Posts tagged musicians
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 done, vistaprint.com offer 250 for free!
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
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.
Promote and Market your Music easily with RSS Feeds
Mar 8th
I recently made a video tutorial showing Musicians how you can use RSS Feeds to effectively Market and Promote your Music, the video is below.
Finding Investment for your Music – Endorsements, Music Grants and More
Mar 5th
I have just uploaded a Lens at squidoo.com about finding Investment for your Music. I talk about the various options available to funding your Music Career. To check it out please visit Music Investments Article
Why you should indentify 3 selling points to Promote and sell Your Music
Mar 3rd
I have a little saying that i say to most Band’s “it’s about time your turned your Band into a Brand”, although i’m not directly writing this article about branding your Band, it does come under the same bracket. From when you walk past a product on the shelf in Asda to driving past a billboard on the M3, they all you use the same principles to get your juices flowing. Every product or service that is advertised identifies 3 selling points for that product and it should be the same for your Music. Most people who read an advertisement will make a decision on that product or service within 10 seconds, if they haven’t identified keywords that interests them in a product they will most likely put it back on the shelf. If you think of your Music as a product you will start to see how advertising your Music properly is important, by identifying 3 selling points about your Music that will grab the reader within 10 seconds you will more than likely generate more interest. The Human mind is very curious so make full use of this fact!
So how do you identify selling points?
Selling points are everywhere, back in 2008 Rock Links was awarded an Innovation and Entrepreneurial Business award, so one of our key selling points is “The Award Winning Rock Links”, maybe your Music has won an award? Maybe you won a talent contest?
I happen to know a few all Lesbian girl Bands, imagine walking past a poster with the words “Band name! The all Lesbian Girl Band”. It provokes interest to read more!
Have you been featured on a National or Local Radio Station? In my local area we have Heart FM, although i don’t think they actually play Unsigned Acts i’m sure other local Radio Stations do, so again “Band Name! As featured on Radio FM”.
Maybe your age is a key factor? Maybe you under 16? Maybe your over 60? Again this provokes interest.
Maybe your a Country/Electronic/Funky/Banjo Playing act? Now that i would like to see!
Other key selling Points
Genre style, Size (maybe you have 8 Band members), fashion, bizarre instruments used, connection with a charity, jedward hairstyles, Free Music, Cover Songs, Endorsements, maybe your all born in the same city / town? (people love to support local people), basically anything that sets you apart from the rest that people can relate to or would want to know more about.
Once you have identified your key selling points, make sure they are the first thing anyone reads, your Myspace, Website, Press Releases, Artwork, Posters, Facebook, Twitter, i’m sure your getting the picture. Like i have previously said, you have about 10 seconds to ‘catch’ the persons attention, choose your selling points wisely and the rewards will be more interest in your Music, it’s guaranteed and has been used by marketers since the first roman sandal hit the south coast!
Out of the Basement by Nick J.Townsend from Basementsound.co.uk
Mar 2nd
Greetings Rocklinks….
This is Nick J.Townsend from BasementSound Radio, the world’s most underground internet radio station. This is a special column exclusive to Rocklinks.co.uk, every month I’m going to talk about some of the best underground artists that get featured on www.basementsound.co.uk and I know what I’m talking about. I’m not here to sell shares in record companies, I’m here to reveal who’s making the music that real people listen to. Nuff said…
THE ROCKET DOLLS (Brighton / United Kingdom)
http://www.therocketdolls.com
http://www.myspace.com/therocketdollsmusic
Now if you are going to stand out you need to get peoples attention. This British three piece Alternative Post Grunge Riff Metal band not only have a great image but write songs that make you want to kick down your front door and scream (which in my opinion is a good thing as it sure let’s your neighbours know who’s got the best CD collection). Catchy riffs, pounding grove beats and the Basslines are slick. Infact this is great music to f**k to, trust me I’m an expert. ‘BLEEDING THE SHAME’ and ‘DELIRIUM’ are good examples of why this band will get girls pregnant.
MOZART KHADAFFI (Denmark)
http://www.mozartkhadaffi.com
http://www.myspace.com/mozartkhadaffi
Imagine Marilyn Manson meets Mr. Bungle. Yes this is a wild child orchestra. Possibly one of my favorite underground bands too. Alternative Industrial Metal Rock with attitude and I f**king mean attitude with a lot of style and originality (it’s not clever to swear but sometimes it’s necessary to prove a point). This is a mindwarp of influences wrapped up in organized chaos. Mean guitars, insane beats, great theatrical vocals and all done with excellence. ‘DEAD CAN WALK’ is the best example if you’re new to this act. It’s got everything you need in one song. There’s one bit in the song which is the best scream I’ve ever felt like screaming along to. This music will open your mind.
