Oh, How the Music Business Keeps Changing

 

Let me start out with some sobering thoughts.

95% of music downloads are illegal downloads and are NOT paid for. (Funny, I thought most of us in the music business wanted to make money from whatever audio or music business profession we chose to get involved with) Well, there is SOME hope on the horizon. Internationally, 2008 saw a 25 % growth in LEGAL downloads for a dollar total of $3.7 billion dollars!

Digital platforms on the Internet that sell LEGAL downloads have increased online and through mobile devices as a new generation of music subscription services, social networking sites and new music licensing channels are emerging. In 2008 digital platforms accounted for 20% of recorded music sales, UP from 15% in 2007!

The music industry continues to change dramatically, but how will you make money from your music, as the industry shifts from a “sales-to-a-customer” model to “monetizing” ACCESS to music across a multitude of channels and platforms?

CD sales, as of 2008, are still the number one way record labels make their money, but the writing is on the wall that the future is NOW for you to implement this new “access” approach to making money from your music.

Some researchers and experts on the subject of selling music predict that by 2012 the shift from CD sales dominating the labels revenue to other approaches already mentioned will take place.

Music is no longer about a pre-prepared set of songs released on a CD by a artist or band but it is a growing business of customers selecting from a wide catalog of individual songs, like on iTunes or eMusic.

So, many artists will be moving away from their ingrained habit of coming up with 10 to 15 songs to record a traditional ‘album’ and moving toward creating compositions released individually, and finding more ‘uses’ for their music in the marketplace, like: song placements in films, television and placed on the Internet, as well as used in commercials and even selling sheet music copies of their compositions. Also look more for bands and recording artists to offer individual song downloads from their growing catalog of material available on their own websites, and the many social networking sites that will act as distributors of music.

Single track legal downloads in 2008, were UP 24% to 1.4 billion units globally, and this will continue drive the online music market. Don’t get me wrong, full albums are not going away anytime soon, digital albums are growing healthily these days (up 36% from 2007).

Basically the question is this: What other things can you do now to expose your music in ways that never existed a decade ago? What kind of ripple effect will all these changes bring to other parts of the recording industry?

For example, what will happen to the traditional recording studios that for decades made a good living booking their rooms for days or weeks at a time as a band/artist created their record? Already studios that rely on music being recorded at their facilities are losing revenue. Think about it. If only one or two songs is all you plan to record and…..read entire article here >>>>     

 

Article by Chris Knabb – email at: Chris@Knab.com

What is Artist and Product Development?

Unlike today, there was a time when record labels committed themselves to developing the careers of their newly signed recording artists. Today, it is much harder to find a record label committed to this goal. When a major label signs a new artist or band, they presume the act has sufficient musical, songwriting, and performance talent, and are ready for the big time.

Up until the late 1980s most record labels had a department within the company called Artist Development, and the job of that department was to support their act’s creative side, while steadily developing a following for them. When sales of records increased with each release, the label stood by their acts, believing that the more the public heard their music, the bigger their popularity might grow, and the greater their popularity, the more records they would sell. Most of the ’70s and 80’s Rock bands that dominate today’s Classic Rock radio format are examples of the old school version of Artist Development. Even during the 90’s you could still find examples of true Artist Development.

 By the dawn of this new millennium most labels had changed the name of their Artist Development departments to Product Development. In other words, the emphasis changed from nurturing the growth of an artist and their music, to high-pressure sales development tactics and strategies. Product Development today, for most major labels, means putting the label’s energy into creating sales for a new release, and doing so quickly.

If you had three strikes in the past, you have one strike now, and if you don’t get a solid hit, you’ll probably be forgotten in favor of some other act waiting for their one at-bat.

As I said, you can still see cases of a major label committed to Artist Development when you look at the careers of bands like Radiohead, The Barenaked Ladies, Kanye West,or the Dave Matthews band. Artist Development is also behind the success of today’s teen acts that dominate the pop music charts. If a thirteen or sixteen year old boy or girl has the looks, personality, and musical talent at such a young age, and the labels can sign long term contracts with them, it leaves many years for their investment to pay off. The labels may collect revenues from dozens of new releases over the (potentially) long careers of these kids as some of them make the transition into adult superstars.

For the most part, in today’s competitive music business, the responsibility for Artist and Product Development has changed hands. Independent labels and entrepreneurial artists have inherited the responsibility of nurturing new talent by fine-tuning their artistic and business development, and slowly growing their careers over several album releases. Developing a music career for the long haul is all about controlling one’s own destiny.

Artist and Product Development go hand-in-hand. They should work in combination and coordination with each other. When a balanced approach to developing your music and your business affairs are respected equally, you create a more realistic opportunity for achieving some success with your music.

Art is no less important than commerce for today’s developing musician.

Artist Development: Preparing Your Career In the music business, everything starts with a song.

Without great songs, there is no music business. Songwriting is not just an artistic expression; it is the axis upon which the music business rotates. So, the first order of business in Artist Development is the music itself. Good songs are not good enough when you are preparing to market your music. People only respond to what they feel are great songs Your songs must have some commercial appeal, if only to a certain music niche. (Rap, Hip Hop, Alternative Rock, New Age, Jazz, Blues, etc.) Finding that niche, and learning how to manage its growth is essential to becoming a successful act. So, your songs must be of a very high caliber.

