Whether you’re doing a regional tour of 600-seater halls or playing monthly at a local coffee shop, your merch booth probably isn’t the first thing on your mind when you arrive at the venue. You’re worried about attendance. You’re thinking about tweaks to the set list. You’re introducing yourself to the sound engineer, booker, bouncer, bartender, or barista. You’re hoping you’ll have digested your dinner by the downbeat, or else you’ll […]

You want every chance to generate income from your music, and while mechanical royalties (for sales of tangible product and digital downloads) have diminished, there are more opportunities than ever to have your music heard on television and in movies. In addition to the financial benefit, for songwriters who are also recording artists, prominent placements in TV shows and films can help expand your fan base, in addition to looking great on […]

Submitting music to Pandora is easier than ever Over the past decade, Pandora Internet Radio has become one of the go-to destinations for music discovery. The popular radio service allows over 76 million active users to create customized stations based on their favorite genres and artists. Pandora’s recommendation engine (built on extensive human input) then streams a playlist that is altered by user engagement in real-time. In other words, Pandora is pretty smart […]

Almost every active, relevant musician is now using Soundcloud.  And for those that aren’t… why aren’t you?  The platform is a great way to foster a community, to get feedback on your tracks and to interact and showcase with people that are into the style that you are.  It’s straightforward, essentially free and can’t be missed in the repertoire of any musician that’s expecting to make a name for himself. […]

While there’s no guaranteed formula for songwriting success, there are steps you can take to maximize your chances. The first thing to do—after writing your masterpiece—is to confirm that it’s as strong as you think it is. This will require getting objective professional feedback. (Your mother doesn’t count—unless she’s a music publisher.) Presuming the verdict is that you have indeed nailed a terrific song, pat yourself on the back. Now […]

Asking for money sucks. Maybe you fear rejection or maybe you worry that you’ll look desperate, greedy, incompetent or rude. It’s a lot like being a middle schooler trying to hold hands or put an arm around your date while at the movies. Asking for money often raises internal doubts like: * Will I seem greedy? * Will it negatively affect our relationship? * Do they trust me? * Will […]

Here are eight easy steps to writing the perfect outreach email to introduce yourself and your music to a blogger. 1.) Make sure to target people who you think would actually like to listen to your music i.e. confirm that their musical tastes align with your genre (more on that in step five). 2.) Find that person’s personal email address (not a generic info@mediaoutlet.com address) or @mention them on Twitter and ask them to DM it […]

1) Write and record stellar music This one goes without saying, but if your songs aren’t (at a minimum) catchy, provocative, unique, and meticulously recorded, then you need to invest as much time and effort as it takes to get them that way.  The days of getting picked up by record labels on the basis of extremely low-budget demo recordings are pretty much over.  So you basically need suck it up […]

1. Leverage Your Best-Selling Music. Analyze your best selling albums and singles.  Find out which songs and releases most resonate with music consumers. Think about taking your best-selling songs from multiple albums and create a ‘Greatest Hits’ album for your fans. 2. Measure Promotional Results. Did you run a major promotional campaign for the release of your latest album or single? Use your sales and trend reports to measure the […]

One of the most important things you can do to prepare for the year ahead is to create a budget for your musical activities. Having a budget will give you a much clearer look at where you want to go financially, how you’ll get there, and what your progress is along the way. We’ve broken down the process into 4 simple steps to help you create a budget: 1. Ask […]