What does it take?

[DudeEMETIB]

Also a question...

Perhaps it's obvious, or not, that I'm just a teenager, with very limited finances.
I understand the odds of any artist or someone associated with the recording industry finding my site is pretty much zero.

However, the way in which I'm finding this music, could be put into question couldn't it? I mean, I assume big name reviews get sent CDs, and even if they didn't, they have the funds to buy any and every album they want to review.

I don't....soooo
is there any chance I could get in trouble?
Say...if I were to not actually purchase all the music I intend to review?

[dzagama]

yoav's giving you tons of great advice, but I think it's crucial that you find a strong niche.

If you're doing this to have something to put on your resume, then go ahead.

If you want it to be something more, then you have to put a bit of thought into your audience.

There are *TONS* of sites currently doing what you want to do. Why not simply join one of them?

Don't believe me? Check out metacritic.com.

If you want to continue on your own, why not make a review site for unsigned, ultra-indie bands. Bands that just have a few tracks on Myspace or CDbaby.

I'm sure most of them would be happy to send you material to review.

[Cretaceous Bob]

Originally Posted by yoav

[*]if you think it's wrong that you live in a country where a teenager who can't afford music and who wants to help artists by reviewing songs feels like a criminal for trying to expose them self to the arts then you should educate yourself about the situation and talk about the copyright issue in your posts.[/LIST]

Unless this dude verbally fellates everything he steals, he'll hurt more artists than he helps. Don't try to pretend that critics are helpful to artists. Critics crush artists. More lying bullshit from a thief.

There's absolutely no way you will be caught stealing through just running a reviewing site.

If you put a page on your site that includes a mailing address or email for someone to send you a promo/demo CD/MP3s, you will, in time, end up with more than you can handle. You can also, as dzagama suggested, ask small bands for promo material. I'm sure people will be glad to give you stuff.

Even successful reviewing sites don't necessarily have the money to buy CDs. They get sent tons of music for review, though, both from labels and independent bands.

What you can try doing for content before you have enough promo material is reviewing what you can afford to buy in addition to independent stuff that is being given away online for free. The effect of this is twofold: 1) you have something to establish your writing style, and 2) you will review bands that few people know about (as no band giving away their shit for free is successful), which is far more valuable to music snobs than reviews of the same shit everybody else is already talking about.

Since you're so pro-stealing, though, make sure to promote your new website here, after which I will steal all of your reviews and post them on my own new website and say I wrote them. That can't be wrong, because you knew that would happen. It's the internets. Don't like it? Don't write reviews. I'll enjoy the free ad money, though.

Also: dzagama's right. You'll make a name for yourself far faster (if your writing is worth anything) by joining an existing reviewing site than you will by trying to start your own.

[Googel]

Another very good way to create an own free website is hpage.com.
It's new and very easy and you are ready for taking off with an own address and you have 300 MB storage space for free. More then 300 professional design templates and unlimited possibilities to extend your free website.