by Theresa Cobb

Created on: September 09, 2009

After years of declining sales and standing on the virtual edge of financial disaster, record labels worldwide have finally heard the sweet song of money - cha-ching! - and coincidentally, it's the unmistakable sound of broadband. By changing their own habits and turning to the internet, not only are they finding new talent, they're drawing on all the available marketing research they need to guarantee success of their next superstar. Like ripe little plums, the big hits of tomorrow are all just waiting, nay, begging to be picked up.

Many bands are putting their own videos on YouTube and utilizing the different formats on MySpace to introduce their future fans to their particular brand of talent. The internet version of "American Idol", YouTube, allows fans to vote on the videos, add their comments, spread the word and then search out more work that a band may offer. Some bands will cross link YouTube with their own little advertising billboard, MySpace. From here bands can link with other talent to cross-promote and also link to distribution sites such as SongCast.com, CreateSpace.com or DiskMakers.com. This form of cross promotion can cost the ingenious band or solo artist nothing, but mean worlds of untold gold to the record label. Additionally, at MySpace, the fan can potentially become an unwitting salesman for the band or solo artist, and the beat goes on. All this, and not one record has been sent to ceramic for production yet.

Once a band or solo artist is connected with internet distribution, the distribution sites can handle copyrights and different download formats, such as iTunes, .wav, or .wave. With the ability to limit multiple downloads, handle fan information and other priceless demographic information, the distribution sites bring their own marketing info, all available free of charge to the band, of course, to the bargaining table. This makes it easier for the Giant Record Label to determine fan base, region and probability statistics, without spending their own dime.

Not only are these companies able to promote unseen, unheard talent, the smart ones, the mavericks, are also able to offer up free thirty second ringtone downloads (Gasp! Horrors!) of an artist's older work that, in turn, promotes the newest work of their beloved superstar or a cover song by a new star. Cross referencing sales costs nothing in the end and doesn't make enemies of your potential customers, but turns them into potential salesmen. With this ability, record companies

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>