We, as producers, all know the ins & outs of music industry today. We are producing tracks, working hard for it and most of the time nothing actually happens with our music cause we have ‘studio anorexia’ (thanx Luke for this wise lesson 
) or we just don’t get a response from labels we send our stuff to. Does that necessarily mean our music is crap? In my opinion that’s not the case…So another approach is needed. GET YOUR MUSIC OUT THERE!!
The internet offers us loads of possibilities, especially in promoting ourselves. Just look at social communities like Facebook, Hyves, MySpace, Reverbnation, Bandcamp and so on…Soundcloud has, for me, proved to be a massive promotool for my music. In the old days I had to spend money for extra white labels to hand out as a promo. Now it’s all digital and my network is right in front of me! Just let people know you are there and start uploading your music.
Also we all know the problems concerning illegal downloading, people ripping your music before it is released etc etc. all because people got used to getting music for free. It’s a shame but it’s an undeniable truth…so you have to adjust to that way of thinking..make it onto something positive.
Create awareness, interaction and respect. What I have noticed, the last 10 months that I am focussing on this all, is that even if you don’t make your music downloadable for free, people do have the decency to share their thoughts with you, if they like the track or not, if they would pay for the track and how much that would be. Stay in touch with your direct customers and you’ll get something in return, I promise you that! Imagine what could happen if you do give your music away for free and you start having 10.000′s of downloads a month, isn’t that a sign you’re hot & steaming? Would that maybe interest the labels to sign you for a megadeal or even promoters to book you on parties so you indirectly get paid for your work? Or what if you let the customers decide what they want to pay (e.g. Radiohead- In Rainbows) and you do find those bucks on your paypal account? Anyways, start thinking about it and don’t be afraid to try.. As I may quote someone (D.D.): “Remember, amateurs built the Ark, professionals built the Titanic”
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
You got it girl. Its the customer now who decides. Its all about building your own community. Once you have that there are plenty of opportunities to earn money. Your company might not be as big as the traditional multinational, but big enough for you
http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2009/02/music-vs-the-music-industry.html
says it all
Thanx Iris, for the comment and the link….;-)
As always Marcella, you are “right on the money”.
It’s time for a change in thinking, and we can only make that happen if we are willing to invest in ourself.
I.o.w. give them a few trax, in order to get loads of downloads/hits at our non-free content
Gonna put a free track of mine on soundcloud.com/stanford this weekend!