Your Music Website

Let's have a look of your situation then... maybe you are a great singer or you have a small band or even your own label. You have big ideas but only a tiny budget. Your father doesn't own a record company and your mother isn't a Hollywood actress so your network is confined to the local press writers and groupies.

Maybe you already have your own CD's and have made a few sales but you can't seem to find the time for promotion. The gigs you play bring in a little money but things don't seem to be getting anywhere. So how to progress?

One very realistic option is to exploit the potential of the internet. Of course, the internet has often been cited as the answer to everything, but in this case, it really can provide impressive results. And this is the key: it's a cheap and it's quick.

The music industry is changing, has changed. We are in serious transition now. The discontent amongst music buyers has created a gap which the internet can adequately fill.

The internet music market is real. A survey by Georgia Tech found 41% of all internet users have purchased music from the web. Forrester predicted a market volume of $76 million USD for digital music downloads in 2003, rising to $541 million USD in 2005 and continuing to reach $2 billion USD in 2007.

The statistics suggest there is a genuine market for legal, modestly priced music.

The internet is a perfect platform for marketing your music. Promotions, press releases and
positioning are cheaper here than in the real world. Your audience is already here. The web
(along with sites like pitchforkmedia) has become the first point of reference for music news and as we all know, it is a popular resource for downloading music.

The internet's function as a communication medium gives you a direct line to your listeners, peers and even your critics. Email is the perfect mechanism for keeping in touch with fanclubs and sending newsletters and it's cheap.

That doesn't mean if you start a music website today and get busy selling music downloads online that you'll be able to give up the day job immediately! However, the internet can provide a lot of things you need to promote yourself as a musical artist.

This is what a music website could do for you:

1. Provide news to your fans when your latest CD is ready, read it here!

2. List gigs or concert dates (and any changes)

3. Sell your songs as music downloads to fans all over the world

4. Provide press information

5. Publish interviews, photos and biographies

6. Provide a communication center for dialogue with fans and other bands

7. Act as a "calling card" for getting new bookings or attracting the attention of major labels, getting contracts for incidental music etc.

A website can represent your music in multimedia much better than print or radio, and it is much cheaper than TV. And you can sell your songs as music downloads anywhere in the world! Consider the comparatively low start up costs (for example, the 1-2-3 Music Store script lets you set up a complete "shop" and costs only $168 for a label license and only $68 for an individual or band).

Music downloads are emerging as a serious alternative to the CD. In an age where most modern
kids burn their own CDs, it makes sense to adjust your strategy accordingly. Selling songs as moderately priced downloads means you have no production costs. It means you don't need a record deal and you are free to do what you want with your music. Package a CD cover along with the songs and your fans can burn the CDs themselves.

Buying music downloads is potentially a more satisfying buying experience than traditional music shops. It provides instant satisfaction for consumers when they discover, download and play your songs immediately.

The internet is an amazingly flexible format. Theoretically, you could record a live show, encode and upload it later that evening so that the entire show would be available for sale the next day. Fans would love to have this as a reminder of a great concert. Better than a T-shirt!

Seriously consider setting up your own music website and selling your music online. A music website is often the first port of call for people - fans, label managers and A&R to check you out. It makes good sense for you, as an unsigned artist to have one.

Your Bands Electronic Press Kit

Freaky Creatures Press Kit (Photo credit: Brandy Shaul)

The main goal in creating a press kit is to generate interest in an artist and the music they play. A press kit includes background information, photos, samples of music, a listing of past and future gigs you have scheduled, and any other pertinent information.

A press kit is used as a way of introducing and artist to newspapers, the media, promoters, and music industry leaders. You can create a press kit that is mailed to the appropriate recipients and it is a good idea to have an electronic form of your press kit that can be emailed and posted on web sites.

Things to include in your press kit:

Offer a limited a mount of information about yourself, your band, and your style of music. Don't give the reader more information than they want. If your introduction is too lengthy, you will lose the interest of your intended audience.

Talk about your music, the way in which you perform your songs, your sound, and who your influences are. You will want to give a good idea of what you may sound like in these descriptions. Do not be afraid to interject a little humor into your descriptions. You will get someone's attention during the very first minute they open your press kit. If you do not captivate them immediately, they will lose interest.

