How to Build a Full Service Music Website

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Music service websites are extremely popular. Typical full-service music websites include online radio, a music store, music videos and the latest music news. The perfect music website provides users with one-stop access to everything musical. Some websites are focused on a certain label, independent artists or a specific genre. Most music websites offer free music and information in addition to subscription services and other paid products. Building your own full-service music website will take dedication and a love for music and web design.

Things You'll Need

• Web host
• Domain name

Instructions

1. Determine what your music service will offer. For instance, decide whether to include popular artists, independent artists, certain genres or certain labels. You can also provide a variety of music types. Consider whether to include the latest music news and whether to provide access to music videos as well. Consider every possible feature of your music website.

2. Find a web host and choose a domain name. GoDaddy.com offers packages perfect for music websites. Your domain name should be easy to remember and relate to the name of your site. When searching for a host, look for almost unlimited bandwidth, a minimum of 20 GB of storage space (you won't need this much if you aren't providing downloads from your website), SQL or MySQL databases, e-commerce options and support for your programming language.

3. Gain access to the music you want to sell. You can provide an upload feature for independent artists to upload their music for you to sell. For other music, contact each music label to obtain rights. Four of the major labels are Universal, Sony BMG, Warner and EMI. Submit a request for licensing on the label's website. Visit the Help or Contact Us sections for contact information.
   See Step 4 for an alternative.

4. Become an affiliate for iTunes, Amazon or another digital music seller.
   Many websites provide music news, online radio, videos and music downloads through a widget or link from an outside seller. You earn a commission for each sale. Visit the digital music seller you wish to use. Visit the FAQs or Help sections and view the information on becoming an affiliate.

5. Upload and implement your links, widgets, news feeds, videos and anything else you wish to include on your music website to your web host. You can obtain music news feeds from most blogs and music news websites. Or you can create your own music news blog.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep your full-service music website up to date. Update news and music at least every other day to keep visitors coming back. Use RSS feeds to keep content fresh 24/7.

• If using music, links, news, videos or anything else from another source, credit the source. For instance, if you use a story from Yahoo! Music, cite your source. Legal disputes can occur if proper credit isn't given.

Resources

• Working with Labels to Gain Selling Rights
• iTunes
• Rhapsody