Posts tagged artist
Open Mic UK Audition are in Full Swing
Aug 19th
Thousands of unsigned singers entered last year and this year it’s set to be even bigger! Open Mic UK is the national music competition for singers and solo artists in the UK and auditions are in full swing!
2010 auditions kicked off at the start of August and are travelling across the country in the search for the UK’s best singers, singer/songwriters, rappers and vocalists. It’s open to all genres, so whether you’re into RnB, Rap, Acoustic, Pop or Classical – Open Mic UK has it all! Acts can perform either covers or original material and they’ll be invited to a live audition in front of the judging panel.
Those who make it through the audition stage will go on to perform across the UK in live shows, in front of a live audience and judging panel, for the chance to sing at the Grand Final at the 02 in London. The panel is made up of industry insiders, A&R, vocal coaches and guest celebrities.
There are plenty of opportunities to win prizes throughout the competition. There’s over £50, 000 worth of prizes up for grabs and the winning act will be offered a recording and management contract to develop their music and release their single. Competing acts will also have the chance to perform live in some of the best music venues in the country.
The competition is divided into age categories; Under 18, 18-24 and 25 and over. All types of singers, vocal performers, groups and acoustic singer/songwriters are invited to enter Open Mic UK. It’s all about finding an act that has the ability to become a professional recording artist.
So, if you think you’ve got what it takes, get on the mic for Open Mic UK 2010!
For dates, venues and more information go to www.openmic.co.uk
The Lottery Winners Shine At Live and Unsigned Festival
Jul 19th
Full to the brim with the best unsigned music from across the UK, thousands of music fans were bopping along to fresh music at the Live and Unsigned Festival this weekend.
The best under the radar artists took to the stage at the Indig02 in London on Saturday 10th July for the chance to be crowned the winner of Live and Unsigned 2010, and it was The Lottery Winners from Leigh who eventually took home the title!
The Lottery Winners battled it out in live auditions and live heats across the country to eventually take away the top spot. They were crowned the UK’s best Live and Unsigned Act on the main stage of the Festival in front of a sold out crowd and an array of industry judges.
Representatives from the music industry were out in force to meet enthusiastic newcomers at the Grand Final of Live and Unsigned, the biggest unsigned music competition in the UK for original artists.
Over 10, 000 acts entered the competition this year, and the Grand Final saw the cream of the UK’s unsigned talent showcase their music in front of thousands of audience members and the judging panel which included Slade’s legendary front man Noddy Holder, Radio 1’s Annie Nightingale, Kerrang’s Alex Baker and RnB star Shola Ama.
The Festival played host to an eclectic mix of artists, with four genre categories performing throughout the day including Rock, Indie, Alternative and Pop/Acoustic/Urban. Category winners included rock band Underline The Sky, acoustic act Sam Garrett and alternative group We Beat The System. But the judges, alongside an energised audience, voted Indie band The Lottery Winners as the overall winner. Their winners package includes a management and recording contract, development of a clothing brand, publicity package and UK tour.
Chris Grayston, judge on the night and head of A&R at Future Music commented ‘The standard this year was fantastic. The competition has grown year on year, and this year has to be the biggest yet. The talent has improved, there have been some fantastic prizes up for grabs, invaluable development opportunities and Grand Finalists played on stage at the best live music venue in the country, the 02 in London. It was a great end to a great year. I am confident we have chosen the right winner. I am looking forward to next year’s competition and working with The Lottery Winners and I’m sure we’re going to be seeing a lot more of them.’
With over 30, 000 registrations in the last three years, Live and Unsigned has cemented its place on the UK music scene as the largest unsigned music competition for under the radar, original artists. The competitions popularity comes from its reputation for encouraging originality and it’ss open to all unsigned acts regardless of genre, so it’s got something for everyone!
Live and Unsigned 2011 auditions begin again in January 2011 and will be travelling across the UK. For more information go to www.LiveandUnsigned.Uk.com Auditions for Future Music’s National competition for solo singers ‘Open Mic UK’ start in August 2010 Openmicuk.co.uk
Check out The Lottery Winners MySpace at; Myspace.com/thelotterywinnersmusic
An interview with Solo Indie Song Writer Nathaniel Sutton
May 17th
It began with the inspiration of many talented artists such as Neil Young, Tragically Hip, and even Foo Fighters. Nathaniel Sutton decided to make a name for himself by becoming a solo indie singer/songwriter. He started out by recording lo fi songs on his moms computer, Although good to start out with, Nathaniel eventually decided that he would need more than his “mom’s computer” if he wanted to record the sound he thrived for.