Artist Development is also about protecting the great songs by registering them with the copyright office. Songwriters and music publishing companies need to affiliate with the Performance Rights Associations (ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC) as well, so that if and when those songs are played by the broadcasting industry, or in certain public places, they will receive proper payment for the uses of those songs. Also as the digital music business grows it is important for artists and their labels to register with SoundExchange.com so that any income from digital uses of songs can be monitored.

Many songwriters have to decide if and when to look for a publishing deal or start their own publishing company. In my opinion until there is a demand for your songs, (meaning that there are a lot of people who want to hear your songs, or buy them), don’t worry too much about getting a publishing deal. Don’t get me wrong, the pot of gold at the end of the music rainbow is the income received from the use of songs. The business of music publishing, which is really the business of finding uses for songs, is very important topic to explore, but only when the time is right.

Choosing a name for your act, and filing for a trademark to prevent others from using your chosen name are also part of the business organization of developing an artist’s career properly. It is strongly advised that you invest in registering your band name or stage name by trademarking it.

Artist Development should also include writing up a band agreement that defines the issues related to running your career as a business and how you will work with the people in your band.

 In the beginning, managing your own career will be your responsibility; with a goal of creating such a buzz about your music that you attract professional management. Many developing acts encounter some resistance to the lyrics or cover art they have created. Be prepared to deal with the fallout from any controversies surrounding your music from critics, special interest groups, or even the record labels you may be dealing with. There could also be some situations you get into that may lead to potential, ethical and moral decisions that you must make.

Starting your own business (sole proprietor, partnership, or corporation) will also be a necessity if you want to have control over career. There are many questions to be answered about operating your own business, financially and professionally. You will also have to update any changes in your business operations as they may occur, because the different city, state, and federal laws affecting any business are constantly changing and evolving.

As your career develops, you may wish to improve on some of your creative talents by taking voice lessons, or master classes from more experienced musicians. Investing in the best equipment and musical instruments is another necessity if you are going to be a professional, working musician. No artists can perform their best work using mediocre equipment.

One of the most delicate issues involved with Artist Development is the matter of creating and consistently maintaining a clear and honest image. What people hear in your music must be seen in how your dress on-stage, and can help or hurt you when you create promotional materials, and artwork for your CDs, your website and MySpace pages etc. So, weave a thread of consistency with your chosen image throughout the Four Fronts of music marketing.

As you become more successful in your career you will need the services of an entertainment law attorney. Use lawyers who have had experience within the music industry. You will need them to look over any band agreements, record label contracts, publishing deals, or any other number of legal matters.

Artist Development as you can see, is a combination of creative and business issues that must be dealt with to make your music, and the business surrounding you music, run smoothly.

Product Development: Making and Selling Your Music Product

Development is about preparing your music product for the marketplace, and finding ways to sell it. Product Development issues become much easier to deal with when all the details addressed in Artist Development have been taken care of. Not all musicians take the time to deal with these responsibilities. They prefer to rush the songwriting process and move right into the recording studio, in their eagerness to get their music out. That is a big mistake.

The first thing a professional label does after signing an act is to start thinking about the marketing or sales plan for the act. That’s right, a good record label executive, perhaps the A&R rep that signed you, can already envision how your music will be promoted and sold by the time you enter the recording studio.

Researching the right recording studio, right producer, and engineer become key issues in Product Development. Where will your record be recorded? Who will record it? Both of these questions must be considered quite seriously before you make a final decision.

The choices of what studio to record in and what producer or engineer will be hired to make the record are uppermost in the mind of a label person. Record labels are aware that if a certain sound, for a certain music genre isn’t recorded properly, the chances of radio airplay could be hampered. If so, there may be no significant sales of the record. So, production choices are part of the Product Development equation when deciding how to market a new artist or band.

Never cut corners when recording your music. Once the recording is finished, you will have to live with it forever. You never want to say, ” Gee, I should have done such and such.” Find the best studios and recording team you can afford. Music production sounds are changing constantly and it is your responsibility to make sure your records sounds as contemporary as possible.

Up next is mastering. Mastering is not something to be passed over lightly. The mastering engineer can enhance or hurt the recording you made. Choose a mastering engineer who understands your genre of music. This is a must.

Who will manufacture your record? Who will design the artwork for your release? These are two more essential questions. Your finances will most likely determine this, as they probably determined production decisions. Take the time to make a record that sounds and looks like something you would want to buy yourself. Album cover artwork, packaging material design, and printing issues are important because you are creating a product that will be competing for the attention of music fans who have an abundance of music releases to choose from. Is there something about your album cover that will attract a customer to your record?

 Once a record has been manufactured and is ready to be sold to the public, Product Development turns its attention to Distribution and Sales Arrangements. Many developing acts forget this in their rush to record their music. But, if you’re going to spend thousands of dollars recording your music, don’t you think it would be a good idea to find a way to sell it? Well, that is exactly how professional record labels think. They make sure a system is in place to distribute and sell their recordsto their fans (both in so-called brick-and-mortar music stores, as well as through the many Internet music sellers)

Many musicians make the mistake of trying to get some radio airplay, or other media attention, before they’ve found a way for the public to buy it. Make no such mistake.