Describe the things that make you special in comparison to everyone else. What are your skills and experience level? Why would a record promoter or executive gain by giving you a chance to record and market your music? Record companies spend a great deal of money in promoting new artists. You will want to make it clear why you would be a good investment.

Include press clippings and quotes as they become available. A remark made about you by a reputable person will go a long way in making your press kit credible. This will let the reader know that you have been recognized as a talent to be reckoned with and could possibly create extra momentum for you while you are trying to launch your career. Whether you are in need of a singer, musician, or actor press kit, recognition from others is a great tool in promoting yourself.

You really only need one page of your press kit to be devoted to a biography and one page that includes quotes and press clippings. This rule stands even in an online portfolio. By keeping each topic on a simple page, you are much more likely to hold the interest of the person who receives your press kit. Make sure the tone of your band press kit is in line with who you are as a person and the type of music you perform.

A sample of your music in the form of a high quality CD or clips that can be heard in an electronic press kit are critical. Make certain you label the CD with your name and contact information. If someone loves your music but has misplaced the rest of your press kit, you will want this information to readily available to them.

Be careful not to overdo the self-promotion. You should be positive and state your ambitions, but shameless self-promotion will make you look unprofessional and less than credible. Also avoid including too much personal information. No one cares (yet) about your first pet, your grades in elementary school, or your personal phobias. Keep the focus on your music and your accomplishments. You want to be sure you do not look desperate for work, even if you really are.

Include a personal cover letter to whomever you send your press kit to, and try to avoid sending your musician press kit unsolicited. It is always better to have a referral from a friend or associate of the person you wish to see your material.

Related articles

• How to Write an Artist Biography: A Bio Made Simple (platinumvoicepr.me)
• Managing the Media: Six Steps to Ensure a Successful Event (prnewsonline.com)
• Booking Your First Gig (indirok.blogspot.com)

Musicians, Music And Money

An industry that was once top-heavy with ultra successful millionaire rockstars is quickly changing. The slow death of the traditional record label is proof of this phenomenon. Once again, the internet has revolutionized an industry and leveled the playing field for all talent. No longer do you have to jump each time you hear label scouts may be in the area. The record label is no longer useful to an artist, as the internet has destroyed their competitive advantage of worldwide distribution.

Independent musicians, this is your time time to shine and profit. Believe it or not, you can still make a nice profit from your music. Record sales are dropping like a rock, so how are you supposed to make any money? A successful approach should be at least four pronged and should include CD's (I know I just slammed this medium, but it still has a few years left), digital music sales, ad supported downloads, and live show promotion.

There is no reason you should ignore CD's just yet. There are still a few people who have not yet accepted the digital music revolution and still like a tangible product. These are the same people who like to print everything, just in case their computer crashes and all of the web servers and backup media somehow crash or disappear too. Old habits die hard, I suppose.

Digital music is clearly being accepted as a primary mode of distribution today. In fact, 2008 saw sales surpass 1 billion songs. PC's, Laptops, and most phones can now be used to download music, making it that much more convenient to purchase a song. Fans at a live show can purchase a song on their phone without even leaving their seat.

Ad supported music is trying to catch on but it's having a hard time in this rough economy. It is the most logical next step for music. It is apparently very difficult to sell digital music, as services such as Limeware illegally make it available for free. So if you can't sell the music, sell the attention that your music garners. Companies are always trying to get inside the heads of consumers. Music makes targeting a specific market possible, as artists often attract only certain demographics. While websites that have attempted this approach have had limited success, there is nothing stopping you from going out and selling advertising in your community. Add advertisements to your banner or your promotional materials.

Finally, if you can't sell your music to make money, use it as a promotional tool. Give snippets away to attract people to your shows. If you're a new and upcoming band, most people have probably not heard you, and will probably not buy your music or attend your shows until they do. The internet provides free worldwide distribution, so make your best songs available to download for free and let them spread like wildfire.

The music industry is quickly changing, but that doesn't mean musicians can't still make a living from their art. It simply takes a little more creativity now.

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