Sites to replace last.fm for independent artists?

[northcape]

Hi- I just thought I'd start a thread off here as I could do with some suggestions for GOOD music sites for independent artists. Sadly with each change last.fm is going further downhill (no album streaming????) and I'm starting (reluctantly) to think I might need to find a new place to promote... OK, since last fm in its previous incarnation was pretty much perfect IMO I realise there probably isnt a replacement :-( I know the internet is full of places you can put music for free, but I've found that most of them are basically a waste of time as far as actually getting heard, or just exchanges of plays between artists with no chance of a wider audience. But I haven't looked recently for new sites, what are the best around at the moment?

[Angus Maiden]

I'm in the same fix.

[Pixieguts]

Yep, Last.fm continues its decline since its takeover by CBS a couple of years ago but is still generating more new listeners for me than any other site. Here are some other sites I like...

Bandcamp
This site does not generate any listeners for you but I am finding it great as my main music site where I can direct listeners to download music in a very wide range of formats on the basis of either sales, free downloads or pay as you wish. Any income from this site goes directly to your PayPal account with no deductions. Uploads take a long time one by one in .wav format but it's worth the effort I think.

Jamendo
Next best place to Last.fm in my experience for generating listeners without having to bring them all in yourself and you can also have a blog there. Without a huge amount of effort or promotion on this site, I find myself in the top 1000 played acts on this site fairly regularly now (this may be to do with consistent efforts all over the net though too and people finding me there from other places). Been at Jamendo for a couple of years. Uploads in .wav format, be patient.

Reverbnation
This site really needs to find a way to generate more listeners for artists without them having to bring in their own already existing fans but I love their widgets that can be placed on any site allowing html embedding and it's also the best place I've found for building and managing my mailing list. Getting widget hits on any site boosts your charting position which in turn attracts new fans (even if they are most often other bands/artists this is helpful I think).

Soundclick
I don't spend much time there but it is a huge independent music site that's been around for a long time and if you get into the forums there you can get reviewed. If you have auto playing widgets on your own sites with lots of traffic this boosts your charting on the site.

The SixtyOne
This site seems best for music that is broadly classified as 'alternative' and may work better for electronic tracks that have vocal elements. There's not much you can do to promote yourself at the site aside from upload new tracks in an ongoing way (I usually upload one about every 2 weeks to a month). This is because the site is set up mainly for listeners as a kind of charting game. Artists tend to start really slowly on the site but with patience and continued uploads my following at this site has grown a lot over the last year.

I'm also using Facebook more these days, once I didn't think it was of any use, I've changed my mind on that especially if you can develop a larger friends circle there.

Maybe now that Last.fm is losing its appeal, the multi site approach is more the way to go...

By the way, there's some earlier discussion of sites for artists in this forum thread:

http://pixiespalace.ning.com/forum/topics/2210823:Topic:2721

[northcape]

Thanks Pixie, nice summary. I'm on all those sites except Bandcamp, though I haven't yet found a way to make Jamendo work for me it sounds like its worth putting a bit more effort in. The problem is I'm lazy and used to last.fm generating listeners for me without really trying ;-) I've found TheSixtyOne only works if you are very prolific, if you don't upload anything for a while people forget about your profile completely.
PS I know about the previous thread but someone may know about more new sites others haven't heard about yet?

[Pixieguts]

yeah cool, knew you would be on most of these, you have led the way for heaps of us. just putting in the link to the old thread to connect up the dots :-)

[beneqo]

Thanks for the links above - very useful.. I can also recommend Zoxsy - it's similar in some respects to the61 but relatively small at the moment: however, it seems to be growing quickly and giving tracks a good chance to be heard!

[Voide]

Adding my experience with some other sites

SongVault - Allows you to submit up to three tracks at a time time for charting and potential permanent placement in the song vault. People vote on your music and if they like it you will get plays and new fans. I have used this site since 2007.

Create an artist page on Facebook (if you don't want to use your private account) - I found this to be VERY tricky but it is a nice way to manage your presence on facebook. You make yourself admin of your page so that you can use your private facebook account to manage it.

Jango - promotion tool (costs a few bucks but generates lots of plays) - Mostly for exposure and finding new fans, works though!

UBETOO - The site has re-launched recently and it is a lot better now. Is getting some press mentioning as well and that helps!

Music Alley (formerly podshow) - Upload your tracks that you want to be considered to be featured in podcast shows around the world. Helps spread the word about your music.

...And avoid mp3.com - it's crap!

[Voide]

Stereofame - If you want to 'play the game' and promote yourself then this is a good spot. It does require some active participation though. Is global, very US centric. Charts, votes, comments - the usual stuff. Well designed.

[Maria - Theresia Fröhlich]

HELLO EVERYBODY! I really appreciate that discussion had been started.
I'm a founder of a social network myself and I was asking me this question a couple of times.
Well, I've started a group on LastFM to promote artists on our Group radio
LestFM'S ARTISTS PROMOTIION to start a webradio of our artists - but beside this I think Lastfm is a little bit limited so we promote our artists on different platforms.
I think combination of lastfm and ning it's quite interesting!
Please give me some feedback! Much appreciated!

[northcape]

Grooveshark (as recommended by Metricks) looks interesting. Rather too many places where there is someone trying to charge you to promote your music, but some interesting links with twitter and they seem to have stolen quite a few ideas from last.fm as well...