Second Life Bluesman Gets First Life Record Deal

by Jordan Yerman | August 15, 2008 at 05:59 am

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If you had any doubts that you lived in The Future, you may now dispel them... a real-life blues artist has signed a record deal after a labe's avatar saw his avatar, playing a live gig in Second Life.

The label, Reality Entertainment, was actively scouring Second Life for artists, and this guy, Von Johin, was their #1 pick.

"Never before has a virtual character been signed to a worldwide recording contract," stated Warren Croyle, CEO of Reality Entertainment, the company that signed him. "Von Johin is legendary in the virtual community Second Life for his heart-pounding live shows."

He performs with just guitar and vocals, streaming from his studio into the virtual blues club.

But what does “sign a record deal” really mean in 2008? The Metaverse Journal takes a contrarian approach to the news: “Any individual can now publish their music worldwide on iTunes using services like TuneCore for the princely sum of US $9.99 per year.”

Regardless, any deal can only be seen as encouraging news for Second Life’s burgeoning music scene.