I hate sending MRML readers to MySpace because it's a near-dead social networking site that gets worse with every upgrade. But MySpace still manages to have information AND sample songs for just about every musician ever born and so I'll still link to it at times. iTunes is a clunky place to visit and fairly unfriendly but since it offers a place to actually BUY music, I'll link there often too. I'll also frequently link to mail order places like Amazon and Interpunk, even though their selection varies widely. Of course, I also send people to musician's homepages or, on occasion, their Facebook page. Damn, I know there's a million more destinations but I'm always left wondering, do they help 'support the artist'?
One of the sites I'm most comfortable linking to is Bandcamp, which is becoming a better musical destination all the time.
Right now the homepage is still too focused on getting bands to sign-up and not enough on user-friendly features. There still needs to be more curating (some of which is done at sites listed here). I know some people dig just poking around but there are way more potential customers who will appreciate some further organization, such as being able to subscribe to certain genre tags. Regardless, I know from now on I'll try to make Bandcamp one of my go-to links for bands. Here's hoping more and more artists will pitch their tent there.
So readers, whether music sellers or musical consumers (or both), what do you make of Bandcamp and the various ways to make music available on-line?
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Hey Jeffen
ReplyDeleteI like bandcamp.I have listened to and bought albums via bandcamp.The latest were the Kurt Baker EPs.And apparently the artists get 85% of the revenue.I never browse bandcamp but go for specific artists.
Doug
I am always dismayed when bandcamp isn't auto populated when I type the letter 'b' after a band's name. It's the easiest way to sample and makes the distance between sampling and purchasing non-existent.
DeleteBut I do have to know what I'm looking for. It seems impossible to just go in there and expect to come out with anything useful. Maybe that is an impatience issue on my part.
Yeah Bandcammp, if it is to succeed, needs to become destination for music fans.
DeleteRecently got the Chord CD/LP set on Bandcamp digitally. I had no idea it was available there since the label that physically released the items (Important Records) of course wouldn't want you to know. Big fucking secret for a lot of groups I bet due to their labels greediness. I have gotten a bunch of stuff on Ian Boddy's DiN label at bandcamp but then again I linked to it by dumb luck-not even their website lets you know of the Bandcamp option. Very strange. Navigation absolutely SUCKS on bandcamp so I usuually google artist followed by bandcamp and I sometimes find stuff I am looking for.
ReplyDelete"Navigation absolutely SUCKS on bandcamp"
ReplyDeleteAmen.
Don't most people go to bandcamp, myspace, facebook, itunes, with the specific artist in mind? For Jeffen's purposes, I think bandcamp is a great choice. Most current bands try to have a presence there, don't they?
ReplyDeleteYeah for all the sites mentioned I always search through Google, rather then the site itself.
DeleteI have only 3 Bandcamp-sourced bands in my entire collection.
ReplyDeleteIt has a long way to go before I'd use it.
Maybe I'm biased by the fact that you can embed the releases they put out. That's a great feature for a blogger.
ReplyDeleteGeez, you guys weren't exaggerating about it being unnavigable!
DeleteI'm probably more biased because I'm not terribly into what I'd term "sound-alike" music at the moment, as I seem to be finding the more current bands who are using Bandcamp are, but I do like the fact quite a few are putting up the recording info in lieu of liner notes, which is one of the major failings of iTunes for me.
I prefer to have recording info AND liner notes but I'm pretty old school.
ReplyDelete