I’m not David Letterman, but I’m still a fan of top ten lists that showcase cool stuff. So today, I’m going to tell you about ten hidden gems on OurStage’s web site. New features, unrecognized bands, funny videos, and cool little things are hiding below. Make sure you read all the way to the end for your chance at a prize, too!

10: OURSTAGE LIVE (AND IN COLOR)

Have you ever felt kind of alone on this huge website? OurStage Live helps remind you that there’s more to OurStage than just you, by showing a list of events that are going on the site, updated live before your eyes. Discover new artists, people who like the same music you do, and watch new material work its way into the Top 10 in different channels or the coveted #1 spot. And yes, we have big plans to add more events to be tracked.
http://www.ourstage.com/live

9: THE OURSTAGE FACEBOOK APPLICATION

http://apps.facebook.com/ourstage/home
Judge, play Talent Scout (And win an iPod and many other prizes!), and check out the favorite tracks of your Facebook friends. Then, get the OurStage music and video player integrated into your profile page if you want. How do you win the prizes? Get 12 free downloads from OurStage when you reach 900 points. When you reach 5,000 points, you’ll win an awesome OurStage prize pack that includes t-shirts, CDs, BC Ethic clothes, and maybe even a subscription to Paste Magazine! Then, the first person to reach 10,000 points in the Talent Scout game (that isn’t an OurStage employee slacking off on their lunch break) wins a brand new Apple iPod. Anyone else who reaches 10,000 points will be entered into a drawing for an all-expense paid trip to South By Southwest in March! Go get ‘em!

8: HEAR THE GOOD OLD “BEST OF”

http://www.ourstage.com/bestof
Sit down at work, put on some headphones, start the Best Of player for your favorite channel, and be guaranteed hours of great OurStage Top 10s from our site’s history while you drink coffee and otherwise look like a busy individual at work. It’s all Top 10s from our history – so it’s like listening to the radio with out the ads for mortgages, annoying DJs, or bad music.

7: DEMETRA – A SAMPLE OF QUEENS NEW YORK ROCK

“Come on and place your bets, it’s a girl fight!” Lighthearted, fun female-led rock band with great vocals and a guitar straight out of the neighbor’s garage. Check in at Demetra’s fan club, and don’t check out until you’ve heard at least Girlfight and one other song.

6: FREE DOWNLOAD OF THE WEEK, EVERY WEEK

Every week, OurStage makes a new MP3 available for a free download from one of our top artists. Enjoy the musical work of everyone from Dawn Over Zero to Ashleigh Flynn and Benny Strange. Since you’re reading the blog, I’ll give you the inside scoop on next week’s download: These Politics, by OHN!

5: “NOW, IF I WERE IN PRISON, THAT’D BE ANOTHER STORY!”

Our June Video Grand Prize Winner, Jeremy Saville, has entered a new video on our site called “Gay Date”, covering the exploits of a beautiful young woman and a handsome young man who may, or may not be gay – depending on who you trust!
Currently 50 in in November, and fighting hard into the future.

4: YOU COULD WIN A HORSE!

Our EJs helped make a video to promote a short TV ad contest for middle and high schoolers in South Carolina. I’m only putting this here because it wasn’t featured on the main OurStage site, it’s hilarious, and because Quinn and I are good buddies. Check out the EJ’s hilarious video explaining our new Healthy South Carolina contest. Or just laugh at Quinn’s goofy fake mustache.

3: FAN CLUBS, PROFILES, AND FAVORITES, OH MY!

Join fan clubs and help your favorite OurStage artists represent themselves and know they’re loved. Every place where you see one of their songs, there’s a little heart and t-shirt icon. Click the t-shirt to view their fan club, and there’s a Join Fan Club button at the top. Or, push the Heart button to favorite one of their songs so you can find it easily later. You can even assemble a playlist of your favorites and then play it back using the pop-up player on your My Profile page.
After you join some fanclubs of your favorite artists, make yourself a little profile. Throw in a bio, a link to your blog or personal site, and maybe a picture so your favorite bands can see who their newest fans are! Check it out at your My Profile page.

2: LEARN CELEBRITY SECRETS

Top-ranked artists on OurStage are liable to be selected for fabulous Artist Access prizes. This month, win time to meet and learn industry success secrets from people like Curt Smith of Tears for Fears, John Cameron Mitchell, Soulive, and Marcos Siega. Get the full details at http://www.ourstage.com/artistaccess. There’s some awesome interview clips, details on prizes, and footage of our EJs meeting and talking to the beautiful Crystal Method, Shout Out Out Out Out, and Lupe Fiasco.

1: PICK THE TENTH OPTION

Here’s your chance to win an OurStage prize pack. Find some undiscovered hidden gem of a band or a filmmaker, or some cool feature on OurStage that I didn’t mention in this blog, and email me (community@ourstage.com) with what it is, and why it’s cool. I’ll post an update next week with my favorite submission and the winner.
Hope to hear from you soon!