You've conceived your idea, used some freakin' awesome samples (you're welcome) and created your masterpiece.
But hold the phone! Before you chuck your MP3s into the scary world wide web, have you thought about tags?
I'm glad you asked, Kevin! ID3 tags allow information such as the title, artist, album, track number, BPM and other information about the file to be stored inside the MP3. Even artwork can be included. It barely does anything to the file size and it's seriously useful.
Why bother with ID3 tags?
Well, have you ever considered that ID3 tags are...
- the only way to keep your digital music library sorted (iTunes uses them so they're reasonable popular)
- necessary to enable scrobbling with last.fm or Spotify
- a must if you want to keep your DJ set in Native Instruments Traktor tidy and organised
- very important in connection with automated music recommendation functions (such as the "Genius" function in iTunes for example.)
- a hit with the ladies
It just gives that professional edge to the presentation of your songs.
So with all these tags flying about, it's only a matter of time before some French rapper called "Beyonce" comes to the horrible realisation that he's going to have to get a new stage name.
This is why it's vitally important to have a unique name - or at least be the most famous person with your name!
Not just for ID3 tags - though you obviously don't want other people taking the credit for your tunes, but search engines are another reason. If someone gets your MP3, uses the tags to find your name and Googles you, if there are a million other "DJ AwesomeTunez"s in the world then chances are they'll lose interest, no matter how awesome your tunez were.
So ego-Google yourself and find out if you have to do a quick name change!
About that artwork...
Not only is it another method of artistic expression for the fans to consume, but it's also a way to add some more of that vital professionalism. If you are not exactly an artist and shrivel up at the sight of Photoshop, make some art-inclined friends and exploit their skills so your MP3s can have a 300x300 .jpg file embedded (that is the standard) that will reflect your music appropriately.
And all this for free?
You don't have to spend money to keep your tags organised, like with pricey programs like "TuneUp" because there are also a bunch of really cool free applications that will help you to fix your tags and keep them organized - such as the amazing MusicBrainz Picard for example.
Otherwise, just jump on Google (if you can stop Google-ing yourself for one minute, geez...) and search for some ID3 tag editing software and I'm sure you'll find something fantastically useful!
