Does your band really need a website? Every now and then I hear someone say, “Websites are dead. You only need social media.” I couldn’t disagree more, though perhaps I’m a little biased. I’ve been building websites for over 25 years. In fact, the very first website I ever created was for a musician back in the early 2000s, when the internet was only just starting to become part of everyday life.
Since then, I’ve built hundreds of websites for independent artists and musicians signed to major record labels. For a period during the 2000s, I was fortunate enough to work as a contractor for some of the biggest classical and jazz labels in the UK, including Warner Music, EMI, Decca, Universal Music Group, Sony BMG, Virgin and many others.
I’ve seen firsthand how artists present themselves online, and despite everything that’s changed over the past two decades, my opinion hasn’t. Every band should have a website.
Your website is your home. Social media is fantastic, I get it and I’m not suggesting for a second that you ignore Instagram, TikTok or YouTube. They’re incredibly important for reaching new audiences and staying connected with existing fans. The problem is that none of those platforms actually belong to you. Algorithms change, features disappear and platforms come and go. Your account could be suspended tomorrow for reasons completely outside your control. A website, on the other hand, is yours. It’s the one place online where you decide what visitors see, how they experience your music, and what story you want to tell.
Social media rewards quick attention spans. A very short targeted video or a photo or two. That’s fine for grabbing attention, but it doesn’t give people much opportunity to get to know you. A website lets fans dive deeper. You can share your band’s history, your influences, your recording process, studio photos, lyrics, videos, gig history, merchandise, press coverage and anything else that helps people understand who you are – and all on real-estate that you ‘own’.
Our own band website has always been fairly simple. It’s grown over time, but it started with only a few pages as that’s all you need. A homepage, a little information about the band, buy and listen links for music, current videos embedded from YouTube, a few photos, maybe gig and tour dates and a contact page with the option to join a vital email list. You can always add more later. Don’t wait until you think it’s perfect before putting something online as a website is a ‘living document’.
“But websites are expensive” I hear you say… Sure, they can be. If you’re paying someone to design and build a fully customised Cotent Managed (CMS) website, the cost can certainly add up. But that’s no longer your only option. There are plenty of website platforms that allow musicians to create professional-looking websites themselves with very little technical knowledge.
Like learning to record music or edit videos, building a website is another skill you can teach yourself. It might take a while but once you’ve learned it, you’ve gained another valuable tool for your band’s future.
One argument I hear is, “Hardly anyone will visit my website.” Maybe. Perhaps you’ll only get one or two visitors each week. But those visitors are choosing to be there. They’re interested enough to leave social media and learn more about you. Those are exactly the people you want to make a good impression on.
Social media should attract people. Your website should keep them. Think of your social media accounts as signposts pointing people towards your digital home. Your website is where you can properly introduce yourself, tell your story, showcase your music and create a lasting connection with your audience.
After more than two decades building websites for musicians of every type, I still believe they’re one of the best investments a band can make. If your band doesn’t have one yet, I’d encourage you to change that. You’ll never completely own your social media, but you can always own your website.
