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The Secret Weapon for Sync Success? It’s Not a Plugin—It’s DISCO

Posted: May 6, 2025

Category: The Musician Business

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**Guest post written by Xander Rushie of School of Sync.

 

DISCO SoS


"If you're an indie artist writing, recording, or producing your own music and you’re even thinking about getting into sync licensing, there’s one tool you need to know about: DISCO...[It] is the professional standard for sharing music with music supervisors, ad agencies, and sync reps. If you’re still using Dropbox or SoundCloud to send your tracks, it might be time to level up...Unlike Google Drive or WeTransfer, DISCO was built by music supervisors for music supervisors to solve common challenges in the music industry and simplify the process of sharing and managing files. It loads quickly, preserves your metadata, and presents your music in a polished, professional way."

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Records for All

Posted: Feb 19, 2025

Category: Merch

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**Guest post by Wes Wolfe of Tangible Formats - Custom Vinyl Records For All.

 

Records for All - Tangible Formats


"For many independent artists, releasing vinyl isn’t a viable option. It’s impractical—the process is expensive and complex. The final product is heavy, inconvenient to transport, and takes up valuable space...Fortunately, we’re in a time when pressing plant capacity finally exceeds demand. Independent artists now have more options and leverage than they did just a few years ago...Releasing your music on vinyl is now more accessible for artists at any stage of their career."

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How To Get Noticed By A Record Label

Posted: Feb 7, 2022

Category: Career Goals

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**Guest post written by Yona Marie, originally featured in her blog.

 

Yona Marie - Noticed By Record Label


"Back in the day, you didn’t need much but talent and potential in order to grab the attention of an A&R or label scout. A huge amount of time and money from a label was invested into the artist development process for fresh acts that needed to be groomed for the music world. Now, with so much competition around, musical acts that bring a lot to the table usually outshine those who are talented but less prepared. Here are some tips that will help you reach the top of the ladder among other musicians and artists who are on the front lines for opportunities."

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Your First Email Might Not Get You the Job – But the Follow-Up Might!

Posted: Sep 7, 2021

Category: The Musician Business

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**Guest post written by Bruce Wawrzyniak, who runs Now Hear This, Inc. and www.InterviewTipsCourse.com.

 

Now Hear This Follow Up Email


"It has come to my attention that there’s a whole generation barely even using email...regardless of your age, if you think you’re missing out on opportunities, it might simply be because (gasp) you did send one email and then gave up, moved on, when you didn’t hear anything back. The simple fact is, if it’s important enough to you, a second email should be sent when sufficient time has gone by (in other words, not the next day) and that simple follow-up could make the difference in actually getting a response."

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Do-It-Yourself Doesn't Mean Do-It Alone: 
Get The Services & Skills You Need To Help Run Your Music Business Part V

Posted: Mar 29, 2021

Category: The Musician Business

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**Guest post by Randy Chertkow and Jason Feehan of MakingMoneyWithMusic.com.

 

"In the last part of our DIY music business series, we cover the tasks required to get your videos created, recorded, edited, produced, and made ready for distribution. You may be an independent musician, but being independent should never mean that you're alone. In fact, the list of people credited for being part of each release you do will probably get longer as you grow your career and level up the music, art, and entertainment that you release and perform."

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So, you wanna book shows...

Posted: Mar 22, 2021

Category: Show Booking

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**Guest post written by Dustin Drennen, DIY independent songwriter and musician.

 

Dustin Drennen


"Shouldn’t music and friendship still be central to building a community and playing your songs? Absolutely. But, you don’t have to bumble along, you don’t have to loose direction or heart. That’s where this advice will come in handy. Here are four bits of advice for securing shows and building a reputation that makes it easier to do so."

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JUST SAY NO! | Words of Fang #32

Posted: Dec 21, 2020

Category: The Musician Business

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**Guest post by Fang from Lords of the Trident, the most METAL band on earth!

 

Just Say No Words With Fang


"Kids, if a stranger in full armor comes up offering you free band advice, you know what to say, right? JUST SAY NO!"

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5 Reasons to Have a Website for Your Music

Posted: Oct 5, 2020

Category: Online Presence

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**Guest post written by Dre Dimura of Bandzoogle.

 

"With so many methods of promoting your music online these days, the importance of having a dedicated website can often be overlooked. Websites are still one of the best tools to drive fan engagement, curate your web presence, and manage the rest of your socials from a branded homebase. Here are five reasons to have a website for your band or solo musical effort..."

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Livestream your music LIKE A PRO | Words of Fang #23

Posted: Jun 29, 2020

Category: Live Performance

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**Guest post by Fang from Lords of the Trident, the most METAL band on earth!

 

Words with Fang 23


"Want to make your music livestreams as AMAZING as possible? Don't just sit in front of your webcam with a guitar! Follow this tutorial and your streams will be INCREDIBLE!"

