Independent Artist Distribution and Marketing

There was a time when people only believed they had a chance in the music industry if they were able to get signed to a label. An independent artist did not have much of a chance. Today that’s not necessarily true due to the advancement of the Internet. Recently I viewed a video from one of the most informative websites for musicians active and aspiring to the music industry called Artist House Music. Jon Vanhala, SVP Digital & Business Development Island Def Jam Music Group, in and interview goes over some strategies for promoting you career as an independent artist.

Marketing a Music Website

The music industry has many components that need to be completed if you want to be placed in the best position for success. You have hire the right publisher, agent, manager, and booking agent. You have to get the right studio people involved for the recording and of course you have to have good music. You got to posses an ability to write, play, sing or all of the above.

One of the most important aspects of any business is marketing. Without marketing, that good work is wasted. Sure, some of the above businesses or team members will help you do that, but what are you doing specifically and individually to make sure you increase your presence in the music industry? Today the way to do that best is a professional Internet presence.

Free Music Marketing Ideas: Give your Music Away?

Dexter Bryant Jr. wrote an article that I found on Artist Music House called “Free Music = Free Advertising = Smart Business.” That’s an interesting concept in an age where artists, songwriter and the music industry in general are taking every precaution and measure available under the law to stop people getting music for free and Bryant suggest that we give it away.  Well I think he is right.

The New Myspace for Artists

MySpace attempts to return to it former form by going after the artists. Recently Rolling Stone reported a preview video of the MySpace redesigned site.  MySpace apparently will use stakeholder Justin Timberlake to help them draw musicians and other entertainment and creative industry people to choose MySpace as the social network of choice.

Publishers in the music business and why the songwriter may need to become one

As a songwriter there are many aspects of the music industry that we need to understand to truly be successful. The first skill we need to have is a desire and ability to write songs. The next most important skill we need is the ability to market that song. That’s where at the publisher comes in.

Taylor Hicks and BeBe Winans at the RNC. Is it a good choice for their careers?

Over the years we have watched many performances from artists at the national conventions of the Democrat and Republican parties on election year. Last week America watched Mitt Romney accept the official nomination as the Republican Party candidate for President of the United States at the Republican National Convention. During that convention America also watched season 7 American Idol winner Taylor Hicks and Gospel/R&B singer, BeBe Winans take the stage as performers on Romney’s big night.

In this charged political season is it smart for artists to risk association with any political party. As a manager how would you advise your client? The question I’m asking is, “Is this a good choice for their careers, why, or why not?

Music Industry Lawyers

Recently I viewed three posted videos on the Artists Music House website. The videos were interviews with entertainment lawyers Randall Minter, Peter Shukat and Barry Menes. The videos contained important information that every music industry professional should know concerning the music industry in general, contracts and the importance of obtaining a lawyer and legal advice.

Avoiding Lawsuits in the Music Business

For this post I want to discuss the importance of understanding some basics of protecting yourself in the music industry. We will take a look at some current lawsuits and how the importance of the written agreement, getting permission, and insurance is needed for any business.

Finding an Artist Manager

As musicians we desire to focus on talent and gifted side of the business. However we must be careful to not forget that the music industry is a business. We should be dedicated to learning more about business strategies, contracts, and finances along side learning new chord progressions and vocal runs.

This is the reason why management is important to the advancement of any artists’ career. One of the ways to get management is to choose a manager.  Recently I read a book titled “This Business of Artist Management” by Xavier M. Frascogna and H. Lee Hetherington. In the following paragraphs I will briefly review their ideas on the manager’s role and management choices as discussed in chapters 2 & 3.

Artist Management

One thing that is crucial in the music business is the ability to manage the artist and or music. Although many bands and artist attempt to do it themselves, it is naive to think unless you are doing it well you are going to be successful in this business. Artisthouse Music provides a wealth of resources and information to the student of the music business. Here are some key points I took from my personal study.

