There is no doubt that direct to fan marketing and sales platform Topspin Media (or simply Topspin) has plenty of powerful resources to help musicians, labels and managers effectively maintain fan relationships, but that doesn't mean it is the right choice for everyone. Indeed, Topspin themselves will be the first to tell you that their software platform is not the best fit for every stage of your music career. They have a few general guidelines to help you weigh up whether or not you are Topspin ready. They include:
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If you are signed to a Topspin partner label, management or marketing company, then you can use the service via these existing relationships (see a list of affiliated companies here).
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If you are a student in the Berklee College of Music Topspin course, your course fee includes a Topspin membership.
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If you don't fall into either of those categories, you should have at least two of the following four things in place: 15,000 Facebook fans, 10,000 unique website visitors per month, an email mailing list of at least 2,500 or have made at least $5,000 in music related income in the past year.
If you have those things in place, your music career could be at a level at which the tools available through Topspin could be helpful to you. What is important to remember is that there is no guarantee that Topspin will work for you just because you meet those criteria. A few things to keep in mind:
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Popularity of a platform alone doesn't mean that it is a good fit for everyone. Just like some people like Twitter while others feel more comfortable using Facebook, you need to feel comfortable and confident navigating the Topspin software - and that goes beyond simply memorizing how to use it. Topspin has a lot of bells and whistles, but if you're not a bells and whistles kind of person, a more streamlined service might be better solution for you.
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Topspin can be a powerful tool, but it is just that - a tool. It doesn't do any marketing or sales for you - it just provides an avenue for you to easily do these things yourself. If you don't actually use the services available through Topspin, your membership will have absolutely zero effect on your music career.
So is Topspin good for musicians, labels and managers? If you already have developed a fanbase, know how to reach out to your fans online and have some music to sell, then Topspin can help you get the job done - provided you feel comfortable navigating the software and are interested in doing all of the work involved in making it work for you. If you aren't yet at the stage where you've got a sizable mailing list or music to sell, Topspin is something best left on the back burner for now.
