The direction of so many online music promotion websites, including things like Slice the Pie (which I'm a big fan of and use), and obviously Myspace, Bebo etc, always seems to be in one direction: band to fans, or fans to band. 'Get feedback from music fans' or 'take this widget and spread the word about our music'. What seems to be lacking is band to band conversation. I haven't seen any web 2.0-type site or network that facilitates the building of a useful community for and by artists themselves.

I think this is important, because if you look at some of the success stories in music recently - the Kate Nash/Jack Penate/Lily Allen/Jamie T coven, Animal Collective/Panda Bear/all the spin-offs - it's obvious that when musicians are friends with each other, and one of them manages to get a foothold in the industry, it benefits the others. Even before that stage, artists who can group together and put on events, club nights, support each other at gigs, etc, and pool resources and fan bases, are bound to be a step ahead of those who are out there alone hammering away at their Myspace Add Friends button until they crawl into a corner weeping (we've all been there!)

So I guess my question is: has anyone seen a site where artist-to-artist communities can grow, and if not who wants to help me build one? ;)

That is a very good point Christian.

I always wonder the same thing, there should be more websites that enable bands to help each other, whether its promotion, swapping gigs, swapping fans, etc

I understand what you point out that Myspace and Bebo are all Band-Fan oriented...and I its always a competition on who has more friends, more gigs posted, etc...

I am a supporter of band networking, it would be great to have a website where you could swap fans easily, find gigs together, help promote each other efficiently, etc. I support this idea completely.

Count me in to help you on the website. I am not website savy, but I will help however I can.

Well there is nextcat.com, it was intended as the artist to artist myspace.
I've belonged for 2 years now, but it seems to have run out of steam lately.

Well as I see Myspace (don't know the other sites), it has this exact potential.

We use myspace all the time to contact other bands (and bookers) and keep our "bonds" alive to bands we have met or played with.

Also the "top 10 friends" work as some kind of pointer to what is important for a band. Often fans of this band uses these links. So even though Myspace is very fan<->band, it still has the potential of band<->band communication - but off course we could all use better add-ons, like a "missing support act-calender" and stuff like that.

Seriously, guys! Come on!

Myspace is ONLY useful for networking now! the critical mass of punters or "fans" has dissipated.

The only people left are the musicians, wannabe's, russian brides, turkish grooms, nigerians and other spammers of the none-to-bright variety.

The early adopters are somewhere else adopting something else, and facebook is starting to teeter right now aswell.

" . . . a step ahead of those who are out there alone hammering away at their Myspace Add Friends button until they crawl into a corner weeping (we've all been there!)"

This is a shocker, and the second such comment I've seen here.

I usually dont share this stuff openly but this is entry level basics!

Friend blaster. Look it up. Take the first step down a long and dirty road called "internet marketing".

Used it reliably for over 2 years.

Open adder. Also recommended by internet marketers.

Y'know that show "lost" where they have to type in the code?

Have fun, kids!

But I don't see Anna from Minsk who looks for good husband stumping up to download your new album off itunes.

(damn wheres my affiliate link? I'm only half as smart as I sound! haha)

Check out my blog for other tips on maintaining the sneaky geeky muscle behind your online promotions. http://kurbpromotion.wordpress.com

Dude, I think you're reading rather too much (or too little?) into my post. Of course I've heard of Friend Adders. I've used them. I've used specialist services that add 1000 plays a day to your page too. Everything, literally, that's out there in this space I've tried, just to give it a go, to learn more about the space, so I know what to avoid and what may provide benefit. Trust me, I get the whole internet music marketing game (I write a blog about it after all) ;)

And I agree, Myspace is so saturated with bands - and also so bereft now of tastemakers at the same time - that it's not a great place to make a connection anymore. And Facebook has never been that useful for bands really, despite interesting apps like the Music Wall. My remark was simply that, at the beginning, when you don't know all this stuff, you do think that sitting all day adding friends is the way to go. Now, of course, all us clever types like you and me understand that it's pointless. Other people may not have your coruscating insight into this space though, which is worth remembering - not all bands are net nerds, which is why sites like mine and Dubber's exist after all.

My point was - where is the music site that wraps up LinkedIn, Guru.com, Craigslist and social networking features to make band-to-band (or to promoter, video director, stylist, photographer, mixer, manager etc) communication and transaction simple and reliable?