Negotiating in the Music Industry

This weekend I interviewed an up and coming producer, manager and booking agent in the Christian music industry named Terry Dillard, co-owner of Cinder Entertainment. Cinder Entertainment represents artists such as Freddy Rodriguez, Ricardo Sanchez and Tye Tribbett, which are some to the top names in the Christian music industry today.

Consider Adele's Songwriting Success

Over the past couple of months I have posted a few thoughts for the songwriters to consider when creating songs that matter to people who listen. I mentioned that we should probably study what makes the top in our industry successful and duplicate it in our own uniqueness. You can read that post here: What Can We Learn From Music Business Top Earners Lists?

When considering a top artist in our industry today that we all can learn from, Adele cannot be overlooked.

Songwriter Success

One thing that I have noticed is that there are a lot of artist out there from all genres of music, however, only few are making a real impact on with their audience. Of course we understand that every one is not going to get the spot light, but there are so many out there that have a tremendous amount of talent, and their only problem is not knowing or understanding the right things to do to take their music to the next level.

I regularly review BMI’s songwriter 101 career advice articles to be informed of the strategies, techniques and wisdom involved with becoming a songwriting success. A recent article posted April 27, 2012 called, Seeking Songwriting Success: Three ways Follow-Through Pays Off by Cliff Goldmacher, gives 3 steps to help songwriters become more efficient.

How Do You Tell A Story?

Recently I reviewed a video called How to spot a liar, on the TED Ideas worth spreading website.  The speaker was Pamela Meyer.  The video was a very interesting study that gives the viewer information on the mannerisms of liars. In her almost 20 minute speech she goes over how to spot a liar through speech patterns and facial expressions. Furthermore Meyer talks about who lies, why they lie and how it comes so naturally.

What can we learn from RIAA

For those of us who really are interested in perusing careers in the music industry, we have to pay attention to the associations that are working on our behalf. RIAA is one of those associations.  RIAA stands for Recording Industry Association of America. The members are the record labels that produce, create, manufacture and distribute most of the music produced in the US. The RIAA supplies lots of information about the music industry to professionals, fans and parents as well However for this post we will focus on the area of statistics and what that means to the music industry professional.

What Can We Learn From Music Business Top Earners Lists?

On March 9, 2012 Billboard posted what they called Music’s Top 40 Money Makers 2012.  Apparently for at least the last three years they have posted top earners in the industry with a description of how their money was made.  The data that was used to configure the possible incomes of these artists were basically airplay, record sales and tours.  What was not so simple is the general math that was used to estimate how much money was made. However it is very interesting to see, according to Billboard, who are the moneymakers and what that could mean towards trends and popularity among music fans.

BMI Songwriter Workshop Review

Recently BMI posted a series of videos onto their newsfeed, of a songwriter workshop held in Atlanta, GA, moderated by BMI executive Byron Wright. Hit making songwriters India Shawn of Full Circle, Shama “Sak Pase” Joseph of the Jugganauts, Reo of the Sound Killers and Kief Brown of The Building, were the panelist educating their listeners on various topics of songwriting. Some of the topics discussed were:

·      Working With Limited Means

·      Taking Less Credit Than You Deserve

·      Pitching A Song

The workshop was great for not only the beginning songwriter, but for any songwriters in the industry to serve as a reminder of the mental and psychological state you need to be in as we take our crafts to the next level.

Getting Your Songs Played Nationwide on iHeartRadio Not Such A Long Stretch

Clear Channel’s iHeartRadio added new stations to its selection.  Here is what’s so big about this addition; the stations that they added are all college campus stations. 

14 of some of the countries well known universities will take their local radio appeal to the entire nation. Clear Channel’s CEO John Hogan told Billboard that those 14 universities are just the first selection and that they will be looking for more colleges to participate in the near future

For those who may not know, iHeartRadio is an Internet radio company that gives access to stations around the nation, including a variety of genres to its subscribers for free.

What does this mean for the unknown artist or the little guy trying to make it to the big leagues?