Myspace Bands: Promotion And Discovery On Myspace

"Myspace Band" promotion seems to have become the lightening rod that struck the tree. Proving itself to have produced a feverishly successful method of music promotion for thousands, to future millions, of artists.

Myspace has given a venue to listeners that enables them to instantly listen to their favorite music, bands, songs, and discover new bands simply by opening up their laptop and clicking.

Since the conception of MP3, music has been mainly consumed in digital form. The way we get our music now has dramatically, and perhaps been permanently altered from it's recent past.

Thousands of mom and pop, and Independent record stores once the bastion for millions of music lovers have closed their doors and liquidated. Even big names like Tower Records who finally closed their doors in December 2006, give evidence to this definite new shift.

People want their music but they want it without hassle. They want it fast and they kind of want it nearly free. The Internet has become the record store of the future. Or has it?
In the late 1990s, Cd sales began their decline, although almost three-quarters of all retail music sales were attributed to Cd's in 2006.

With the Internet in the '90's, came music sites offering free music listening; Napster joined the force in downloading and burning music. Shareaza, Limewire and others, illegally started a downloading frenzy. It became the usual way many people got their music. You could literally see the question marks hanging above record store doors.

Brendan Toller, a 22 year old filmmaker recently released the film: I Need That Record! The Death (Or Possible Survival) Of The Independent Record Store.The film examines why small record stores are becoming an endangered species.

 A recent interview by Marc Hawthorne for the Decider, has Toller revealing a few little known facts for the public regarding major music labels, and their blame in the decline and possible eventual death of the record store industry.

Jack White, founder of the White Stripes and along with Brendon Benson the Raconteurs, recently opened an Independent record store, Third Man Records in Nashville. He had this to say:
“To the record stores, artists, labels, DJs, and journalists; we’re all in this together. Show respect for the tangible music that you’ve dedicated your careers and lives to, and help it from becoming nothing more than disposable digital data”.

Myspace signed deals with all of the four major record labels – Sony BMG, Warner Music, Universal, and later EMI, giving them shareholdings in Myspace.

But Myspace's 40 percent equity stake, is exclusive to the four majors. The United Kingdom based company Beggar's Group founded by Martin Mills, accuses Myspace and the 'Big 4' of : "attempting to gain control over music distribution" and "locking out Indie labels" in an attempt to monopolize the industry profits.

The CEO of Merlin, an organization that represents thousands of Indie labels, has accused Myspace of "disregarding a deal with Indie labels" in favor of power.

Hmm, sounds like Myspace knew exactly what it was doing. But aren't they in this solely for profit? The music industry has always known what it is doing, especially when others don't. One would expect them to have their fingers in the pie of this profit. Let's not forget, it is the music industry who controls how we listen and get to consume our music.

I don't know if, while Myspace was in thought form, or even when it was actually launched, it could have ever expected to become what it has become. And signing billion dollar contracts even more distant in the dream? But here they are. And here we are, millions of clicking consumers, clicking billions of times on Myspace mostly to hear and find music.

Not only can you get your ears loaded with tons of music, you can now make your own music on Myspace. You can be a Myspace Brand. And after designing a fetching front page for your band, you too can get thousand and thousands of friends without limit. Millions will hear your music. You can sell your music. You can become friends with other musicians, networking across the globe (and you will network the definition out of the word).

Are you a musician? Do you have an account on Myspace? Can you explode onto the music scene because your band has a Myspace account? Do record company executives and talent scouts scan new talent from the pool of Myspace artists?

Will you become famous? Is famous want you want to be? Or do you just want to get your music out there in order to get some feedback; you aren't really serious, just testing? Maybe you just like music, know how to play the guitar and think, what the heck? Whatever your reason for getting on the Myspace Band wagon, it seems to have become a hot little ticket to many things.

Here's something to keep in mind. Not only can this venue be a fast track to discovery, music labels having determined that this form of marketing and discovering new talent; while at the same time accumulating worldwide instant audiences, cuts out production costs and middle men.

It is profitable for them to have you: musicians, singers, and entertainers, signing up to Myspace to create a Myspace Band page. Gathering thousands of friends. People join Myspace for many reasons, but really, self-promotion and Myspace are synonymous.

The Arctic Monkeys were first a Myspace band. Ingrid Michaelson started on Myspace. Lily Allen ferociously promoted herself and a Myspace band account has been credited with furthering the career of My Chemical Romance. Sean Kingston, now wildly popular, born on Myspace.

So can you really get discovered on Myspace? You might. The possibility is there, so are the success stories. I think people need to be aware that because of the vast amount of money being poured into this venture; the billions of dollars that will be generated in the next 10 years, you can bet your own money and take it to the bank that the record labels and their scouts have a vested interest in discovering you.

Not only do music labels have their people in place to do just that, Hollywood has their hands in the cookie jar too.

If you're a Filmmaker, get that Filmmaker Myspace page up and start uploading your films. Are you a poet? Record those poetry readings and get a music page showcasing your talent. Writing contracts have been signed due to discoveries by editors and literary agents. Even if your “art” is simply juggling teacups, be advised, you may have a scout out there looking just for you.

And so, I can't help but wonder now, if our entire band making experience hasn't been altered. That whole rock and roll experience of becoming. The experience of forming a band, practicing night and day in the garage. Playing free gigs to get exposure, then getting a few paid gigs for maybe drinks, or gas, or some new strings and an amp. Getting serious and going on the road on a shoestring, in a beater car or van, showering in the sink at the gas station for two or three months.

Discovering those places right in your own big backyard you imagined but never saw before. It's a beautiful country. And you can spend years doing this. Then one day playing at a small bar or club. Some out of the way, hole in the wall place. After your gig you're approached by somebody who is somebody...

And when you got that deal or contract, nobody could say you didn't earn it. No one could say you didn't shed blood, sweat and tears. Nobody accusing you of being an overnight success story. You had some tales to tell. You had salt. You paid big dues. Fame never used to come so easy.

One thing is certain, they make them fast and they make them like hot cakes now.
I imagine too, that I'll be listening one day to someone who was discovered on Myspace. And I hope they deserve it. I hope they really understand the reality of their "fame." Fame isn't always appreciated if you haven't bled a little on the road to it.

However one may feel about Myspace, whether they find it annoying, boring, or irrelevant in their lives, the fact remains that it has changed the way music is disseminated, and a way new talented musicians are discovered.

We will always crave new talent to feed our musical souls. What we really need is a musical revolution, a shifting of the tides. The waters have been stagnant for many years and people are frustrated. Perhaps that, is the reason for Myspace. Music makers and fans; instant fame and gratification.

You, could be the one we've been waiting for. See you on Myspace.