Concept- How to override the server where you post, while letting your fans and friends hear your mp3’s! Might save you from ‘licking up’ to any advertising schemes or unwanted agendas. Just a plain simple text link streaming your music from anywhere YOU want on the web. All it requires is that you’re allowed to put HTML in the post and a few other quite simple details explained in this article.

Background - As a musician and producer I often found myself joining musicians and recording artists promotional web sites. On those type of sites they typically limit the amount of mp3 files one may upload. This of course makes sense since it’s their server space and statistics software we, as users are using, mostly for free. Not to mention the feedback gained by being allowed onto the site. And I do recommend paying for the extra promotion gained by using extended features, like more songs, high-lightning on their front page etc., unless you already have very good ideas for P.R. This article is not about ‘jamming’ or ‘pirating’ other peoples sites.

It’s about using the latest streaming technology to your and everybody else’s advantage doing what is not only legal but often encouraged by the hosting party, putting a text link in your post. Since the streaming process is happening between the server where the mp3 file is hosted and the individual computer from where the listener have access to the Internet, you’re actually, indirectly, keeping the server (where you’re posting) from having anything to do with your mp3 file. Thus allowing their bandwidth for other activities. And, besides, this method can be applied really anywhere you post, whether it’s on a blog or in the email’s you’re sending to the talent scouts and record companies. Like this they’ll get immediate, direct access to your music.

How to make it - Put a (HTML) link in your post, email or presentation to a .m3u file located ANYWHERE on the Internet. There are plenty options available on the web where they offer free upload and storage of files. The html code should look something like this:

<a href=”http://your.server.com/your-files/my-song.m3u”>stream this song</a>

The .m3u file in question should contain an exact url to the mp3 file you want people to hear. The mp3 also needs to be uploaded to wherever you have access to server space, normally the same folder as the .m3u file, though not a must. That’s it.

What is a .m3u file - It’s the basic mp3 audio streaming syntax which all internet radio and mp3 sound streaming reproducers (winamp, iTunes, Windows media player,realPlayer etc.) automatically listens to when you click the ’stream’ or radio broadcast buttons on the web.

It’s a simple text-file made with a basic text editor like notepad, BBEdit (mac) or similar. NOT MS-Word! In the file you write, on a single line without spaces, the exact url to your mp3 file, starting on line 1. If you want the player to reproduce many mp3 files consecutively (song list) just write the next address on the following line 2, next song on line 3.. etc. Then save this text file as a .m3u instead of .txt or whatever.

Applications - On a really crammed server like at myspace.com this method would allow for a faster responding playback since the listener actually won’t play the files from their server at all. According to my personal taste this beats the often garish looking flash players and similar (often coming with hidden or obvious advertising). Just a plain simple text link will do so much more if you are serious about your music product.

Non Surfers (yes, some people just can’t stand Internet, or simply don’t have enough spare time) but who often use one email address just to keep in touch with the rest of the world. If you personally know somebody fitting to this description and want them to hear your Internet based music, it just might be worth a try sending a mp3 stream text link to their email address hoping that the computer they use is connected to at least headphones. Also saves you from scaring people off by attaching the mp3 to the email (I, for one, very seldom open attachments in my email)

I hope above will broaden the perspective on what to do regarding getting your music played. Since the Internet bandwidth generally is getting larger for the average user this method should be highly applicable.

Warning! - By giving clients access to your mp3’s in this manner they can easily find the exact addresses to your mp3’s simply by opening and reading the .m3u file in any text editor. Then downloading them at their own leisure. So remember to use this system only for real ’sample’ mp3 files that you anyway would have given away if somebody asked for them.

To protect your mp3 streamed files is another ball game. One need to encrypt the files with encryption software or have the actual folder, where the files are residing, protected by re-writing the servers .htaccess file in certain ways, just forget that for now, it’s to complicated.

Shear up the moment with this ‘easy electronica’
track called ‘Symbiosis theme 1′ |Stream|Download|

.::rich::.