Some of our clients have started collecting fan email address via Facebook, Twitter or third party products (like Janrai, Gigya or Checkdin) which provide a "single-sign on (SSO)"  or common authentication framework that can use on more than one campaign.  The idea is sound, if you can get the blessing of management, because in the long term it frees the music labels from their growing dependence on artist and management when it comes to promoting campaigns.  That said, we now have advanced (and inexpensive) solutions that allow music labels (and others) to run connect campaigns simply for the purpose of aggregating user information (via Facebook, Twitter, i.e.) and providing your basic sweepstakes, contest or content reveal activations. Our Meta-Connect solution is capable of leveraging native Facebook and Twitter API's, or easily and inexpensively integrates offerings from Janrain, Gigya, Checkd.in and others to leverage their authentication systems.

Here are some of the high level features and functionality:

• Native (Facebook and Twitter) or third party authentication (Janrain, Gigya, Checkd.in, i.e.)
• Email and information aggregation (Native and 3^rd party)
• Sharing (Message out) (Native/Meta-Connect and Janrain)
• Avatar Takeover (Native/Meta-Connect)
• Facebook notification support (Native/Meta-Connect)
• Support for information mirroring, syncing, migration and backup (3^rd party)
• Easy integration with other Metablocks solutions such as Tweematic, Shapematic, Mosaic, Radio Request, i.e.
• Activation types: Unlocks, Sweepstakes, Contests, multi-stage, multi-stage or multi-week promos, games and scavenger hunts
• Inexpensive: implementations start as less than $500

Natalie Stovall - Meta-Connect Sweepstakes Engine on Steroids

Jon Pardi & Checkd.in
You can check out an example of Meta-Connect in action (using Checkd.in for authenciation/user management) at: http://www.jonpardi.com/unlock