As a musician, you have a lot of things to juggle, both when it comes to creating music and dealing with the business side of things. In the midst of it all, it can be easy to forget about the most important aspect of your career — your fans. Like a married couple, sometimes you and your fans are going to piss each other off. Maybe you release a lame […]

In business, return on investment – or ROI – traditionally translates to “How much money did we make on that promotion or venture?” This doesn’t translate so neatly to a social media marketing campaign, or your general social media efforts, because at its heart, social media is a conversation tool, not a sales tool. Because of this, many musicians, entrepreneurs, and even well-established brands find themselves struggling with the concept of spending […]

2012 was the year crowdfunding went mainstream. The success of Amanda Palmerʼs Kickstarter campaign threw the alternative fanfunding model into the limelight, and now most musicians are turning to their fans and friends for financial support pre-release. But what is the best crowdfunding platform for you? What are the advantages and disadvantages of each platform? Hereʼs a helpful chart outlining the key features of four of the top crowdfunding platforms out there. […]

When you’re not in the studio, you really ought to be playing out; performing live, whether locally or on tour, in support and celebration of your sound. These two realms– “the office” and “fieldwork”– keep a musician (and their bands) very busy. We might even consider a third one: promotion, the “advertising” department of your business. As a band, you’re proud of your sound, right? So, why not spread the word? […]

There are several topics songwriters should be familiar with: songwriting, stage performance, recording, knowing your instrument, and much more. But one topic that often gets overlooked by songwriters is marketing. Marketing your music may even be the most important piece of the puzzle if you want to get anywhere as a songwriter or a performer. One of the best tools you can use to market yourself as a songwriter is […]

Songwriters, do you know who your natural audience is? Your songs exist at a point within or outside the commercial mainstream. If they fall in the mainstream, they are similar to other songs, and are most likely to be embraced bya pop audience. If they hang out on the fringes, they are discernible from other songs, and are most likely to be noticed by a niche audience. The pop audience is larger and more […]

I’m writing this to show you how using social media in the right way will be way more rewarding than the crap I see most bands doing. First, follow mp3 blogs, local newspapers, and local media on Twitter. Put them on to a specific list so I can see all their tweets without being distracted by Snoop Dogg and Jimmy Fallon tweets. I try to find very local media: the closer […]

Much love to Canada-based literary art magazine S/tick for featuring 3 of my paintings in their newest magazine issue. S/tick is a politically-aware women’s and feminist journal so they featured my Chic City, Morning Glory & Solitaire paintings, which all evolve around women. They also featured my art on their blog in December so this is definitely a huge blessing. Much love to the editors Ada and Sarah-Jean! Check out the screenshots below and download Issue […]

One of the main tools in your songwriting arsenal is the almighty Chorus. Sometimes it comes naturally, sometimes it is elusive. Oftentimes, it gets lost in the other sections and needs a way to stand apart. Here are nine unabashed ways to make a chorus sound more like a chorus. 1. Use your hook at the beginning AND end of the chorus. Bookending it gives the listener a chance to hear […]

Get a paper and pen. Just do it, it’ll totally be worth it. I’m about to blow your mind. Quick – tell me 3 people you want to listen to your music that you think will be able to put it in a commercial, film, or TV promo! Even if you’ve already contacted them, write down a name with a little space beneath to complete this exercise. Done? Great! Now […]