New Music Scene

2009-12-27T16:54:00.001-05:00

thanks!

Indie Artists are doing it for themselves!

2009-11-10T00:03:00.006-05:00

The relationship between artists and their fans has never enjoyed more synergy than exists in today's marketplace. Artists and fans are discovering each other in record numbers thanks to the array of digital tools at their fingertips.

Artists are using the web, social media and mobile technology to engage their fans in creative and ground-breaking ways more than ever before. Fans in turn, are enjoying unlimited access to the music of these artists with music discovery tools such as internet radio, podcasts, blogs, streaming, social media, P2P, digital music stores, and mobile content delivery.

DIY

With the new Do-It-Yourself (DIY) model the opportunity now exists for artists to become their own record label and publisher. No longer do they have to depend on major labels to get their music heard, nor do they have to fork over the lion's share of their music earnings to someone else. Artists are learning to identify and take ownership of the many streams of income that are tied to their music. This the area where it becomes critical for artists to educate themselves about available resources that can help them make the most of these points of revenue.

DISTRIBUTION, PROMOTION & SOCIAL MEDIA

By utilizing digital aggregators which include TuneCore, Record Union, IOTA, and The Orchard, to name a few, independent artists can now easily get their music out to digital stores and even to some physical stores. Internet based Public Relations companies such as Ariel Publicity and Rainmaker Public Relations and others, help the artists get word to new and existing fans that their music is available everywhere - literally! By following up with their own promotional efforts utilizing social-networking portals such as Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, YouTube and a horde of others, artists are able to augment their formal publicity campaigns.

RADIO AIRPLAY

There are a host of emerging radio airplay promotion services that manage music distribution to college, community and internet radio and a number of domestic and international terrestrial radio stations. Companies such as Airplay Direct, CMJ and Mediaguide, among others, have stepped in to interface between artists and radio stations in the new music space. By assuring radio exposure for the independent artist who would not otherwise have access to air time, these companies are leveling the playing field. This has resulted in artists enjoying the ability to be heard alongside some of their more well funded and heavily promoted major label counterparts.

LIVE PERFORMANCE

Live performances are being booked in record-breaking numbers using sites such as Online Gigs, Sonicbids, ReverbNation and Indie On the Move, while portals such as Artist Data and iLike allow the dissemination of live performance information to fans across the spectrum. Ticket sales for those performances can easily be purchased using groundbreaking mobile platforms like AdvaMobile that allow fans to purchase tickets from the comfort of their own environments using their mobile phones.

MERCHANDISING & FAN MANAGEMENT

Merchandise sales can be similarly accomplished using companies like AudioLife, MerchMonkey, Zazzle, and AdvaMobile. AdvaMobile is also the premiere mobile fan club manager that allows artists to create their own mobile fan clubs and mobilize their fans in a few easy steps. The service also serves as content distributor for artist branded media downloads such as wallpapers and mp3 files.

LICENSING

Probably one of music's best kept secrets until now, licensing is easily the heart and soul (or as some others describe it “the guts”) of the music money-making machine. Although the number of online licensing sites has grown too numerous to list, a few worth mentioning include YouLicense, Rumblefish, Pump Audio, Ricall, BeatPick, and Gamecues. Armed with these resources, indie artists can now submit their music for inclusion in movies, television programming, commercials, games, and other areas where music is integral to the telling of a story.

In short, there is no shortage of DIY tools across the digital domain. If artists are serious about gaining attention from new fans, generating a buzz for their music and making a living selling their music, there has never been a better time. The key to achieving success is there. It lies simply in artists educating themselves about available resources and ultimately, utilizing those resources to get the job done.

Happy trails!

Click Here For Self-Promotion Resources to Boost Your Music Biz Career!

2009-10-30T13:04:00.001-04:00

If you already have a fan club, try taking them mobile with Adva Mobile...and if you don't have one, start one at www.advamobile.com!

2009-10-16T11:26:00.001-04:00

For those of you who recently asked for the web address for the Mobile fan club service I've been talking about, it's: www.advamobile.com

2009-10-13T17:12:00.001-04:00

It's time to reach your fans on their mobile phones! Get your own FREE mobile fan club from Adva Mobile. www.advamobile.com

2009-10-07T17:26:00.001-04:00

Can't believe the cool internet-based tools and services available for indie artists to promote their music. It's mind-blowing!

