Your Ideal Online Music Community

[aether]

Hello,

As some of you may know, I'm a marketing studying wrapping my studies with a practicum at an online music community site called Project Opus (http://www.projectopus.com). At current the site offers the following:

• Ability to sell your music (50/50 split currently)
• Ability to list events and shows
• A forum .. that's not so very active
• Individual Artist Sites (such as Jeremy Lim's - Project Opus)

I'm faced with the challenge of solidifying their product. They're a bit schizophrenic, going after a few too many initiatives at once.

So, I have to ask you guys ..

• What makes a good music community?
• What features would you like to see?
• What information would you want to see?
• What resources would you like to have?
• How much interaction would you like to see from the developers?
• How do you feel about selling music? And the $.50/$.50 split on MP3s?
• What would you see in your dream music site?

Basically, if Bemanistyle.com's MP forum were perfect, what would it be? Would there have to be tons of traffic coming in here and getting your music? What sort of traffic? Would you want lots of reviews from fans? Other artists? Would you want a social networking system like Facebook so you can see who's the most popular artist? Do you guys want a ranking/karma system?

I have a few ideas, but I wanted to get some feedback from artists, especially those who have commercialized their work (Beatdrop, Helix Eternal, etc.)

I'll be running a focus group later on, but some preliminary feedback would be great. If you want to learn more about what Project Opus is, feel free to check it out at MP3 Music Downloads, Free Hosting, Music News, Playlists, Indie Music Community - Project Opus.

Thanks guys!


On a side note:
How are you guys? Sorry I haven't shown much of a presence lately. I was down in New Orleans .. and then proceeded to be sick for the following two weeks. The progression of flu-fever-cold-glandinfection wasn't fantastic, but the drunken moments were! I more than welcome you guys to come check the photos on my Facebook, haha. New Orleans, the home of Jazz indeed.

[aether]

If this is the wrong place to ask, someone please tell me.

As the community I spend the most time with, your feedback is extremely important to me. But, if it's not something you guys have much to say on, then that's perfectly fine.

But please let me know. 20 views, and not a single comment.

[x0_000]

Sorry, I can't answer these questions... <_<;;;

[helix eternal]

I'll write up some answers for you when I get time, probably tomorrow. I'll more than likely just edit this post with the information.

[jihnsius]

I think there's already a few "perfect" music communities up, and they don't do anywhere near as well as they should.

[aether]

Could you point me to those?

[jihnsius]

I'd say serious-sounds.net is perfect, save for having a cocky admin.