Band/Musician Web Promo Resources Master List
Posted: Tue Oct 12, 2010 5:16 pm
So, there's been some discussion in another thread about social media and using the internet to promote your band. Some points were made about the demise of Myspace and social media in general for band promotions. But, the fact remains that there are more people using the internet and social media every single day. I think the difference now as apposed to a few years ago is that we as band members need to spread our music and promotions to many different sites, not just Myspace. My band/recording project is getting ready to release a three song single for free download and I think this list will help me spread our music to as many sources as possible. It may help you guys too. There are a lot of good resources out there.
I wanted to make a master list of online resources for bands and musicians to use to promote and sell their music, shows, videos etc. I'll start the list here. I'm going to break it down into categories and provide a very short description of each site/resource.
Be aware, some of these sites fit within more than one category. I'm trying to place them into the most logical place.
Web Site Design/Blogging Home Web Site
Wordpress - http://wordpress.org/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; - Wordpress is a very popular and powerful blogging platform that can be used to create an entire website. Many useful plugins are available. It's recommended to install Wordpress on your hosting server to maximize it's potential.
Squarespace - http://www.squarespace.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; - Squarespace is another blogging platform that can be used to build a web site for your band. It is very easy to use for even someone with no web design knowledge
MP3 Aggregators Etc. - Sell, Stream, or Give Away Your Music
Tunecore - http://www.tunecore.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; - MP3 Aggregator that gives 100% royalties w/ a one time fee per song/ringtone/album.
CDBaby - http://members.cdbaby.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; - MP3 Aggregator that also has a per song/album fee and also takes a cut of sale price. They also offer the ability to sell physical CDs to your listeners.
Bandcamp - http://bandcamp.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; - Sell your music directly from your bandcamp site. This is more than just a place to sell music, this could double as your main band site if you'd like. It also allows free downloads up to 200 per month, after that there is a fee.
SoundCloud - http://soundcloud.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; - Basically this is a place to host music from what I can tell. They have widgets you can place on websites in order to make your music available for streaming anywhere an HTML widget is allowed. This makes it easy to track who's listening and from where.
PureVolume - http://www.purevolume.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; - One of the older sites for artists. You can set up a page, give away music, etc.
Social Media - Promotions/Fan Relations/Etc
Myspace.com - http://www.myspace.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; - I think we all know what Myspace does.
Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; - I think we all know about Facebook by now as well. I think they allow you to add music to your band's fan page now. I'm not sure though, I haven't tried yet (we are still mixing).
Twitter - http://twitter.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; - Follow your fans, have your fans follow you. Make updates from anywhere on your phone. Offer free giveaways, whatever. The worlds most popular microblog. 144 characters or less. It looks like you'll be able to add media from DailyBooth, DeviantART, Etsy, Flickr, Justin.TV, Kickstarter, Kiva, Photozou, Plixi, Twitgoo, TwitPic, TwitVid, USTREAM, Vimeo, yfrog, and YouTube really soon.
Tumblr - http://www.tumblr.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; - Tumblr is a pretty cool microblogging site too. Worth checking out.
ReverbNation - http://www.reverbnation.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; - Host and promote your band. Will allow you to send out info regarding upcoming shows and new songs etc. etc.
Video Hosting
YouTube - http://www.youtube.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; - Host your videos here and post them everywhere you can think of!
Vimeo - http://vimeo.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; - Another place to host videos. Vimeo allows higher quality than YouTube but the videos are hard for people with older computers to watch. Probably best to post your videos on both YouTube and Vimeo and offer an option.
Online Radio - Get Your Music Heard
Pandora - http://blog.pandora.com/faq/contents/31.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; - Pandora is an amazing place to get your music heard if they accept you. I've offered the link to the submission guidelines.
Last.fm - http://www.last.fm/home" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; - A huge online radio station/social site/music discovery site. You can set up a page, sell your music from iTunes, give away free downloads, and also get online radio play from users. The site is very robust and well worth checking out.
Grooveshark http://www.grooveshark.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; - Setup a profile, upload music, get your music heard.
Publishing Etc. - Protect Your Music
I won't get into much detail about these organizations, but you need to be familiar with this stuff. If you aren't, get that way if you are serious about doing this yourself.
SoundExchange - http://www.soundexchange.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; - How you get paid for satellite radio (such as SIRIUS XM), internet radio, cable TV music channels and similar platforms for streaming sound recordings.
ASCAP - http://www.ascap.com/index.aspx" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; - Get Paid
BMI - http://www.bmi.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; - Get Paid
SESAC - http://www.sesac.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; - Get Paid
Miscellaneous, Books, Unproven Sites Etc.
cbcradio - http://www.cbc.ca/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; - May be for Canada only?! - They will play your music.
Hello Music - http://www.hellomusic.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; - Promotes your songs to help get you signed, as well as get you opening gigs for festivals and other events, not sure on how legit, but hey never hurts to see. Maybe a Scam?! Proceed with caution. My advice is if they want you to pay them, walk away.
