Since 1996, 6thStreet.com has been an independently funded project providing websites and email services for "unsigned" bands. Our initial idea was to ask each band to get a sponsor (instrument stores, music supplies, retail music stores, production studios, etc.) to contribute to the hosting expense. The benefit to the sponsor would be a gratuitous banner or link on the band's website extolling their sponsor's exceptional contribution. The required contribution would only be $5/month. We would also offer inexpensive professional webhosting ($10-15/month) to the sponsors if they had two or more sponsored bands.

All websites receive detailed web traffic reports, cgi script access, 20MB of disk space and custom domain email access via a web browser. The project was never intended to be a profit center, we just wanted it to be self-sustaining. The website servers are now mirrored in 2 completely separate backbone facilities. We treat the server security and management as if they were part of our normal network administration jobs. The servers are in state-of-the-art facilities. Redundant electric power with standby generators, multiple large Internet backbone connections and high-end servers are all part of the project resources.