As a musician, you’ve probably heard that you need a website.
But the last thing you want is to spend time and money on a website that doesn’t help you.
So, here’s the truth.
You don’t need a music website, you need a website that grows your music business.
I want to introduce you to the MusicSite™ Framework. Designed and proven to market music.
Billboard charting artists use the exact same framework —I show how they use it specifically here.
In this article, I’m going to break down the entire framework for you.
You can also watch the video below and get the same information:
You might be thinking you need special skills to do this.
And I get that, but don’t worry.
You won’t need any special training or fancy tools. And even if you tweak a few things based on this article, those small changes will give you big results.
To make it even easier to apply the framework on your own music website, I made a free workbook with printable examples to help you—get free access to the MusicSite workbook here.
Let’s get started.
What Is The MusicSite Framework?
The MusicSite Framework (MSF) is a set of rules that, when applied to a music website, are guaranteed to grow the music business.
The purpose of a music website is either one of two things.
- To help you get gigs.
- To help you get new fans and/or sell music and merch.
That way, you can focus on the music, instead of on less interesting tasks like monetization and marketing.
Turn your music website into a machine that grows your music business.
It all starts with two pages on your website.
- Foundational pages.
- And Supplemental (or optional) pages.
So let’s talk about the Foundational pages first. And then we’ll go on to the Supplemental (optional) pages.
Home page
I want you to picture walking into a grocery store.
As you enter, you notice the cash registers. Then you stroll through the aisles of food. Each aisle is labeled.
Wherever you’re at, in most cases, you know where you are and where to go to find what you’re looking for.
And it’s hard to feel “lost” in a grocery store.
It’s easy to get “lost” on a website. Because you’re limited to what’s on the screen.
If your music site is hard to use and if people can’t find what they’re looking for, then it’s not going to do you any good.
And that’s the purpose of your Home page.
You want your Home page to be the place people can return to and find what they’re looking for.
That’s why you want a link to all the foundational pages on your site on your home page.
Download the MusicSite workbook for printable examples so the Framework can work for you. Get it free here.
Foundational pages and Supplemental (optional) pages
In addition to linking to all other foundational pages on your site, your Home page needs two more things.
- A headline that says who you are so that people can instantly know that they’re in the right place when they visit your site for the first time.
- A mention of your FanGrabber and then a link to get it (more on that in a sec.)
I break down how a Billboard charting artist used this exact framework in this article.
These home page fundamentals will drastically enhance the results you get from your music website.
Let’s talk about your About page (AKA your bio).
Your About page is where your musician or band bio goes.
Branding music is all about creating a compelling message that is congruent with your music, your self, and the people who listen to you.
Your story and bio tie everything together. That’s why you gotta have it on your About page.
I recommend using the MusicStory Formula on your bio/about page. Get the free worksheet here.
It will draw people into your brand and get them addicted to your music.
I revealed how a Billboard charting artist uses this exact method on their website here.
About (bio) page wireframe with 3-part MusicStory
Let’s talk about the Music page.
The Music page is simple yet critical. It includes all the places/locations where people can listen to or purchase your music.
- Your entire discography
- links to all your music on iTunes or Spotify.
- You could also link to your online music store.
It’s a place people can listen to or purchase your music when they need and or want to.
Making it easy to find and reference all your music. Your music is your body of work, you want to pull it together in one location on your website.
Let’s talk about your Contact page.
Your Contact page has one purpose. It makes it easy to get in touch with you. If somebody wants to get in touch with you, they know exactly where they can go to do that: your Contact page.
Here’s what you’d typically include on your Contact page:
- email address
- phone number
- social media profile links
- a contact form or “book us” form
It all needs to be on your Contact page.
The MusicSite workbook (free) gives you printable examples of the Framework pages so you can put them to work for you—get it free here.
So those are the required foundational pages, let’s talk about the optional or “Supplemental” pages.
What are supplemental pages?
Supplemental pages are optional pages that will depend on your situation.
There are endless possibilities, but here are a few examples…
Passively Sell Your Merch Via A Store Page
If you’re selling digital or physical products (merch) from your website, then you need a Store page.
Your store page is where people browse your products, order merchandise or purchase your music. It’s where the money is made.
Everything people can buy from you goes through this page.
For this article, the details of how to set up your Store page are not important. You just need to know it’s critical to include a Store page on your website.
Store page example from Manafest.com
Make Life Easier With A “Media” or “Press” Page
Your music, a “Media” or “Press” page makes working with industry professionals smooth and easy.
Your press kit (EPK), promo materials (photos, videos, logo files)—or anything else that media or press would need from you—it all goes on this page.
Instead of digging through your computer and sending one file at a time, just give them the link to the “Media” or “Press” page on your website.
If you want to impress industry professionals and get hired again and again, then a top “Media” or “Press” page is a no-brainer.
Keep Fans In The Loop With A “News” Page
Have an upcoming tour, limited-time discount on your merch or anything else you want to share with fans?
If you want to keep your fans updated via your website, then a News page is a good idea.
Optional News page example from theslants.com
It’s one of the many optional pages you can take advantage of.
You can get printable examples of the Framework pages in my free workbook right here.
Now that you know the foundational and optional pages, let’s talk about the next critical component: The FanGrabber™.
WTF Is A “FanGrabber”?
A FanGrabber is a catalyst that grows your music business.
It’s a free or low entry offer designed to entice a site visitor to join your fanbase (mailing list), purchase your merchandise, contact you for a gig, etc.
In the MusicSite Framework, the FanGrabber is front and center and easy to find. (More on that in a bit.)
First, here are the different types of FanGrabbers:
- It could be a free song people download
- or your newsletter that they sign up for.
- It could also be a “book us” form
- or a contact form.
- It could also be a “free plus shipping” offer.
These are a few examples, but let’s talk more about the last one.
A free plus shipping “FanGrabber”
“Free Plus Shipping” (The FanGrabber of Choice)
A Free plus shipping FanGrabber, is a process that allows someone to order one of your CDs on your website. The CD itself is “free”. But all they have to pay the price of shipping (typically 7 USD).
It’s an advanced marketing technique to turn casual fans into paying customers and critical to the growth of a music business.
That’s why the “Free Plus Shipping” offer is the FanGrabber of choice for most independently successful music artists.
I reveal how a Billboard charting artist uses this exact method on their website right here.
Now that you know the different types of FanGrabbers, let me show you where to put them to get the best results.
Where To Put Your FanGrabber For Explosive Results
Because it’s directly related to earning income, signing up for your FanGrabber is often the entire reason you want people to visit your website in the first place.
You want to make sure it’s easy to find.
There are some key places to make your FanGrabber obvious…
- The top of your Home page,
- on your About page,
- Somewhere on your Music page,
- and also on your Contact page.
In short, a link to get your FanGrabber needs to be on every Foundational page. But the most important place is at the very top of your Home page.
Do that and your FanGrabber will be impossible to miss.
FanGrabber headline and button link at top of the Home page
How A Billboard Charting Artist Uses The MusicSite Framework
If you want to see an example of a MusicSite in action, this exact framework is used on the website of an independent Billboard charting artist.
Foundational pages, supplemental pages; FanGrabber type and location, see it how it all comes together right here.
The Great News
You might be worried about having the tech or know-how to do this. I get it. But don’t worry.
Most musicians have a lot of this in place already. And they don’t need any special training or skills. Even if you tweak a few things based on this article, small changes will give big results.
The MusicSite workbook has printable examples of the Framework to make it easier to apply the framework on your own music website—Get it free here.
All you need is the proven method I just gave you.
That wraps up the MusicSite Framework. How will you use it? If you like this article, share it. Thanks!
