Record Company Going On The Web

Former PolyGram executive Jay Barbieri is launching what is being termed as the first record label on the World Wide Web.

Called J-Bird Records, the company plans to launch Nov. 1 with an initial offering of 30-50 new artists with individual Web pages featuring sound samples and chat rooms.

J-Bird will manufacture CDs and sell them via mail order.

The label can release such a quantity of acts that anyone can sign to the label for $600, refundable from royalties.

Barbieri said J-Bird does not choose acts, but acts choose J-Bird. “We’re the people’s choice label,” he said.

“Instead of a crap shoot based on the opinion of an A&R executive, we let the users decide what’s a hit.”

Barbieri, 32, believes there are tens of thousands of artists out there who can find a niche if given a chance.

“This is a discovery site where music lovers can find new and upcoming artists.”

The label’s Web address will be http://www.jbirdrecords.com/.