Big shout out to Wicked D for finding this one (I am not always up on anything related to Myspace anymore).
Myspace has launched Myspace Band Support, a place where musicians can learn ho to effectively use what is left of the Myspace platform. Some of the features include:
How To Customize Your Myspace Profile
This section I am surprised to say that I am a fan of. While the individuality of Myspace pages is what helped the site grow, it also turned off a lot of web users. Getting some standardization could be good if they want to get the fans back on the site streaming the music and clicking on ads. Wicked D made a nice comment however that:
As far as the templates, I believe the music player should be the first thing that visitors see. Â Fans come to your profile for your music, first and foremost!
Agreed there. Currently you can choose from 4 templates, preview them and watch some tutorials on how to customize them.
Friends and Fans
Next is some training on how to engage your fans on Myspace. Currently there are 3 features here, yet 2 of them are coming soon.
- How to place friends into categories
- How to create a buzz with your profile (coming soon)
- How to get a fanbase on Myspace (coming soon)
The latter 2 that are coming soon could actually be interesting if they get in depth at how some of the grassroots bands have used the network, with examples, numbers and growth rate. If they just show you how to spam people and reply to comments, or give a social media 101 lesson, they will be behind the curve on that one.
Tips and Tricks
What could be a very cool section is instead replaced by some of the things nearly every band or artist on the planet can figure out in 30 seconds.
- How to sync Myspace with Twitter
- How to upload photos
- How to upload videos
- How to place friends into categories (if you are paying attention, things are starting to repeat)
Make the Most of Myspace
Last section of wisdom from the site that holds more bands profiles in one place than anywhere on earth. What are they going to do with this power?
- How to use friend category
- Use Myspace As Your Official Website (ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh)(oh and coming soon)
- Download official Myspace band templates (again, really)
I’m not going to get into it today, but “Use Myspace As Your Official Website” is about as cool as still using beepers to get in touch with your girlfriend.
Some actually useful info
I always like to see what profiles do have a nice look and feel to them and now they are going to start featuring them on this page for other artists to see. Right now its the Sundance Kids. It’s a pretty cool profile backed by some good music. Go check em out.
There’s also a band Podcast that looked pretty cool, then I noticed it was coming from CD Baby.
Overall I think they have an opportunity to really educte bands (they have an audience I would kill to talk to). Hopefully they give some really valuable information in the coming weeks.
But, let’s ask you guys. What fo you think about the new Myspace Band Support? What can they do to make it valuable for you?
-Greg
Tags: Music Marketing, myspace
Leave A Reply (6 comments So Far)
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Quiet Entertainer
680 days ago
I was on myspace a couple of days ago. Amidst the wasteland, there are still some fans out there. I think there is a great opportunity to stand out from all the bands who don’t know what’s up and from all the fake spam adder profiles.
However, as an artist on myspace; I wish I could find a way to connect with my myspace friends/fans on other networks. It seems as though every other social network has a way to direct you to and from instead of just TO myspace. It would be more useful for me to relocate all of my lost myspace connections on the other networks (and eventually get them to my mailing list) . It seems as though Myspace is starting to become more like Reverbnation. RN has the Fan360 tool that is similar. If myspace just accepted the fact that people have left, I think tools like this one would help it to continue to be really useful instead of just the page you have to have up while you are using other social networks.
Good post, you guys.
P.S. – http://www.myspace.com/quietentertainer
gregrollett
680 days ago
@QE – I agree man. Hopefully now that they have admitted that Facebook isn’t entirely competition, I think we will see more integration. With their apps system and the new API, I think we will see some more continuity between the major players.
You are right about the fan data. I would love for a way when someone becomes your friend you can get them to opt-into your list or something. Unfortunately Myspace makes their money by keeping people on the site, not from building your list. Good thoughts man, I like where your mind is going.
Wicked D
680 days ago
Thanks for the plug, Greg.
You made it sound and look a lot better than I did, lol
Great job!
BeccasBiz
680 days ago
I’m all for bell and whistles as a Virtual Assistant for various artists that use MySpace. This at least gives me a few more tools to make their profiles stand out from the crowd. Great shout out to Wicked D! He has always been a portal and mentor for me as to what is really is going on and constantly brings my attention to relevant and useful sites, systems, and tools I can use to do a better job for my clients! As a matter of fact, he turned me on to you guys!! KUDOS for your recognition of someone who really has a finger on the pulse of the “biz” and that folks really need to stand up and take notice of!
Rock on,
Rebecca (BeccasBiz)
Capital Gain
679 days ago
I think that there’s still seemingly a lot of young people on myspace, but it’s not much of a tool for connection with anyone over the age of about 18.
What other social networking sites do you reccomend for musicians that are just starting out? How can we get our music into more people’s ears?
http://www.myspace.com/qpqcpg
http://twitter.com/QPQCPG
gregrollett
678 days ago
@Capital Gain – The standards today are Myspace, Facebook and Twitter. For the artists we work with, we really try to get the traffic back to our own sites, which is 99% of the time a WordPress blog – regularly updated. We utilize the sidebars with social networking features so the fans can connect how they feel most comfortable.