Product Development, (after a record has been recorded), focuses on all the business arrangements involved with selling recordings.You will soon learn that the business of distribution, like the business of music retail, is a complex and challenging undertaking. Welcome to the world of major label distribution companies, independent distributors, rackjobbers, mass marketing retailers, mom-and- pop independent record stores, and the evolving world of Internet music sales. (iTunes, eMusic, Rapsody, etc)

 How well you plan and execute your Artist and Product Development plans will make or break your chances of making some money with your music, as you go on to promote, publicize, and perform it.

Find more Christopher Knab articles at www.MyBandMate.com or by email at: Chris@Knab.com

Music Software – Music Production Software

What is SonicProducer?

SonicProducer is an incredible cutting edge music sequencer with mp3 export capability. SonicProducer also features music production tutorials with different keyboards, studios as well as tutorials on how to use the Sonic Producer application. All this is available online through the “members area” and contains everything including the software, sounds and the system of video lessons and documentation.

 

Will SonicProducer work on my computer?

Yes. SonicProducer works on all computers and operating systems. It does not matter if you have a PC, Mac or other platform. If you have any troubles using the sequencer, drum machine, playing videos or entering the members area, simply send my staff an email and we will be glad to help out right away!

 

 

 

Your CD Cover Is Your Most Important Advertisement

Your CD cover is your calling card to the record industry and to the consumer…how  well you design it and the other graphics for your release could well determine your success or failure as a musician.

 

Now that I have your attention, I have put together the following guidelines to help you realize the importance of the graphic design stage in preparing your music for the marketplace. A well designed and attractive CD cover, along with other detailed information you have included in the packaging, may well determine if the gatekeepers in the music business ever bother to listen to the music contained on the record, and if a music consumer is turned off or on by your graphics. It is the best advertisement for your music.

 

So, go through the following questions and evaluate the design, graphic images, text (title, credits, etc.) and concept of your release by answering the following questions thoroughly and carefully. Then critique your cover in a professional manner, suggesting any improvements you think would help make the graphic design a more effective introduction of your music to the industry and your fan/customers.

 

Front Cover

Is the name of the artist clearly visible?

Is the name written with a unique logo design?

Is the name of the artist in the top third of the cover?

Is the title of the release distinguishable from the artist’s name?

Is the genre of music hinted at by the cover art?

 

Back Cover

What specific type of information is included on the back cover?

( Label name, catalog number, barcode, song titles/ times, contact info, (website URL,email address, MySpace address and same for any social networking sites), production credits, Producer’s name, more?)

Are the graphic images and text and colors used clear and readable?

 

Label On Disc

Is the artist’s name (logo) present and clearly visible?

What specific information is on the disc itself?

(Many artists leave the disc blank for ‘artistic’ reasons, do you wish to make such a statement, or are there more important considerations that you think should be addressed?)

 

Booklet/Tray Card

Describe the type of booklet used in your packaging.

What specific images, and text information is included?

( More credits, thank you’s, lyrics, pictures, etc.)

Is the artwork and design consistent with the rest of the artwork and design of the front and back covers?

 

Spine

What specific information is on the spine of the CD?

( Label name/logo, catalog number, artist name, release name?)

 

You have spent a long time writing, rehearsing, performing, and recording your music. Please take some time to consciously consider all the issues listed above, subtle and not so subtle, that go into creating your CD, Tape, or Vinyl release. Once approved and sent to the manufacturer/printer it will be too late to correct any second thoughts you may have had.

 

Remember too that these days those pesky strips that seal the CD are more and important, so to to a record store and LOOK at several CDs to see how the record labels use that strip and what needs to be printed on them…THS IS AN ASSIGNMENT!!

 

Once released, your record will take its place in a retail store next to the thousands of other artists and bands that made it to the shopping arena where a consumer may or may not be attracted to your music by the artwork you have created. Never forget … the career you save by learning the craft of cover design … may be yours!

 

Christopher Knab is an independent music business consultant based in Seattle, Washington. He is available for private consultations on promoting and marketing independent music. Email: chris@knab.com

Income Sources for Musicians – Sell Music Online

In case you ever forget that it takes money to make money with your music, here is a summary of some general income and expense categories that may factor into your business/budgeting forecasts.

1. Artist Income Sources:

a. Live Performance Fees
b. Record Label Recording Contract Royalties
c. Publishing Income Sources

(Don’t forget new Internet income sources such as Ringtones, Ringbacks, Streaming audio etc.)

