If you are a musician or a fan of musicians--and I would say that most of us fit one of these two categories--then it is high time you learned more about music social networks. For musicians, this is the most personal forum available for exposing your music, short of playing it in front of a live audience. For the music connoisseurs out there, that is absolute heaven. Fans can browse music social networks to discover an endless universe of new music, and then they have the option of purchasing it directly from the artist, knowing that their hard-earned money is actually going to support the people who made the music...not the people who run the machines that shrink-wrap the albums in plastic.
Maintaining a personal connection with one's fans is vital to the success of any musician or band. Think about all of the artists with grassroots street teams that go out in the world to spread the word about a band's upcoming shows. You see them everywhere--walking around downtown, passing out fliers outside of concert venues and clubs. A street team is essentially a group that usually gets some inside information, apparel or gear with the band's logo, and other such extras. They get out and spread band-related news to the public. The best form of marketing is work of mouth, and bands using street teams know that to be the case. Don't worry if you're not big into passing out fliers. As a listener, interacting with bands via a music social networking site can also afford you some exclusive insider info.
For bands, it means a lot when fans take the time to leave comments on your site telling you how much the love their new album. You might not have the time to respond to every single person who sends you a message, but then, when you can address them as a group, that's just as important. And as a fan, being the first to know about your favorite band's upcoming tour dates or getting to vote on or see the new album cover before it comes out are all perks that mean a lot when you know that the musicians are doing it to show their appreciation and loyalty to their fan base.
Let it not be forgotten that a music social network site is a great way for bands to interact with other bands. Buying the music of other artists is a good way to build a rapport and support each other, and beyond that, many such sites support blogging or forums for people to use as a means of communication and generating buzz. You never know when you'll find yourself in a position to book a gig, ask another band to join you for an album collaboration, or even just get together for a jam session. Who knows? You might find that music social networks are just the places to find a new drummer or offer up your own talents to an existing band.
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