Downloading Music Helps Indie Artists - Everybody is downloading music these days. Why wouldn't they? There's a real abundance of opportunity on the web in this day and age,and with sites like iTunes and the like, it's easier than ever to find good new music instantly, and cheap, without having to go buy a whole album.
This digital download trend is an opportunity for independent artists as well. Every month, there are many people like you, searching for
music downloads from indie bands everywhere to add to their growing repertoire of songs that they carry around with them daily on their iPods or phones. They should be looking for this music too. Well know that there have been a number of amazing bands that have come from independent roots and those bands have had considerable success as a result, and more often than not have become fairly common household names like 'The Killers' or 'The Arkells' etc.
One of the great things about looking for music like this is that listeners that are seeking new music get to hear it before everybody else does. It's almost as if becoming a fan of certain indie bands is like belonging to an exclusive 'club' of fans. These fans are the reason that these bands will enjoy any success at all, and the bands know it. In the earlier stages of their careers, they can give back a little more easily by offering their music as downloads to their fans, a bit of a 'Thank you' for being a fan. The fans of course have the satisfaction of knowing that they were there from the beginning, long before the days of the bands' success, and the fans know that they were able to get some of that music, straight from the band, for free, while they still could.
As an indie rock artist, myself, and others like me, need all the support and help that we can get. But I know, and most of us know, that we can't just go out blindly asking for support when people haven't even had a chance to check out our music properly. That's where the opportunity to download music from indie sites comes into play. Offering these downloads to new visitors helps give people a chance to check out our music on their own terms and at their own time and place. Maybe they can throw it on their I-pod or phone or whatever, and listen while they're walking or even working out. Indie musicians have to offer these tracks for free as independent artists. Without the backing of a big record company, many people just don't know yet that they may want to support you. Giving people a free sample helps show them that you have something to offer.
It's a
good way for Indie artists to build relationships as well, giving people something for nothing. Everybody likes that! Besides, for the person actually searching for music, they may find something new that they absolutely love. Maybe it'll be music that they're going to listen to for years to come. It's certainly not too difficult to search, we all know how to do it.
