Indie Artists are doing it for themselves!

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!

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!

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

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

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

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

First things first: Putting your Marketing Plan together!

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!