According to Rob Lewis of WeedShare: "There is a way for artists to give away their music ... and get paid

Here is part of the e-mail Rob sent me last week. Sounds pretty cool:

"Our new Weed service turns any Windows Media file into a self-promoting asset that can spread 'like a weed.' The file can be given away by e-mail, peer-to-peer, download site, CD or any other way you can think of. Anybody who gets a copy can play it three times for fre-e. On the fourth play, they're asked to buy it (at whatever price the artist sets).

"When you buy a song, 50% of the price goes immediately to the artist. 20% goes to the person who turned you on to the song. 10% goes to the person above them, and 5% to the next person up the chain. Weed gets the remaining 15% for operating the service.

"Once you've bought a song, send it to your friends. If they buy, you get 20%. And so on."

This concept seems like it has a lot of potential. It takes advantage of the file-sharing craze while building in an automatic sales mechanism. Very cool.

I'd like to hear from any artists who use this service. I'll pass along any feedback I get.

"Reprinted from Bob Baker's The Buzz Factor, featuring fre-e marketing and self-promotion ideas for songwriters, musicians and bands on a budget. Visit www.TheBuzzFactor.com for details."