| General |
The Music Industry Report Blog
"Tip of the Week"
1.4.09-1.10.09
Create an online newsletter, with content of value to the receiver. This is an invaluable way to keep fans informed on gigs, news, gossip, new releases and other great info. Send out your newsletter about once a month.
12.28.08-1.3.09
Have star quality, but don’t be a big-head. Let people know you are professional and have the ability to be a long lasting star in this business.
12.21.08-12.27.08
Join online music groups and newsgroups
12.14.08-12.20.08
Be on friendly terms with other bands and artists in your area.
12.7.08-12.13.08
Zero in on your target. Know where they hang out, where they shop, what they do for fun, and hit them where they live – online and off. Your audience is a specific crowd of people so don’t waste time being where they are not.
11.30.08-12.6.08
Wear your band! Get a jacket, t-shirts (etc) and add your band name or logo on it. Wear it everywhere and be a walking advertisement. If you have a niche fan base, think of a merchandise item that they need that of course has your name on it!
11.23.08-11.29.08
Give a review to get a review, honestly is the best policy, but never brutality. Many times someone will return the favor and it shows your knowledge, your twist, on the music created.
11.16.08-11.22.08
Turnover is vanity, profit is reality
What's the point of having 100,000 plays on MySpace when you have no music for sale there? The only point in promoting yourself online is that your listening and viewing public will eventually send some money your way. How long can you afford to work on your music without seeing a penny in return? It pays to always have an answer to the question: 'What's in it for me?'. If you can't answer that question in one simple sentence, you're channelling your energy in the wrong direction.
11.9.08-11.15.08
Avoid jumping on bandwagons
This is what everyone else is doing. The world doesn't need another Timbaland wannabe, but it does need plenty of music that meets Timbaland's high standards. Don't forget that, by the time you've spotted a bandwagon, you've already missed it.
11.2.08-11.8.08
Use Internet class ads as well as local newspapers to promote upcoming events and possible collaborations with others. Print papers and magazines need advance notice so plan accordingly.
10.26.08-11.1.08
The music business is in the business to make money. If your career is in music, know when to be businesslike.
10.19.08-10.25.08
Brand your name across the world and be ever mindful of the image you wish to portray whenever out in public or online. ’s in print, it’s permanent.
10.12.08-10.18.08
Word of mouth has always been the best promotion – tell people what you do. Get people talking. Create your buzz by just giving enough info to get people interested, but hold some secrets close.
10.5.08-10.11.08
Image is everything. Image is the complete package - artist/band name, look, performance, merchandise, and style, to how that brand is marketed. A stage name can be a descriptive statement of the image you or your band project. Be unique and interesting to look at in some way....build your own unique stage persona.
9.28.08-10.4.08
A music artist must start somewhere, that’s usually locally, but it’s better to not just dive in without a plan. But begin you must. Create a plan with some ideas and set goals as to what you need to accomplish weekly, monthly, and yearly. Start small and make it progressive. Reach bench marks and keep at it.
9.21.08-9.27.08
Know who you are! Get into an appropriate category so that you can be found. People have to be able to identify your sound into a category that they can identify with.
9.14.08-9.20.08
Tag your MP3s with your name or band name, not just the song name. They need to know WHO did this material when they happen across it months later.
9.7.08-9.13.08
This is a business, and although it would be nice to have your boys around you since you trust them, that’s not smart business. Hire the best person for the job. You will make more money and then you can hire your boy to do whatever he’s good at, which will hopefully make you even more money.
8.31.08-9.6.08
Music websites and e-zines are always looking for music to review. Look up their websites and send emails to their editors. Tell them why you’re a fit for their magazine and ask if you can send in a CD. Again, try to make contact first… sending in a random package may be useless.
8.24.08-8.30.08
Go local. Local press is by far the easiest press to get. Let them know your story and send in a CD. Shoot for the music editor or columnist and if they don’t have one assigned specifically, contact the entertainment editor.
8.17.08-8.24.08
The money that must be given to the copyright holder(s) every time the composition is "performed". Every radio station, club, restaraunt, and retail store (that plays music) is liable to pay the copyright holder every time they play the composition.
8.10.08-8.16.08
Some TV/film broadcasters seek to directly license your music for a one-time purchase price, bypassing the PRO. This could result in much less money in the long run, depending on how often its likely to get repeat broadcasts.
8.3.08-8.9.08
Whatever you do,Don't let the technology get ahead of the music. If you don't have an artist that has something to say, really great songs, look for the next one.
7.27.08-8.2.08
Your manager should be likeable but persistent. Some don't believe in management contracts, certainly if you can't work together (anymore) having a contract won't make any difference. Consider a trial period? The standard manager's cut in the UK is 20% of the net revenue, by the way.
7.20.08-7.26.08
Don't just email or post or leave your demo or Myspace link. Do your research. Find out who might be interested in your genre of music, phone, ask to speak to them, or talk to them in person (find out where they'll be and be there). The personal touch makes a huge difference - a handwritten letter, press release etc.
# Don't forget to include your contact details!
7.13.08-7.19.08
Generate buzz from releasing media and press releases. Professional PR experts know how to write, release, and distribute media and press releases that receive publications in media outlets. It is very important that music industry media and press releases are properly targeted to match the right publications.
