Apple picker JKL aka Jan Kolias is not only a DJ, but also has his own label ADIT Music, collaborates with David Kraus, tries the iPad and likes the philosophy of Apple.
Hello, try to introduce yourself to us quickly.
Greetings readers of Jablíčkář, my name is Jan Kolias and I have been performing on the Czech dance scene under the pseudonym JKL for 12 years. At the beginning of 2013, I founded my own label ADIT Music, where artists from all over the world will gradually appear. Our advantage is that we respond to all demos that authors send us, because we want to give musicians a chance to sell their music on more than a hundred electronic music portals to which we are able to supply content.
What style of music will you offer through your label? Are there any genre restrictions for applicants?
Originally, I wanted ADIT to be a label dealing exclusively with electronic music. Somehow it all came from what I do. But one thing changed everything. We have a simple form on the website: Send a demo. Name, email, URL... Nothing more! Anyone who has ever sent something somewhere knows what purgatory it is. Gradually, so many beautiful acoustic things began to appear in that request database that I completely discarded this original vision of mine. Thanks to this, we will soon have a very varied portfolio, and the key factor will be only one thing - that the music has a soul...
How did Jan Kolias come to Apple?
The path to Apple was very prosaic. As a budding electronic music writer, I needed to map out the DAW market, and Emagic's Logic Audio (as it was called the app at the time) seemed very appealing. Apple shared the same opinion with me and bought it in 2002.
What do you like most about Apple and what programs do you use?
I like the very philosophy of the company at Apple. The ability to make key decisions about whether a technology will be used or replaced by another, regardless of how it is received by users. Or at least that's how it always seemed to me. I believe that in art and product development, democracy has to go by the wayside.
From the programs I use Logic Pro, Wavelab, Nuendo and a lot of AU Plugins. For example, applications on the iPad, that is already a separate chapter. I am constantly testing what this thing can do and am often very amazed…
Do you use the iPad for composing music, or is it just a notebook for you, not just musical notes?
For me, the iPad is primarily a partner for relaxation and inspiration. It follows that I want to create on it just to relax. When something comes to mind, I write it down on the iPad, for example in the FL Studio application, which I really enjoy. I'm currently in the studio finishing a chill-out single with David Kraus, the theme of which I prepared on the iPad and continued to work on. So for myself, I kind of feel that the iPad can also have its real creative results and it doesn't necessarily have to be just about consuming content.
iTunes is a phenomenon. You also have your music in it. What made you decide to sell your music through the iTunes Store?
When I released my debut, it was under a label that didn't ask me anything, and I was happy that the album came out there. Anyway, I can't imagine not being in the iTunes Store. I can say that around 70% of my sales revenue comes from the iTunes Store.
Wait, wait… Did the label put your music out there without your consent? Or did it just forget to inform you?
From what I've said, it probably looks that way. But it was a little different. I'm for the debut First Meeting gave consent to publish wherever the label "goes". Because I have a feeling that they didn't have access to iTunes for a long time. Then when the album appeared on iTunes, I was happy. But it was at a time when there were still disputes about whether there would ever be an iTunes Store in the Czech Republic.
So if you want to offer music to your listeners through Apple, how does it all work? What do you need to find out/arrange?
There is a fairly extensive form available on the Apple website where you can request the creation of a label on the iTunes Store. However, there is one thing that could discourage us: Apple requires an American VAT registration number, which fortunately was not a problem in our case.
How long does such approval take?
At least a month. But it's something worth waiting for... I had the chance to chat with one of the main music content managers and I personally can't imagine doing that kind of work. Navigating such a huge catalog must be very difficult and each operation takes time.
How does Apple approve music? Do you handle it or the publisher?
Once you become a content provider for the iTunes Store, unlike the App Store, there is no further approval in the true sense of the word. You simply provide the content and are fully responsible for it. In iTunes Connect, you can choose all album and song parameters, explicit rating, and the like. It is good to mention Monkey Business who the packaging with the severed head had to be redone. This shows that the local editors really exercise some supervision and I am quite surprised by the publishing house that they allowed this cover to Monkey Business at all, because the instructions from Apple already clearly state that a sexually explicit cover or one with depictions of violence must not be uploaded to iTunes Connect .
Fortunately, I no longer personally take care of this process. I trained a friend and colleague on aggregation, who now knows the rules even more precisely. Personally, I'm more focused on the whole strategy and A&R work - that means contact with artists who will release with us in the future.
Are there any fees for having music in the store?
Here again, there is a difference between the iTunes Store and the App Store. Membership costs us absolutely nothing, apart from the set commission fees. That's why we're gradually opening up to new artists from all over the world and accepting any demos they send us. I am currently preparing releases for more than 12 projects.
What can we look forward to? Who will be there? And who is your favorite?
I don't want to say the exact names yet, because until it's on the iTunes Store, I don't want to shout it out, so I can only mention people connected to JKL. It is, for example, David Kraus, Frank Tise, DJ Naotaku, the singer of the band Bullerbyne and other people gradually joining my music project. I will also be honored to grant asylum to a British pianist and singer whose music reminds me of my beloved authors Norah Jones and Imogen Heap. I'm also really looking forward to the foreign DJs I found through SoundCloud… It's such a private pleasure of mine!
What do you like about iTunes or the iTunes Store?
iTunes is the best thing that could happen to music. We no longer have to collect plastic in the form of CD carriers, which I consider a nice fetish that only makes sense for the most popular performers. The kind of music store Apple has been able to create for its users clearly shows us that they are the ones who create new standards.
And what bothers you?
I would definitely work on browsing the store by genre. It would certainly deserve a little more care there. For example, try easily finding all lounge albums released in the last month. I would also welcome a unified review system with all languages together.
Is it possible to make a living from music in the Czech Republic?
I'm afraid I'm not quite competent for this question. If I once had so many events in my calendar, I wouldn't have to deal with anything else. But there are quite a few artists among us who make a living from music without any problems. But I wish it from the bottom of my heart to everyone.
So what is your main source of income?
I confess exclusively to Jablíčkář that it is the field of cartography and 3D terrain models, for which I am very ashamed. (laughter)
Thank you for your time. Good luck.
I thank you! It was an honor... I wish all readers a wonderful summer and nothing but success! And I am attaching a sample from the rest part of the next album #MagneticPlanet. Exclusively for Jablíčkář…
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Good reading. Thanks to the author of the interview and thanks also to JKL :)