online store Archives - Tony Funderburk

Posted on April 10, 2025 by TonyApril 10, 2025

It was over a dozen years ago. And I asked the question if ebooks online would take the place of traditional books. Back then, I said…

~ I don’t think so. Not very soon anyway. Why? A little thing called electricity. If you use an eReader or tablet or mobile or laptop to read ebooks for kids or any other ebooks, you need electricity to read ’em. And if there was an extended outage (hurricane damage for instance), you’d be without your reading material. So, the good ol’ paperback or hardbound book would look pretty awesome right about then. ~

But there are still ebooks online AND physical ones, too.

And that’s because of people like me.

And you.

As for me, I’m extremely fond (putting it mildly) of the digital medium. Yeah, at any given moment I’m carrying around a bunch of books. Some of them are links to ebooks online. And a lot more are stored on my iPhone.

I actually enjoy reading ebooks on my iPhone. Super handy. It’s there when I’m ready. I don’t have to remember an extra thing to carry around. And I don’t lose my place in the text. And I can send myself (or others in social media circles or email) notes, clips, and more.

Plus, I have easy and almost instantaneous access to the Bible. Not just one version. But many versions. Complete with reference materials.

And I can even listen to the audio.

So, yeah, all that convenient access to ebooks online, and on my phone, means I have to remember to keep it charged in case of electricity outages. My portable generator helps, too. But I’d have to keep it charged even if I was just gonna use it to make phone calls (who does that anymore?)

Maybe you prefer the good ol’-fashioned physical book. And that’s OK. You still have enough freedom (barely) to live in the dark ages (ironically, you can’t read a physical book in the dark either). And vivé la difference. That’s Italian for “Hey, that’s NOT Italian!”

Just thought I’d meander through some controversy with you. Feel free to return to whatever you were doing before I interrupted your flow. But before you go…

Get my Tony’s Rhyme and Reason Daily Devotional. Because the flashes of light I share on my website come directly to your inbox. So you can spend your valuable time reading instead of searching. And, to show my sincere appreciation for your time and attention, I’ll send you download links to books and music, right away. Kids from 3 to 103 can enjoy these fun goodies.

Stay tuned,

Posted on August 21, 2024 by TonyAugust 24, 2024

Understatement of the year is maybe right here

Sure, you could say Tino loves music. If you’re trying to win the “understatement of the year” contest, you could say that.

Or another “understatement of the year” could be…

“He’s no quitter.”

Boy oh boy, is THAT putting it mildly.

Because Tino’s efforts in the cutthroat music world were almost legendary. First, he got fed up with traditional gatekeepers who rejected his work. Next, he got sick of “all the fairness” as he called it. And, finally, he took matters into his own hands.

He thought to himself, “Hey, why not use the power of the internet? It seems to be workin’ pretty well for some of those YouTubers and Instagramers.”

So, he set up an independent music publishing label entirely online. He found an affordable hosting company, DreamHost, where he could serve up a user-friendly website. But he didn’t make it all about him and his music.

Tino decided to make his platform a place where hard-working artists could upload their music and communicate directly with their fans. Plus, for a little extra, they could even manage their merchandise sales without the enormous fees that come with traditional labels.

Yeah, that could go a long way toward beating that old-school music world.

He understood you gotta make money or else it’s just a hobby. So, Tino set up a subscription-based model. For a small monthly fee, fans could subscribe to get exclusive access to new releases, behind-the-scenes content, and live-streamed studio sessions.

And that move helped to provid a steady income for the artists. Plus, it helped them build a loyal fanbase willing to support their favorite musicians directly. Without label gatekeepers.

Here’s another understatement of the year contender.

Tino was an idea guy.

Yeah, that’s serious tip-of-the-iceberg stuff right there.

Because he used social media channels and digital marketing strategies to promote his artists. He knew how to create compelling content to showcase their unique stories. And built an even stronger connection with their fans and potential fans. And he made sure email marketing was a BIG part of the whole fan connection process.

Should I share more of Tino’s world-beating story?

How about I just tell you that he made great use of:

Streaming technology
Multiple payment gateways
SEO strategies

Tino (and the other artists) loved how it didn’t feel like their pockets were being picked by promoters, publishers, and recording studios and labels anymore.

And fans loved the much more direct connection they could make with their favorite singers and bands. In just a few years, Tino carved what looked like a permanent niche for himself in the music world.

That’s right.

He found that, with the right tools and strategies, artists could indeed beat the music world at its own game.

Wow, his story reminds me of the 8th song on my Do Right collection. Beat The World. In fact, check out these lyrics (that Tino didn’t write).

~ Every time you turn your back
There’s somebody there to pick your pockets.
And so you see there’s more to life,
More than love and rockets. ~

And then, there’s this verse:

~ Yeah…every time you make your mark
There’s somebody there to erase it.
And people say that’s just the way it is
And boy you’d better face it. ~

Get the rest of the lyrics, and all the lyrics to ALL the songs when you get your own Do Right Songbook Journal.

You’ll also get lots of pages where you can journal, take notes in church, or just doodle if you prefer. AND you can download ALL the songs (at no extra charge) from a secret (not secret) link in the book.

Just go to the Rhyme and Reason Bookshop and get yours today.

https://www.tonyfunderburk.com/rhyme-and-reason-bookshop

Let me know if you have any problems getting the book. I’ll make sure you get it!