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Ways to Impress Music Journalists With Your Promo Photo

Posted: Aug 26, 2019

Category: Promotion

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**Guest post written by Mark Smith, owner of Musical Instru.

 

"Let’s face it - a promo photo is an extremely powerful part of music, with its ability to catch the attention of fans, bookers, music journalists, and the industry in general. However, while the capabilities of a promo photo can’t be overstated, it all depends on the amount of care you exert into its production. To be honest, your promo photo is just as capable of effectively telling your story as your music, but that’s only if you get it right..."

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What to Include in an Email to a Talent Buyer

Posted: May 28, 2019

Category: Show Booking

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**Guest post written by Scott Cooper, talent buyer for Testarossa Winery and Sam's Chowder House and previously syndicated music journalist for newspapers across the country.

 

"As a Talent Buyer...I only book via email. Emails are a traceable record of who said what and the details of the agreement. Sometimes I can even tell if I want to book the band just by how well or poorly the email is formatted. So what to include or exclude in your email? There are certain things I want to see and other things I don’t want to see..."

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How To Be A Pro By Joining A P.R.O.

Posted: Mar 4, 2019

Category: Performance Rights Organizations

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**Guest post written by Scott Aumann, originally featured on The Legit Musician blog.

 

ProLikeAPro Legit Musician


"I am always surprised at how many musicians I talk with that really have no idea what a Performance Rights Organization is, or what it does for artists. I’m not just talking about indie musicians either. Some well-known national acts are in the same boat and could learn some things from this post. Let me explain how you can become a pro by joining a P.R.O."

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How to Approach Venues About Booking

Posted: Nov 19, 2018

Category: Show Booking

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**Guest post written by Jordan Gates, of Megaphone Agency.

 

Approach Venues Megaphone Agency


"Booking shows can be difficult, especially if you don’t have an experienced booking agent working with you...Most artists start out booking their own shows early on in their career...Knowing how to properly represent yourself to venues and get booked is an essential skill for independent artists. There is no definitive playbook for getting gigs, but here are some things that can help get your foot in the door."

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10 Ways to Look Like an Amateur Musician

Posted: Sep 19, 2016

Category: The Musician Business

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**Guest post written by Joy Ike, creator of Grassrootsy.com and Independent Musician, as featured on Grassrootsy.com.

 

Joy Ike Thumbs Down
"We’ve been working on this list for a while and thought it was high time to share it. Keep in mind that this post is primarily for the working musician..."

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10 Tricks of the Trade

Posted: Feb 16, 2016

Category: The Musician Business

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**Guest post written by Sylvana Joyce, NYC based indie artist, originally featured in her blog Scenipedia.

 

Sylvana
"Let's face it. I'm not Lady GooGoo and I'm not rolling in the deep, deep cavern of Scrooge McDucklike's money vault. But I am a small indie band who has built an intimate fan base from the ground up - enough of a fanbase that I was able to raise $2000 in less than 24 hours to fund my debut album. So let's say I have something to say on the subject of oh, being a successful indie band...here are the 10 things I think are important to making sure you're on the right track as a band and to make sure you have a long and prosperous career where you continue to grow and shoot for greatness..."

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Musicians’ Checklist: 23 Little Things That Will Help You Nail Your Next Gig

Posted: Sep 14, 2015

Category: Live Performance

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**Guest post written by Megan Liscomb, originally posted on TakeLessons.com.

 

"Congrats on getting the big gig! Whether you’re preparing for your band’s first show or your album-release party, these tips will help you learn how to promote your band, make your best impression on stage, and get invited back to the venue to do it all again."

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Defining Success And How To Achieve It With A Career In Music

Posted: Oct 13, 2014

Category: The Musician Business

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**Guest post written by Carlos Castillo of Schwilly Family Musicians - music marketing strategist, web designer, live performance recordist, international road-tripper, lap steel player, and Captain of the Schwilly Family.

 

“The first requirement for being successful in anything is to define what success means to you. That is one of the biggest challenges musicians face today. There is no standard to follow..."

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9 Reasons Your Band Isn't Getting Press

Posted: Sep 8, 2014

Category: Promotion

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**Guest post written by Ari Herstand. It originally appeared on Ari's Take and in Digital Music News.

 

Ari
"Music reviewers know their audience. The average reader doesn't care how you achieved that guitar tone on the bridge of track 3. But if your lead singer went on a spiritual quest for 9 months in the Amazon and came back with 12 songs written on an invented instrument he made out of found objects in the rainforest, now THAT'S a story! When you write your press release or pitch an article, highlight the most interesting aspects of what makes you stand out..."

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It's All of Your Business

Posted: Mar 17, 2014

Category: The Musician Business

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**Guest post written by Samuel Mahler, marketing manager, booking agent, and band member of "The Electro-Lights".

 

One of the major problems that has plagued today’s music world is the bad stigma placed on bands’ lack of “Professionalism”. This seemingly simple word that should be self-explanatory has been the death of many a band. Why is this, you may ask?...

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