The internet has given us access to anything, but even within its fiber optic confines the paths change constantly. For a long time, the obvious choice to search out a musician (online) was to go myspace.com/band. But as MySpace became a clogged mess of spam ads and clutter, YouTube became the new go to choice.

Going back to YouTube, it’s the same thing. 20k views of your latest video and no sales to show for it? No uptick in site traffic? Billboard not beating down your door? Why not? You’re a YouTube Sensation!!! Oh wait, maybe it’s time to rethink the approach and focus on the efforts yielding a definitive return.

We’ve been thinking a LOT about SEO lately.  While musicians are always concerned about making an artistic statement with their websites, they should also think about making a practical one.  We know practical isn’t always an artist’s favorite descriptor, but this is the music business and not the music-let’s-eat-ramen-forever.

So back to SEO.  First things first, SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization.  Basically, when somebody types something into the little Google search box, you’d like them to come up with a link to your band.  Have you ever Googled you/your band?  Shocked with what comes up?  Welcome to the fun world of SEO. [READ MORE]

I get all kinds of email at D.I.-Why.  Most of it comes from artists that want to get their foothold in the music biz.  They’re about to release an album and they want to sell a kajillion copies, get rich, and never work again.  Other artists are looking for an angle toward licensing and placement, because “that’s where the money is.”  Still others are simply looking to build buzz toward an undefined goal.  Maybe it’s fame, maybe it’s money, maybe it’s the desire to disrupt the status quo.  I prefer the latter, but that’s another story … [READ MORE]