Any music achievements?
I would have to say that my achievements are releasing two albums entitled Dramatic Scene and Starlite. I am currently recording my third album which will be my self-titled album recorded at Zounds of Sounds studios in Edmonton AB Canada.
Who is your favorite upcoming artist?
I really enjoy The Shakedowns (www.myspace.com/theshakedownsband)
Do you think there is enough opportunities to get exposure?
There are plenty of opportunities available to those who are in need. It all depends on how much time and money you are willing to spend on gaining exposure. In the end, playing gigs is definitely the best source of promotion.
How do you generally promote your Band?
Any opportunity which becomes available I usually take part. I have used promotional tactics such as advertising in magazines and gathering reviews from various blogs and websites. Every little bit definitely helps!
Do you struggle to pull in people through the doors at gigs?
For the most part, it’s quite difficult to maintain a promising outcome at different gigs. Weekdays are especially difficult as weekends become easier to create a pull through the doors.
Do you think social networking is useful to Promoting your Music?
Definitely, the music industry revolves much upon who you know. Booking agents, record labels, and musicians are all important people to be communicating with in this business.
Nathaniel Sutton is currently working with Oak Apple Records (oakapplerecords.com) and you can purchase
CD’s and other merchandise on my website (Nathanielsutton.com)
Broccoli Events – UK Events and Promoters
Apr 14th
What’s new? Broccoli Events is new!
Having worked as promoters in the UK new music scene for the past 5 years it seems like an obvious and natural progression to add an events company to Broccoli Music and that’s exactly what they’ve done.
Events and music go hand in hand so Broccoli Events has an advantage on the rest with sister company Broccoli Music feeding them the best emerging artists on the scene. Companies want links into the youth market and thats what Broccoli Events has the ability to offer. Companies like XFM and Nokia were using Broccoli Music’s connection with bands and the scene that comes with them to link to the youth market and this is a valuble tool that Broccoli Events has to offer to clients.
So what do they do? They do parties, that’s what they’re known for, be it a private party, after show party, brand launch or beyond. They work closely with you developing ideas and designing an event package that ticks all the boxes.
What else is different? They have access to a network of affiliates, all of which are proven industry professionals, so whatever the event requires they can put together a specialist team.
Broccoli Events are always on the look out to add to their team of affiliates so check out the website and get in touch.
Showreel
The Talent Tour sets out to discover Musicians and Singers across the Country
Mar 29th
THE TALENT TOUR. …another exciting experience brought to you by TopoftheOx..First stop SWINDON
The Talent Tour is the drive to discover musicians and singers across the country – and is seeking participants in YOUR area! The tour kicks off in Swindon over the Easter and there are a few more spaces left!
Hauling the tried-and-tested ‘battle of the bands’ concept into the 21st Century, The Talent Tour is based in and around a professional recording studio housed within a 27-foot-long vintage Airstream caravan. Armed with multiple TV screens, a PA system and an array of quality musical instruments, we can bring a unique environment and a truly innovative musical experience – straight to you!
Contestants will be photographed by a professional photographer and recorded inside the Rockhopper Studio, with every moment filmed and broadcast live to the crowd outside. All contestants will then be able to relive the fruits of their labours with an individual copy of their recording and an HD YouTube video, which will be later uploaded for members of the public to judge. Once voting has finished, each entrant will be entered into a national chart with the chance to win a recording deal.
The Talent Tour is the talent contest where everyone wins! Recordings, HD YouTube videos, the chance to buy mastered CDs, DVDs and promo-packs, and an all-round unforgettable experience.
To book your slot on the tour, visit www.thetalenttour.co.uk or ring 0845 6800605
An Interview with SkyRocket Love – Upcoming Unsigned Band
Mar 12th
Sky Rocket Love
What Rock Links thinks of SkyRocket Love
SkyRocket Love seem to be the first american Band not to sound like an american Band, which to us is a breath of fresh Atlantic air! They seem to have some good solid song structures, catchy rhythms and use backing vocals very effectively. In a nutshell we like!