2009-10-01T23:27:00.001-04:00

Check out the perfect mobile marketing tool for the working musician at www.AdvaMobile.com

First things first: Putting your Marketing Plan together!

2008-07-31T16:17:00.010-04:00

In my last post I mentioned that you should have a marketing plan but I did not elaborate. After thinking about it some more, I decided that a marketing plan deserves more that a cursory mention in a blog. A marketing plan is a document that is compulsory for anyone who has decided to pursue music seriously and professionally.

Whether you are a solo artist or a collective act such as a duo or a band, the marketing plan is your "road map" to achieving the success you seek. The marketing plan provides you with an orderly process for getting to where you want to be from where you are. It details what you are doing, how you're doing what you're doing, how you plan to improve on what you're doing, and what tools you're going to employ to assist you with what you're doing - along with a few other details. Of course, the document will be more expansive than this short list I've referenced but I'm sure you get the point.

If capital (or lack of it) is a factor for you and you feel up to doing the work yourself, I found the following clear-cut, easy to understand guidelines at www.musicmarketing.com that can help you create your plan outline:

Objective: State a clear and concise objective or goal for your marketing plan. Who is your audience? How will you reach them? Be very specific and detailed.

Image: Maintain the artist's image consistently throughout each graphic.

Packaging: Give a detailed description of the artwork to be used for the cover of the CD/Tape. Describe the package layout and the information you'll have to obtain for the booklet, front and back cover, (barcode?), etc.

Publicity: Consider any and all print and broadcast media plans. Which trade and consumer publications, and genre specific newspapers, magazines, and fanzines? Websites? Describe ingredients for press kits, and topics for press releases. Create fact sheets.

Radio: What radio format(s) will be targeted, which songs? any special promotions? Any independent radio promoters?

Sales: Describe Distribution and Retail plans. Any in-store play material/ promotions? What other specific sales opportunities: mail order, live shows, website sales? Create Distributor One Sheet.

Video: Is the concept in-line with the overall image of the artist? Is a video cost effective?

Touring: Describe the timeframe for touring, and other promotional events to coordinate while on the road. Consider specific clubs, halls, fairs, festivals, etc.

Advertising: What, if any ads will be placed in the print, and other media? Describe the costs/benefits?

Misc: Record release party? Novelty item? Any other clever ideas?

However, if cost isn't a consideration then here are some sites to visit that can either provide cost effective tools to help you put one together yourself:

www.musicbusinesstoolbox.com
www.musicmarketing.com
www.marketing-plan-success.com

Click Here For Self-Promotion Resources to Boost Your Music Biz Career!

Handling your business

2008-07-29T23:08:00.008-04:00

Musicians, you spend a lot of your time working at your craft and perfecting it for people like me who love good music. The music lover in all of us applaud you because you keep us supplied with a steady stream of quality, fresh, and amazing music. Thank you!

Now go work on fine-tuning the business end so you can make some money... By the way, is your Marketing Plan up to date? Are you using it? Just checking.

Bookmark us, link us and keep checking back here to see what's on our radar.

Click Here For Self-Promotion Resources to Boost Your Music Biz Career!

Gators - Getting your music to the public

2008-07-29T19:38:00.012-04:00

For those of you who have no idea what Gators mean, please take heart - you are not alone! Gators (no, not the swamp dwelling thing) or Aggregators as they are formally known, are fairly new to music artists but have now become a mainstay on the indie music scene. For lack of a better definition from Webster, here is an offering from one of our associates:

"In the digital music world, an aggregate or aggregator is a service that distributes your music to a variety of online music distributors or outlets and collect a fee for that service. Some aggregates also handle physical distribution as well."

Now that we've covered the definition, here is a list of some of the main aggregates and their websites. (Independent artists, please take note...do not hesitate to take advantage of these resources to aid you in your career, because they are definitely in business because of you and are there to assist you.)

