David Hooper has www.indiemusician.com and Brian Stephens can be foudn at www.brianstephens.com

Myspace.com is a community website. You sign up, and "friends" can link to each other. As you view your friends page, you might see another interesting friend. When you click on their page, you see another, and another, and another. Click, click, click. Next thing you know you haven't slept in days, and you're going to the bathroom in a cup. Its very addicting. Is it worth the time people are putting into it? Here is what people had to say:

I mostly run my band Bombs Away's MySpace. Since starting it, it has helped to get the word out on upcoming shows. We have a link on the main page for anyone interested in buying CDs and I think the exposure that the band is getting through the site has helped them to gain fans from all over the world. They can get feedback on their songs and similar to Purevolume, then can see how many plays they get for the day and in total.

The only downside to MySpace is when they're doing routine maintenance because nothing can be accessed on the site and that can run from a couple hours to a day or so. Other than that, the site has been excellent in promoting shows. Hope this helps with your feedback. -Claire & Bombs Away http://www.myspace.com/bombsaway http://www.bombsawayband.com ----

Megan here - I do promotions for a band- www.myspace.com/ernestgoodlife.com and their Myspace page had definately helped them get their songs out there. We are working on getting a good fan following, and by doing myspace, that has happened. You can do searches for people in your area, or in the area you are going to be playing a gig- and send these people emails. You can post all your gigs online, pictures... Our band is using myspace as their main website because the other one is "Under construction". It's a great way to connect with the fans. I think it's an amazing networking tool! I'm also using myspace for my own personal page (www.myspace.com/meganwashere ) and also for the bar Havana in New Hope, PA ( www.myspace.com/havananewhope ) where I write press releases.

So it's helpful overall! Any questions, let me know!

Megan
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I've had good myspace experiences. some people i've never met came to shows, i've met other musicians in specific areas through it. CD sales not affected, i don't think.

That's my nutshell version.

ps, I highly recommend you run your e-mails through a spell check, it will come across MUCH more pro, although i really appreciate you sending these e-mails out. Thanks!

Cheryl

www.cbemusic.com
www.cdbaby.com/engelhardt
www.sonicbids.com/cherylbengelhardt
www.myspace.com/cherylbengelhardt
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I am the manager/rhythm guitarist/backing vocal for Blind Venetians, a san francisco cover band. we have our regular website www.blindvenetians.com where we've got all our show info, bios, and even video clips. I also signed us up for myspace, because it seemed like the thing to do. but we have 0 friends/contacts (whatever they call them) which looks terrible of course. the truth is, we've got a mailing list with hundreds of contacts, and we get a good draw at our shows. but I have obviously not maximized/capitalized on the myspace thing.

I guess I don't really get the point of myspace, if you have a website that has all your stuff on it.

I'm looking forward to hearing what you and others have to say about this issue.
char sachson
blind venetians
www.blindvenetians.com ---

GREETINGS, I have made some contacts from myspace, to me it is important to do followups, it works ---

My band, FOLIO, has used Myspace almost exclusively to market our band.

We started a site 10 months or so ago and have yet to p[lay our first show (coming in Feb). Regardless, just on the strength of posted demos, we have a fanbase of over 17,000+ fans! In addition we've put out inquiries for people to sign up to be on our street team. We have 50+ people signed up INTERNATIONALLY. As we hope to crack the UK market before focusing on the states, this is an invaluable way for us to get the word out in focused markets. Our Manchester street team kids can print flyers and hand them out at shows of similar genre bands playing bigger venues there, letting them know about our upcoming CD release f'rinstance. Not bad for an all volunteer army.

Since we started our page, we've been approached by European and domestic indie labels, eager to put out a release. It's been a great tool for connecting us with several managers and merch companies, as well.

Additionally, we hope to soon monetize the established base with focused tour announcements based on region. At a recent music industry convention I attended (TAXI); Rob Blasco, (Rob Zombie's bassist)said in a management panel that several of the metal niche bands he's managing rely solely on Myspace for tour promotion as there is no radio at all to rely on in that genre.

