WCAX.COM Local Vermont News, Weather and Sports-Vt. Musician an Internet Maestro

Vt. Musician an Internet Maestro

Jericho, Vermont - September 21, 2009

Jer Coons is warming up at the studios of Chakra-5 Records in Jericho, getting ready to record a cover of a song the Jackson Five made famous 40 years ago. But his version of "I Want You Back" will have a decidedly 2009 audience: it will be released online.

Coons says, "The way the internet has made things so accessible is really amazing for independent musicians."

Coons has become a maestro in using the internet to promote his growing music career. The Middlebury native and son of the Addison County Sheriff has been playing guitar and singing for most of his 20 years.

After performing his upbeat pop rock in coffee shops and other small venues, he's now going after his teen and tween fan base where they are: on their computers. "With iTunes, MySpace, Facebook, and other social networking sites, you can get out there and network with fans you wouldn't have been able to meet otherwise," Coons explains.

His web presence helped get Coons connected to the people at Hollister, the popular chain of teen clothing stores. The retailer put one of his singles on its in-store soundtracks. "It's been huge exposure for someone who had a small following to begin with," Coons beams.

That exposure boosted him from about 50 or 100 MySpace song plays per day to 5-thousand. He's now approaching 400-thousand total plays. This singer with the Jonas Brothers hairdo suspects that puts him behind only Phish and Grace Potter as the internet's most-listened-to Vermont artists.

Jer Coons is now planning a national tour of live venues to coincide with the release of his new CD. He's finding more and more fans each day, but plans to stay rooted in his home state. "I hope to spend the rest of my life in Vermont, but frequently leave the state to play music elsewhere," Coons says.

Jer Coons calls himself lucky to be able to do what he loves, and where he loves doing it. He is performing live this Friday night at Higher Ground in South Burlington. A ticket to that show includes a free advance copy of the singer's upcoming CD called "Speak."

Click here for a link to the performer's website.

Jack Thurston - WCAX News