Big ones don’t come along everyday. The big catch. The big date. The big interview. The big night on the town you mostly forgot (thankfully). You get the idea. So we got a big one to brag about. And all you independent and emerging musician types out there should be pumping your fists in the air, doing your best air-guitar moves, and shouting out at the tops of your lungs: “WE LOVE OURSTAGE! YEAH BABY!” Alright, perhaps you won’t do that. But at the very least, you should be as excited about the strategic partnership announcement between OurStage and AOL as we are. Haven’t read the news yet? Well then, check it out.

So my fellow rockers, rappers, popsters, folksies, and all you other musically gifted souls out there, I offer you Daniel Palmer’s Top 10 reasons why this news rules:

1. AOL is the web’s top ranked music site in both total page views and unique visitors and OurStage is their exclusive emerging artist strategic partner—’nuf said.

2. We, OurStage staffers (with the fans approval of course), will provide content from top-ranked artists to feature and promote on AOL. See #1 to heighten the “wow effect”.

3. OurStage gives you (for free I might add) a place to be cool, different, unique—basically yourself. So keep active and engaged with the community, share your creativity with us, and we in turn will share it with them. Make sense?

4. AOL will help us monetize the site—so come and click. Everyone wins.

5. Your band could be featured next to AC/DC’s logo (note: the graphic above is a real screen grab from the AOL. Imagine the possibilities.)

6. AOL wants the fans to be part of the artist development process. Just like we do. And you do too.

7. Over 20 million unique visitors per month visit AOL music, making them the largest music site in the world. Did I just write 20 million? Pinch me.

8. Okay, that 20 million number is worth repeating…

9. OurStage is making waves in the industry—big waves I might add. That means only good things for you.

10. Need more than these 9 reasons to update your profile, get your fans to come to the site and vote, blog, be creative, make great art and shout out to us that you’re on OurStage and you R.O.C.K.? Me thinketh not.

So get those profiles happening. Make new friends. Win new fans. Compete in the channels. Reach out to us and say hello. But most of all, make great music, let the fans decide and we (and 20 million others) will see you on AOL.

Love this news? Need more information? Post me a comment then, eh? Because I’m in Canada.

Rock on.