SONG CONTEST BLOG

ReverbNation has officially launched the much-anticipated Sponsored Songs Program previously covered on this blog and, with that, revealed the sponsor behind the initiative: Microsoft Windows.  1000 handpicked ReverbNation artists are being featured on www.MySpace.com/Windows from June 24 through September 24, 2009 and their songs will be available for download for free.  Participating artists will be compensated by Microsoft for every free download to the tune of $0.50 in exchange for a Windows advertisement embedded on the digital artwork.  The three-way partnership is a potentially break-through digital distribution model, providing corporate brands with the means to tap into new, music-centric audiences and creating a fund for independent artists to finance their marketing and distribution activities.  If ReverbNation can find a way to scale this idea (i.e. bring on board more sponsors) and roll out consistent promotions, I am confident that indie artists from every musical sphere will be lining up to get on board.  While I’ve come across some cynics since the launch, I fail to see the downside.  Here is Microsoft’s point of view.

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ReverbNation, now home to almost 400,000 artists, agents, venue promoters, and indie labels, announced on Thursday that the company will select up to 1000 of its artists to participate in a “Sponsored Songs” program.  Under the terms of this initiative, participating artists will earn a sponsorship fee of $0.50 per “qualified” download acquired by their fans.  Each song will display the sponsor’s branded message as part of the digital cover artwork, visible each time the track is played on a music device.  As the sponsored songs spread virally, from fan to fan and to new prospects, the sponsor will be able to track every unique impression and gauge the ultimate value of his campaign.

“Sponsored Songs is one of several new programs that offer musicians a new revenue stream, capitalizing on the strength of their fan relationships and offering advertisers a better way to reach potential consumers” ? Michael Doernberg, CEO of ReverbNation

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