The Indie Bible - http://www.indiebible.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; - The Indie Bible will help you get your music reviewed, your songs played on the radio, your music distributed (both physically and online)
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Please feel free to make comments and to also post suggestions for sites to add to this list. I'll edit this post to add new resources as they are suggested. When you suggest a site please indicate:
Section
Name of Site/Resource
URL (link)
Short Description
I wanted to make a master list of online resources for bands and musicians to use to promote and sell their music, shows, videos etc. I'll start the list here. I'm going to break it down into categories and provide a very short description of each site/resource.
Be aware, some of these sites fit within more than one category. I'm trying to place them into the most logical place.
Web Site Design/Blogging Home Web Site
Wordpress - http://wordpress.org/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; - Wordpress is a very popular and powerful blogging platform that can be used to create an entire website. Many useful plugins are available. It's recommended to install Wordpress on your hosting server to maximize it's potential.
Squarespace - http://www.squarespace.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; - Squarespace is another blogging platform that can be used to build a web site for your band. It is very easy to use for even someone with no web design knowledge
MP3 Aggregators Etc. - Sell, Stream, or Give Away Your Music
Tunecore - http://www.tunecore.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; - MP3 Aggregator that gives 100% royalties w/ a one time fee per song/ringtone/album.
CDBaby - http://members.cdbaby.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; - MP3 Aggregator that also has a per song/album fee and also takes a cut of sale price. They also offer the ability to sell physical CDs to your listeners.
Bandcamp - http://bandcamp.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; - Sell your music directly from your bandcamp site. This is more than just a place to sell music, this could double as your main band site if you'd like. It also allows free downloads up to 200 per month, after that there is a fee.
SoundCloud - http://soundcloud.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; - Basically this is a place to host music from what I can tell. They have widgets you can place on websites in order to make your music available for streaming anywhere an HTML widget is allowed. This makes it easy to track who's listening and from where.
PureVolume - http://www.purevolume.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; - One of the older sites for artists. You can set up a page, give away music, etc.
Social Media - Promotions/Fan Relations/Etc
Myspace.com - http://www.myspace.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; - I think we all know what Myspace does.
Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; - I think we all know about Facebook by now as well. I think they allow you to add music to your band's fan page now. I'm not sure though, I haven't tried yet (we are still mixing).
Twitter - http://twitter.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; - Follow your fans, have your fans follow you. Make updates from anywhere on your phone. Offer free giveaways, whatever. The worlds most popular microblog. 144 characters or less. It looks like you'll be able to add media from DailyBooth, DeviantART, Etsy, Flickr, Justin.TV, Kickstarter, Kiva, Photozou, Plixi, Twitgoo, TwitPic, TwitVid, USTREAM, Vimeo, yfrog, and YouTube really soon.
Tumblr - http://www.tumblr.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; - Tumblr is a pretty cool microblogging site too. Worth checking out.
ReverbNation - http://www.reverbnation.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; - Host and promote your band. Will allow you to send out info regarding upcoming shows and new songs etc. etc.
Video Hosting
YouTube - http://www.youtube.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; - Host your videos here and post them everywhere you can think of!
Vimeo - http://vimeo.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; - Another place to host videos. Vimeo allows higher quality than YouTube but the videos are hard for people with older computers to watch. Probably best to post your videos on both YouTube and Vimeo and offer an option.
Online Radio - Get Your Music Heard
Pandora - http://blog.pandora.com/faq/contents/31.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; - Pandora is an amazing place to get your music heard if they accept you. I've offered the link to the submission guidelines.
Last.fm - http://www.last.fm/home" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; - A huge online radio station/social site/music discovery site. You can set up a page, sell your music from iTunes, give away free downloads, and also get online radio play from users. The site is very robust and well worth checking out.
Grooveshark http://www.grooveshark.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; - Setup a profile, upload music, get your music heard.
Publishing Etc. - Protect Your Music
I won't get into much detail about these organizations, but you need to be familiar with this stuff. If you aren't, get that way if you are serious about doing this yourself.
SoundExchange - http://www.soundexchange.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; - How you get paid for satellite radio (such as SIRIUS XM), internet radio, cable TV music channels and similar platforms for streaming sound recordings.
ASCAP - http://www.ascap.com/index.aspx" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; - Get Paid
BMI - http://www.bmi.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; - Get Paid
SESAC - http://www.sesac.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; - Get Paid
Miscellaneous, Books, Unproven Sites Etc.
cbcradio - http://www.cbc.ca/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; - May be for Canada only?! - They will play your music.
Hello Music - http://www.hellomusic.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; - Promotes your songs to help get you signed, as well as get you opening gigs for festivals and other events, not sure on how legit, but hey never hurts to see. Maybe a Scam?! Proceed with caution. My advice is if they want you to pay them, walk away.
The Indie Bible - http://www.indiebible.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; - The Indie Bible will help you get your music reviewed, your songs played on the radio, your music distributed (both physically and online)
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Please feel free to make comments and to also post suggestions for sites to add to this list. I'll edit this post to add new resources as they are suggested. When you suggest a site please indicate:
Section
Name of Site/Resource
URL (link)
Short Description