In light of the huge popularity and increase in digital downloads and streaming of music and videos, CountryBoot interviewed Ian Conza who is behind Easyflv, a popular and affordable solution for artists and those in the music industry who wish to learn and benefit from this latest trend in music/video promotion

Q. Ian, can you tell us a little about yourself, your background in multi-media and your current projects involving online streaming?

Ian: Firstly in regard to Easyflv streaming video software I have partnered with the developer Aritrim Basu who lives in India to market the software. I became involved in multi-media online as I am a self taught web designer running three web sites and managing another for a dear friend in Ireland. My friend in Ireland is a musician and we needed a way to stream his songs from his web site in audio format.

In scouring Internet I came across Easyfly audio and streaming video software and it was the best software I had seen for ease of use and had great features and the price was reasonable. As one of the first people to use Internet here in New Zealand I seen how by using video or audio on web sites how it could benefit the web site owners either in promoting product or services or themselves, hence why YouTube was bought a huge price without it even turning over any profit. Hence my continued involvement in multi-media on Internet.

Video use on the Internet growing daily and will continue to do so. Musician or artists are already using this form of media to great effect and those that do not will be missing a part of the future puzzle.

Q. What exactly does online streaming mean and what is it?

Ian: Online streaming lets you watch a video or listen to an audio at almost the same time it is being sent to your computer. This means you do not have to wait for a large video or audio file to download to your computer before you can watch it.

Q. Why do you feel it is important for musicians/artists to stream their material via the internet?

Ian: My personal opinion on this is why let record companies take all the profits whilst the musician gets only a small return for their own creative material. Streaming audio or video gives the artists the opportunity to retain control over all of their songs and records and market them direct to their public. The software is not difficult to use or understand, I can put a video up on a web site in approximately 15 mins or less with this software.

Not only that though, there are so many great musician / artists out there that one has never heard of. Being able to stream their songs either via audio or video gives them the opportunity to show the world their talents. All they need is a camcorder, way to upload it to their computer and Easyflv Software to convert it to flash format and the actual streaming software that gives them the html code and then they are live on the internet for the world to see.

Q. What are the benefits to making sure you have streaming on your own website rather than just having (for example) a You Tube page?

Ian: The main advantage is you can control everything related to the video. The video player size or the quality of the video being streamed. Most video sharing websites convert your videos to a very poor resolution which is ok for casual viewing but if you are serious about what viewers see you must deliver a high quality video or audio, which is possible if you use professional streaming video software.

Q. I believe your company offers a very well thought through piece of software that allows artists, agents or promoters great flexibility when it comes to video and music streaming. Could you tell summarise for us the special benefits and features of your software?

Ian: It special features are:

• Fast conversion of video files from virtually any format to web video format. (FLV).
• Comes with professional looking video players that are very small in file size and compact.
• The videos can be made clickable and optionally they can be redirected on completion.
• With the multitrack players one can add a number of videos through one video player on a webpage.

Q. Where can our readers get a copy of your software?

Ian: www.sstreamingvideo.com

Q. Do you also offer after-sale support, installation advice and tips on how to make the most of music/video streaming?

Ian: Yes definitely. After-sale support is just a click away. Users can directly send a support request from the menu system of any of the software. A knowledgebase is also provided which is updated on a regular basis at our website.

Q. Lastly Ian, do you personally have a background in music perhaps as a musician or are you someone who simply loves and enjoys music and other forms of creative media?

Ian: Yes I do have a background in singing in church groups. I love music itself as the right words put to music can send ones spirit soaring. I come from a family of four boys, two of us love music, me singing, brother up from me is a Line Dance DJ. Love of music comes from our Mom who was French.

Q. On behalf of us all involved with Countryboot and our readers, thanks so much Ian for your time and for sharing your expertise.

Ian: Hey – no thank you. If (anyone has) any other questions please do hesitate to ask.

All country music artists have to start somewhere, and most often that's amongst family, friends or their local community. The best country music isn't necessarily found in the world of the existing popular or famous stars, but often in the small clubs, venues and organisations that provide country performers of any "level" the chance to share their music. That's the true nature of country music, it comes from the heart and real lives of real people.

Giving all artists the opportunity to air their music to a wider audience is an important aim of Country Music Broadcasting. CMB is keen to hear from show presenters, artists and country music organisations to see what assistance, support, promotion and broadcast opportunities CMB can help provide. Remember everyone has a beginning, and this offer via CMB to be heard on-air is an excellent chance to achieve exposure. So don't hesitate to contact CMB with your ideas and suggestions or to let CMB Radio know about any existing country radio shows you believe could benefit from the backing or support of CMB.