Trying to market my songs has always been daunting.  Friends say, “you have an advantage because you do PR,” but it’s hard to do my own PR.  Each year, more and more sites “help” artists. It’s great in theory but overwhelming.  More musicians can clutter the internet and more startups to help musicians mean spending more time getting music on to these sites than on creating, a much discussed challenge for musicians now (for anyone in their own fields I’m sure).  Just this year, a long list of startups added to the already long list.  A snapshot of the many just launched in 2009 was compiled by Music Ally.  Where to begin?  Or not?  Which will have staying power (some on the list are already defunct)?  What is the best use of my time?

The way I work is I’d want to do research on all of them and check them out but that could take me through 2010.  And I’ll have a new list of start-ups to consider.  And hopefully more songs to upload and put out.

Another article lists all the places an artist should already be (facebook, twitter, myspace, ilike, pandora, etc.). I’m on a bunch already but maintaining even one can take several hours. One industry writer says it’s the full time job in his piece on cutting through the noise.  I can’t do it all.  But that makes me shut down.   I need to select a few places, and focus.  As usual.