STRIPPING THE PISTOL (Chicago / United States)
http://www.strippingthepistol.com/
http://www.myspace.com/strippingthepistol
Chicago makes some great music and this band sure does prove that. BLACK REFLECTIONS is the song by STRIPPING THE PISTOL that woke me up and made me masturbate more times in a single day than advised to me by the sex experts on TV. It’s a great tune. I was pleased to find out they wrote a load more cool songs as well. So kiddies if you are going to lock the bedroom door with your iPod on then this is the band for you. Great vocals and lyrics, atmospheric guitars, brutal and yet gentle at times, some great riffs and great melodies. For a Metal Rock band they provide a full package of treats. Great band name too. Hell yeah!
…..Right, that’s the first three bands I’m going to introduce you to. Short but sweet. Think about it, I’ve just told you about three bands who are going to be included in your record collection. These are all world class artists for different reasons. No f**king around here. The underground may well be filled with music but only those that display originality and balls make it to my column. You can hear all these bands on www.basementsound.co.uk but more importantly you can go and watch them Live, download their music, write about them and get a fucking tattoo of them on your arm. This is Nick J.Townsend signing off. END OF MESSAGE.
Visit Basementsound.co.uk
Latest opportunities from Stiff Promotions
Feb 3rd
Fresh out of the email box, here is the latest Gig opportunities from Stiff Promotions
As an added incentive to the live performance opportunities, those bands
drawing in excess of 40 people (solo artists 20 people, duos 30 people) to a
Portsmouth show will be offered a slot on an ‘out of town’ gig (e.g.
Brighton, Guildford or Southampton) as an additional reward over and above
ticket sales payments and free bar rider incentives. More details on
confirmation of Portsmouth support slots.
If you’re not already a ‘fan’ (odd concept admittedly!) of the Stiff
Promotions Facebook Fan Page then
if the mood takes you it would be lovely to see you join as we don’t operate
a personal Facebook account.
Please read fully before replying – thank you!
February
Tue 9th – Eliza Doolittle – Cellars, Portsmouth (1x band slot and 1x
acoustic solo/duo slot)
Myspace
Genre: Pop/Soul/Singer Songwriter
“Soul-felt pop in the old skool sense with a little fruit, spice, sugar &
nuts – a tasty combination” – BBC London
Superb voice and lyrical content, managed by the same group of companies
that look after Radiohead and signed to Parlophone (home to Lily Allen)
March
Fri 12th – Kids Love Lies – Cellars, Portsmouth (2x band slots)
Myspace
Genre: Indie/Pop
“Strop pop palpitation… a sub 3-minute rush of Pretty Girls Make Graves
style post hardcore sweetness” – NME
Regular Radio 1 play, Great Escape and Camden Crawl appearances and recent
Artrocker single of the month
Tue 16th – Lupen Crook – Cellars, Portsmouth (2x acoustic solo/duo/band
slots)
Myspace
Genre: Indie/Pop/Alternative
“Utterly compelling” – NME… ”Indisputable genius, sublime stuff” – The
Fly… “A bewitching talent” – Uncut
Utterly captivating, agitated pop that will make you flinch with expectation
Tue 18th – Kyla La Grange – Cellars, Portsmouth (2x acoustic solo/duo/band
slots)
Myspace
Genre: Indie/Pop/Songwriter
Superb singer songwriter being developed by Field Recordings – the same
management company that run Radiohead and Faithless!
