YouTube

YouTube is an established social networking site which was founded in Febuary 2005.

Why is YouTube relevant for Music Artists today?

It is a free form of online distribution - it is open to all artists regardless of their available finance for distribution

It is used by millions of viewers and potential fans everyday

It creates the opportunity for an artist to be found by potential record labels

It is an open platform for artists and fans to interact - An artist can improve from audience feedback and also understand what their fans like and want them to produce

Before the development of Social Networks

Artists were dependent upon the hope of obtaining a record deal, which was extremely difficult

Music was distributed on TV - music channels (MTV) and live programmes such as Top Of The Pops were the main forms of distribution. However they were not accessible for individual and new artists