Record Label 2.0??

Looking at what Web 2.0 means you begin to realize that no one really knows. So then what is Music 2.0, and is there such a thing as record label 2.0? Using my own definition I would say that Web 2.0 is a online software or service that primarily allows interaction of visitors, members, users, and hosts. In that vein then Music 2.0 should best be described as a service that focuses on or greatly utilizes consumers, fans, musicians, music professionals, and company employees. Can a music 2.0 company then be called a record label? In the past Labels have handled all the business aspects of a musicians career. As Music 2.0 companies are more likely focused on the options available to both the artist and the music fan. I would say no a music 2.0 company isn't a label so what shall we call label like music 2.0 companies? I would say that Sellaband.com is a music 2.0 company more of a facilitator then a label yet they do many of the tasks of a traditional label.

While thinking about that I came to realize that record label 2.0 doesn't apply to any one company. "You are the Record Company" is a slogan from Sellaband.com and I think that statement is what record label 2.0 really is. The Indie artist at this time has 1,000s of tools from widgets to full on music 2.0 companies to use in their success. However we can look at that from the other side, the hard core music fan has 1,000s of widgets and music 2.0 sites they can use to at the minimal pretend to be music execs. I know for myself without pretending many people see me as something similar to this. In that regards Netvalar is a music exec albeit a very poor one. So now even if you only vote for music on a music 2.0 site you are a record label 2.0, you get to decide just how far you will take your new found position.

Now lets get to the meat of this post I wanted to bring several old conversation from the blogosphere here under one roof. I would love comments either here or at one of the following posts themselves. I am sure some of you follow me elsewhere and may have heard me rave about this post from net, blogs, rock n roll. Well if you read the story in that post you will see what record label 2.0 of the future could look like.

A good majority of people when they think web 2.0 they think social networking or blogging so lets start by mentioning the use of MP3 blogs to further your music career. Over at New Music strategies is a great piece along this line. In this months list of music sites for me to ponder there is a couple of blogs that fit in this vein. Try out MP3 blogs to find new music or promote your fav music. Of course why just go out and find other bloggers to help you why not start your own blog, there is a great conversation started about this at wicked whammy.

When I first set-up music evolution I wanted to think about how a musician could use it to organize their fans and street team (still thinking along those lines too). Well one way to help keep fans and street teams updated quickly is twitter, You can see what snap music has to say.
. Of course if fans are going to get more involved and join your street team why not get them involved in making videos. As you can see the music options are changing but are you taking advantage of them. Spellbox does 3 weekly web casts and you can take a look at http://mystimayhem.camstreams.com/