I hope this is of use to you. Feel free to ask away if you've any further questions. Of course we'd appreciate a link if you mention us.

www.myspace.com/nuwaveboi

Cheers, Brent FOLIO ----

well, I don't have the time I would like to invest for myspace, but for the time I have spent on it has been pretty good.

The one problem is this: it's global. It's unlikely that you are going to fill venues by mass emailing people on myspace. however, if you keep really good records, or have lots of spare time, it can help. for example, several people have shown up to my last couple shows, having not heard anything at all from me. I started playing a coffee show in town and they found out simply because they visited my page on myspace. I think big advantage myspace gives you is that people are already there checking their pages. they don't have to make a special trip to your "real" website. they just need to click on your "icon" and your info comes up.

As with any website, you have to keep it up to date.

Another good feature is that, through the band pages, you can post 4 songs for people to hear or download. This helps with the bandwidth problem of posting too many on your personal website.

or, you could post rarities there, and album tracks on your "real" site.

For me, the biggest benefit has been the networking. I've met countless players in several markets with which I have exchanged gigs, info or fans. and this is what myspace is made for. their motto says it all: "a place for friends."

I also like that you can post several pictures there. an artist that is on top of things could post show pics there, or even fan shots to give people a reason to keep checking back.

At the very least, it's another location on the web for you to post your smiling face. and search engines pick it up as well.

The best part is: it's free. (at least for now) this may not last forever, because tom, the creator, sold the company. So, I highly recommend it. I could probably tell you more, if there's something specific you are wanting to know about.

thanks for asking,

ct GET INVOLVED!
JOIN THE STREET TEAM TODAY!!!
Visit the new chris thayer website @ www.christhayer.com ----

I can't really tell you from an artist's standpoint how well MySpace works, but as a manager in a call center where everyone has a 'puter connected to the Internet I see a good 80% of the kids 21- surfing MySpace music for new stuff on a daily basis. I too use MySpace to evaluate acts that wish to get radio play or coverage with Garage Radio and I do read EVERY bulletin I get from the ones on my friends list, so I would say that MySpace has truly filled that void MP3.com left behind ... to a degree. The one issue I have with it is the "freedom of code" MySpace gives it's members. There are no limits on the HTML that can be used and some of these bands have absolutely NO clue how to design web sites you can read :P

Another thing I can tell you is that many bands I know on MySpace Music have a LOT of hits on their counters ... and you can't just refresh the page to pad those numbers. I can categorically say that I believe it HAS done a lot for a lot of bands ...plus, there's a reason Sony just bought that fukker for sooo much. Maybe a fishing pond?

Thanx,
John Foxworthy
Chief Editor, Garage Radio
http://www.garageradio.com ---

It's helped me book some gigs. Also it has brought more people out to my shows (although some have been a bit stalker-ish). People tend to accidentally run across my myspace page. They probably don't just run across my regular website.

-Kristen www.KristenCothron.com
www.myspace.com/KristenCothron
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I've had problems with it. First of all, it's not clear for solo musicians that if you want music on your page you have to sign up for a band page. I know a few singer songwriters who set up pages because of the 'join up now' link on the home page, then discovered they had to delete their pages and follow the small and inconspicuous link to 'bands'.

The second problem has only affected me as far as I know but it's fatal. I set up a personal page as above, found my mistake, and set up a band page. But the next day it wouldn't accept my password to update it. I asked for the password to be sent out and got the one for the personal page, many times. I tried their 'contact us' and support addresses but you only ever get an automated message, often with no connection to the query you raised. In these circumstances I would normally try forums but - guess what? you need to log in with your password before you can access a forum! So I'm locked out with nothing at all I can do because their customer service/support is non-existent.

Best regards,
Norman
http://www.normanlamont.com
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EDITOR'S NOTE: Use this link to fix this problem http://www.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=bandprofile.convert ----

"tAC and everyone at 52media appreciates the hard work of sites such as MySpace, which is one of the better places (spaces) an unsigned artist can use to promote their music on the web today."

It has the traffic/community to really help break new artists. 'Nuff said.

We're talking about doing another webcast in Sept, maybe we can work together??

Let me know.