How did the Band first get together?
Merritt: I’m from Iowa City, Iowa. Jeremy is from Tampa, Florida. We met out in Los Angeles through a mutual friend and hit it off right away. We both liked a lot of the same stuff and we could each do stuff that the other one couldn’t so it quickly became clear that we should work together.
Jeremy: In life and in music we both understood things in different lights but still seemed to find a common ground which summed up to the same conclusion, “we should work together”. This ultimately led to the formation of Skyrocket Love.
What makes you different to other Bands?
Merritt: We care as much as anyone could. We pour everything into the music, we answer every email or message from a fan, and with the help of a few people who are sticking up for us – we do everything ourselves.
Jeremy: We bring something that hasn’t been seen for a very long time. I’ll sure try to make it that way, at least.
Do you think there is enough opportunities for Bands to get noticed?
Merritt: There are more opportunities, but there better be, because there are more bands than ever right now. The barriers to entry to have come way down; anyone can record their own music now and distribute it online. Now, it’s just a matter of distinguishing yourself in this sea of content.
Jeremy: I think there are a lot of opportunities to get noticed for us, even though the industry is so saturated now. If you bring something new and unique to the table and you have a good following, then someone’s going to notice you sooner or later.
What are your views on the current Music scene?
Merritt: The label system has been the mechanism that has connected bands to the capital they need to promote with, and since the label system is in dissaray, they’re left to fend for themselves. Most people in bands are artists, not promoters so its obviously tough. It’s going to be a rough transitional period, but as the sorting mechanisms get better on the internet, I think what will emerge is a system that will be much more fair and democratic.
Jeremy: It’s even more difficult now than it used to be for any artist or band to make it. I think a lot of bands today struggle with just being themselves and being original since it’s all been done before. Plus, people can promote themselves online and get signed just from that. On the other hand, there are some positive things about all the internet self promotion that we can use to our advantage.
Do you prefer buying CD’s to Downloads? Explain why
Merritt: I’d rather download it so It’s already on my computer. It just removes a step from the process and makes it easier to listen. CD’s are pretty much functionally dead. They’ll still have value because of the insert, the artwork and the physical connection you can have to the music, but it will more and more become only something that is sought after by fans and collectors, not casual listeners. I still do buy my favorite bands’ CDs.
Jeremy: Downloading is usually more convenient and saves time. I’d still buy a cd that was worth it, though.
How did you get your first booking for a gig?
Merritt: We’ve had to do a lot of it on our own, but we’ve also been fortunate to have a really strong group of people around helping and advising us. Every show we’ve played have been either booked by us or by friends of the band.
Jeremy: Most of it has been on our own and with our amazingly supportive friends and fans.
Do you have a favourite Unsigned Band?
Merritt: The Capitals have this song, “A Spectre Is Haunting” that is really good. http://www.thesixtyone.com/#/s/CwaEAp9X3c4/
Do you use social networking to promote your Band?
Merritt: Definitely. The social networks have given people a chance to quickly and easily share the music that they’re listening to.
Jeremy: Yes, that’s a huge part of our marketing that we use. We’ve developed relationships with our fans this way
To find out more about SkyRocket Love visit http://www.skyrocketlove.com or http://www.myspace.com/skyrocketlove
41 ways to promote your Music or Band
Mar 9th
1) Make sure people have resources available to find out more about you. Websites, Myspace, Facebook and Twitter
2) Make sure people can easily find out how to find those resources.
3) Word of Mouth is best the form of promotion! Give them something to talk about
4) Get involved with your local Music scene. Go along to local Gigs, see other Bands, get to know promoters and network.
5) Get some Business Cards printed, vistaprint.com offer 250 for free!
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6) Brand your Music, get an eye catching logo designed.
7) Set up a mailing list, notifylist.com, aardvarkmailinglist.net, yourmailinglistprovider.com, freelists.org
8 Set up a Blog wordpress.com www.blogger.com and write about your Music, other Music anything that will pull in readers. Make sure you write about well known artists similar to your Music style, by doing this you will attract fans for that artist and will then be able to market your Music to those fans.
