Whew! I certainly want folks to hear my music. But I have another reason (which I haven't seen above, though I'll admit I just skimmed the thread) for setting my music to not play automatically and that is:

This discussion has occurred on several of the US-based folk business lists I subscribe to. Many of the venue organisers on those lists have said that they DO NOT like automatic music when they go to check out a musician's page, whether it be on MySpace or the musician's website. For me (as petty as it may seem on the organiser's part)that could result in a lost opportunity.

For myself as a listener, I do not like any websites where music or videos play automatically and when I encounter those, that person has lost a viewer or listener as I always try to shut it off as sson as it starts up.

I went to a musician's website to listen to their music and they had 10 music players on the page and they ALL STARTED UP AT ONCE WITH NO WAY TO SHUT THEM OFF. Not a good way to gain listeners, I would think.

Just my opinion,
Deb