An MP3 blog is a type of weblog in which the creator makes music files, normally in the MP3 format, available for download. They are also known as musicblogs or audioblogs. MP3 blogs have become increasingly popular since the beginning of 2003. The music posted ranges from hard-to-find rarities that have not been issued in many years to more contemporary offerings, and selections are often restricted to a particular musical genre or theme. Some MP3 blogs offer music in Advanced Audio Coding (AAC) or Ogg formats, as well as MP3.

Among the very first MP3 blogs were Fluxblog, created in 2002, and Said The Gramophone [1], launching in 2003. The now-popular Stereogum began as a music-relatedLiveJournal in 2002, though its format was focused on indie/pop gossip rather than MP3s. Fluxblog’s trumpetting of LCD Soundsystem’s “Yeah (Stupid Version)” in early 2004 was a milestone, bringing increasing attention to MP3 blogs. An NPR story [2] in May 2004 further galvanized the trend, and today there are thousands of MP3 blogs covering a cornucopia of musical styles.

A significant number of indie music labels, promotional agencies and hundreds of artists regularly send promo CDs to MP3 blogs in the hopes of gaining free publicity. Major labels with small acts to promote have also attempted to use MP3 blogs. In 2004, Warner Bros. gave permission for a song by their act the Secret Machines to be posted by the MP3 blog Music (For Robots). This drew attention not only for the song and the label granting permissions, but also due to the fact that several comments praising the track came from IP addresses within the Warner Bros. network. The publicity generated by MP3 blogs crossed the line from the internet to TV in early 2005, when Music (For Robots) was featured during MTV’s TRL program for bringing the Hysterics, a Brooklyn rock band comprised of four 14 and 15 year-old high school students, to the network’s attention.

In 2006, Rolling Stone did an article tracking “blog buzz” called First Hype, Then Kill with the subtitle “How the geeks who control the music blogosphere destroy the bands they love”. It followed the hype of bands like Tapes N’ Tapes, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Arctic Monkeys and Cold War Kids. While the article brought exposure to blogs like Gorilla vs. Bear [3] and Said The Gramophone [4], it was blasted on blogs for misrepresenting what impact they have on band’s career. According to the chart, Gorilla vs Bear giving a good review of Cold War Kids was the highpoint of the band’s career, and signing a record deal marked the beginning of their decline. It also assumed that music blogs have collective opinions instead of an array of many different musical leanings.

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