see the demise of music being posted at all on EqD.

You guys act as if it's a service, that you should be featured, as if it's your right, when it's not. It's something you have to earn, by making something stand out, something that catches peoples attention, their imagination. You have to raise the fucking standard.

I think you're missing the main discussion point, which isn't about featuring music that doesn't deserve to be featured, but rather why music that meets the quality and criteria to be featured gets lost in the submission process, or (as some suspect) get dismissed by Seth without even being sent to the prelisteners because it doesn't appeal to Seth's taste.

The problem isn't in being featured itself, but rather the entire process behind it, and while I do not doubt some people have a sense of entitlement, the majority of us just simply want to hear a yes/no to our submissions.

Alright, firstly no, I'm not going to lock the topic. Secondly, the overall tone of everyones posts is what is getting me riled up.

I'll see about bringing it up.

[CaineTheDoomBringer]

I dunno. Personally, with the amount of experience I have under my belt, I'm amazed that EqD ever even considered featuring any of my tracks, let alone seven of them. And I'm grateful for every last one of them. I don't agree with the idea that there's some "conspiracy" against lesser known artists. Frankly, I know this may come off as harsh, but I think people are just tired of all the electronic music out there. There's Pony techno, pony house, pony dubstep, pony DnB, there's got to be some really high standards on that stuff. I mean, they aren't just going to feature anything. I've noticed that when songs get featured, it's either because it's something that blows you away, or it's something that's just simply different from the norm.

That being said, I know how frustrating it is when you submit something to them and it doesn't even get a response back. It sucks, because then you don't even know what you did wrong, if you did anything wrong at all. It's happened to me before, with a couple of my tracks. Not that I'm heartbroken about it, but you sit there in limbo for a couple days wondering if you're going to get that "to the Queue!" message before you just give up and start work on the next song. I don't know what kind of time the prelisteners have under their belts, but it would be nice to get a response back when something is rejected.

Regardless, EqD may or may not have their biases, I don't know what their policies are on how tracks get featured. All I know is I'll probably just keep submitting stuff to them anyways. If they want to feature it, that's great, if not, it doesn't bug me either way. You have to admit, nomatter how the site is run and operated, it's incredibly popular, and on the off chance you do get a feature, it's probably the best exposure you're going to get in the brony music scene right now. If you're trying to get anywhere in the scene, you should never turn down any opportunity.

But really, is this something to get yourself all riled up about, people? Like...Really? I guess that's the internet for you...

[Matthew N.]

I really enjoy how people who get featured often are defending EqD at all cost. Very amusing. I wonder what would be the story if you were the one stuck behind the curtains.

[colortwelve]

Hm. Well, then, time to finally make a reply to this monster of a thread.

For the longest time, I hadn't been featured at all, despite submitting most of my work multiple times. But, of course, my last track got featured easily, despite its having pony-tangential (as opposed to pony-related) lyrics. I think what got it featured, really, was the track being different. Maybe it's just me, but I haven't seen many electronic/rock/rap songs by bronies. It's just a very strange track, but hopefully in a way that makes it distinctive, which doesn't surprise me given that the last few tracks I submitted were fairly generic in terms of genre.

I'm not going to rabidly defend the site, but I was never bitter towards it even when I had never been featured there. It was just something I saw as an easily set goal to work toward, and now that I've gotten one feature, my goal is to continue being featured. Of course, this goal is secondary to my drive in music, which is really just to make music because I love music. (I wonder exactly what's motivating a lot of people here, because if you're actually making music for music's sake, finishing a track should be the most satisfying thing in the world, not getting up on some website.)

[Interrobang Pie]

rofl

[CaineTheDoomBringer]

I really enjoy how people who get featured often are defending EqD at all cost. Very amusing. I wonder what would be the story if you were the one stuck behind the curtains.

I'm not a well known artist by any means, my features have been small ones. But I assure you had I not been featured at all I would probably still be sending music to them. I get the whole "Not getting a response back" thing. It's frustrating, but the truth of the matter is that EqD is just a media blog. It's a popular one, but that's all it is. Is it really something that's necessary to get yourself riled up over?

And I'm sorry, but I kind of owe it to them. I've been "stuck behind the curtains" as you put it, my whole life. EqD was the first website to actually give my music a chance. Sorry if that upsets you, but quite honestly, I have to give them points for that.

Also

rofl

[/thread]

[CommandSpry]

Screw EqD, I'm gonna have my own feature blog, with blackjack and hookers

KOMRAD REVYUZ

[VINXIS]

rofl

But yea... it still makes sense

[Lavender_Harmony]

I really enjoy how people who get featured often are defending EqD at all cost. Very amusing. I wonder what would be the story if you were the one stuck behind the curtains.

