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I’m not entirely sure what people mean when they refer to “music 2.0.” I’m not entirely sure they know what it means either. Perhaps it’s just a buzzword – a way to trick people into thinking Twitter is exciting and useful.

I’m only kidding. “Music 2.0″ is a nebulous concept, but at its simplest, it embodies concepts that enable musicians and bands at all levels to reach new fans and connect with existing fans in a post-record label, post-filesharing, social networking, digital world. The term derives from Web 2.0 -  ”the second generation of web development… that facilitates information sharing, interoperability, user-centered design, and collaboration.”

Perhaps the reason nobody can pin down exactly what Music 2.0 means is that nobody can pin down exactly how musicians can find success in this type of world – this “music commerce frontier” as some have described it. Not the major record labels, not the “experts” of music 2.0, and definately not the musicians themselves. The good news is that whatever Music 2.0 means, it is clear that at its core is innovation. All the individuals and groups mention above are using innovation – thinking outside the box – to find success, and until someone comes up with a bulletproof plan for finding success through music 2.0, all musicians can do is learn from the successes and failures of others.

These lessons don’t just apply to musicians who want to find success on their own, through a DIY approach that bypasses the traditional industry structure. They also apply to those musicians who are perfectly happy with following the traditional road to fame and fortune.

Gone are the days of A&R reps going to clubs to discover the next generation of superstar musicians. Record labels, music publishers, and professionals of any sort who can bring a musician to the next level of success are increasingly looking for acts who already have proven success under their belt – whether through an established fanbase, an independent album release, or internet buzz. Today, even musicians who want to follow the major label route can greatly improve their chances of success by learning how to connect with fans in a digital world. Those lessons can help them before, during, and after a major label career (see Nine Inch Nails, Amanda Palmer, Radiohead).

With that in mind, below is a brief directory of places to serve as an introduction and continuing education of how to succeed in the brave new world of music – the “music commerce frontier” – Music 2.0.

Blogs

• Hypebot – Despite its name, this blog is anything but hype. Consistently delivering the latest news and analysis on “music, technology, and the new music business” – and often breaking the latest news – Hypebot should be on the subscribe-list for every musician.
• Mashable – the self-described “Social Media Guide,” Mashable often discusses topics specifically directed at independent and emerging musicians, with tons of how-to articles.
• Future of Music – David Kusek, Vice President at Berklee College of Music and co-developer of MIDI, runs this blog offering a mix of news analysis and advice for independent musicians.
• New Rockstar Philosophy – Perhaps the biggest proponents of Music 2.0 online and dedicated to helping musicians succeed in a music 2.0 world through informative articles and examples of how other musicians are finding success.
• Techdirt – Founded by Mike Masnick, who gave us the formula “CwF + RtB = $$$.” The blog seeks to “analyze and offer insight into news stories about changes in government policy, technology and legal issues that affect companies ability to innovate and grow,” and many of its stories are directly relevant to musicians and other creative professionals.
• Read-Write Web – one of “the world’s top 20 blogs,” RWW is devoted to the web in general, but like many of the blogs above, it provides a lot of useful content that can be applied to music 2.0.

Ebooks

• New Rockstar Philosophy – A handbook for the budding musician. Gives you a lot to think about in defining your musical goals and aspirations, then teaches you ways to achieve those goals in a music 2.0 world.
• Music 2.0 Essays by Gerd Leonhard – A collection of essays about Music 2.0. Essential reading for the next generation of music business participants.
• Unleashing the Idea Virus by Seth Godin – Godin, considered by many to be a Web 2.0 guru of sorts, lays out the new economy of ideas in this seminal book. (Click “Get It” for the free eBook).

Videos

• CwF + RtB – Mike Masnick’s presentation at MidemNet where he lays out the formula for success using new business models.
• GrindEFX video archive – Our very own collection of videos from across the web dealing with all sorts of ideas and concepts of interest to musicians.

Articles

• Rocketsurgeon Music 2.0 Directory – Just like it says, a “a comprehensive listing of all the companies and tools that are participating in the new music revolution.” Hours of browsing fun!
• The Long Tail by Chris Anderson – The original Wired article that begat Anderson’s pivotal book discussing his prediction that niche content – including music – will soon overtake blockbuster content.
• Techdirt Book Reading List 2009 – For those who still read real books, Techdirt has an excellent roundup of must-reads to better understand the digital world and where it’s going. Be sure to check out their 2008 book list as well.
• What is Music 2.0? – Kind of like this article, only older. From ReadWrite Web.