* Mechanical Royalties
* Performance Royalties
* Synchronization Fees
* Sheet Music Sales
* Commercials/Jingles Income

d. Merchandising Royalties ( T-Shirts etc.)
e. Misc. Income Sources

* Investment Income
* Endorsements
* Book and Video Sales
* Multimedia Product Sales

 

2. Artist Expenses:

a. Recording fees: CD/Tape

* Producer/Engineer
* Studio Costs
* Misc.Tape and/or digital storage costs, and  other studio supplies
* Equipment Rental charges
* Guest Musician fees
* Mastering fees

b. Graphic Artist/Cover Art Design costs
c. CD/Tape/Vinyl Manufacturing/Duplication charges

* Promotional Expenses (Indie Radio Reps/Sales Reps,)
* Marketing and Sales Plan costs (One sheets, Coop dollars, Ad money)

d. Publicity/Promotional Material Costs

* Publicists Fees
* Promo/Publicity Kit Design (plus EPK) costs
* Flyers, Posters, Envelope Design costs
* Printing/Copying charges
* Photographer fees and duplication charges
* Internet Website costs (Design, maintenance, access fees, MySpace etc.)

e. Office Expenses

* Rent
* Stationary and office supplies/furniture
* Postage
* Phone (landlines and cell)  and other utilities bills
* Office equipment (computers, Internet connection, fax machines, et al.)

f. Taxes

* Local, State, and Federal taxes
* Tax preparation costs/Bookkeeper fees

g. Band Equipment Costs

* Instrument purchases/rentals
* Tour Luggage
* Misc. equipment repair/maintenance costs (strings, drumsticks etc.)
* CDs and MP3 players (for listening and study purposes)
* Misc. recording/playback equipment (laptops, pda’s etc.)
* Sound system
* Rehearsal space costs

h. Songwriting

* Copyright filing costs
* Performance Rights Organization Fees ( ASCAP-BMI-SESAC) also Soundexchange registration costs, etc.
* Lessons/Study/Research expenses
* Conferences/ Seminars budget

i. Artist Business Team Costs

* Personal Manager/Consultant fees
* Business Manager/Accountant fees
* Booking Agent fees
* Publicist fees
* Music Attorney fees

j. Transportation costs

* Auto/ Van purchase/rental/Insurance costs
* Maintenance costs (gas, service, repair)
* Airline, bus, and/or train tickets
* Highway/Ferry tolls

k. Touring expenses

* Per Diem ( for food, lodging etc.)
* Road Manager/Roadies salaries
* Lighting/Sound equipment purchase/rental costs

l. Merchandise (T-Shirts etc.)

* Design costs
* Manufacturing and shipping costs

m. Miscellaneous Expenses

* Costumes/Stage clothing
* Insurance (health, equipment, life etc.)
* Union dues
* Trade magazine subscriptions
* Video production and manufacturing costs
* Whatever else comes along that you forgot about

 

Christopher Knab is an independent music business consultant based in Seattle, Washington.
 He is available for private consultations on promoting and marketing independent music, and can be reached at 206-282-6116 or by email at: Chris@Knab.com

Music Internships – Music Internship Article

Music Internship – New Music Article

Do’s and Don’ts For Audio and Other Music Oriented Interns: Or, How to Impress Your Internship Employer and Become Successful in the Recording Industry.

Today, anyone who wants a career working in the music business with a label of some kind, or is looking into producing, engineering, or working in one of the many music-oriented jobs in the recording industry has many choices when it comes to educating themselves about the business. In addition to the many schools, programs, books, websites, and other informational tools at their disposal, the chance to do a good old-fashioned internship still exists.

In fact, more than ever many companies will not consider hiring someone unless they have had some ‘real world’ experience in a studio, post-production facility, record label, distributor, store, live performance venue, or other businesses related to recorded audio products.

For example, you may think you are qualified to work in a recording studio just because you have some training in Pro Tools, or have helped setup a school-related recording project. You may also have taken courses where you aced all the written projects, and marketing classes, and think you have what it takes to work for a recording facility or record label. Well, that is all great experience, but it isn’t enough!

Nothing is more impressive than having done some work as an intern. Businesses that offer internships may demand a lot of you. They may (and will) test your patience by having you do what you think are mundane, boring, or menial tasks…Stick it out. Most likely you are being given a form of initiation. Most people in the recording industry started out doing menial tasks and when given the chance to express their skills…did so, and were rewarded with jobs, job-leads, promotions or recognition of some kind.

I can only do so much to encourage you to get yourself an internship. You have to bug your music industry contacts: teachers, producers and engineers you have met or just heard about. Also, go out and pound the pavement. Talk to guys who are working your favorite club or live venue. Bug the retail clerk at your favorite record store. Hang out in the music scene of your choice. Be pro-active. Ask everyone if they know of any internship openings in their field.Think about any website design work or blogs and or podcasts you have put together for a favoriite band or artist….ANY kind of experience you may have had, can help you get some kind of an internship.

Do research on the types of audio-related businesses in your city. Use the Internet. Go to the library and look up the many directories, and read the weekly and monthly recording industry trade magazines and journals. Get on the phone, and do some informational interviews with the recording industry business you would most like to work for. Even knock on people’s doors. Do whatever you have to do to get an internship. Internship opportunities do not come knocking on your door. You have to motivate yourself to get involved with this industry.

