West Coast Songwriters. Formerly the Northern California Songwriters' Association. This is where it gets serious. These open mics can get you heard in front of industry types who have the resources to help you out with your original music.

Open Mic Showcase An interesting public television project that broadcasts live open mic nights in the bay area.

indiecentre. Everything you need as an independent musician from where to buy stickers to starting your own record label.

The Popular Noise Foundation are a local grassroots organization dedicated to supporting live and original music in the bay area. Well worth supporting.

WORKSPACE. Dedicated to creating rehearsal, work and living space for bay area musicians and artists.

The Future of Music Coalition. A non-profit thinktank in Washington DC that lobbies for artists and songwriter rights. Great source of industry info you wouldn't find elsewhere. These guys fight the bad guys, check them out.

US Copyright Office. The official site and easy to use. Many other nations suggest filing with the US Library of Congress is the best way in the world to register your original work. Also, the employees of the copyright office now can contact you via email! Isn't it great.

The Female Singer-Songwriter Webring is just what it sez.

CD Baby. A do-it-yourself online CD sales solution. CD Baby will handle website, artwork, mp3 samples; everything. Free to set up, five CD minimum, $4 charge per CD sold (no matter what the CD price).

Songwriter.ie is a non-profit Irish singer-songwriter organization just starting up that supports unsigned Irish artists and releases live CDs of them playing.