I’ve always been a firm believer that musicians should not post song clips, but rather complete songs, in their myspace or website music player.

Here’s a bit I’ve written about it:

Music isn’t meant to be experienced in clips, so if your songs are not in regular rotation on the radio, they need to be in regular rotation on your web site.

If someone likes what they hear they’ll visit your site often to listen and once they’ve experienced your music they won’t want to be tied to their computer to listen to it. In the process, they’ll also learn more about you and feel more of a connection to you as they visit your site regularly.

Clips only communicate that you either don’t believe in your music or you don’t trust your audience.

While I still believe this to be true, I’ve come to think that there is also a place for song clips on an artist’s site.

Not everyone wants or has the time to listen to a 30 second song intro, so in addition to the songs you post on your page, consider putting together a medly of your top songs so that in less than 2 minutes visitors can get a quick idea of your sound and style.

There is a huge variety of people who will be visiting your website. Some want to experience the whole of your music. Some want to hear your Cliff’s Notes version before they commit to listening to the rest of your songs.

The goal for you is to make it as easy as possible for people to listen and like your music. Providing multiple formats in your music player will help you achieve that goal.

I’m am with you 100% on this Kat.  If 1,000 people listen or download my song, that is a 1,000 that I don’t have to spend a cent advertising to. If 10,000 people download the song and only 10% tell one person 1,000 more people will be on board.

Just remember to use MP3 TAGS when you put your music up. All new players display this info so when they are “spinning” your tune, they will see your name, what album it is from, the year, and any messages you post such as “please vistit my website at....”

Very important. To anyone NOT familiar with this look it up on the web--and do it!

Great site. Thank you very much!
gman

Gman Blues,
Thanks for commenting. I completely agree about the importance of tagging songs. I’ve downloaded songs that artists or labels have distributed for free as a promotion and they didn’t tag the songs, so I ended up deleting them later, because I had no idea who the artist was.

Perfect Example! It can either work for or against you! If they like the song and play it often they will see your name and message over and over (especially in the car).