Using A Music Social Network To Your Advantage

By Author: Mel Bryson
Total Articles: 223
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Music social networks are amazing tools for both musicians and listeners alike. The convenience of having only to turn on your computer and hop on the Internet to share your music, or listen to and find new music really can't be beat. We all know that the music industry doesn't allow for musicians to see much of the money that their album makes- they usually get less than 20¢ for every CD you purchase for $16. Now, given that a CD costs all of two or three cents to make...I think you get the picture. Online, however, is a different story. When you can buy music directly from the artist, there is a pretty good chance that they'll actually see more than 20¢...assuming they've already paid off the recording costs.

The other benefit of selling online through a music social networking site is that you can set your own price. You can charge your fans a price that you've come up with, and you can sell however you want to. Want your album to go out as a whole? Only sell it as a whole. However, you can also opt to sell individual songs, which means that you will likely get purchases from people who aren't your ordinary ...
... fan base (who are already going to be buying the album), but rather, people who like a song or two, or people are who are interested in hearing more but aren't quite ready to make the investment of buying the entire album.

Of course, being on a music social network site can also help you make a more intimate connection with your fans. By keeping a blog on your site, you can keep your fans up to date about the latest news, whether you're cutting new tracks on the album, going on tour soon, or are already on tour and giving your fans some insight into what it is like to be out there on the road, playing music every night. Announcing tour dates to your fan base first, or offering special merchandise to those you interact with on a music social networking site can be a great way to reach out and help your fans feel like you really appreciate them. You had better appreciate your fans- they're the ones who make it possible for you to do what you love for a living. Creating an email list for your fans is sure easier than stamping all the envelopes you'd have to if you were still using snail mail!