Sat 20th – The Kabeedies – Cellars, Portsmouth (1x band slots)
Myspace
Genre: Indie/Pop
Glastonbury, Latitude and Summer Sundae veterans, ‘Rumpus’ voted No. 9 in
Artrocker’s Top 20 albums 2009
Also regular Radio 1 play, Glastonbury and Latitude appearance and this is
one of a handful of UK appearances on a European tour
Thu 24th – Acoustix – Square Brewery, Petersfield (2x acoustic solo/duo
slots)
Genre: Multi-genre
Get an acoustic fix of original material from some of the area’s developing
artists and accomplished performers
An opportunity to showcase new material to an appreciative audience
April
Sat 3rd – Leigh Mary Stokes – Cellars, Portsmouth (2x band slots)
Myspace
Genre: Indie/Pop
“… like tea and crumpets before work, roast dinner at your mum’s and
listening to your iPod on the bus”
Previous festival appearances at Bestival, Southsea Fest and Wight Air now
regularly touring the UK
Thu 29th – Polly Paulusma – Upstairs @ The Square Brewery, Petersfield (1x
acoustic solo/duo slots)
Myspace
Genre: Singer songwriter/Pop
“The most literate songwriter of her generation” – The Independent
Heart-stopping shows supporting Bob Dylan, Jamie Cullum, The Divine Comedy,
Marianne Faithfull and Coldplay.
May
Sat 1st – Minnaars – Cellars, Portsmouth (1x band slots)
Myspace
Genre: Indie/Pop
“Dancey & direct; very impressive stuff” – Artrocker… “Right now we’re
loving Busy Hands” – NME
2009 appearance at Leeds and Reading festivals, huge BBC Introducing
support… a superb live band
What to do next
Firstly, visit the main Stiff website at Stiffpromotions.co.uk
to check out those slots you think you
might be suited to – each date has plenty of biog about the touring act.
Check:
· Your style complements that of the headliner
· You’re Portsmouth/Southampton/Chichester/Winchester based
· That, out of courtesy to other venues and promoters, you’re not
already playing in Portsmouth in the 2 weeks either side of the show
· You have the ability to market your show successfully and with
professional commitment to your existing audience – national agencies &
management regularly ask for recommendations
Please do not call or text – however well intentioned – it simply doesn’t
suit the way we work when putting together shows. Thanks.
If all the above is looking promising then drop me a line with the show
you’re interested in together with a line or two about why you feel you’d be
a good match and your potential audience draw (it’s not called the music
‘business’ for nothing I’m afraid) – and we’ll take it from there!
Live and Unsigned 2010 the largest national music competition for Bands, Singers and Musicians
Jan 29th
Live and Unsigned is back for 2010 bigger, better and louder then ever. Over 30,000 acts have auditioned for the music competition over the last 3 years. If your a Musician or a Band the Music competition offers benefits such as performing live in front of an audience, aswell as the UK’s top Producers, Label executives, Promoters and DJ’s.
So what does this Music competition have to offer if you win?
How does £50,000 worth of prizes sound? Includes a Recording contract with Future Music and upto £30,000 worth of Investment.
Auditions
Auditions are held around the country. You will perform, infront of our prestigious judging panel, a live piece. Should you be successful you will be put through to your regional final.
The Live Regional Finals
Successful audtions will give you a place in the regional final. You will perform an original track with your band or backed by a backing track in front of a huge live crowd!
You will be battling for a place in the Grand Final and the Live and Unsigned Festival.
LIVE AND UNSIGNED FESTIVAL & NATIONAL SHOWCASE GRAND FINAL
The big one! The climax of the Music competition!
You could be playing at the The Live and Unsigned Festival! A capacity crowd could be cheering you on and applauding your music! If you win, you’ll be offered a record deal on the spot!
The winners will be thrust into the media spotlight! TV, Radio, Print … You’ll be there!
The country’s best talent, best labels, best producers and best everything music will be at The Live and Unsigned Festival … are you good enough to be there too?!
Judging
The expert panel of judges will be looking out for musical ability, originality and performance capability. They will also be looking at the originality of your image and professionalism on stage. The ultimate job of the judges is to find an act that can be launched in the UK as a major recording artist.
Other Live and Unsigned News
Radio 1 Star Greg James has confirmed his place as a judge.
Popular day time presenter and Radio 1 DJ Greg James has just confirmed his place on the judging panel of Live and Unsigned 2010!
Greg is set to join other top celebs and record industry A&R to cast his eye over unsigned talent at the Live and Unsigned Festival at the 02 in London this July.
Kerrang DJ’s Join the Judging panel
Unsigned expert and popular voice of Kerrang Radio, Alex Baker is set to judge the Live and Unsigned Regional shows and will be bringing his wealth of experience of up and coming bands with him! It’s a double whammy for Kerrang as Alex will be judging alongside fellow presenter Christian Stevenson who confirmed his place on the panel last week.
For more information on Live and Unsigned the UK’s largest Unsigned Band Music Competition please visit Liveandunsigned.uk.com