This technique has a tradition attached to it. It is called “The School of Hard Knocks”. It means that everyone worth anything in this business had to push themselves forward and find a way to get noticed. Producers have to do this. Engineers have to do this. Certainly recording studio, and record label have to do this. And, artists need to do this. So, while being laid back and mellow is a great way to relax, it will get you nowhere in the whirlwind world of the recording industry. “Get Up, Stand Up!” Do something!

This industry is nothing but competition. Not just for jobs, but competition that finds one company fending of another company for clients and deals. So, businesses are looking for the most highly motivated employees they can find. Are you up for the challenge?

Once you say “Yes, I’m ready to show the world how good I am” and you have found your first internship, learn how to work that opportunity. You will have to take the good with the bad. Interns may start out as the low men and women on the ladder, but those that impress with their positive attitudes and dedication to their work, whatever it may be…will reap rewards. So, read the following suggestions on how to work with your internship employer for the mutual benefit of your career and their increased business.

DO….

Be on time, and better yet, be the first one in, and the last to leave.

Be hungry to learn.

Be friendly. Introduce yourself to co-workers, even if you have not been introduced to everyone during orientation…and network often.

Complete the tasks given to you before taking on other work.

Make yourself invaluable to the company. (Look for things to do.)

Make friends with co-workers, and offer to do some of their grunt work.

Volunteer to take on the responsibilities of a worker who is ill, or going on vacation.

Be willing to do the most menial of tasks. Even the most boring and repetitive work should be eagerly undertaken.

Cover phones while co-workers are on break or at lunch.

Ask permission to use any equipment, software or computer programs.

Offer to help prepare for any studio-setup or tear-down, or to prepare any business reports.

Organize the information you need to know to carry out your work.

Create your own databases of any staff members, and their job titles.

Know that as an intern you are not being trained to take a manager’s or executive’s job, so do everything you can to learn the jobs that lead to those positions..

Feel free to take the initiative when you the time is right.

Make things easier for your employer or supervisor, they will remember you for that.

Offer your help when you notice help is needed.

Keep in touch once you are gone. Stop by and say hello!

Get a letter of recommendation, and send the company a thank you note for hiring you and giving you the opportunity to work for them

Phone your boss or supervisor first, if you aren’t going to show up.

Say thank you when any promo CDs or concert tickets, or free studio time are offered

Attend as many concerts and events that are not your favorite music. (You will learn a lot by doing this.)

DON’T….

Ask for free things like CDs, tickets or studio time right away

Look like you are lost. Avoid standing around.

Get involved in long conversations during work hours with co-workers, or celebrity guests who may be conducting business in your workplace.

Offer your opinion on how you would run things if you were in charge

Cop an attitude of any non-professional kind, even if you’re being paid.

Make any personal phone calls in front of co-workers during your shift

Cruise the internet on your company’s time

Get caught reading magazines or sloughing off on the job in any way.

Ask at any time “NOW, what should I do?”

Be offended if someone snaps at you. (Everyone has bad hair days)

Talk dirt about any recording artists, producers, or other companies while in the presence of co-workers, or at any networking functions. (It’s a small world and you never know who your co-workers, boss, or supervisor knows, has dated, has worked with etc.)

Christopher Knab is an independent music business consultant based in Seattle, Washington. www.fourfrontmusic.com or email at: Chris@Knab.com

 

Learn Acoustic Guitar

 

Music Marketing Ideas on the Cutting Edge – Sell Music Online

 

Sell Music Online

1) Give your music away, hell…if you are a new act, you are unknown anyway, so by giving your music away in either analog or digital ways you can help create a ‘Buzz’ and stand out from the other 75,000 other releases that came out last year. (That is a FACT, by the way). Then, pay attention to how your popularity grows, and as it does, give-a-way less and begin to sell your music at affordable prices for your fan base.

 

2) 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 fan base grows your fans will want anything you ever did, and this will expand as you attract more fans over the months and years ahead.

 

3) If you lent out ‘promo’ copies to various gatekeepers in retail, radio, the print media, and at live venues, and one day you see them for sale in used record stores, don’t get angry about it…BUY THEM back, no matter if you initially gave them away for free….then on your website have a special USED CD sale.

 

4) Another tip from Chris Anderson’s book ‘The Long Tail’… reduce the price of your music, and then cut 50 percent off all your recordings. (Do this for analog AND digital product)

 

5) Don’t laugh!…come up with some kind of coupon sale. 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.

 

6) 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.

 

7) Remember this golden thought. “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?!

 

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.

 

9) 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, (feed them spaghetti and salad as part of the deal), 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.

 

10) Never forget WHO your fan is. Study your fans at live shows…what kind of clothing do they wear? Where did they buy it? Where do eat before or after your gig?

 

Learn their lifestyle habits…and then use YOUR IMAGINATION to think up a clever co-promotion with an appropriate local merchant, restaurant, or coffee shop.

 

11) Get a local record store to help you with a sale promotion…If a customer buys one, they get another one free. (This is different than the buy one-get 2 free idea listed earlier. You have to be understanding of the records store’s needs…they don’t want to be giving a lot of your product away, in fact they would only do this if they felt that your promotion idea would help THEM sell more of the other CDs they carry.)

