Posted: Mar 26, 2018

Category: Marketing

apple music deezer digital influencers get creative have a story indie artists know your audience marketing platoon playlisting promotion spotify youtube

**Guest post written by Lucie Watson of Platoon.

"If you’re working in the music industry as an artist, manager, label, distributor or any other field you’ve probably had or heard a conversation about the power of Spotify playlists. Some questions I frequently get asked are “how can I get on Spotify’s playlists?” or “how can I get on New Music Friday?” or “when can I start to see playlist additions?”. What I’d love to tell artists and managers is that it’s easy...but more often than not the response I give is this: there’s no way I can guarantee placement on a playlist ahead of a release."

Posted: Aug 7, 2017

Category: Promotion

be polite cd's college radio fcc follow up indie artists musicsubmit persistence radio airplay radio promotion radio stations

**Guest post written by Michael Corcoran of musicSUBMIT.

"Let’s say you’ve reached out to a few college and internet radio stations with your music...and - gasp - the Radio Station actually replied to say they listened and really dug your stuff...You’re still a few steps away from actually getting the airplay you’ve been promised. If you neglect these final steps, don’t be surprised if your song never gets played on that station."

Posted: Feb 21, 2017

Category: Marketing

apple music crosshair deezer digital influencers indie artists marketing plan pandora playlisting radio stations spotify

**Guest post by Garrison Snell of Crosshair.

"Placement on playlists is the digital equivalent of radio placement, except that playlists aren't limited by geographical location AND they can be used to work your song into bigger playlists...Influencer marketing (placing stuff with influential digital celebs) is still the most organic form of promotion and word of mouth..."

Posted: Jul 5, 2016

Category: The Musician Business

bret alexander build a buzz diy fan support have a story indie artists marketing newsworthy promotion

**Guest Post by Bret Alexander of The Badlees and Saturation Acres.

"I have always said that the best way to break up a band is to make a record. I’ve seen it a hundred times. A bunch of guys have a rock and roll dream. The band gets all excited and starts diligently writing songs. They save up some money...Then, they do the recording. Then, they put together the artwork. Then, they plan the release party. Then……. About two weeks or so after the release party the phone calls start coming in. The band is depressed. At this point they ask the question that whole empires have risen and fallen on: Now what?"

Posted: May 9, 2016

Category: Royalties

fair and transparent harry fox agency indie artists irespectmusic publishing royalties spotify tunecore

**Guest Post by David Lowery, frontman from Cracker and Camper Van Beethoven. Originally featured in The Trichordist.

"If you are a Tunecore songwriter, you recently got an email asking you to sign up for the NMPA/Harry Fox Agency/Spotify settlement. Songwriters are directed to [a] Survey Monkey form. This is it. No details. Nothing. Nada. In particular, there is no mention of the possible statutory damages that songwriters are waiving by opting in to this..."

Posted: Mar 14, 2016

Category: The Musician Business

attorney career goals diy indie artists make money musicianship record deal record labels supply and demand

**Guest post written by Gaetano, a NYC based Singer, Songwriter, Producer, and Guitarist, as featured in his blog and on Digital Music News.

"At this point, we all know someone trying to “make it” in the music business. Thanks to the world of technology we live in, the industry has easily become over-saturated with thousands, if not millions, of aspiring singers, producers, songwriters, musicians, DJs, etc. Anyone with a smartphone and a Wi-Fi connection can simply fill out their social media bio and give themselves whatever title they wish to be called. With too much supply and not enough demand, it’s no wonder that so many are getting discouraged while in pursuit of their dreams..."

Posted: Feb 8, 2016

Category: The Musician Business

career goals ex big-wig indie artists industry schemes major labels music business music x-ray pay for feedback pay to play

**Guest post written by Gaetano, a NYC based Singer, Songwriter, Producer, and Guitarist, as featured in his blog and on Digital Music News.

"If you’re one of the millions (yes millions) of independent artists/producers out there trying to make something of yourself, you’re going to love what I’m about to tell you. If you’re one of the shady opportunists still trying to “hustle” your way into a quick buck, you’re going to hate me. I must be totally unapologetic about this. I don’t care either."

Posted: Nov 2, 2015

Category: Marketing

branding community support cover songs fan engagement indie artists licensing marketing plan

**Guest post written by Matt Bacon, Senior Campaign Manager at Independent Music Promotions.

You look out on the crowd after a high powered set opening up for one of your favorite bands – and then instead of playing another song off your latest release you instead pull off a killer cover of Just Like Heaven...People love artists who pay tribute to their influences.

Posted: Sep 21, 2015

Category: Promotion

college radio indie artists musicsubmit pay to play payola radio airplay radio promotion radio stations

**Guest post written by Michael Corcoran of musicSUBMIT.

"It goes without saying, all bands and musicians want to get their songs on the radio. There’s no point drumming up all the benefits of having your music broadcast to thousands of listeners with one spin on the radio. And of course radio stations want to find songs they think their audiences will want to hear...