9) Get involved in Music sites, forums and internet radio. There are hundreds of Music sites available and some of them only concentrate on certain music styles. Target the small ones and they will love to have you onboard, then the big sites will follow suit. Music forums are also brilliant for promoting music, include your website links in your signature and your traffic will grow.
10) Keep your fans updated. Read my article on how to do this easily
11) Start a video advertising campaign, upload videos to youtube.com, vimeo.com and www.muzu.tv. Ideally you want to upload music videos, if you don’t have one then create video blogs talking about your music or reviewing other artists that are similar to you. For example if your Music sounds a lot like The Beatles then review The Beatles or make a video which has a connection with the Beatles. Include your website details at the end of the video and in the Descriptions and Tags that go along with the video. This way whenever someone searches for the beatles, your video has a chance of appearing and interest will lead them to your site. Another handy tip is to also have your username as your domain name. For example my username on youtube is rocklinkscouk.
12) Get more Twitter followers, the average rule with twitter is the more people your follow the more followers you get back. Tweetadder.com is a really cool tool to automate the process of following people, not only that you can also target certain twitter members by interests and location. For example a keyword could be Music, and a location Portsmouth, tweet adder will then find users in Portsmouth who have the keywords music in their profile. Now you should be able to see the awesome power of this tool!
13) Add a Twitter widget to your Website or Myspace. Login to your Twitter account and click on Gadgets at the bottom.
14) Create a page on Facebook so people can be come a fan. Invite all your friends to become a fan.
15) Add a Facebook Page widget to your website, so your website users can become a fan.
16) Be social on your social networks
17) Start a local magazine? Like our good friend Nick J Townsend did
18) By a shed load of custom printed t-shirts and give them out for free. When everyone turns up at your gig in the same t-shirt it really attracts attention. I know for a fact this works as I have done this on a number of occasions.
19) Appear on Videos and TV, a prime time slot on itv3 might be hard to come by but not impossible (there are loads of big name acts who have been discovered this way). If your not lucky enough to get these opportunities then create your own, send emails to film organizations, art councils and anyone involved with film. You can also attract attention by contacting small film companies and another good idea is to contact extreme sports style websites who create sports videos.
20) Create a lens (a page) at squidoo.com it really does create a wealth of traffic for your site
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21) Create a decent Press Release, I personally feel press packs have become extinct. If someone is seriously interested in working with your Music the first place they will go is your myspace or website.
22) Contact Newspapers and Magazines
23) Offer freebies everyone loves Badges and Stickers!
24) Get out on the streets and talk to people about your Music, invite them to you upcoming Gigs.
25) Contact Radio stations, radio is a massive asset to promoting Music. Luckily there is a lot of National and Local Radio stations opening their doors to unknown Artists. Use this to your full advantage.
26) Get involved with a charity. By scratching their back they will also scratch yours.
27) Create an account at eventful.com
28) Start a text service, like the t-mobile advert or using a service such as txtlocal.com
29) Make people feel apart of what your doing, you should make time for everyone who comes along to your gigs.
30) Contact build, it’s what makes the Music Industry work.
31) Start a facebook event for every gig. This has always been successful for my own gigs you can also persuade other people to invite their friends. Make sure you do periodic status updates reminding people of the gig.
32) Go round local Music Shops, get to know the staff and ask if you can leave some promo gear in the shop. I find a lot of music shops actively try to promote the local music scene.
33) Create a Last.fm account!
34) Start podcasting, they weirdly attract a lot of attention.
35) Pay a professional photographer to take some snaps of you.
36) Get your Music reviewed
37) Get Interviewed
38) Place carefully positioned Posters around your local area, cafes, bars, clubs, venues ect
39) Flyers are handy when used effectively. I wouldn’t suggest handing them out willy nilly. Use them to your advantage at Gigs, leave them on tables, at the bar, hand them to people as they leave a venue. If your Band is playing that night then great, if someone likes your music they will more than likely pick up a flyer and keep hold of it.
40) Get involved with local Music sites
41) Leave a comment below with a link to your website. If you have another method of Promoting Music that I haven’t mentioned above then please add it below.
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