GarageBand.com
Encyclopedia
GarageBand.com was a large online community
of independent musicians and music fans. Founded in 1999, the site was used by musicians who were seeking greater exposure and critical insight provided by an audience of their peers. The site was also used by music fans to discover new independent artists in the site's vast collection. Some is Creative Commons
-licensed music content. Garageband closed its doors in June of 2010.
After the demise of the original MP3.com
in 2003, Trusonic
acquired licenses for 250,000 artists representing 1.7 million songs. They partnered with GarageBand.com to revive these artist accounts. Most of the technology and infrastructure developed at MP3.com was retained.
hosting, GarageBand.com offers independent bands the chance to enter into a contest in which they compete for a top spot on the GarageBand.com music charts for their particular musical genre (e.g. 'Rock', 'Avant Garde'). One of the rewards for hitting the top of the charts is inclusion in Clear Channel
's "NEW! Discover Music" program, which gives top GarageBand.com members exposure across over 400 of the company's FM radio station websites. Entrance in the contest can be either earned through reviewing the music of other members, or by paying a $19.99 per song submission fee.
The site uses a sophisticated rating system to generate popularity rankings for each artist, and maintains charts of these rankings. This makes the large music catalog easier to browse for fans. The music industry also uses these charts to find new talent. Several GarageBand.com members who have charted well found subsequent music career success in the form of label deals, licensing and promotional opportunities. Examples include 10 Years
(signed to Universal Records
) and American Idol
finalist Bo Bice
platform which integrates the GarageBand.com digital music library.
In 2006, the company launched iLike, a social music discovery website and iTunes sidebar application that tracks the music you listen to and recommends new music. Recommendations also include links to free downloads from GarageBand.com artists.
Online community
An online community is a virtual community that exists online and whose members enable its existence through taking part in membership ritual. An online community can take the form of an information system where anyone can post content, such as a Bulletin board system or one where only a restricted...
of independent musicians and music fans. Founded in 1999, the site was used by musicians who were seeking greater exposure and critical insight provided by an audience of their peers. The site was also used by music fans to discover new independent artists in the site's vast collection. Some is Creative Commons
Creative Commons
Creative Commons is a non-profit organization headquartered in Mountain View, California, United States devoted to expanding the range of creative works available for others to build upon legally and to share. The organization has released several copyright-licenses known as Creative Commons...
-licensed music content. Garageband closed its doors in June of 2010.
After the demise of the original MP3.com
MP3.com
MP3.com is a web site operated by CNET Networks providing information about digital music and artists, songs, services, community, and technologies. It is probably better known for its original incarnation, as a legal, free music-sharing service, popular with independent musicians for promoting...
in 2003, Trusonic
Trusonic
Mood Media North America is a commercial music company and a wholly owned subsidiary of Mood Media Corporation. Founded originally in 1999 as a small business unit SBU of the now defunct MP3.com, Trusonic provided background music to businesses...
acquired licenses for 250,000 artists representing 1.7 million songs. They partnered with GarageBand.com to revive these artist accounts. Most of the technology and infrastructure developed at MP3.com was retained.
Main Features
In addition to free MP3MP3
MPEG-1 or MPEG-2 Audio Layer III, more commonly referred to as MP3, is a patented digital audio encoding format using a form of lossy data compression...
hosting, GarageBand.com offers independent bands the chance to enter into a contest in which they compete for a top spot on the GarageBand.com music charts for their particular musical genre (e.g. 'Rock', 'Avant Garde'). One of the rewards for hitting the top of the charts is inclusion in Clear Channel
Clear channel
A clear-channel station is an AM band Radio station in North America that has the highest protection from interference from other stations, particularly concerning night-time skywave propagation. Usually known as class A stations since 1982, they are occasionally still referred to by their former...
's "NEW! Discover Music" program, which gives top GarageBand.com members exposure across over 400 of the company's FM radio station websites. Entrance in the contest can be either earned through reviewing the music of other members, or by paying a $19.99 per song submission fee.
The site uses a sophisticated rating system to generate popularity rankings for each artist, and maintains charts of these rankings. This makes the large music catalog easier to browse for fans. The music industry also uses these charts to find new talent. Several GarageBand.com members who have charted well found subsequent music career success in the form of label deals, licensing and promotional opportunities. Examples include 10 Years
10 Years
10 Years is an American alternative metal band, formed in Knoxville, Tennessee in 1999.-Early Years, Into the Half Moon :10 Years was initially formed in Knoxville, Tennessee in 1999 with singer Mike Underdown, drummer Brian Vodinh, bassist Lewis Cosby, and guitarists Ryan "Tater" Johnson and Matt...
(signed to Universal Records
Universal Records
Universal Records was a record label owned by Universal Music Group, and it is now owned by Manny Patino and Michael Jackson, and operated as part of the Universal Motown Republic Group.-History:...
) and American Idol
American Idol
American Idol, titled American Idol: The Search for a Superstar for the first season, is a reality television singing competition created by Simon Fuller and produced by FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment...
finalist Bo Bice
Bo Bice
Harold Elwin "Bo" Bice, Jr. is an American singer and musician who placed second to Carrie Underwood in the fourth season of American Idol. He has recorded three studio albums, including one on RCA Records...
Other features
GarageBand.com also runs Gcast, a podcastingPodcasting
A podcast is a series of digital media files that are released episodically and often downloaded through web syndication...
platform which integrates the GarageBand.com digital music library.
In 2006, the company launched iLike, a social music discovery website and iTunes sidebar application that tracks the music you listen to and recommends new music. Recommendations also include links to free downloads from GarageBand.com artists.
Winners of GarageBand.com's Old Contest, "The Final Countdown" (1999-2001)
The band's listed below were the winners of GarageBand.com's recurring but short-lived contest for a $250,000 recording contract.- November 1999: boondogs
- February 2000: MonovoxMonovoxMonovox was an American rock band. Beginning in 1992, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin high school classmates Matthew Schaeffer, Matthew Kramer, Cliff Hammer, and Tony Krug began writing and performing songs together. Under the moniker J.J. War, the band wrote and performed original songs featuring strong...
- April 2000: Headboard
- June 2000: UltraphonicUltraphonicUltraphonic is an American rock band that formed in Stockbridge, Georgia in 1993. Since its inception, the band's line-up has included Jason Fowler , Brent Wilson , Brooks Wilson...
- August 2000: MichelleCross
- October 2000: Mercy River
- December 2000: Sunfall FestivalSunfall FestivalSunfall Festival was an indie rock band based in Provo, Utah and fronted by Amy Gileadi who, with drummer Chris Peterson and guitarist Scott Wiley, formed the core of the band. The bass position has been less stable; first filled by George Brunt, who later moved to New York for law school...
("I Walked Away") - March 2001: Brilliant
- June 2001: Caser ("Don't Mind")
- August 2001: the Szuters ("Antichrist Theme")