SONG CONTEST BLOG

In a press release distributed today by ReverbNation’s own Jed Carlson, ReverbNation, the all-under-one-roof music marketing portal with almost 400,000 users announced the pre-launch of a new product dubbed Site Builder, a collaborative effort with Bandzoogle, a custom website building service for indie artists.  Site Builder enables artists with no technical know-how to easily create their own websites in just a few clicks and automatically integrate their content from their ReverbNation accounts and connect their websites to other supporting ReverbNation features such as FanReach, the popular newsletter client.

“It’s critical for Artists to have their own ‘home’ where they can develop fan relationships, grow their brand, and conduct business directly with their fans,” says ReverbNation Co-Founder Lou Plaia.  “Site Builder is another step in creating a true, turnkey solution for the DIY artist.   Soon we will be adding a comprehensive direct-to-fan store that will allow artists to sell merchandise, music, ringtones, and tickets to their fans through all of their fan touch points online.”

The addition of Site Builder to ReverbNation’s comprehensive, one-stop service brings the company even closer to its 360-degree vision for DIY artists.

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In a press release dated the 16th April, Bandzoogle, a DIY custom website builder for musicians, announced that its member artists have turned over more than $1 million collectively in music and merchandise sales through the service.

“The fact that Bandzoogle lets artists keep 100% of their sales sets us apart from the vast majority of e-commerce solutions for musicians,” says Chris Vinson, President of Bandzoogle, adding “our team is proud to have helped our members reach this million-dollar milestone which demonstrates how our tools are helping musicians succeed on the web.”

For a $15 to $20 per month subscription, Bandzoogle allows musicians to quickly build and customize a professional website with all the necessary features to showcase their media and gig schedule, sell music and merch, publish a blog, manage fan lists, and more.  Considering the cost of hiring and depending on a professional developer to create and manage a custom artist website, Bandzoogle will argue that its websites are cost effective and as easy to maintain as a social network profile. 

I previewed some of the sample sites and they do look good.  There’s no doubt that launching your own website can be a headache, however, if you’re cash strapped and can’t be bothered (as many musicians are), surely a free social network profile will suffice?  Apparently not.