Twenty years ago, as a music fan, you would hear a song you enjoyed on the radio, head to the record store to buy the album and wait until the band came to town to attend a concert. The music industry was based on a straightforward consumption model. In this online day and age you can consume music on innumerable platforms, interact with artists and other fans, and discover or […]

Here’s a detailed breakdown of the twenty most profitable merchandising items – pound for pound – based on average costs and expected retail price tags. The data comes from top merchandising provider Jakprints, which compiled and averaged the data from multiple band and retail sites. Here’s a top-level look based on profit margins, specifically expressed as how much larger the retail price is than the cost. And, here’s the more detailed […]

Social media is coming of age. Since the emergence of the first social media networks some two decades ago, social media has continued to evolve and offer consumers around the world new and meaningful ways to engage with the people, events and brands that matter to them. Now, years later, social media is still growing rapidly, becoming an integral part of our daily lives. Social networking is now truly a […]

There has been a lot of debate over streaming services and the royalty rates they pay. Critics point to royalties from services like Spotify, where it takes 200 streams to earn the equivalent of one download, as evidence that these services don’t provide a viable income for artists. Damon Krukowski of Galaxie 500 argued these streaming services “are doing nothing for the business of music.” While I don’t want to diminish the challenges […]

“Payola is as old as radio. The legalities have also changed most recently allowing legal loopholes. Legal loopholes created playola the creation of corporate america to cash in legally. For decades decision makers were individuals in each marketplace. Payola comes in the way of cash,trips, appliances, drugs, sex and anything of value for today’s marketplace. Payola is as American as prostitution. Radio programmers and Dj’s hands are shaped like cups. Everyone […]

When it comes to touring, I find more musicians focused with the “How,” “When,” and “Where” aspects but not enough of the “Why.” Of course, touring can be an incredibly important step in most artists’ careers but you should definitely take some time out to create solid goals and a definitive strategy before you decide when/where you want to hit the road. Why do we pick the target areas for […]

Whether they ever choose to regain some of their former financial stature and growth, record companies, majors and indies alike, along with unsigned and unknown independent artists, too, must cultivate and create, as quickly as possible, a SINGLE new digital marketplace.  Here competition will flourish and some semblance of reasonable choice and control over the discovery of new artists with original new music will be exercised by whatever is left […]

Whether or not you think it is the key that unlocks your music career, it is always good to build an army of enthusiastic supporters who will fervently support your music. The best way for any company or new artist to grow their fan base is through referrals. The combined energy from a hardcore fan base can create some serious momentum (just look at the career of Justin Bieber or even the […]

Six degrees of separation are allegedly all that stand between you and anyone on the planet.  Or, according to my father, “There are not six degrees of separation, there are two; you just have to think hard enough.” Like him, I’m a connector, and would agree that regardless of how many people it takes to connect us, no one is too far removed.  More so, it can be a great joy […]

This is an excerpt from “Countdown to Maximum Exposure” a free PDF guide written by IndieGuide.com and CD Baby for musicians who are preparing to release a new album within the next year. Releasing a new album takes more than just duplicating discs and throwing a party. You’ve got to get the word out if you want your music to sell. But with so many methods of promotion and so […]