How did the website get started?
Where did the name 'Frames Per Second' come from?
Is Aram a real name?
What qualifies you to be doing all of this?
Which record companies are you affiliated with?
Are you making any money from this?
What is your affiliation with CDNOW?
I am a musician/I am in a band, how can I be featured on FPS?
Will you be reviewing concerts or MP3s?
My brother told me about free web hosting at Angelfire and since everyone else in America seemed to be doing it, I decided I needed my own web site, too. The initial problem of not knowing what to do with the space was solved by my love of music. I decided to write my opinion of several albums I had recently purchased.
I was origionally going to use 'Beats Per Minute' until I noticed that a major music magazine was already using that as a title of one of their sections. So I settled on 'Frames Per Second' because it had a similar ring to it, and could be abbreviated just as easily. Incedentally, Frames Per Second is the measurement system used for pictures displayed on a TV or movie screen.
Yes. I am Armenian, and Aram is a traditional Armenian name.
In a word: nothing. I took one music appreciation class at the JC, where I failed to attend any of the concerts, but still recieved an A for. I have no prior experience in either journalism or music criticism. I just enjoy sharing music with people, and possibly opening someone's mind to new musical experiences.
None. I started the site just reviewing CDs I had bought with money out of my own pocket. I did not solicit albums from record companies. I have accepted submissions from bands that have volunteered to send me their records. I also write for a New York-based online magazine called Rant N Rave, the editors of which send me a few CDs each month which were, until recently, packaged in beer bags. Brent Bodrug from the B-Group Music, an independent Canadian record label has generously offered to send me new releases from his label.
Yeah right! Since I do not work for anyone, there is no one writing me any checks for running Frames Per Second. I do get around 2-3 CDs a month from Rant N Rave. Also the occasional album submission from a musician or band, and whatever Brent has released, but all in all, FPS is actually probably costing me money, considering I now buy more music then ever.
Around May of 1998 I registered Frames Per Second as an official CDNOW partner site. I provide a link to them, in return for which they link back to me. Occasionally CDNOW will offer descounts only available by accessing their site through a partner site, like FPS. I get 7% (in the form of store credit) of the cost of merchandise purchased through my link. I shop at CDNOW, and wouldn't have done this if I did not feel they were the best way to purchase music on the Internet.
OK, a lot of people have emailed me asking this, and when it came down to the actual part about sending me their album to listen to, many of them have flaked. My policy is this: while I don't go out trying to get stuff sent to me, I will review albums bands send me, provided someone in the band can answer a few questions first. To avoid being sent country and western stuff (something that would make all parties unhappy in the end) I ask that anyone wishing to have their material reviewed send me the band's name, the album name, some of their influences, and a reason they should be paid attention to. If it sounds like something I'd be into, (ie it is not 16 year-olds playing heavy metal) I'll provide a ground address.
At one time I had mentioned writing about concerts I had attended, but as things turned out, I just don't have the money to go see concerts on a regular basis. That's not to say that if I see a good show I won't write about it. (I did an article on N8 last March, for instance) As far as MP3's go, they are pretty neat and everything, but I think the best format for experiencing a band is through more then just one song. MP3.com offers albums from it's contributing artists, so it's a possibility that I can not rule out.
