IOTM Blog
Posted: Mar 21, 2023
Category: The Musician Business
make money social media merch live performances licensing online presence sponsorship gear crowdfunding sync placements teach
**Guest post by Kristen Ford, Nashville based indie rock act with a passion for music business and a book on DIY touring in the works.
"1. Live Performances 2. Online Sales/Consignment/Out the trunk sales 3. Sync/Licensing placements 4. Private Events/Colleges 5. Streaming income..."
View Full ArticlePosted: Mar 14, 2023
Category: Promotion
record labels promotion music business musik and film radio airplay charts grow your audience production
**Guest post written by Musik and Film Promotions.
"You read articles that give "the truth"-- that say Indie Artist can't get airplay, Right? -- WRONG! It's a BIG world out there! Musik Radio Promotions has charted artists in the top 10 in many charts around the world...Indie Artists are playing on thousands of stations - some on TENS of thousands. How, you ask?"
View Full ArticlePosted: Mar 7, 2023
Category: Technology
music business collaboration make money networking working remotely get creative create opportunities visibility boombox
**Guest post written by Ryan Donaldson of Boombox.io.
"The ability to collaborate remotely has given musicians and music producers the freedom to create, share, and develop ideas as never before. By connecting with other creatives from different parts of the world, it is now possible to bring together a unique blend of sounds and styles that can result in something truly special...In this article, we want to explore how remote music collaboration can be the key to growing your audience and achieving success as a musician."
View Full ArticlePosted: Feb 28, 2023
Category: Promotion
promotion spotify persistence be patient playlists playlisting quality one submit machine learning natural language processing retention rate collaborative filtering
**Guest post by One Submit, the ultimate music submission platform.
"Spotify's algorithmic playlists are an effective way to reach new listeners and get to know their music. These playlists are the Holy Grail for many artists, and can act as important milestones to get noticed on Spotify's editorial playlists. In short, Spotify's algorithmic playlists are designed to recommend music to listeners based on their individual tastes and preferences. This means that if an artist's song is included in an algorithm's playlist, it may be discovered by a large number of new listeners who have never heard of said artist....This can lead to increased exposure, more streams, and even mainstream success."
Posted: Feb 21, 2023
Category: Technology
music business social media youtube online distribution spotify apple music videos internet tiktok
**Guest post written by Jack Sutherland, 20 Year Web Development & Music Marketing Lead and Founder of Band Pioneer.
"The Internet has drastically transformed the music industry over the past 20 years. The tools we record it with, the strategies we use to promote it, and even the distribution of profit has all been revamped due to the Internet. And this transformation has opened up a lot of new opportunities for bands and solo artists to control their own destinies."
View Full ArticlePosted: Feb 14, 2023
Category: Fans
make money fan engagement fanbase live streaming merch community support bandzoogle content teach
**Guest post written by Caleb Murphy for Bandzoogle.com.
"As an indie artist, you have several ways to make money from your music. And launching a fan subscriber community is one of those ways...To succeed at this, you need an established fanbase - people who regularly listen to your music, open your emails, and engage with your social media content. The trick is, getting those fans to subscribe and effectively become super fans. There are lots of ways to encourage more fans to subscribe, but below are six of the most creative perk ideas."
View Full ArticlePosted: Feb 7, 2023
Category: Merch
merch make money music business keys to success touring tips inventory megaphone agency square atvenu
**Guest post written by Jordan Gates, of Megaphone Agency and Indie Gigging.
"Merchandise sales make up a significant chunk of revenue for many artists. Concert goers are willing to spend money on all kinds of apparel and novelties as keepsakes to support their favorite artists. Simply put, if you’re a touring artist and you’re not selling merch, you should be! And if you are already selling merch, these tips and tricks will help you stay organized and sell more!"
Posted: Jan 31, 2023
Category: Marketing
social media marketing budget ask peers symphonic distribution be strategic long-term equality cost-effectiveness priorities branding
**Guest post originally featured in the Symphonic Distribution Blog.
"Effective marketing is a fundamental part of being an artist. Without it, you, your music, and your branding can only go so far. This is where spending the money for thoughtful and dependable marketing comes into play. But how do you know how much money is the right amount to help you achieve your goals? In this part of our marketing journey series, we’ll break down everything you need to know about building a successful marketing budget..."
View Full ArticlePosted: Jan 24, 2023
Category: Songwriting
songwriting lyrics get creative comfort zone collaboration genre experiment
**Guest post written by Hovey Otis.
"When it comes to songwriting, having a unique and creative perspective can be the difference between a great song and an average one. But how can you look at the same lyrics in a different way and create something that stands out? Here are 3 tips to help you switch up your approach to songwriting and find new inspiration."
