So Much to Gain From Music Social Networks

By: urlreader | Posted: 01st December 2008

A music social network is really a great tool for both listeners and musicians. It's so convenient--all you have to have is a computer and an Internet connection and you're golden! Musicians can share music and listeners can find and hear new music, for little or no cost whatsoever. Should listeners choose to purchase music directly from the artist, they can do so online, and that way the artist actually sees more than 2% of the money their album makes. Generally, it's cheaper to buy music online through a music social networking site and download it directly to your computer because you're not paying for the packaging that comes with it in the store. You'll often pay anywhere from $3-$6 more for albums in-store than you would online.

Not only are musicians using music social networks to connect with listeners and let them download their music, many artists are addressing the fact that some of us still enjoy the novelty of having the studio-produced CD and decorative packaging that accompanies it by coming up with innovative, and in some cases, eco-friendly packaging solutions. While the packaging for Jenny Lewis' latest album Acid Tongue isn't particularly innovative (it is, in essence, a flimsy brown envelope), it is very minimalist and relatively eco-friendly. The envelope is made from recycled paper, and to replace what would normally be a CD insert, there are four small black and white photographs placed loosely inside the envelope.

An example of more innovative album packaging (but not necessarily eco-friendly) is Of Montreal's latest release Skeletal Lamping. These totally bizarre but amazing artists have gone all out by packaging this particular album in the form of a beautiful, decorative object of the consumer's choosing: a lantern, a table top floral beast, a collection of wall decals, a stallion-shaped print, a collection of pins, and a line of clothing and tote bags. They have a whole manifesto written about this on their website in which they indicate that every object you bring into your home should be exceptional to you, and this doesn't mean "right angle plagued CD packaging." The quote "We've always felt that the packaging was just as important as the music inside of it," pretty much sums up the premise behind this band's take on CD packaging.

It's truly amazing what you can learn from the web and sites like music social networks. I think many of us can concur that we know a lot of what we know about music these days because of the Internet. Unless you have a subscription to at least one music magazine or you regularly watch music-related programming (which is rarely even music-related), how else would you know what was going on with your favorite bands? The beauty of an online music social network is that you can be as informed as you want to be about your favorite artists.
Written by Mel Bryson. Music social networking site that provides a music social network and store for artists and listeners. One of the hottest new music social networks on the internet at http://www.r4rmedia.biz
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Tags: internet connection, photographs, social networks, listeners, musicians, recycled paper, pins, beast, manifesto, new music, stallion, using music, social networking site, montreal, wall decals, packaging solutions