 

12) When your catalogue of recordings grow to multiple CDs etc. offer your fans price/packages, i.e. 1 CD at a given price, 2 for a slightly discounted price, and 3 for a more generous discount price, and ALL your back catalogue for a super discounted price. You can do this for live concert sales, as well as offering the deal online at your website.

 

13) Invest in a CD duplicator, and at your gigs, offer fans a CD of ‘tonight’s concert’ for $15, and tell them it will be ready for them either within a few days of the concert by mail, or if you can afford a more elaborate duplicator, make it available to them RIGHT AWAY after the show. (And of course, YOU will be there to autograph that recording of the show you just performed.)

 

14) NEVER forget to have your email sign up list handy wherever you perform. AND have a place for them to write down not just their email address, but their birthday as well. The point is …. never forget that your fans appreciate being remembered, anyone does who has been a loyal customer, so email them a special song you wrote where you can drop in their name somewhere in the lyric, and send them a link to the song on their birthday….they will remember your kind gesture forever!

 

15) THIS IS AN EXERCISE!  DO IT! Go back over this list and wherever you see the word ‘fan’ or ‘customer’ substitute the phrase “tribal member”….that’s right…I have been using traditional words used in traditional marketing, but really…in the music world today, the niche, or part of the greater music community you have as your fans….they are really like tribal members. In fact think of it this way. Your fan base belongs to a unique group of individuals who not only like YOUR MUSIC, but music similar to your music. And if you DO STUDY your fans you will see they truly act like TRIBES, where the clothes they wear, the haircuts and body-wear they choose reflect a way of living….So, tap into that phrase “tribal member’. It is much more intimate, and will reveal many secrets to making your fans, LOYAL fans. DO IT!!

 

Chris Knab is available for private consultations on promoting and marketing independent music, and can be by email at: Chris@Knab.com. Visit Chris’s website at www.fourfrontmusic.com. 

Read more Music Articles for Musicians and Bands at: www.MyBandMate.com

  

 

 

Sell Music – 25 Things to Know About Distributors

Sell Music - Music Distributors

1)  Distributors will usually only work with labels that have been in business for at least 3 years and/or have at least 3 previous releases that have sold several thousand copies each. (Please remember that this information  concerns traditional distribution channels only, NOT online distribution which is an entirely different type of distribution.

 

2)  Distributors get records into retail stores, and record labels get customers into retail stores through promotion and marketing tactics.

 

3)  Make sure there is a market for your style of music. Prove it to distributors by showing them how many records you have sold through live sales, internet sales, and any other alternative methods.

 

4)  Be prepared to sign a written contract with your distributor because there are no ‘handshake deals’ anymore

 

5)  Distributors want ‘exclusive’ agreements with the labels they choose to work with. They usually want to represent you exclusively.

 

6)  You will sell your product to a label for close to 50% of the retail list price.

 

7)  When searching for a distributor find out what labels they represent, and talk to some of those labels to find out how well the distributor did getting records into retailers.

 

  Investigate the distributor’s financial status. Many label have closed down in recent years, and you cannot afford to get attached to a distributor that may not be able to pay its invoices.

 

9)  Find out if the distributor has a sales staff and how large it is. Then get to know the sales reps.

 

10)  What commitment will the distributor make to help get your records into stores.

 

11)  Is the distributor truly a national distributor, or only a regional distributor with ambitions to be an national distributor. Many large chain stores will only work with national distributors.

 

12)  Expect the distributor to request that you remove any product you have on consignment in stores so that they can be the one to service retailers.

 

13)  Make sure that your distributor has the ability to help you setup various retail promotions such as: coop advertising (where you must be prepared to pay the costs of media ads for select retailers), in-store artist appearances, in-store listening station programs, and furnishing POP’s (point of purchase posters and other graphics).

 

14)  Be aware that as a new label you will have to offer a distributor 100% on returns of your product.

 

15)  You must bear all the costs of any distribution and retail promotions.

 

16)  Be able to furnish the distributor with hundreds of ‘Distributor One Sheets’ (Attractively designed summary sheets describing your promotion and marketing commitments. Include barcodes, list price, picture of the album cover, and catalog numbers of your product too).

 

17)  Distributors may ask for hundreds of free promotional copies of your release to give to the buyers at the retail stores.

 

18)  Make sure all promotional copies have a hole punched in the barcode, and that they are not shrink-wrapped. This will prevent any unnecessary returns of your product.

 

19)  Don’t expect a distributor to pay your invoices in full or on time. You will always be owed something by the distributor because of the delay between orders sent, invoices received, time payment schedules (50-120 days per invoice) and whether or not your product has sold through, or returns are pending.

 

20)  Create a relationship that is a true partnership between your label and the distributor.

 

21)  Keep the distributor updated on any and all promotion and marketing plans and results, as they develop.

 

22)  Be well financed. Trying to work with distributors without a realistic budget to participate in promotional opportunities would be a big mistake.

 

23)  Your distributor will only be as good as your marketing plans to sell the record. Don’t expect them to do your work for you, remember all they do is get records into the stores.

 

24)  Read the trades, especially Billboard for weekly news on the health of the industry, and/or the status of your distributor.

