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Online Music. The Big Picture

Using the internet to find an online music download that you like to listen to and build your music collection in any style of music is an easy and affordable way to add to your music library. You can easily burn your own CD's or download mp3's to your iPod or other mp3 music player. It is also a great way to find out about current and new artists, new album and single releases, access a free music download and even online sheet music. The popular free iTunes software and music library allows you to create your own music library, find TV shows, podcasts and get free music downloads and for only $0.99 a song download you cannot really go wrong. Plus there are a lot of websites online where you can find free online music videos and mp3 downloads like YouTube, MySpace, CDBaby, Soundclick and so many others.

Recently I discovered an online music site that offers services to independent musicians that is far and away light years ahead of these major players. The paradoxical nature of this is that it allows artists to set their own prices, allow their fans free online music downloads whilst keeping 100% of the royalties.

The Bandcamp player at the end of this post does just this. It allows for online music streaming of the entire album as often as you like. If you decide that you like the album enough to download to use the codeword thistle view the discount.

What does this mean for the future of music? With the everyday consumer buying on average 2 new music albums a month this could have an effect on the music industry but most shops like Virgin, Sony BMG and other well known music retail shops also have online websites which offer even more discounts and sometimes a music community so the music lovers using the internet can only boost music sales.

The internet is also a good place for independent artists without a major record label to upload and promote their music. There are a lot of independent music websites where you can create your own profile, update fans with your news and even sell your own music. The royalty companies like ASCAP, PRS, Harry Fox and BMI also have internet music licenses you can get so that you receive royalties and commissions for all music plays on internet radio stations, and for any music downloads and mp3 or CD sales.

You can even make your own music by buying and downloading music production and creation software you find online to your PC or laptop and if you have a good sound card and microphone you can make and record your own music and beats very easily. In fact, you can find hundreds of free loops and backing tracks you can download and even license for commercial use making it easy for the music producer and songwriter to make their own music.

If you want to learn about music, study an instrument or get advice on the music industry you can do a search on the internet and find so much free and useful information in articles and on music websites and blogs.

Does this take away the traditional way of making and playing music for the musician? Some think so but you can look at it like this; the internet has opened up the whole globe to us and you can make good music contacts from all over the world and build your own worldwide fan base just by promoting your music online. Music you may never have even heard of has become easily available and the whole music scene and industry has benefited and grown because of internet and satellite communications.

You can see then that using the internet connects music lovers around the world and Cyber Technology has made it easier for the songwriter and musician to create and record their own music. Plus it opens doors for the independent music artist and also increases exposure for major record label artists so that they can build their fan base and sell more of their music.