What are the best music/entertainment sites?

May 31, 2006 4:42 AM

Design-wise, what are the best music/entertainment company websites out there?

I'm trying to come up with some design mockups for several areas of a record label/music magazine/online music news company and the umbrella entity that runs them all. They have stuff in place already, but I would like to come up with something that can handle massive amounts of content in a visually stunning way. All of this has to stay in the realm of music/entertainment and unfortunately I'm much more familiar with fine art & photography sites.

Specifically, which are the best designed sites out there already? Which are the most user friendly? What features do you find essential and what do they all lack that you wish they had? Any other pointers or ideas welcome.

posted by spaghetti to media & arts (2 comments total)

Please please please read Five Mistakes Band & Label Sites Make and the comments in the blue.

The comments have plenty of examples of band websites that are good and plenty that are awful.
posted by revgeorge at 6:49 AM on May 31, 2006

I always think that simple is best when it comes to these sorta things, with stylised accents. I particularly like Domino Records which has a very conventional design with the two columns and header / footer, but manages to add a bit of style with the hand written text. I also love the Pitchfork and Stylus Magazine news and reviews sites - both clean cut but stylish accents.

For the love of God, please don't do anything like Island Records have - its one of the most hideously busy pages I've seen for a while.

So maybe just keep it simple, but add a few features that are "different" and set the site apart from the rest - everyone wants a clean, easy to navigate site.

Just my two cents - hope I don't insult anyone here!
posted by philsi at 1:24 PM on May 31, 2006