GATORS

Avatar
Note: This aggregate deals with both indie artists and labels

TuneCore
For the individual artist with no label support – this is my top recommendation

CD Baby
NOTE: Although you may know them as an online CD distribution company, they have over 40+ digital download partners, and they deal with individual artists and indie labels

Redeye Distribution
NOTE: This company works with individual artists and labels

IODA
NOTE: IODA has become so popular that unless you have a roster of artists, they may not be as accommodating as they once were. So if you’re one of those artist/label owner types, this is a good aggregate to consider.

The Orchard
NOTE: Works with individual artists and indie labels

Iris Distribution
NOTE: Mainly works with independent record labels. So if you have your own "shop" this is a good bet

Virtual Label
NOTE: For the established artists reading this, if there are any, this digital distributor is strictly for you.

Happy trails!

Click Here For Self-Promotion Resources to Boost Your Music Biz Career!

Know these things...

2008-07-29T19:07:00.007-04:00

I "borrowed" this piece from one of our associated sites to share with my readers on this blog. I thought it was a rather well illustrated piece regarding the state of the music industry at present. This is all the more reason why a site like this has to exist. Because, as artists learn about the changes taking place in the music industry, they will be looking for new resources and tools to help them launch their own careers, instead of waiting for a major label to take notice of them. There will be an increasing number of artists and musicians seeking to either form their own labels or they will team up with existing independent labels to issue their music to the public. They will understand how "change" can be a beautiful thing. And oh what a beautiful thing it really is!

Read on:

A True Story - Presented as a Fairy Tale: The State of the Music Industry

Once upon a time, there was a dense forest that opened up into a huge maze called The Music Industry. This industry created a machine so vast and finely tuned, that when leveraged, it controlled well over 70% of the music market. This machine created huge profits for themselves and their stakeholders. They ruled the land and airwaves for decades.

Then one day, a new type of machine appeared. It was comprised of a network of computers across the globe that connected people to each other and to a world full of information. It was called the internet, and it had grown up in the shadows of the once vibrant music industry. This internet incidentally, had itself given birth to a number of babies called new technologies. These new technologies when partnered with the internet allowed the masses to interact with each other. These new tools allowed users to share their joy, their goodwill, their aspirations and their talents with each other.

The first set of birth children inspired by that union was Napster, and a successive host of similar other siblings. Then a generation later, even newer technologies were birthed that threatened to unseat the behemoth machines the labels had now become. It was a new world order filled with MP3 players, virtual interfaces and social networking portals. Then one day came the newest baby of the family and its brightest star. This baby was called the iPod and its interface was known as iTunes. Together, they changed the music business forever…and ever.

~The End~

(...but, as you all know, this is real life and the story doesn't end here...

---------------------------------------------

Hello friends,

My name is Mimi Jones (all my friends call me BB) and I am one of the principals of Blaqberri Entertainment (d/b/a/ Blaqberri Management & Consulting). The above "fairy tale" is very obviously my own oversimplification of the state of the music industry at the moment. I do believe, however, that the story clearly underscores the power of new technologies and their symbiotic relationship with the vast digital landscape that is the internet. The possibilities are limitless for those who tap into these new resources and learn how to leverage them to grow their music careers and their music related businesses.

Artists who’ve never had a deal with a major record label are appearing in relatively significant numbers these days in coveted spots on a number of music industry charts. New music (indie/independent music) is popping up on terrestrial, internet, and satellite radio - again, in significant numbers while others cruise the digital underground through podcasts and You Tube appearances. But at the end of the day artists are getting their aural and visual fare "fed" directly to the consumer by doing it themselves. These days, this is referred to as D-I-Y – "Do It Yourself".

Today, there are many resources available to the bourgeoning artists that were previously only available to the major players in the music industry. With these new resources, come a growing number of entrepreneurs who are creating new businesses to help artists navigate a terrain that was once the stronghold of the mighty record label machine.

I am one of those entrepreneurs and I know there are many others like me out here who are at varied stages of achievement. Many of them armed with the know-how to assist new artists in charting their own course for a successful career in the industry, or just simply pointing them in the right direction.

