How to effective promote your music.
There use to be a time, that being a indie or independent artist was never heard of like it is today. No matter what kind of music an artist did they didn’t want to be an independent artist for long term but eventually signed to a major record company, but this has changed. Now days, artist are not so gun hoe about trying to get a record deal, majority of independent artist are a happier being labeled as an independent artist. With the innovation of internet, social networks, and online stores has helped independent artist create their own lane where they can profit from their music, distribute their music, make a name for themselves and keep true to their own craft. With all of theses outlets available to indie artists it sometimes becomes overwhelming not to mention a lot of resources (money) end up being wasted trying to promote their music. A lot of artists do not know how or when to promote their music which leaves a lot of them feeling like they want to give up. Being an indie artist is just like owning your own company (well technically it is) you have to know where your demographic is what they like and how to reached them without saturating the market. Check out my dos and don’t on how to promote your music.
Do’s
1. Research: You have to study where your demographic is located, how can you promote your music when you do not know who you are promoting to. If your demographic is between the ages of 18-24 who are die hard hip-hop listeners than you need to work the clubs within your city that this demographic is at, there is no need to keep sending links to your music on facebook when you know your facebook friends are a combination of your professor, pastor, and aunt, there is no need to reach out to them because that’s not who you are targeting your music too. Once you find these nightclubs that have your demographic set up meetings with the dj’s to see how you can get your single played there. To be effective you really need your record to be played at least 3 times within one night that way the demographic can get use to it and hopefully enjoy it, once they start to enjoy it than they are going to want to know who you are and where they can get the song.
2. Create Online Accounts- The internet is a great tool to get your music out there to be effective, there is several outlets that will help you promote your music. Create a facebook, a twitter, youtube, cdbaby and reverbnation accounts These outlets keep track of whose purchasing your music as well as how big your following is. If you are trying to get signed to a record deal these tools help executives figure out if you are a liability or an asset. Record companies want to sign people who already have a following because it makes it easy for them to market to your demographic.
Don’t:
1. Do not over abuse your e-mail blasts, facebook status and twitter timelines with the same messages, we got it the first time, this can turn people away from your music. If you want to use these social networks as a way to promote your music that’s fine but find creative ways to get these individuals to check out your links, make contests, or trivia questions or cool videos, something that makes people want to click to see what’s going on.
2. Pass out Flyers- Flyers and CD pass outs can be beneficial but there is a time and place for it. If you have just started out and no one has not heard your music than why are you passing out a flyer, trust they don’t care and majority of the time they will throw it on the ground once your not looking. If you start with do #1 (above) than you can work into passing out flyers and other promotional items. Flyers and other promotional items are good once people already know who you are but it’s very risky when the masses have no clue who you are.
