Bypassing The Middleman

As the corporations that control the popular music market continue to tighten their grip and shrink their playlists, bands outside the increasingly narrow “mainstream” are turning to the vaguely defined world of internet buzz to market themselves. With the recent proliferation of web sites designed to be “people hubs” (bringing users together around common interests or relationships), musicians have seen an opportunity to generate interest in their work without having to crack the playlist at MTV or ClearChannel.