It’s no secret that the Internet has made a huge impact on the music industry. Up-and-coming bands used to dream that being signed to a major label would be their ticket to stardom. Now, musicians work to get more Twitter followers and pray that their next video will go viral. Although it’s easier now for artists to have direct access to their fans, it’s harder for musicians to independently manage things record labels would have provided in the past, such as paying for studio time or handling music distribution. Luckily, there are sites popping up to help indie bands directly appeal to their fans and make money doing what they love. Here are 3 great sites that musicians need to know about!
1. Bandcamp: The idea behind Bandcamp is simple: give artists a place to upload their music for free, set their own prices, and get paid directly by their fans. Bandcamp is easy to use and provides artists with a platform to sell their music without having a record label or other third party take a cut of the profits. Additionally, Bandcamp recently added a social media aspect to their site. Music lovers can show off the great albums they’ve bought from the site and discover new artists by interacting with other fans who have similar taste. Bandcamp is a great place to sell your music and to support artists you love.
2. Kickstarter: If you don’t yet have the funds to record an album, Kickstarter could be the right place for you. With Kickstarter, indie bands can set a financial goal for a specific project and reach out to their network for support in reaching that goal. It’s common to offer rewards for various donation amounts, such as a signed copy of the album for a small donation or the chance to sing on-stage with the band for a larger donation.
3. See.Me: See.Me is a newer site that allows artists to create a profile to showcase their work and ask for donations from fans. See.Me is similar to Kickstarter in that it gives fans an opportunity to donate money to a favorite band. However instead of donating toward a specific goal, fans who give artists money on See.Me are essentially dropping a dollar in a digital tip jar. Artists can send email updates to fans who have donated to keep them engaged and let them know where their money is going. See.Me hopes to help artists create relationships with their fans and give artists the opportunity to continue to raise funds even when they don’t yet have a specific goal in mind.
Are you an independent musician? How do you use the Internet to connect with your fans and earn a living?
–Megan L. TakeLessons Staff Member and Blogger
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Photo by AVelenovsky
Megan L.