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Music Think Tank Open

Anybody (no really anybody) can contribute anything relevant to this page…All mp3s should be posted on the MTT radio page. If you cannot find your post here, your article may have been moved to the MTT homepage.

If you would like Music Think Tank to publish your contribution, please read our posting guidelines and our posting advice.

Entries in advice (14)

Saturday
Feb082020

8 Of The Best Songs To Sing While Driving

Don’t deny it — some songs bring out your inner karaoke spirit when they come on in the car, forcing you to do nothing but sing along and headbang. Forget about the stares from vehicles in the lane next to you, you’ve got the joy and are feeling the music; if they could only be so lucky! You already have your list of personal favorites, but what are some universally beloved songs that you must sing to in the car?

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Wednesday
Jul222015

Innovation, Our New Job As The Music Industry

I released my first music video, “Rocket to the Moon” today. As a new artist with a low starting fanbase I understood I wouldn’t be able to get much press write up for my music video unless I presented something never seen before. So that’s what I did, I created “The World’s First Portrait Music Video”, and the press followed. It is our new job as the Music Industry to lead innovation.

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Thursday
Sep252014

Eyal Levi's 5 Tips for Recording on the Road

Contributed by Eyal Levi, acclaimed heavy metal producer for Audiohammer Studios, and music industry expert who has toured the world with his signed band, Dååth. As a part of the Audiohammer family, Eyal Levi has worked with Billboard charting bands like Whitechapel, August Burns Red, Black Dahlia Murder and more. Originally posted on Bandsintown Artist Blog: http://www.artists.bandsintown.com/bandsintownartists/2014/9/24/eyal-levis-5-tips-for-recording-on-the-road 

Tip # 1 - Make it convenient

Setting up and tearing down a rig every time will eventually make you not want to go through the trouble. The less steps toward recording the better. Get a simple interface so you can record guitar DIs (the Apogee Jam is tiny, sounds great and is USB-powered), and set up a writing template in your DAW so you don’t have to spend time fiddling with software when inspiration strikes. Have plugins for virtual drums, bass, and synths all set up and ready to go (I like EZdrummer, Trilian, and Massive respectively). Purchase length appropriate cables. You don’t need 100ft guitar cables. I’ll repeat this later but put as much as you can in a rack. The less you have to plug in, the better.

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Monday
Jun092014

What question do YOU have about creating success in today's music industry?

What questions do you have as you pave your path in the music industry?

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Friday
Jan042013

Why Most Indie Music Groups and Labels Fail (Part 2)

This is part 2 of a 2 part article I wrote strictly based on my professional experience producing and engineering and managing artists. Since 2006, I’ve been involved as a key member in several music groups, labels, and production teams that despite all their potential to achieve greatness, fail and fall apart, often at critical moments.

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Wednesday
Feb292012

When Your Moonlighting Artist Gets Famous

As luck would have it Whitney Houston sang on three of my demo tapes. Now what?

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Sunday
May152011

I'm bringing Christmas In May!

Every year I walk into the mall on a nice fall day and at some point it happens. I start noticing the red and green decorations and find myself humming “Chestnuts Roasting” (Yes, I know the real title is “Christmas Song”. I choose to not use it as I think that’s a cop out title!) Last year, they literally had Christmas music and decorations up the first week of October! Before Halloween?!?! Seriously guys! What’s up with that!?!?!

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Saturday
Apr302011

Episode 7: The Music Biz Weekly Podcast E-Commerce Solutions For Bands

Here we go folks, another edition of our weekly podcast featuring Brian Thompson from Thorny Bleeder and Michael Brandvold from Michael Brandvold Marketing.

This week’s topic? E-Commerce Solutions for Bands. 

We discuss everything from getting your music up on iTunes and the Amazon MP3 Store, in addition to options on how to handle your merchandise sales and email marketing campaigns.

What platforms are you using to sell your band’s music and merch?

Be sure to follow Brian on Twitter 
here and Michael on Twitter here.

Let us know your thoughts in the comments below and share your own tips and tricks with us!

Brian Thompson

Thorny Bleeder

Tuesday
Oct192010

Are You Really Selling Music?

It is critical in any business to ask yourself several questions before starting. As a performing artist (or songwriter, composer, producer…), one question you must ask yourself at some point is, “What am I selling?”.

One of the biggest ‘light bulb’ moments I ever had was as a senior in high-school, when I learned the story of Ray Kroc. For those who aren’t sure what I’m talking about, let me explain….

Ray Kroc is the man milkshake machine salesman who took McDonalds from being a small,  innovative, fast food restaurant, into the largest restaurant chain the world has ever seen. Before he died, he was asked what was his secret to selling burgers. His reply was simply, “I’m not in the burger business, I’m in the real estate business…”

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Monday
Mar292010

Stanmore’s Top 5 Songwriting Tips (Pt1)

This list is an excerpt from a collection of songwriting tips you can find on my blog. I’ve accumulated these tips over my 10+ years of writing, listening, discussing & reading. Where I can remember I will try to reference where I learnt each tip. Every songwriter wants to write more killer & less filler. Hopefully these tips will help you drill some fill from your grill & chill with some dill…

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Tuesday
Sep152009

MusicWithoutLabels.com Meets WXPN Pt 2

This time around we interviewed Bruce Warren, the Program Director for XPN in Philadelphia, one of the nation’s most widely acclaimed radio stations for the proliferation of independent artists. They were responsible for being the first to give artists like MIA and Kings of Leon a welcoming home on the radio. They continue to offer an array of amazing music everyday. Check out what Bruce has to say about how he selects the music for XPN and the nationally syndicated radio show, World Cafe Live, and hear his advice for up and coming artists.

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Saturday
Sep122009

MWL Meets WXPN in Philly - Exclusive Interview

Check out this new Interview with XPN General Manager Roger LaMay. Hear what XPN has to offer indie artists, get advice, and find out what the radio station that broke MIA into the mainstream scene is doing right! Stay tuned for our next interview with Bruce Warren, XPN’s PD, for more info about how XPN selects their artists and how you can get involved!

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Wednesday
Aug262009

Make Music, Make Money: Upcoming Artist Development Series

The Rights Workshop Presents Artist Development Seminar Series: Make Music, Make Money

Series runs September 29-October 1, 2009

 

San Francisco — In response to the growing interest in music placement and promotion, The Rights Workshop is hosting Make Music, Make Money, a series of career development seminars for artists, musicians, composers and other content creators beginning Tuesday, September 29 through Thursday, October 1, 2009. Each Make Music, Make Money seminar will be held from 7:00pm to 9:00pm. Seminar attendees will learn about the mechanics of the music business and develop strategies to earn more money from their creative work. In each Make Music, Make Money session, panelists will address commonly asked questions about the rapidly changing music industry in a comfortable, artist-friendly environment.

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Tuesday
Oct072008

Trent Reznor's Survey: Analysis & Discovery

I am not a Nine Inch Nails fan.

I would have never known about Trent Reznor’s survey to his fans if Bob Lefsetz and Bruce Houghton hadn’t posted about it both here and here respectfully.

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