About OnlineRock OnlineRock was founded in 1999 as an interactive music community providing tools and services for musicians. We have provided quality content relevant to ... See more the music industry for over ten years. Our goal in 1999 was to create a networking site where musicians could create websites, interact with other industry professionals and sell their music instantly in a digital format directly to their fans. We launched these services with a release from Ike Willis, Frank Zappa's former frontman. He had recently been dropped from his label and was looking for an alternative outlet to release his music. Unfortunately with the likes of Napster and other file sharing programs of the time, the price of digitally released music was set to zero. It wouldn't be until Apple launched iTunes that people would be ready to start purchasing downloadable music in masses. OnlineRock Records, an independent label that drew from the talent exhibited from our members was launched in response to the current climate of the time. Its catalog includes releases from Needle, Gregory Paul, Autumdivers and Ike Willis as well as a few compilations. Committed to furthering the cause of digital music, OnlineRock continues to provide tools and information to musicians who are looking for new ideas to promote their music and learn about gear, products and services through interviews, reviews and downloads as well as giveaways, discussions and content. About OnlineRock's Founder: Steve Beck has been involved in the San Francisco Bay Area music scenic since 1983 and is the editorial voice behind OnlineRock. He handles the day-to-day decisions on talent recruitment and content development. He also maintains the OnlineRock Blog and has recently conducted interviews with Todd Rundgren, Adrian Belew, Trey Gunn and Doug Martsch. Expect to see more interviews in the near future. In September 2007 Beck traveled to Zambia on behalf of the US State Department to discuss “Music as a Business” with musicians, club owners and government officials. Earlier that year he visited Sierra Leone to speak and participate in a conference entitled “Moving the Music Industry Forward”. In September 2005 the US State Department sent him to Montenegro to share his views on Intellectual Property Rights as it pertains to the music industry. Other speaking engagements include the Inside Connection Music Conference in Los Angeles where he addressed the issue of “Music on the Internet” and at the Call to Arts Summit on the “Promoting your Music” panel. Beck also served as Chairperson of the Arts Commission in the City of Belmont, California. He spoke on the "Paper Cuts in the Plastic Age" panel at SXSW 2010. His most recent band Needle released their debut CD "Songs Your Mother Never Sang You" in 2006 and have toured in support of it. He co-wrote, recorded and produced the critically acclaimed album in his personal studio with Julie Cornette. Needle is working on a follow-up release. Beck is currently authoring a book on bringing independent music to the open market. From writing and recording to planning and promotion, this will be a complete guide for musicians planning on releasing music both traditionally and digitally.