When push comes to shove

iLike helps musicians make personal apps for fans

Using push technology, which delivers requested media as it becomes available, iLike has revolutionized music distribution. The website provides a suite of useful tools that allow bands or individual artists to create an app for the iPhone or iPad. The app is like a combination music player, calendar, and EPK all rolled into one. Or if you want to pay a premium, it can do even more.

According to the LA Times, over 300,000 artists are already using iLike for its power as a social media aggregator. Bands like Nine Inch Nails and Death Cab for Cutie have put out apps and the new technology is proving very popular with fans. The apps contain song samples, concert info, photos, videos, tweets and Facebook wall posts—like a mini webpage that constantly updates.
The newest version of the app will even scour the music on your iPhone or iPod and provide local concert updates based on the bands you already listen to. Even when the phone is off, the app “pushes” data to your phone for you to use when you turn it back on. You can also buy songs directly from the app through their partner Sony Music.
The service costs $99 to set up, and after that, you have two payment options. If you decide to release the app for free, iLike reserves the right to play ads on your app. If you charge for the app, there is no advertising, but you share your proceeds 50/50 with iLike. You can choose any price point you like.
For cross-platform postings, the website offers iCast. Using their templates, you can broadcast a multimedia message including music, photos, video and text to your Twitter, Facebook and Myspace accounts. Another nifty feature is the dashboard, where you can track all sorts of data regarding how fans are using your app—song downloads, new fans, profile adds, etc.
All in all, iLike makes it easy for artists struggling with time management issues and the proliferation of social networks to stay current with their fan base. I haven’t set it up yet, but I’m about to! I’ll let you know how it goes.