Music fans looking for unsigned, independent recording acts can find their CDs and cassettes at www.joesgrille.com

By offering a virtual music store on the Internet, a local company is helping pave the road to stardom for independent bands and musicians.

Joe’s Production & Grill Inc. - a record company, not a diner - was started in Boulder by Wendy Rubin in 1992. Since then, Joe’s has been manufacturing compact discs and tapes for unsigned, independent acts. The company also designs CD covers and produces music videos.

The latest dish being served up at joe’s is an online service, www.joesgrille.com, where music fans can learn about, listen to and buy CDs by independent artists - musicians or bands that have not been signed by major record companies and therefore don’t have access to the nationwide distribution channels those companies provide.

Rubin said the Internet can be a great way for independent artists to distribute their music and get some name recognition.

“with independent distribution, it’s very difficult to get product out there,” said Rubin. “And national distribution is hard, because the entire industry is based on name recognition.”

Rubin is hopeful that music fans shopping online will visit joesgrille.com and become familiar with independent acts. The Web site is set up with a special search feature that allows visitors to enter the name of a popular artist - Sting, for example - and the Web site reveals the names of independent acts with musical styles similar to Stings.

“We’re the first company to have a virtual store or a regular store with that kind of search,” Rubin said. “It’s just one of those thing that no one had ever done before.”

Most of the CDs on the Web site cost $9.95 and the artists get $7 of each purchase. And joe’s production is working on a CD mail-order catalog expected to debut this spring.

Since May, when joesgrille.com debuted, some independent acts have been selling a CD a day over the Internet, Rubin said.

Local musician Beth Quist, who sings and plays several instruments, had joe’s production design, manufacture and distribute her CD.

Quist said the CDS made by joe’s helped her get a gig with singer Bobby Mcferrin, of “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” fame. Quist sent Mcferrrin a CD and later ended up touring with the musician in Europe.

Although Quist said joesgrille.com has helped her gain exposure, she hasn’t sold many CDs on the site.

“I think there are still some people who are hesitant to buy anything over the Internet,” said Quist. “But I think it’s a good place to get exposure and Wendy has always been really supportive of me.