View Full ArticlePosted: Jan 18, 2023
Category: Promotion
record labels social media diy promotion marketing indie artists budget musik and film radio airplay invest teamwork
**Guest post written by Lacie Blue, director of artist relations at Musik and Film Promotions.
"Nashville used to be the land where dreams came true for musicians. Superstar makers would walk into a bar and swoop up the “next big thing”—pretty soon you had Garth Brooks. Perhaps it still happens…once in a blue moon. Once upon a time, musicians and songwriters created music to create. They performed because it was in their blood to perform. They didn’t care if they fit into a genre. They wanted to connect to people on a higher level through music. Gone are those days. (But not the musicians…)"
View Full ArticlePosted: Jan 10, 2023
Category: Social Media
social media facebook twitter youtube marketing instagram tiktok linkedin symphonic distribution
**Guest post originally featured in the Symphonic Distribution Blog.
"If you’re an active social media user, then you don’t need to be told how important accurate image sizing is on socials. Social platforms change their preferred image sizing and formatting every year, so make sure to update yours accordingly! To help you out, here are the updated requirements for 2023..."
View Full ArticlePosted: Jan 3, 2023
Category: Promotion
promotion plan ahead playlisting one submit new music indiemono unique playlists fbp music folklore sessions musicto diy indie
**Guest post by One Submit, the ultimate music submission platform.
"If you're an independent artist and currently promoting your music by yourself without the help of a label, the process can be sometimes hard and take valuable time and effort. The purpose of this article is to give you some tips and links on how and where you can promote your music easily and efficiently."
Posted: Dec 20, 2022
Category: Technology
delegate responsibilities get creative work smarter productivity hacks artificial intelligence automation gear aficionado
**Guest post written Ramiro from GearAficionado, an online music magazine.
"If you are a human living on the planet Earth, it is inevitable that you have heard about how Artificial Intelligence is becoming every day more potent. Advancements that took us decades, now are deemed obsolete in a matter of months, if not weeks. One of the main concerns this brings along is that machines are starting to be way better than us for a lot of jobs. And indie musicians, particularly, are surely not out of the scope of automation."
View Full ArticlePosted: Dec 14, 2022
Category: Live Performance
live performances insurance bobby owsinski small business cost-effectiveness noise gentrification make money
**Guest post written by Bobby Owsinski, originally featured in the Music 3.0 Blog.
"When I was a young musician, I lived in a time where there were so many clubs that you could play 7 nights a week in a different club every night if you wanted to, plus get paid for it. If you can believe it, you could actually make a pretty decent living as a musician just playing the venues in your local area. That helped bands get tighter, develop stage presence, gain experience working crowds, and grow to the next level. Those days are pretty much over though, and it appears to be getting worse as local clubs are closing at an alarming rate."
View Full ArticlePosted: Dec 7, 2022
Category: Tips & Tricks
youtube networking music business online presence branding symphonic distribution plan ahead learned skills take a break
**Guest post originally featured in the Symphonic Distribution Blog.
"Every year, from about mid-December on, the music industry becomes a ghost town. People start going on vacation, taking time-off, major label artist releases slow down big time, and for indie artists, it’s no man’s land. And while that, coupled with the frigid temperatures, might be enough to have you want to hunker down and avoid leaving the safety of your home for the next few months, this time of year is actually incredibly powerful for setting yourself up for success. You just have to know how to take advantage of it. Here’s how..."
View Full ArticlePosted: Nov 29, 2022
Category: Promotion
social media promotion blogs newsletters publicist epk press cyber pr be patient follow up email
**Guest post written by Cyber PR, originally featured on the Cyber PR Blog.
"The music publicity process for any band or artist – no matter how big or small – is very much the same. Of course, the size of the music blogs and other outlets in which you receive placements will vary dramatically. This is based on what style of music is hot at the moment, combined with many other factors including label, tour schedule, size of your online fan base, and the number of streams." View Full Article
Posted: Nov 23, 2022
Category: Promotion
social media twitter promotion spotify marketing plan blogs newsletters music album release publicist instagram google submithub industry resources cyber pr
**Guest post written by Cyber PR, originally featured on the Cyber PR Blog.
"Here, in How To Be Your Own Music Publicist Part 2, we will go through the 5 things that need to be addressed before you can start pitching to music blogs and publications. 1. Research Music Blogs 2. Prepare Your Target Lists 3. Get Your Email and Newsletters in Order 4. Determine Your Ideal Release Schedule 5. Prep Your Visual Assets and Social Media Posts" View Full Article
Posted: Nov 16, 2022
Category: Promotion
social media promotion marketing plan publicist epk soundcloud biography artwork photos cyber pr playlists genre