Since I am a sucker for a good ending, I will be keeping you posted about continuing changes in the industry, while turning you on to hot new music from artists you probably never heard of in your life.

Stay Chill!
Mimi Jones

Click Here For Self-Promotion Resources to Boost Your Music Biz Career!

New places to sell your music

2008-07-29T15:04:00.006-04:00

Check out the article below and the new music discovery sites. Don't hesitate to add them to the list of outlets that you make your music available to. Happy trails!

RawRip Music Service Offers Artists 100% of Royalties
Authored by Mark Hefflinger on July 28, 2008 - 1:13pm.

London - RawRip on Monday debuted the beta version of its music discovery and distribution service, which will offer artists and copyright holders 100% of royalties. The site currently offers around 1 million tracks for free, ad-supported streaming; while songs may be purchased directly from the site. Artists may also create their own Rawstores with flexible pricing via a Web widget that can be placed on their websites or any social network page. RawRip also offers a music discovery feature called the Rippler.

RAWRIP
www.rawrip.com

BETA Records
www.betarecords.com

Taking care of business...

2008-07-29T00:55:00.002-04:00

So, you've got those hits that you're ready to let the world hear. You've recorded an entire album, completed the album/CD packaging, and all that's left is to handle the business of your music!

For many of you reading this article, there's nothing new here because you already have this information and know what to do. But for the uninitiated, here's where the business needs to be nailed down so there are no missteps or misunderstandings along the way!

Performing Rights Societies

U.S.
ASCAP
BMI
SESAC

Internet
SoundExchange

Canada
SOCAN

England
PRS

Australia and New Zealand
APRA

Germany
GEMA

Japan
JASRAC

France
SACEM

Copyrights
United States Copyright Office

And in some cases you may need:

U.S. Musicians Unions
AFM
AFTRA

By the way, did you remember to factor in agreements/contracts between band members, or between artist and producer, etc.? I recommend that if you have the financial resources, you start with a lawyer. Legal Contracts sites are a great idea in principle, but nothing takes the place of a knowledgeable attorney who has your best interests at heart.

Oh, and just in case there is cover music on your CD you will need to either find out who the publisher is and contact them, or contact:

Song Licensing Organization
The Harry Fox Agency

This list is by no means exhaustive. If you know of any resources that I have not covered that would fit here, leave it for me in a comment. You can also send it to me in an email and I will revise the article to include it, and will give you credit.

Let's Talk About Music

2008-07-28T09:49:00.005-04:00

I don't know what you have heard or what you believe about the music business, but there are differing schools of thought about what really drives this industry. For some folks it's the talent behind the superstar artists whose faces grace album covers that has been responsible for the industry's massive sales; while others believe its the label's financial clout being thrown behind their recording artists that is responsible for those sales and chart success. For me however, it has always been the "Song" that's been the driving force behind this business of music.

If it's not that obvious to you here's a little exercise to put things into proper perspective. How many times have you heard a handsome crooner, popular band, or silver-throated diva breathe life into a great song, only to have them fall short on some other song that just didn't move you. Also, when was the last time you skipped over most of an album's songs because those tracks didn't measure up to the artist's radio hits?

For the new artist trying to shine in the music marketplace, a catalog of distinctive, well-crafted songs is a significant first step. It is also one of the most important keys to establishing credibility in this business. The artist's career is built around this and other factors that will help capture the music consumers' attention. And at the end of the day it is the music consumer who carries the most weight.

With good music as the foundation, getting noticed by a label gets just a tad easier. However, it is still an uphill climb for those artists without the right contacts in the business. For those artists that have the fortitude to go the independent route and become their own shop, having the needed resources to get the music to the public is the next big step. In the new music paradigm there is a proliferation of quality internet based businesses just waiting to provide the needed resources that can make that event a reality.

New Music Scene attempts to identify as many musician's resources as it can and also provides links to those sites. Bookmark us or subscribe to our feed to make sure you're kept in the loop. You can also email us if you have a burning music industry-related question that simply can't wait - we'll try to respond as quickly as we can.

Happy trails to you and check back with us frequently to see what's on our menu!

Click Here For Self-Promotion Resources to Boost Your Music Biz Career!