Audiophile-Approved Guides to the Digital Underground

the Digital Underground
Angela Watercutter 05.22.07 2:00 AM

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Used to be you showed the world your killer taste in music with a Clash T-shirt and a Ramones pin. Then came blasting your iPod playlist at parties and boasting that some obscure artist was your "friend." But now that MySpace is overrun with posers, you'll have to go elsewhere to impress audiophiles with your musical savvy. Just don't tell them who sent you.
Your Guide to the Digital Underground
Fuzz.comLaunch March 2007A hybrid fan site and boutique label, Fuzz lets indie acts and their devotees set up profiles, share music, and chat. Member bands can track their sales and pinpoint listener locales on Google Maps. Help your faves generate enough buzz and they may land a deal with Fuzz.It's a hit with Armchair A&R reps.
Mog.comLaunch March 2007Described as a musical "nudist colony," Mog — in beta since July 2006 — scans your music library, then matches your taste to similar "moggers." A recently launched TV arm provides high-quality video streaming. A subscription service is in the works.It's a hit with The famous (Ben Gibbard) and nonfamous High Fidelity-esque purists.
iLike.comLaunch October 2006iLike scans your iTunes library and uses a MySpace widget to automatically update your friends on what you're listening to. Also suggests music from under-the-radar acts, available for free download through GarageBand.com.It's a hit with Cubicle wonks who can whittle away hours browsing, sampling, and critiquing their friends' music tastes.
Eventful.comLaunch September 2005Like an interactive Tourfilter, Eventful scans your iTunes and Last.fm lists, then fires off an email alert when your heroes come to town. Users can also "demand" a band, allowing artists to gauge their popularity by location and book gigs accordingly.It's a hit with More than music fans — one of the most requested "performers" is Barack Obama.
Finetune.comLaunch September 2006Aimed at gaming geeks and music lovers. You click on an artist's name and Finetune instantly crafts a compilation that streams through your Wii. A desktop app lets you launch a playlist without firing up your Web browser.It's a hit with Top 40 loving techies with Wii tennis elbow.
GroupieTunes.comLaunch April 2005Allows indie acts to upload tracks for ringtones or full-song downloads. Buyers are billed directly on their cell phones, and artists get a percentage of the profits. Bands can send SMS messages to fans about upcoming shows in their area.It's a hit with Hardcore music nerds who plan to be first in line for the iPhone.

Source: http://www.wired.com/entertainment/music/magazine/15-06/pl_music