MP3.com, a company that offers downloadable music files, took another step in building its image as an artist-friendly Web site when it began offering touring bands free banner ads to promote concert dates.
The banners will be available for the next six months and will total $1 million in ad space, according to MP3, San Diego. Bands can go to the site's artist services channel and e-mail MP3 their upcoming tour dates, which will be posted in an ad. However, there is limited ad space available, and it will be given away on a first-come, first-served basis.
Artists also will be able to view how many people are downloading their songs and where those people live. These data are designed to help artists see which cities would be most profitable for their performances.
The banner offer follows several other free and subscription service offers that MP3 has used during the past year to draw musicians to its site.