Funny story. Every time I've submitted something I've had to ask around as to if it was rejected, and it had just gotten lost.

I'm a prelistener.

[Artimeus]

Guys, look, EQD has a terrible submission system. Stuff gets lost, discarded, looked over, etc. They need to sign on a few more people to pre-screen submissions, I think. Maybe then they'll unscrew some of these issues. I don't BLAME EQD for not posting things, but I DO blame them for poor management.

[VINXIS]

Guys, look, EQD has a terrible submission system. Stuff gets lost, discarded, looked over, etc. They need to sign on a few more people to pre-screen submissions, I think. Maybe then they'll unscrew some of these issues. I don't BLAME EQD for not posting things, but I DO blame them for poor management.

Well, fuck. That's what I've been saying -.-

[Ed Viper]

I really enjoy how people who get featured often are defending EqD at all cost. Very amusing. I wonder what would be the story if you were the one stuck behind the curtains.

Funny story. Every time I've submitted something I've had to ask around as to if it was rejected, and it had just gotten lost.

I'm a prelistener.

So, considering this, if I have a song that I really really really think was good enough to get featured, should I re-submit it, since it could have gotten lost? Or should I simply ask around? (I have no idea who I'd ask, but I'm sure I'd figure something out)

[TechnoMetalDude]

Screw EqD, I'm gonna have my own feature blog, with blackjack and hookers

KOMRAD REVYUZ

Will there be pawny and horses?

[Matthew N.]

I really enjoy how people who get featured often are defending EqD at all cost. Very amusing. I wonder what would be the story if you were the one stuck behind the curtains.

Funny story. Every time I've submitted something I've had to ask around as to if it was rejected, and it had just gotten lost.

I'm a prelistener.

First of all, you're defending EqD because you're part of it, hence what I sad wasn't directed at you. Second of all, don't you see a problem with that? Namely:

1. Music getting lost
2. Asking your EqD friends if it was rejected or lost

The latter is something none of us will ever get an answer to, since you don't even bother replying that it was rejected in the first place. Now don't tell me AGAIN that you have a lot of music to review if, in fact, what people say about Seth being the pre-pre-listener is truth, then a lot of songs don't even reach you.

EDIT: And again, if the above is the case, then it's a good reason to revise the system - maybe invite more people to help you out as a first step.

[Applejinx]

I had two tracks sneak into a music post, both times as the last on the list. I honestly think me helping pony musicians at Bronycon has been better in the long run, since it was pretty obvious that I cared and that I was able to use a very weak PA system to get an audience jumpin' for them.

I have never had confirmation that a track was rejected and I put in at least one, maybe two- no, wait, definitely two because I'm wrong, one I DID get information back on. I've never argued the point. It went like this:
On To Somethin' Good- ran in a music post
Somewhere- rewrite of Somewhere Over The Rainbow as if it was Applejack literally having trouble 'getting over' a breakup with Rainbow. Sent back because it wasn't pony enough- I think by Sethisto personally. I don't know why I got a response, it was a long time ago.
Twilight Sparkle's Eyes- ran in a music post
Wing Power (cover)- no response
Might have also tried to send the Rainbow Factory cover, but to some extent I had a sense that was so played out that there was little chance of it running.

To a large extent I gave up even trying to send anything because it was so tough to get in: I had a sense that I had to write a killer original song, most likely pop or country, and so far I can't do that stuff every day- only once in a blue moon do I even get that type of song and trying to force it just makes me crazy. I'm more or less open to sending new stuff if I make any, but very unwilling to check up on it afterwards because the last thing I want to do is be EQD's creepy stalker pony

I'm content to be EQD's occasional fling. And it's kind of heartbreaking to have to say 'you know, EQD is not that into you' to anypony, but they are just not going to be able to provide appreciation for all effort (or even all talent) because there is just too much talent out there.

It becomes a combination of developing your music to be distinctive and sui generis (why feature imitators if there's stuff by the main fandom musicponies happening?) and developing your PROFESSIONAL skills. I guarantee that fairness arguments never help you in any professional context, because they imply an obligation that cannot be extended to everypony at once, and gatekeepers become calloused real quick when they are compelled to reject 99% of what's being sent in. I also guarantee the main fandom musicponies haven't been making fairness arguments- it's easy for them not to, as they don't HAVE to, but you'll also see over and over- "I don't know what happened, I just feel lucky, all I did was do some music and send it in". There's a certain freedom to just doing what you do without that much need to reach any specific target beyond an artistic target.