 

25)  Work your product relentlessly on as many fronts as possible…commercial and non commercial airplay, internet airplay and sales campaigns, on and offline publicity ideas, and touring…eternally touring! .

—–

 

Christopher Knab is an independent music business consultant based in Seattle, Washington. email at: Chris@Knab.com  website: www.fourfrontmusic.com

Visit www.MyBandMate.com to Market and Promote Your Music for Free

 

Band Promotion With a Blog – Promote Your Music Using a Blog

As you well know, blogs have been all the rage for the last few years and rightly so. Blogs provide the reader with current news and content rather than some of the out of date and stale content that may appear on a lot of websites. If you are a musician or have your own band then starting a blog could help promote your music. Band Promotion is difficult enough and this is just one way to help in promoting your band.

 

Blogs also rank highly in the search engines for a number of reasons, most notably for their current and relevant content. There are, however, several key elements to creating a successful blog about your band or music as outlined below. You are competing with thousands of other bloggers within your subject area of music so you need to be different and follow each of the key steps as outlined.

Do your research! You must know what is already out there in terms of competition. You can do this by typing in your blog subject matter into the search engines and seeing what appears in terms of blogs. Also, search the many blog directories to see who is already writing about your topic of interest. Use the Google keyword search tool to see what people are searching for each month in relation to your topic. For example, you would be best suited to focus on a topic that people are searching for and attracts more than 50,000 searches a month. When it comes to music, you could write about band promotion which has over 70,000 searches for these keywords each month. Or maybe write about how to sell your music online or a related topic that people want information about.

Find Your Niche! As already mentioned there are thousands of blogs out there on the internet about music, bands etc. They key is writing about a niche topic and then you will be more likely to attract a targeted audience. To try and compete with an already established blog that has high page rankings, a strong viewer base, and lots of existing content is going to just get you frustrated. Focus on one key area of music or playing in a band and you will create your own loyal fan base who will crave informative articles.

Think about your blog title, domain name, description and content. Take your time in thinking about a catchy but relative domain name. It is very difficult to find the domain name you want as most one, two and three word top level domain names have already been registered. You can buy one of these top level domain names from the owner but often the requested purchase price is unrealistic and just too costly. Also, try to get a .com domain name.  Try to get the keywords in your domain name and blog title. This will help in the search engine rankings.

If you already have your own website then create a blog using your own domain name. Why? If you create a blog from your own band or music website then you will provide readers with the opportunity to explore and navigate to other pages on your website. This will also help in branding, brand exposure and providing one link for fans to find you.

If you don’t your own website and are not keen to start your own blog then try starting a blog on one of the top music network sites such as MySpace or My Band Mate. Both provide tools for musicians to promote their music in many ways for free and one is in the form of a blog. This way you will already have an established audience to read your blog. I would recommend doing this even if you do go ahead with your own independent blog. The more exposure for your band then the more band promotion you will achieve.

With your own independent blog it is important to develop keyword rich content with the keywords appearing in the title, description, first paragraph without going overboard. You will be penalised if you just “overload” your pages and articles with too many of the targeted keywords. You just don’t need to do it and Google is aware of all the tricks webmasters try to use when it comes to achieving high page rankings.

It’s all about the content! Readers will return to your blog if you provide them with informative and valuable content about the subject you are promoting. You are reading this article most likely because you want to start your own blog or are looking for ways to promote your music. As a result, if you gain some valuable information from this article then there is a good chance that you would return again to my blog to read other articles.

The content needs to be informative and relative. You will lose your reader just as quickly as you got them if you have nothing to offer. There is just too much competition out there so you must add top quality content. If you are not sure what to write about then read other blogs, not to copy their articles but to get ideas. There is nothing wrong with seeking out ideas and then writing your own article with a different twist or adding new material. If your readers like your blog they are likely to refer it to their friends which will increase your subscriber base.

Provide some incentive to get your reader to join your blog newsletter or RSS feed. One of the trends in recent times is to give away eBooks when someone signs up. You can create a 5 or 10 page eBook about your niche topic. It has to be catchy enough to get the reader to give up their name and email for it.

Promote your site via bookmarking. Some of the most popular sites include Digg, Technorati, Reddit, Jumptags, stumbleupon and many more but these are the top ones. You will be accused of spamming if you constantly promote and add your own content or site so get some of your friends to help you out with this. These sites will track your IP address and can permanently shut down your account so you will need to respect their terms of use. You can find that these “bookmarks” will give you some promotion on the first few pages of the search engines for your keywords.

Use RSS feeds. RSS feeds provide the reader with an option to receive updates when you add new content to your blog. Once again you will need to submit regular articles or news to your site and it needs to be worth reading to keep the reader subscribing to your blog.  I have subscribed to blogs, newsletters and sites before only to be bombarded with emails selling products. I quickly went to the “Unsubscribe” button at the bottom of the email.

Encourage readers to submit comments about the various blog entries to submit. Your readers are there because they have an interest in your topic so try to create a bond with them in making them feel a part of your blog. If they leave a comment be sure to respond otherwise you will find that they are less likely to write a comment again.

