Dane Cook broke comedy records by selling his CD on it. Carson Daly promotes his on his late night show. Bret Easton Ellis's fictional son in Lunar Park uses it. Nip/Tuck even exploited The Carver on it.
Myspace.com transcended being considered something akin to a stalker net and became its own advertising and promotional tool for the famous and soon-to-be famous alike.
Local Athens bands have reaped the benefits since joining MySpace, which provides them with a free arena to showcase their talent as well as promote their upcoming shows. Each band's MySpace site can feature merchandise, listings for upcoming shows, a band profile and downloads.
Bill McCallion, bassist for local alternative band Jet Set Youth, said MySpace helped his band connect with other bands. Because of this connection, these bands have become more than just Internet friends, but people to share venues with as well.
MySpace is a good networking opportunity to meet other bands and discover new fans, said Chad White, bassist and background vocalist for local alternative rock band Downplay.
Downplay has fans that span from Maryland all the way to Los Angeles. White said he tells hesitant buyers of their CD to check out their Myspace.
MySpace is more than listening to music and gaining friends. White said it has become a competition to make the best profile with more links and uploads.
Rapper Jesty Beatz has mixed views on the topic.
MySpace is a beautiful thing, he said, because it gets a musician out there and expands a fan base. As a rapper, though, Beatz said that competition can quickly catch on, forcing him to step up his game and look for something more exclusive.
Beatz said MySpace rejuvenated his homepage (www.jestybeatz.com), which was in a slump.
It's something to supplement my own Web site
he said. MySpace got me more hits and plays than my actual Web site.
MySpace creators Chris DeWolfe and Tom Anderson told Forbes Magazine in January that Myspace attracts more than 660,000 bands. They said they both empathized with struggling artists and provided an outlet for getting the music out to the masses.
DeWolfe said MySpace gives artists a free place of promotion before they get signed, or helps artists make a living without getting signed at all. DeWolfe and Anderson also started MySpace Records, which promotes popular bands on the site that haven't been signed to a record label.
White said more people are starting to know his band and their music because of MySpace.
The best part about it is when new people show up singing our songs he said.
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Alissa Ponchione
Popular Web site creates opportunities to showcase songs