I'll probably get something in EQD again, but it could be years. I might do a perfectly good track that just isn't where EQD's mood is that day. I don't think I'm one of the ponies who can do 'mood' music and have it seem pony-related, so it's more about whether I think of any songs, and just because I can do a song with music and singing and lyrics that _I_ think are pony-related doesn't mean EQD will agree.

Performing implies an audience. EQD is a huge but kind of silly audience. It's best not to see them as simply huge numbers but as a particular crowd, who actively want what they're getting out of the site. If EQD was 'fairer' their audience would be mad and disappointed.

[CommandSpry]

Haven't you guys ever heard that people enjoy briefness?

What we would like to see is every serious submission reaching the pre-listeners. If you get like, 50 submissions per day, even one guy can sort that out, just play 5 seconds to check if it's legit, and send it in to the pre-listeners. You can get a few guys too, to make it smoother. 50 is just an estimate, I'm guessing there is less submissions per day but I can't tell.

The end (:

[Freewave]

So how many musical submissions are being received by EQD a day? I heard 10, is that correct...or is it more?

Just because EQD has an email address for all submissions doesn't mean you have to use the same email address for rejection replies. If something doesn't make the site send out a pm back to them (the rejection letters that were initially promised on the site and still frankly needed if so many of the entries are lost) via a no-reply email address. Explain the many reason why (just use a template)

* not <pony> enough
* not high enough quality
* used copywritten samples (i've heard this is a criteria even though ponified covers etc aren't far off)
*30th remix of Being Popular or Rainbow Factory (ie its already been remixed to death)
* anything else that WE might not know are criteria
or simply
* did not meet EqD standards (and show a list of why they could be rejected)

Again from what i'm hearing getting rejection letters is essential to knowing if your submission was lost or not accepted. It's up to submitters to DEAL with the rejection and not blame EQD if they respond back. EQD could ignore replies back to the rejection letter email queue as people shouldn't argue why a particular entry wasn't accepted. It's their site and they ultimately make that choice and are entitled to a high standard.

Keep in mind though that Seth pre-pre-screening and losing submissions is a bad way to go about the initial submission process and people do have a reason to be upset about that. If Lavendar_Harmony is saying that her submissions are lost and that she has to ask about them routinely than that should be a hint that the submission process isn't working well. Submitters should expect standards for the site are met and I don't see what's wrong with people being upset if they aren't. Ultimately threads like these will start when they see it isn't working well although these shouldn't be public vent threads from people with blown up expectations.

A massive chunk of mlr's music that wouldn't qualify for EqD so people DO need to keep their emotions in check and listen to WHAT the standards are and realize its going to get harder as more musicians produce. Making your music <pony> is not just adding samples or images it's a the CONCEPT behind the music that's STEP 1 of making this music and most aren't even understanding that yet. Also you need to get GOOD at making music before you even want to start submitting and publishing it. A lot of MLR's music is still a bit amateur as part of the reason you are here is to get better and that takes time.

[VINXIS]

This thread in a nutshell

[BlackElectric]

I really enjoy how people who get featured often are defending EqD at all cost. Very amusing. I wonder what would be the story if you were the one stuck behind the curtains.

I'm "stuck behind the curtains" but you don't see me crying about it.

I just make music because it's fun and I enjoy it. If EqD doesn't feature my songs (which they usually don't. I've only been on there twice.) then I'm okay with that. I don't need an EqD feature and 5,000 views to make me happy. I usually get 100-200 views and 3 likes per song, and I'm super proud of that.

[Matthew N.]

I really enjoy how people who get featured often are defending EqD at all cost. Very amusing. I wonder what would be the story if you were the one stuck behind the curtains.

I'm "stuck behind the curtains" but you don't see me crying about it.

I just make music because it's fun and I enjoy it. If EqD doesn't feature my songs (which they usually don't. I've only been on there twice.) then I'm okay with that. I don't need an EqD feature and 5,000 views to make me happy. I usually get 100-200 views and 3 likes per song, and I'm super proud of that.

I'm not sure where your awesome deductive skills come from, but I am not crying; rather saying what everyone else been saying for a long time - EqD submission system is flawed. And now that they know how I feel about it, even though I am not submitting my songs (or ever will personally do that), some people might and I know they will never get on there - even if they're really good. But I don't care. Not anymore, at least. I've got other, important stuff to worry about.

I honestly, once again, ask this topic to be locked. Point has been made. Thanks to all the contributors and their constructive posts.

[Lavender_Harmony]

First of all you made a snide comment about how you know the thread 'will be locked because people who moderate this forum work for EqD' and now you're requesting it locked?

Whatever. It was fun kids but shows over. Let's go back to making music for ourselves and not worrying about what is essentially a personal blog, hm?