Advertising. A somewhat controversial issue among music bloggers, it can be confusing to decide where you stand on it. We will present both sides of this little debate, and feel free to add your opinion to the respective position.
For:
Opinion: "Advertising is just another way of promoting musicians, right? The revenue doesn't go towards Hummers and such, it goes towards hosting and free tickets, CDs, etc. There is nothing wrong with making a little money off of something you enjoy."
Options: Google AdSense, AdBrite, Blogads, Indieclick, as well as several other, comission based options. Blogads is good for everyone from the medium to huge blogger, while for Indieclick, you need to have at least 4,000 visitors a day. For Blogads, you need to be invited by a member, but contact most any blogger that runs Blogads, and they should be happy to send you an invitation. To see examples of both, look at You Ain't No Picasso, *Sixeyes, Gorilla Vs. Bear, or any of several others.
Against:
Opinion: I didn't get into this to make money off of my blog. I don't want to commercialize this medium, plus they can look really bad.
Opinion: If you are posting some music without the consent of the artist, publisher or label and then are attempting to make money off that piracy then that has clearly stepped over the moral threshold.
Options: Don't sell ads.
The War of the Buttons
Regardless of what side you fall on, there is a button for you (the kids have a button for everything these days).
If you are opposed to advertising on blogs, you should use this one:
http://www.adfreeblog.org/adfreebutton2.jpg
According to its web site:
By using this icon on my website I am stating...
1. That I am opposed to the use of corporate advertising on blogs.
2. That I feel the use of corporate advertising on blogs devalues the medium.
3. That I do not accept money in return for advertising space on my blog.
signed,
the author
If you are in favor of advertising on blogs, you should use this button (a parody of the other):
http://www.adfreeblog.com/adfreebutton2.gif
According to its web site:
By using this icon on my website I am stating...
1. That I am NOT opposed to the use of corporate advertising on blogs.
2. That I feel the use of corporate advertising on blogs IMPROVES the medium.
3. That I ACCEPT money in return for advertising space on my blog.
Signed,
the author
Either way, it is cool to have a button.