YouTube provides a place where one can stream just about any song on demand and has become the primary source of discovering new music, surpassing both radio and television. However this does come at a price.

The site is also known for album leaks and constant posts of illegal downloads in video descriptions that may end up harming big name artist’s album sales in the long run. Media outlets also say YouTube’s free video streaming undermines the business for music streaming services such as Rhapsody that charges for membership.

Though many may argue YouTube is detrimental to the music industry in doing so, the good that comes from this video-sharing website outweighs the bad.

YouTube allows users to upload and share just about anything they want.

Ranging from cute kittens playing with a yarn ball to a rather irate bus driver landing a cringe-inducing uppercut on an otherwise rowdy and equally irate passenger.

This sort of freedom gives musicians and artists alike the ability to release content directly to the public regardless of where they are in the world in a timely and immediate fashion. This takes away many of the limitations that have hindered artists in the past.

Entrepreneur and entertainer, Hank Green is one of many artists that have found success via YouTube.

He and his brother, John Green, run the ever-popular YouTube channel titled the Vlogbrothers, which has gained more than 800,000 subscribers since its creation in 2007. This channel includes music, tech advice, book suggestions and other such content they view as relevant to fellow geeks.

Hank Green has not only written his own songs for his channel, but also produced and released them through his own record label DFTBA Records. His comedy music album “So Jokes,” has reached number 22 on the Billboard Top 100 in 2008. The album was advertised primarily on his Vlogbrothers channel where the majority of his fan base lies.

YouTube not only allows artists to advertise their music to a broader demographic, but also gives listeners the ability to preview songs before making a purchase. A much better marketing strategy then peddling CDs on the street corner or at live performances, which in all honesty didn’t work too well to begin with.

YouTube has helped to eliminate geographic constraints as well.

In recent history, rapper and occasional singer PSY has gained a huge following worldwide through his song “Gangnam Style,” which a majority of people have either seen, heard or heard of at this point.

But how in the world does a South Korean entertainer with a penchant for dressing like a businessman gain recognition in countries where a majority, if not the entire population fail to understand the lyrics in his songs? The answer is video sharing.

Upon PSY’s release of his sixth album “PSY 6 (Six Rules) Part 1,” the music video for “Gangnam Style,” was broadcasted in several countries outside of the Korea. One of the first media outlets to broadcast the song is YouTube where his song quickly became viral gold.

Since then the song’s infectious thumping beats and ridiculous dance have gained over 805 million views on the video-sharing website, surpassing Justin Bieber’s “Baby.”

Bieber is one of the big name artists to be discovered on YouTube as well.

Before becoming a successful music artist, Bieber was already uploading videos at the age of 12 as a means for him to share his victories at several singing competitions with friends and family who were unable to attend.

He then began uploading covers on a regular basis for an ever-growing number of subscribers. Not only did his videos gain the attention of thousands of viewers over the years, but the attention of Usher Raymond as well.

Raymond signed Bieber to his record label the Raymond Braun Media Group, and as they say “the rest is history.”

Other artists that have been discovered through YouTube include Canadian R&B singer and songwriter Ebrahim, Los Angeles hip-hop artist Dumbfoundead, and the Sarasota, Florida rock trio, Boyce Avenue.

Though there may be some negatives to YouTube, the website has made success in the music industry far more attainable for up and coming artists, and that is a wonderful thing. With that being said, YouTube is going to be around for a long time and will continue to be one of the top ways for artists get their music out in a cheap way.

 

Chris can be reached at: [email protected]