**Guest post written by Cyber PR, originally featured on the Cyber PR Blog.
"The world of DIY music publicity can feel very overwhelming. Sadly, a lot of artists get bad advice when they are just starting out that the first thing they should do is go out and hire a music publicist. We don’t think this is the best advice at all as you may not be ready for a music publicist right off the bat. There are many things you should do first...Another thing to understand is, that when attempting to be your own music publicist you need to look beyond Pitchfork, Stereogum, and Rolling Stone. Being an indie music publicist involves understanding a complex ecosystem of music blogs, playlists, podcasts, social media influencers and traditional media – newspapers, magazines, television and radio. It is possible to do it yourself and this guide is here to help." View Full Article
Posted: Nov 8, 2022
Category: Tips & Tricks
touring music business keys to success insurance gear be prepared musical instrument insurance killer rig music
**Guest post written by Don East of Killer Rig Music in the USA.
"No one ever plans on their instrument being damaged or stolen, but the unfortunate truth is that accidents happen all the time. That's why it's important to have insurance for your musical instruments. This way, you can rest easy knowing that they are protected in case of an emergency. In this article, we will discuss the importance of musical instrument insurance, and touch on some of the policies to consider."
View Full ArticlePosted: Nov 1, 2022
Category: Technology
touring entrepreneurship music business calendar listings photos google alerts google organization phone calls email stage plots
**Guest post written by Scott Aumann, originally featured on The Legit Musician blog.
"One of your band’s best friends should be Google services. They offer lots of free resources that can be powerful for running your band’s business. Did I mention these are FREE? Plus, these resources can be accessed anywhere you have an internet connection. Let’s talk about how you can use these to help your band run more smoothly."
View Full ArticlePosted: Oct 25, 2022
Category: Promotion
spotify deezer distribution apple music playlisting one submit exposure promotion marketing tidal
**Guest post by One Submit, the ultimate music submission platform.
"Your song is now uploaded to digital distribution platforms and it’s officially online with millions of streaming stores...Once your song is on all streaming platforms, the hard work begins: Promoting and Sourcing Your Music...Sending to a playlist is the most efficient and effective way to get your music heard, undoubtedly. But how do you place your track on a playlist? Should you focus your efforts on Spotify, Apple Music, Deezer or Tidal?...If you want to know more, you've come to the right place."
Posted: Oct 18, 2022
Category: Live Performance
show booking touring music festivals live performances cover songs corporate gigs private gigs wedding gigs hard ticket show soft ticket show whats next nashville
**Guest post written by Dennis Kurtz of What's Next Nashville.
" Last week I made the point that you are worth what you can draw! This is true if you are doing a hard ticket show...Most original music artists build themselves as a hard ticket, but also play soft tickets shows along with their hard ticket shows. Usually as a seller I try to find out what the budget is in these situations before I quote a price...Typically, here is how these gigs are priced..."
View Full ArticlePosted: Oct 11, 2022
Category: Recording
recording budget recording collaboration keys to success ask peers environment fatigue take a break mental health
**Guest post written by Hovey Otis.
"As a musician, there are few things more frustrating than feeling fatigued during a recording session. You're in the studio, you've been working hard all day, and suddenly your creative spark just seems to disappear. It's normal to feel exhaustion setting in from time to time, but there are ways to overcome it and get back on track. Here are some tips for dealing with fatigue during a recording session."
View Full ArticlePosted: Oct 4, 2022
Category: Live Performance
booking agents make money marketing live performances well paid musician thumbtack private gigs
**Guest post written by Matt Santry, founder of www.WellPaidMusician.com.
"The app is called Thumbtack. I think it's overlooked by musicians because it's an app for every imaginable freelancer from dog walkers, plumbers, website designers, and yes, performing musicians. So what sets this app apart from Fiverr and other freelancing marketplaces?...how does it work?...what's their business model?"
Posted: Sep 27, 2022
Category: Social Media
social media promotion fan engagement popular music content consistency hashtags collaboration tiktok
**Guest post written by Yona Marie, originally featured in her blog.
"It's not too late for you to get some shine and go viral on this popular platform. I say this mainly because of TikTok's current algorithm, which doesn't focus as much on follow count as you think it would. Sure, people who already have tons of talent will get a lot of views since they have probably been working hard on their content for a while now. But with great content and a great approach, you could also blow up on the platform!"
View Full Article