Online music resources just a click away

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MUSIC BIZ 101

There is a plethora of music-related Web sites on the Internet. Here are a few I discovered on my cyberspace travels that are worth checking out.

For literally anything related to music, this reputable Canadian site is a first stop. Music Books Plus at www.musicbooksplus.com is an online store of music, audio and lighting books, CD-ROMs, DVDs, videos and software. It features a customer account login area, an automatic dual currency converter, enhanced search capabilities, secure online ordering and various payment options. The site also features an online referral program, plus sections on bestsellers and discounted pricing. They also publish Canadian Musician Magazine at www.canadianmusician.com.

Looking for the perfect guitar? Then you must stop by this Native American site! As the market for Native American music develops, John Longbow, Choctaw/Chickasaw, is in the forefront in providing instruments to Native musicians. Longbow Guitars at www.longbowguitars.com was founded 15 years ago and is based in Alburquerque, New Mexico. He researches all the endorsers of his guitars to make sure the Native American musicians are ideally suited to represent his products. His Web site also features Native Tongue Magazine, an online Native music source for today's Native musicians at www.nativetonguemagazine.com. No wonder Longbow Guitars is an official sponsor of the Canadian Aboriginal Music Festival for November 2004.

Unsigned Canadian independent recording artists now have the opportunity to sell their music on Puretracks.com, Canada's leading online download music store. Indie Pool will administer the program for Canada's unsigned indie artists online at http://www.indiepool.com/puretracks. With more than 250,000 music tracks, delivered directly from the original audio source, over 1 million songs have been sold since its launch in the fall of 2003.

With more than seven years in operation, Indie Pool has become Canada's largest supplier of independent artist services. Indie Pool offers CD manufacturing, domain name registration, e-commerce solutions, graphic design services, merchandising and supplies (directories, bar codes, grant applications, etc.) Indie Pool's toll-free number is 1-888-88-INDIE (46343).

An excellent Canadian songwriters' resource Web site can be found at www.cleverjoe.com which features songwriting information, tools, links and a place to connect with other songwriters. Another great Web site for aspiring songwriters and musicians is located at www.musesmuse.com. Everything from songwriting books, educational online songwriting material, music-related courses and materials, distribution channels, and locations to purchase musical equipment can be found with ease. Independent CDs are sold on a secured server. Although it is based in the United States, they accept Canadian indie artists and bands.

An e-commerce site is www.earBuzz.com for music artists who wish to distribute music worldwide. Independent artists make all of the profits from the sale of their CDs. Artists can check sales and information with a code to access their inventory movement available 24 hours a day.

earBuzz is non-exclusive, so that your music can be available on the Internet and through other distribution channels. Artists are able to promote CD sales through the earBuzz site on promotional materials by including their earBuzz Web site or a link to their own Web site. This site has high-speed connections, proprietary search engines, file size compression, optimized graphics, streaming, and mp3 choices.

This column is for reference and education only and is not intended to be a substitute for legal advice. The author assumes no responsibility or liability arising from any outdated information.

Ann Brascoupe owns What's Up Promotions, a company specializing in promoting, booking, and managing Aboriginal artists across Canada. She may be reached at abrascoupe@hotmail.com.