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Learning Ammo
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INTERNET AMMOThe Internet is a fantastic resource for indie artists. But one can get lost on it without some direction. Below are some great Internet resources and sites with substantial information that can help you find your way to good Internet promotion. MUST HAVES
Mozy is a service that automatically backs up all your files every day to an external server—a simple and secure way to back up all your music and other files so they’re safe. It’s inexpensive for unlimited space and free for a no-frills back up. Bandzoogle was created by Chris Vinson, a musician who wanted to help
others to create and maintain their own websites for a reasonable cost.
It provides all the tools needed to design and update your website. For
those of you thinking about creating a website, Bandzoogle is free to
try for 30 days, so you can build a site and see how easy it is! Mail2Web is a site that allows you to pick up email from anywhere in
the world on anyone's computer. Just put in your email address and password
and your mail comes to you. You can send them too. And, it's free! It's
best to click on "secure login". OneSuite has the cheapest phone rates around. In the US it's 2.5 cents
for calls to their local access number and 2.9 cents a minute for calls
from their 800 number. WEBSITES FOR MARKETING & PROMOTING YOUR MUSIC ReverbNation is like a 'home base' for marketing and promoting across the entire digital realm, including social networks like MySpace and Facebook, as well as email, IM, blogs, etc. It starts with a Profile page that is tailored specifically for Labels. They create free widgets that can virally spread across the net to other friends and fans. They have so many services that you MUST go check this out. Best news—it’s ALL FREE! Pandora
Internet radio is the wave of the near future. Pandora doesn’t take all music but it takes all music that they deem as being up to their quality standards. The site is free! People create their own radio stations and the music that comes up meets the criteria listeners look for. The technology that chooses the music doesn’t distinguish between major label and indie artists. It just chooses the best music. Send yours in when your recordings are ready. Promoting Your Podcast by Jason Van Orden
is a book that has great details on how to make a podcast and then promote it. Jason also has a free site that has lots of tips for making one at HowToCreateAPodcast.com Wikepedia
is an online encyclopedia. Many industry people, especially journalists, like to read about artists on this site so it’s good to have a listing. Read the instruction on their site. It’s free. Animoto
Videos are hot for marketing music online but not everyone can afford to make one. But, you can afford to load digital photos, and one of your songs, into Animoto’s software. It will match the photos to the music and give them an animated feel. The cost? It’s free for 30 seconds or less. But why not drop 30 bucks and get a whole year of as many videos as you’d like at longer lengths?! Sign up at Animoto. I’d appreciate your putting in my referral code: SoundExchange
is an independent, nonprofit performance rights organization that collects and distributes digital performance royalties for featured recording artists and sound recording copyright owners when their sound recordings are performed on digital cable and satellite television music, internet and satellite radio (such as XM and Sirius). ONLINE MUSIC LICENSING SITES Get U Played
offers opportunities to unsigned artists to get music onto playlists for stores, restaurants, etc. and get paid for its use. Record labels can got through the parent company, DMX. Ricall
allows you to post your music catalog to make it available for potential licensing opportunities. The site is non-exclusive and fair in its fees. Pump Audio
enables you to post your music catalog to make it available for potential licensing opportunities. The site is non-exclusive and fair in its fees. DIGITAL MARKETING CDBaby is a site that sells music that EVERY indie
musician should have their music on. For a small fee you get a page for
your CD with promotional info and samples of your music. Savvy music
lovers know this is where to find the best music today. If you're on
the site, people will find you from all over the world if your music
is great. And, I recommend that all music lovers who want to indulge
in discovering great new artists should also explore this wealth of music. Tunecorex
is a service that allows you to pay a small flat fee to get on each site you choose, charges a small administration fee each year, and pays you all the money it collects from iTunes, etc. Nimbit
is a company that helps you sell your music and merch directly from your site using their direct sales tools and/or through their network of third party online retailers, along with many marketing tools. Echospin
is an indie-friendly company that provides the ability to sell digital downloads right off of your site as well as on MySpace. earBuzz is a newer site that's building a big
buzz for selling CDs. This site is so indie friendly that offers a new
model - it returns 100% of the CD/music price back to indie artists!
Recommended by Electronic Musician, Indie-Music.com, and the Musician’s
Web Handbook, earBuzz is growing and will be creating even more opportunities
for indie artists to have international CD distribution. GroupieTunes
was the first company to offer independent and unsigned artists the ability to sell their music as ringtones & bill directly on their fans' cell phone bills. Using this service your fans can download your music, wallpaper, etc. Xingtone allows you to sell ringtones off your site,
for a monthly fee. They also allow you to give some away for free. COMMUNITY AMMOYou need to get your name and music out as much as possible. Creating a community around your music helps cultivate fans and keep them excited. Fans that meet through your music may work together to promote you even more. Here are some places to start: Facebook
is a terrific networking site that allows you to connect with fans, and industry professionals, and reconnect with people you used to know. Last.fm
is Internet radio with a social community. iLike
is a social music discovery service that’s connected to other social networking sites. MySpace is a web portal that creates communities
around shared interests. It allows artists to connect with fans and develop
a social network around common interests. It's for many interests but
music is very prominent. You can get your own space to upload your music,
promote shows and be accessible for new fans to find your music. The
best part? It's free! Visit and bring your fans with you. GENERAL INDIE SUPPORT SITESGarageBand.com has opportunity for airplay based on reviews from others
using the site. It's all about how good the music is! And it's free if
you review a quota of other people's music. Indie-Music.com has an educational tip.
It includes radio stations, venues, and resource links. According to
Suzanne Glass who runs the site, "It's a tool for planning and achieving
a successful music career. Comprehensive directory listings, educational
articles, links, reviews, and more." The variety of venues is fantastic,
from clubs to halls to festivals, and lots of them! Radio Locator has a database with radio stations from around the country
and the world. Search by city, format, or genre. GoGirlsMusic.com Indiegrrl Music Biz Academy.com has a large number of resources
for musicians who are trying to promote or market their music on line. Music Dish in an online magazine with good articles
and interviews. Bob Baker offers 2 sites loaded with great
tips and resources for marketing your music. Subscribe to his newsletters! YAHOO! Music Resources has all sorts of links to music
related sites compliments of Yahoo!. Artist Direct has a lot of services for musicians.
Check out their great resource section, with festivals, venues, and a
lot more.
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