Flo
www.52media.com
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Hi Dave. I can honestly say MySpace has not done a single thing for me that I know of, other than get me two *ahem* private offers. My kids, on the other hand, swear by it. So I think a big part of it is an age thing. Most of the MySpace users are college age to much younger.

I have noticed an increase in hits on my regular website, but nothing that has translated into sales or gigs yet. I'm thinking of starting a new type of communal website for older musicians and call it WhySpace. ;)

Nikki
www.nikkirouse.com
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I'm happy to give you my 2 cents on myspace.com. I've been on it for probably about 6 months, and have around 300 "friends", almost all of which I accumulated through no initiative of my own. I've just approved every single person that wanted to be my "friend". I personally find that the site is not that helpful for my music career - I've sold just a few CD's through it, and just a couple of people have showed up to a gig as a result. My impression is that myspace.com is just teeming with dumb teenagers and college kids who apparently have nothing better to do than email semi-naked pics and insipid messages to one another, pretending to be "friends" with total strangers.

Yikes - I know that sounds harsh, but honestly, I don't really get it. I'm sure I could benefit more from myspace if I took the time to search out people _I_ want to be "friends" with, but I just don't have that kind of time. It's time-consuming as it is just to respond to everyone who writes me a misspelled email asking me how the weather in Oakland is - I can't really stomach more than that. It's also not a very easy site to navigate, in my view. It's still not clear to me how an "event" differs from a "bulletin", and posting events are time consuming, since you can't just invite all your "friends" with one fell swoop - you have to individually invite each person.

(Name verified, and withheld per request of the sender).
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Hey David!
My take on myspace is that it is the BEST thing for a musician. Especially an unknown band that has good music but for whatever reasons cannot make a name for themselves... (case in point, yours truly, THE SONNETS). I've spent many, many years trying to build up a fanbase with little to mixed results, but MYSPACE has given me a wider fanbase a couple of sales (not much but exposure is better, way better) and a chance to get heard of.

Of course it is mainly networking, but now I'm allowed to stay in touch with bands from my city regularly, get invites to shows I would have to receive emails from usually, get hello's and get to read about their experiences daily.

It ENHANCES the online experience in my eyes. Besides, its a way for fans to really see what a band or the individual who made the myspace site, to know certain things that can be general but never known little facts...for ex: blogs can reveal certain things, as well as likes and dislikes.

Friends can be found thru other friends, its not a bad thing!

Not to mention friends can get pics, flyers, shows, and samples.

And you aren't pulling your hair out trying to get them to visit your hard to update website either. (try updating something that someone else manages...urrgh!!!) Besides, it's cool to visit other sites through the network. I've made friends all over who want us to tour now. If only...I need a touring band!
Cheers!
http://www.myspace.com/thesonnets ----

I think myspace is the BEST sites there is for unsigned bands!!! Of course if the band is dedicated to keeping up the site then you will get some excellent results!!! Our band "Gitch" pretty much does everything off myspace. I mean anything that has to do with Gitch, promotion of our Cd's, band merch, show dates, booking info is all done thru myspace. Our band has been on myspace since the site was established and as soon as we started networking, adding friends, posting bulletins, sending messages our band started getting all kinds gigs!!!!! Lots and lots of fans, and not just local fans but fans literally all over the world!!! We even got an up and coming video producer to do a music video for free and it turn out to be a hit!! We've been contacted by record labels... With out this profile that we have on myspace we probably wouldn't have the time to work on so much promotion for us. Gitch loves myspace and we recommend to all the bands out there to try it it's free, fun, and easy to get started!!!!

Thank you Musicians Cooler you are doing a great job!!!
Gitch
Seleste www.myspace.com/gitch -----

www.myspace.com/keydragon and join us as a friend. I can't do it from this computer at the moment.

MySpace has been useful for networking with others in music. Other than that, It doesn't have much use. It's hard for anyone to find a band or a genre in the search engine. I had some disagreements with Cradle of Filth (they thought I stole one of their songs) and I had a hard time finding them once the issue was resolved (I didn't steal anything and they figured that out). We were going to collaborate but...they disappeared! MySpace has one main weakness for bands - It has no way to search for them. Later,
Ron Langford

Musicians Cooler at MySpace