Lawrence.com

The Web is quickly becoming a place for musicians to go, not only to find resources to help them break into the professional ranks, but also to distribute their music and gain exposure. For that reason, I've decided to put on my "All Access" pass and explore the many sites that are helping regional musicians reach wider audiences.

This week we'll look at TheOrangeSpot.com (www.theorangespot.com). Though the Web site is California-based, it is designed to help bands all over the country.

New distribution method

TheOrangeSpot.com was founded by Robert "The Robfather" Trisler, the chief executive officer of Orange Peal Records. Trisler put the site together as a means for independent bands to promote themselves.

"Our overall goal is simple: help bands make money!" Trisler says.

On the site, artists can sell CDs, T-shirts, stickers, hats or other merchandise. And there are no up-front fees.

Trisler's goal is to make it as easy as possible for independent bands to reach their fans.

"The Web site is not too different from other music sites in the sense that it helps bands sell merchandise, CDs, etc.," Trisler explains. "But it is different in the way it allows the bands to make a profit on their music and merchandise."

For example, unlike Amazon.com or Riffage.com, a band can sell merchandise. And, unlike musicmerch.com, bands can also peddle their own CDs.

Bands that sign up on TheOrangeSpot.com get their own band Web page. The page can include band photos, a bio and downloadable songs. They also have links to buy merchandise and CDs from these acts.

"Another huge difference between TheOrangeSpot.com nd the rest of the sites is that none of the other sites will offer to pay for a band's advertising outside the Internet," Trisler says.

In the co-op advertising program, TheOrangeSpot.com will pick up to 40 percent of the bill for creating and displaying the ads in selected magazines and newspapers.

"We will offer to help any touring band pay for their advertising in any local daily/weekly paper or magazine where the band is planning on playing, and in most cases up to 40 percent of the cost," Trisler says. "No other music Web site offers this."

One of the unusual features on the site is a classified ads section. There musicians can buy or sell instruments and equipment, hire new members or seek out shows. Trisler expects TheOrangeSpot.com to have more interactive and multimedia features as time goes on. For example, he's thinking about allowing bands to exhibit video clips of their performances.

Shopping and downloading

To get a real feel for what TheOrangeSpot.com can do for a band, it's good to look at some of the individual band pages. On the page for "Sugar Spun," the page lists expected items such as the band members what they each play, and features a photo from Sugar Spun's debut CD, "Hollywood & Vine."

But further down the page are the real goods: downloadable MP3s. Sugar Spun has two songs on the page, both from the "Hollywood & Vine" CD. And, once you hear the music samples and decide you're a fan, the page has an e-commerce section. Sugar Spun is selling three CDs and their own band T-shirts. Visitors are urged to "add this to my cart!"

Trisler claims the bands have given him good feedback. For example, one recent e-mail stated, "You guys are helpful and easy to work with."

He says he recently started doing co-op advertisements with a small start-up label in Massachusetts.

"As a result, their CD sales have tripled in the last three weeks. They have also seen a major increase in hits to their own site from our link," Trisler says. "And we helped them keep their advertising costs down by absorbing 40 percent of the print costs. They were so happy with the results that we are going to do it again next month."