IndieBiz - Online music lists, making the most of the New Year

I was just rambling about the web this morning while listening to my Leonard Cohen station on Last.Fm internet radio and wondering about the wealth of music websites out there and whether they make it harder or easier to build your Indie Biz or a supportive diverse community when I found this Online Music list from Mashable that seemed relevant and shareworthy, though a few months dated.

It’s always amazing to me how many different versions of the same ideas can coexist. In this case each site on the list is a different music-based business model and gateway to waaay more melody. Creates a bit of a mental bombardment actually, driving home the point that there are more musicians and models out there then one can possibly ever know… but still it’s nice they’re there, making love not war and all, and in some cases with a beat you can dance to!

Indie Hipster by Suburban Cowboy
http://flickr.com/photos/subcow/

It’s always been true, but the open web makes the muchnesses visible and so changes the context they compete in. In light of all the other awesomeness that’s undeniably out there, it seems, from an artists perspective, that the emphasis should rest on getting better and better by setting your personal bar high and working with diverse friends: A cycle that’s fed by sharing. (Here’s where I see Indyish having a long term purpose, but more on that later.)

Between the 90 + sites in the main Mashable list, and the hundreds more in the comments, you could spend weeks investigating the endless Indie.biz of music on the web, and mapping your competition and all the ways of marketing your music and yourself. These models will rise and fall and change. My advice: Just participate in the ones that make sense to you and focus on your craft and on what you can contribute to support networks you value. I think great music comes out of great communities (call them scenes if you prefer). Get in good with the feedback loops in real social networks (not just “Friend” counters) and I suspect the rest will follow. Call me crazy.

I’m no expert so disregard this all as you like - And if you just want more music for yer mornin? Here’s a good, shorter list of places online with legal mp3’s and links to directly whereon the sites you’ll find them… helpful!

http://www.last100.com/2007/08/17/10-sites-for-free-legal-music/

And if you’re in this music Indie Biz, looking to investigate your web options further as you kick off the new year, more power to yah! Here’s a recent Reuters list of sites specifically helpful to indie artists - everything from licensing deals to event demand, now ain’t that considerate:

http://www.reuters.com/article/internetNews/idUSN2849013620071229