7.6.08-7.12.08
Don't let the technology get ahead of the music, If you don't have an artist that has something to say, really great songs, look for the next one."
6.29.08-7.5.08
It’s a misconception that you need the biggest, flashiest, most powerful website on the planet to be seen by potential fans. In fact, as the Internet has matured, the desire for fancy, flash-filled websites has reversed.Break it down a bit - don’t overwhelm you visitors with videos, images, and applications. They take too long to load and ruin the whole experience.
6.22.08-6.28.08
Don't waste money advertising in the wrong places. If your advertising does not reach your audience then you will run yourself out of business.
6.15.08-6.21.08
If you live in one of the Major Cities, don’t limit your marketing to that one city. Get out to all of the smaller markets (cities & states) around that region. Many, many new (and established) artists and companies build a very strong fan base in the smaller markets… with more support and luv than in their own hometowns. So make sure you do live performances and “big-time” promote your music, products, etc. to the smaller markets around the major areas.
6.8.08-6.14.08
Keep it simple silly, web sites that take a long time to load, are not easy to navigate, and are not interesting will not keep the viewer's attention long enough for them to get to know you.
So don't make your personal website or any site that can be customized, so frilly that it turns a potential opportunity away.
6.1.08-6.7.08
If you are highly disorganized, lack a general business sense, find it difficult to focus on long term goals or be consistent, hate to read music books, lack financial resources, have had very little success on your own, and know very little about the music business, you should probably seek management as early in your career as possible. You will need a manager very early on in your career to develop a game plan for you so that you can avoid making mistakes that may be difficult or impossible to undo later.
5.25.08-5.31.08
Prepare a professional press media kit that reveals a very newsworthy storyline. Professional PR experts will know how to assist you with preparing a press media kit that helps to get you noticed. The music industry is very focused on an artist background and how they got their big break.
5.18.08-5.24.08
If your band is afraid of being trapped within a genre, use words like hybrid, myriad, collage, or infused. Its still unique if you merge different genres, artists, political ideals, and non-linear thinking to describe your sound and it will give the average person an idea of what to expect if they where to see you live.
5.11.08-5.17.08
Many bands are guilty of ignoring the bio,ll news is good news and a bio can help get press about your band from every angle, everywhere from Major music publications to local music rags to fans writing about you in their high school newspaper.
5.4.08-5.10.08
Always make sure that everything associated with your band has contact information on it. Always have the contact directly on each piece of media from cd's to bios. That way even if elements get lost, your contact information still resides on anything that didn't make it to the trash.
4.27.08-5.3.08
No one will manage you until you can manage yourself.
4.20.08-4.26.08
Send your MP3/CD's out to the various 'zines whose work you like and college radio stations and get the buzz going about your band. Be sure to put any and all reviews you get on your www page, if you have one (even negative reviews might sometimes help
Put up all reviews, both positive and negative). If you tour, be sure to publicize your Internet site if you have one. Take advantage of every advertising opportunity you get.
4.13.08-4.19.08
Customers don't buy value. They buy the perception of value. This is particularly true in the music business. What this means is that you must create perceived value when you sell your music.
4.6.08-4.12.08
Whenever you present yourself or your product to someone, you should make an excellent first impression. You will never get another chance to do that. An initial impression can mean a contract, a contact, or sadly, the door. You want the best, so give out your best. A first impression could either make you or break you
3.30.08-4.5.08
Arrange to record a special ‘LIVE’ CD and invite only the fans who signed your email list to attend. You could do this in multiple markets, close to your home base. Charge them $25 for the live recording experience, THEN tell them if they buy a copy of the LIVE CD that night, in advance, you will autograph the CD and remind them that they can hear themselves applaud and whistle on the recording....everybody wants to FEEL SPECIAL.
3.23.08-3.29.08
Offer a free CD for every 3 CDs bought. You can do this at your live sales booth when you do concerts, or on your website...or BOTH! This way your fans can help you get the word out in an inexpensive way, and all fans LOVE to help their favorite band or artist.
3.16.08-3.22.08
Offer to “include” the sales tax in your CDs sales, maybe even "for a limited time only” or for loyal repeat customers...or offer free shipping and handling.
3.9.08-3.15.08
Think up a marketing idea where your fans have to enter a coupon or promotional code at your website to get a discount on one or more of your recordings.(You can do this for digital downloads or for CDs.) and/or for ticket discounts for upcoming shows.
3.2.08-3.8.08
“If you are not out there promoting your music, someone else is out there promoting their music”. There is a tremendous amount of competition out there.
THINK....what can you do that no one else has done, or better yet...steal a creative idea from someone else...hell, every advertiser in the world does this, why not you?!
2.24.08-3.1.08
Every record is a new release...if people haven’t heard it. Remember to put ANY and ALL past recordings up at your website as mp3 downloads, and on sale at all your live shows.
As your fanbase grows your fans will want anything you ever did, and this will expand as you attract more fans over the months and years ahead.
Top Online Networking Sites for Artists/Labels/Producers
1. MySpace
2. Facebook
3. Reverbnation
4. i-Like
5. Purevolume
6. I-Sound
7. Soundclick
8. Garageband
9. Bebo
10. Youtube
11. Fuzz
12. LastFM
13. Mytracks
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