By Burr on 12-May-08 @ 11:41pm
in Statistics and Fun Stuff.
Back in March, we announced plans for a weekly series of FAWM 2008 summaries in the form of fun and interesting statistics about this year’s project. Perhaps it will be more of a bi-monthly thing at the rate we are going? At any rate, post #2 in this series focuses on some interesting data about us: the fawmers.
First of all, 2008 fawmers were 29.7% female and 70.3% male. By comparison, we were around 25% female in 2007, and roughly 20% during 2005-06, which means FAWM is gradually becoming less of a sausage fest each year. Also, the average age was 31 years (median was 29), up from about 28 last year, so we’re getting a little older. In spite of this, however, teenagers (fawmers aged 15-18) were actually one of the fastest growing demographics, increasing 393.8% since last year!
Continue reading: FAWM 2008 Anaylsis #2 - Fawmers »
By Burr on 04-Mar-08 @ 7:19pm
in Statistics and Fun Stuff.
I may be a songwriter, but I am primarily a scientist. And even though I didn’t conceive of FAWM as a data set to be studied (in fact, I had no idea it would grow into what it is now), I must confess that the annual aftermath is one of my favorite parts. So many social and creative trends to evaluate! Rest assured, fellow fawmers, I do not merely see you as a bunch of numbers. However, studying these trends does tell me something about where FAWM is (and where it’s going).
This year, I thought some of you might be interested in the numbers, too. So for the next few weeks, I plan to blog about some of the interesting findings. This week’s focus is on general trends regarding website traffic…
Continue reading: FAWM 2008 Anaylsis #1 - Traffic »
By Burr on 02-Feb-08 @ 10:48am
in Strangle Disco, Statistics and Fun Stuff.
One of the most interesting things to come out of the FAWM 2007 challenge last year was a “genre” called Strangle Disco. It originated as a challenge in an anagram-themed thread of the forums, and accidentally grew into a phenomenon within the community, generating 52 songs by the end of the month. Additionally, websites were launched, a mythology developed, and several of the tracks were later compiled into a ten-minute “dance megamix” featured as a bonus track on this year’s fawmpilation CD (which is definitely worth hearing).
Will Strangle Disco continue to be of interest in FAWM 2008? Who knows, but we thought we’d post a primer here for any new and confused fawmers by way of explanation. (The whole thing can seem a bit strange and inaccessible… and we try to avoid being too insular.)
First, the time line above summarizes how things unfolded last year. Second, the hallmark of Strangle Disco music is the fusion of classical samples (Beethoven preferred) with disco/dance/hip-hop beats. And finally, wordplay often features prominently in any lyrics (particularly anagrams and palindromes). Thematically, songs hover around sinister lyrics and references to Beethoven, bass guitars, and (naturally) discotheques.
To learn more, visit myspace.com/strangledisco to listen to a few of last year’s compositions, or strangledisco.com/history for an archive of the collaborative “mythology” (i.e., tongue-in-cheek history) that was begun. In addition, fawmer Jenna wrote an article that details three sub-genres: Experimental Strangle Disco, Post Strangle Disco, and Post-Apocalyptic Strangle Disco. (A work of true scholarship.)
By Burr on 10-Jan-08 @ 12:51pm
in Misc.
February approaches, and that means it’s time to gear up for the Fifth annual February Album Writing Month. What’s more… 2008 is a LEAP FAWM! That means writing 14½ songs in 28 29 days this year. You know you want to. See you over at: FAWM.ORG.
By Burr on 08-Jan-08 @ 2:57pm
in Compilations.
Greetings fellow fawmers… February approaches! The 2008 FAWM.ORG website is nearing completion and will be launching soon. (But more on that later.) In the meantime, we thought everyone would like to know that the FAWM compilation CD catalog is now available online via the iTunes music store for all you download-savvy types. (And more online stores will be coming soon!)
To download individual tracks or complete albums, follow the album-cover links below or launch iTunes and search for “FAWM.”
Happy downloading, and we’ll see you soon over at FAWM.ORG!!
By Burr on 01-Nov-07 @ 2:10pm
in Web Culture and Challenges.
For any fawmers who are tempted to tackle FAWM’s sister challenge for fiction, consider doing NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) this November. The goal is to crank out a 50,000 word story in 30 days.
I did the NaNo thing back in 2003, and don’t regret it at all. (You might, if you actually read my “novel” from the event, but I don’t!) It was a great experience and, after all, it inspired me to start the FAWM challenge. Be well, my creative ones…
By Eric on 26-Oct-07 @ 10:29pm
in Challenges and Fawmers.
This past July a handful of FAWMERS set out to undertake the Iron Man of Songwriting - The 50 Songs in 90 Days challenge. This challenge is similar to FAWM but at 3 times the length and a slightly more aggressive speed, this challenge is test of willpower, determination, self-discipline, and raw musical creativity.
During this challenge, songwriters attempt to write 50 songs between July 4th and October 1st of the year. According the 50 Songs in 90 Days MySpace page, the original version of the challenge “was inspired by the experience of professional label songwriters functioning under time pressures. Standard Nashville traditions of the American song formed the basis of rules about song structures for the challenge.”
The challenge transformed into its current incarnation in June of 2005, by broadening its definition of a song entry, adopting its current name and moving to its current home on the Yahoo Groups website.
Throughout the 90 days of the challenge participants post messages to the central message boards including lyrics, notes, comments, and links to finished recordings as well as providing feedback on completed songs and encouragement to the other participants. There are currently 70 registered members of the group.
Three FAWMERS made it to the finish line with 50+ songs each: Larry W. Jones, Tim Wille-Jørgensen, and Scott Martin, with many other FAWMERS also cranking out a respectable number of tunes.
We asked a few of the participants a few questions to give us an idea of how this uber-challenge compares to FAWM and how the entire experience played out.
Continue reading: The 50 Songs in 90 Days Challenge »