But therein lies a nearly century-old problem for both artists and radio stations..."

Posted: Aug 31, 2015

Category: Technology

adobe creative cloud create videos diy hank & cupcakes indie indie artists lynda.com video marketing

**Guest post by Hank & Cupcakes, Brooklyn based Indie/Pop/Rock duo.

All of us are aware of how important the visual aspect of our music is for promoting, exposing and marketing our band. It seems that many indie bands are afraid of making their own videos mainly because there's a common mythological assumption that it is very complicated, expensive and technically demanding to create this kind of content, so many bands don't even try to explore this territory which is today as accessible to us as the audio recording field is...

Posted: Apr 13, 2015

Category: Promotion

college radio indie artists kmud radio airplay radio promotion radio stations the flower power hour

**Guest post written by BeTH isBell, host of The Flower Power Hour and the New Releases show on KMUD, an FM station in Northern California.

"1. We have a music library at the station where we label and file all CDs, and vinyl records, that we receive from artists, labels, and distributors. What I've noticed is that CDs in jewel cases or digipaks with the artist and album name on spine get pulled for airplay 5x-10x more frequently than CDs in slim cases or sleeves where the artist/album name, and sometimes, the CD itself can't be seen hiding on the shelf squeezed between the CDs in jewel cases. Truth..."

Posted: Nov 25, 2014

Category: Technology

bandposters conductr dae bogan fliptu indie artists music technology phoncert time.ly touring musicians

**Guest post written by Dae Bogan of Dae Bogan Music.

Over the last six years, the SF MusicTech Summit has become a staple platform for the convergence of music, technology, and entrepreneurship in San Francisco. The summit has attracted attendees from around the world who’ve looked to SFMT as a place to learn, network, and get inspired. Here’s my list of 5 startups that every touring indie artist should know...

Posted: Nov 4, 2014

Category: Marketing

blogging have a story indie artists licensing make money marketing plan online presence social media website improvement

**Guest post written by Brandon Seymour, musician, SEO analyst, web designer, and social media marketer.

"I know - I'm not the first genius to point out that the music industry is dead. I'm also not the first person to point out that artists have been complaining about this for a very long time. I just can't help but wonder if maybe - just maybe - the music industry needed to die..."

Posted: Jul 28, 2014

Category: Promotion

college radio indie artists marketing plan radio airplay radio promotion radio stations touring

**Guest post written by Erica Sinkovic, CD Baby's Web Product Manager and general music enthusiast, as featured in the DIY Musician Blog.

"Whether you’re an independent artist or signed to an independent label, you’re sure to have a lot on your plate already. Between booking shows, debating merch, planning your next big marketing move, juggling social media-insanity, oh yeah, and writing new material, the last thing you want to add to your plate is a radio campaign...I’m here to tell you: don’t abandon radio."

Posted: Jun 9, 2014

Category: Promotion

college radio indie artists marketing plan radio airplay radio promotion radio stations tinderbox music

**Guest post written by Patrick Hertz of Tinderbox Music. This article originally appeared on the Sonicbids Blog.

"College radio is a unique mix of non-commercial stations that range from small-watt student-run operations to huge, vastly influential public and/or community stations. This spectrum allows for most any independent artist to find terrestrial radio airplay – that is, of course, if the music is good..."

Posted: Sep 9, 2013

Category: The Musician Business

bbc radio network clear channel diy indie artists musik and film payola radio promotion

**Guest post by Stephen Wrench of Musik and Film as featured in their blog.

If you want to get a hit in the US, you will have to play the game. Meaning - you better have some very deep pockets to play in this high stakes game. You will need to hire a team of promoters to maneuver your song into the charts. This team will need to be in a position to grease the airplay wheels to get your song played. Call it payola, call it big business, call it what you want. But the bottom line is -- unless you have a million dollars to drop into your single you are not going to get a hit record in the US.

Posted: Aug 20, 2013

Category: The Musician Business

clear channel diy indie artists indie record labels musik and film online distribution radio promotion

**Guest post by Stephen Wrench of Musik and Film as featured in their blog.

The sooner that indie artists realize that they are on their own in this world of 360 deals and pay-to-play radio, the better off they will be. There will be no major label knocking on your door offering riches and fame just because you’re good. If you are good, you better be very smart and be savvy in business and the art of promotion if you want to succeed in the new world of being an independent artist.

Posted: May 15, 2013

Category: Renman Music & Business

dale connone in2une music indie artists radio promotion

Dale Connone has got to be one of the most well-traveled radio promoters in the business today. If you can think of a record label, he's probably worked there. But, after putting in more than his due diligence, Dale decided to split off to do his own thing. He wanted to build a radio promotion department that record labels have and make it into an actual independently run company. So he did just that with in2une Music, which has brought him such success that he still pretty much does radio promo for all the labels (if you take a look at his clients). One of our members, I am Demure, called in to ask Dale about radio promotion for indie artists, and he gives his thoughts on how to find the right promoters and what to look for here!