In this thread the question is asked if a music distribution or separate modules is the best way to achieve turn key functionality needed for a music site. The answer, I believe, is an alternative path.
The alternative path is to abstract things out into an application layer, with Features. There is lots of info about Features on the project page (and it shares some ideas with the now defunct Patterns module), but conceptually this graphic sums it up best:
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Having had some experience working with Features this year, I can tell you it is pretty raw. A Feature has hooks and functions to turn on and off things on your site. At its simplest, it will turn on a few modules and change a few defaults. At its most complex, it will need to manually override database variables. It's messy development and takes time. But the real beauty is that it allows developers to focus on functionality instead of technicality. It also allows independent development of features that, combined, can achieve something that looks like a distribution. And for the user, they don't need to know how it works, they just need to know what it can do.
We are lucky, since we have already identified some useful features needed for an art & music Drupal site / mobile application, and perhaps the next step is to refine and prioritize the list.
1) Standard theme, optimized for touch screens & mobile devices.
A Drupalized jQuery Mobile theme would probably work fine.
2) Contact/booking info for band
3) News updates
Page with news updates, pushes out to other sites (facebook, twitter).
4) Tour updates
Page with tour dates and locations, pushes out to other sites (facebook, twitter).
5) Capture Contact information.
Fans, Venues, Booking contacts, Friends. Lightweight CRM basically.
Ability to search & email blast regionally.
6) Discography / Listen
Create a song, associated with an album and other metadata. Audio attachment or link can be associated with the song.
7) Store feature(s)
8) Members only feature(s)
I prioritized things from the perspective of a band or tour manager traveling to gigs, needing an application to easily push out updates to social websites as well as capture contact information on the run. (Items 1-5)
Items 6-8 are equally important but also more complex...things to keep thinking about. File handling and payment processing can get complicated real quick.