You will need to market your blog. This can be done by submitting your blog to the various blog directories or by writing articles and submitting them  to article directories with an active link back to your blog. Submit a free press release about your blog, get into related forums and include an active link. Be sure not to spam or just sell your blog as you will be expelled from the forum, be discrete in promoting your blog in these forums.

Form joint ventures with fellow bloggers or websites. Invite other bloggers to submit content to your site and in return you can submit content to their blogs and therefore cross promote. Most bloggers will follow up on a lead that will increase their exposure. As long as you are not in direct competition and only complement another blog then this can be a valuable option. You will also gain more content for your blog.

Make your blog stand out! Add other forms of media to the site. Add MP3s, videos, photos or even an audio interview. There are plenty of cheap ways to add this rich media content to your site. Make sure that they provide relative content that your readers are craving.

Fresh Content! I can’t state enough how much your blog needs to contain fresh, informative and related content. It will take some work to maintain a dynamic and successful blog so devote at least an hour a week to working on your blog. Improve the appearance, promote it, add new content or pursue partnerships.

You can make money from your blog by adding Google Adsense, affiliate links or generating income from advertising on your blog. You will only gain interest from advertisers if you generate a significant number of hits each day. If your goal is to promote your music or blog then don’t lose focus of this by distracting your readers. Good luck in promoting your music or band. 

 

 

Sell Music Online – Tips to Sell Your Music Online

Sell Music Online

 

The internet has revolutionised the music industry and how music is sold and distributed online. We are all aware of the issues facing illegal music downloads and the heavy impact it has on bands to generate payment for their music. But we are talking about the best ways for you to sell your music and generate publicity for your band.

 

With the increase in internet usage throughout the world and the easy availability of internet based tools and software, you can now record a professional sounding record in a home based studio or promote yourself through Sites such as MySpace, MyBandMate.com, YouTube and similar sites. There are a number of key avenues to pursue for bands and musicians when it comes to selling music online and these sites are providing free resources and tools to showcase your music.

 

If you are a budding musician or band and are looking for ways to sell your music online then below are some proven tips to get you started. They are free and will generate a lot of exposure in promoting your music.

 

Forums are a great way to promote your music and ultimately drive potential fans to your site and music. You need to find forums that are not only specific to music but also to your genre of music. For example, if you are a Christian rock band, there is no use trying to promote your music in a reggae forum. Promote your music to your target audience. You never know who is reading your forum posts and the whole game is about getting your name and music out there in a number of forums.

 

Free music networks such as MySpace and YouTube allow you to upload and share your music. My Band Mate is an example of a site that allows you to target your specific audience by promoting your music in various ways via online forums, chat, article postings, music and video uploads, classifieds and much more. Remember, it is a numbers game so the more sites you get onto the more exposure your music will get. Take advantage of these free music networks and you may just get discovered in a big way!

 

Chat rooms can be useful in spreading the word around about your music. Once again you need to choose the right chat rooms otherwise you will just be wasting your time. These chat forums can be a great way to network.

 

Blogs have been all the rage of the last few years and they have a powerful presence in ranking highly in the search engines. A well written blog that provides the reader with valuable and informative content can keep that reader returning on a regular basis. In your blog you can have links for fans to buy your music or CDs online.

 

Classifieds are often under utilised by musicians. Most people think that classifieds are only there to post jobs, sell instruments or look for new band members. However, you can generate a lot of traffic and eventually sales by posting your music for sale in the appropriate category.

 

Having your own website is not essential but it’s definitely worthwhile. A simple one or two page site can cost you less than $100 a year so the cost is not too high. Many webhosts such as GoDaddy allow you to register a domain name, sign up for a years hosting and use their easy to use software to create your own website without any technical or previous website knowledge. If you don’t have your own site then MySpace and MybandMate.com are definitely two free music networks that allow you to create your own profiles and mini sites with all the required features to promote your music. If you are a musician and are not using these free music networks then you better ask yourself why not! You can’t sell your music if you aren’t willing to put in some time promoting your music.

 

Many bands are using Google Adwords to promote their music. This has proven to be successful for many bands but it can also be quite costly. These small ads are not only displayed in the Google search results but also on sites with related content for your topic. Remember to carefully select your keywords to bid on and learn more about how much you should be paying per click.

 

Another great way to generate free publicity is to type up a brief news release and submit it to be launched all across the internet for free. Often these news releases will achieve high rankings on the search pages. Be sure to use the keywords in your title, summary and content.

 

Other key points to note are that you need to build a relationship with your fans. This can be done via these music networks or your own newsletter. By building your list you can promote and sell your music to people who you know are interested in your style of music. You can also send out samples of new songs.

 

Musicians need to be aware that the majority of their income will come from the money they make from their gigs and selling merchandise at these gigs. This is why you will want to have a box of CDs with you to sell at the end of your gig. You need to target potential customers while they are pumped about your music. This is when you want to sell.

 

Ultimately, to sell your music you need to firstly promote your music via the various avenues as outlined above. You could have the next best hit single or a top selling CD but if no one knows about you or your band then you will never sell your music. It is such a competitive market and you should use all of the free tools out t here on the internet to showcase your music to the world. Everyone who has a computer is a potential customer and therefore you have a global market!