7Digital's indiestore platform formally launched last week after a beta period, with a number of new features added to the service, which offers unsigned bands the facility to sell their music digitally without any set up costs (it's free up to four tracks, with a £75 service available for up to twenty tracks). New features include a listener comments and fan rating facility, an indiestore blog, SMS payment and more tools to allow bands to customise their indiestore pages. A new flash base indiestore player also allows bands to easily embed their indiestore sales platform into their own websites or blogs.
Launching the enhanced service, 7Digital boss Ben Drury told CMU: "The fast-paced download market means that it's essential for every band to have a sales presence online, whether they are signed, unsigned or independent. With indiestore anyone can fully exploit the opportunities opened up by digital music - artists can sell to a worldwide audience, use SMS payment for viral campaigns and even have a crack at the charts. In terms of getting signed, it's not about sending your tape to a label anymore, it's about establishing yourself online and proving you're already selling."