Help Your Band Stand Out - Custom Decals and Other Methods

In the digital age it has become very easy to record music and get it out to the millions of people seeking new music every day. However, while recording has become easier, the art of physical promotion has been lost. This leaves some bands scratching their collective heads while trying to figure out how to get people to remember them. Aside from playing great music I believe there are a few design and printing tactics one can take to leave a lasting impression on a crowd.

Click to read more ...

MuzicNotez Management & PR

The internet has opened doors to promotional opportunities for artists worldwide. The problem with that is it’s created a much more competitive market, and you need to stand out from the crowd. Ultimately your music sells itself, and without the talent you won’t succeed. But even the most talented musicians don’t necesarily succeed in the industry today (or in the past). That’s where management comes in, however most managers charge a fortune and take a cut of your money. A lot of indie artists just manage themselves today, which is a full time job if you want to succeed. When you have another full time job, your band, and managing your band, that can be extremely diffecult. Plus it takes away from your true passion, the music. As musicians ourselves, and with years in the industry, this is why we offer management unlike any other.

Click to read more ...

Make your flyers and posters literally sing

Attention bands and musicians: we need your help! We are beta testing our new audio QR Codes called tokkers and we’re looking for bands and musicians to try them out (for free!) and give us feedback.

When people scan a tokker that’s printed on your flyer, they can instantly hear your music, see a picture of you, find out more about you and where you’ll be playing, share it on Twitter and Facebook, email it to their friends, embed it in their web page, call or email you, and link to your website.

Click to read more ...

Moupp, The First Mobile Fan App for Bands and Artists

The first ever mobile app for bands & artists to market and promote themselves. The app alerts fans to notify them of their favorite bands at the right time and right place. Bands increase their fan base, expand their reach and increase earnings.

Click to read more ...

MondoTunes, CDBaby, TuneCore, and ReverbNation: How They Measure Up

If you wanted to sell music around the world twenty years ago, you needed to get picked up by a major label. That meant demo tapes, postal services, and constant performing on tours. That was all a ton of fun, but extremely hard work and very expensive, besides. That’s where music distribution online comes in.

Click to read more ...

SoundCloud Powered Résumé for Music Professionals

Music professionals often find traditional résumés inadequately showcase their talents, instead having to link to content across the web to show off their skills. But now with professional networking site Zerply they can connect their SoundCloud audio tracks to their digital profiles to create an audio portfolio alongside their résumé.

Click to read more ...

Jango Airplay Brings Unsigned Hip Hop to the Limelight

Jango Airplay has recently begun promoting several unsigned Hip Hop artists including DeScribe. Mattisyahu and DeScribe recently collaborated and released their song together on www.airplay.jango.com. Brothers in Christ another Hip Hop duo, was recently featured as a hot band to watch. Emerging in the Christian music radio network as an up and coming band the team is seeking to use Jango Airplay as their main launch pad into the Christian music world.

Hip Hop bands work without rest recording music in Hip Hop studios, so why not work just as hard with your music promotion for the song.

Click to read more ...

5 Features Of A Great Electronic Press Kit

Much like crafting a sound job resume, there are key features within an electronic press kit that are instituted for the best results. Learn the five requirements that every musician must include to create a powerful and effective EPK that will provide numerous booking, broadcasting, and licensing opportunities.

Click to read more ...

MyMusicExec.com - Tunnel Vision: Today's "Internet Entrepreneurs"

Clearly the Internet has transformed the manner in which music is promoted and presented to the public. Never has the relationship between art and money been so complex- I mean, who would have ever thought of the day we would see artists who use to sell 3-5 million records first week now struggling to hit Gold? (500k) I can assure you some of the biggest business guru’s were hit with a taste of reality when the Internets power would become somewhat of a overnight success.

Let us rewind- pretend it is 1999 (Good days right?) Billy Joel is given an award for his “inspired songwriting and exciting performances”, Britney Spears releases her debut album “Baby One More Time” (we all remember that video!) the Chili Peppers release Californication with John Frusciante and sell 13 mill worldwide and of course the debut of Hip Hop icon Eminem releases “The Slim Shady LP” - Great time in music right? Now, keep in mind Napster debut July 1998. What if Britney, the Chili Peppers and Eminem had the foresight to see the impact the internet would have and all decided to release their album digitally? What change would have been brought on if they embraced the idea of “internet entrepreneurship”? Do you think they would have been the megastars they are today? Or would would the Label say “Your crazy! This internet thing is a phase and it will pass! It’s like the Record…or like the 8 Track Player..or like the Cassette Tape…or like the CD”

Click to read more ...

How Do YOU Fit Into Culture? or... Content Marketing: Finding Your Niche

How Do You Fit Into Culture? Not your band. Not your music. YOU. The individual behind the music. You are unique. You have individual tastes, interests, passions, and hobbies. Now… think for a moment. If you were to talk about a diverse subject matter on your blog (rather than just your music), and in your videos, in your photos, and in your tweets… you can attract an entirely new audience, which you never thought you could have access to.

Click to read more ...

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

A Lesson in Music Industry Success Prevention.

If your ship came in, would you be smart and frugal enough to ship out on it or simply shit on it? Let’s keep in mind how hard it is to monetize music these days…

If a recording artist could invest $1000 to make between $10K and $70K in 4 months, would he turn it down? Even if you could invest $1000 for the following exposure for your debut CD, with no real guesstimates on download sales, would you turn it down?

Here’s one recording artist who did.

What would you have done if such an offer, like the one briefly described above, dropped out of the sky nine months after you:

Click to read more ...

Ten Tips For Do-It-Yourself PR and Publicity For Bands

1. Learn how to sell yourself.  Want media coverage? Ask.  Don’t be afraid to pick up the phone and ask to speak to the person in editorial who handles music or entertainment.

2. Be Creative.  News doesn’t happen.  News is created… and develop a sense of humor, especially about yourself.  If they’re laughing, they’re listening.  Let’s be real… you’re playing music, not curing cancer.  Try not to be so serious, but don’t be a buffoon either. 

3. Grammar. Learn how to spell and know the fundamentals of grammar.  (Use the spellchecker).

4. Proofread your work.  Then have someone else proofread your work… and then have someone else proofread your work.  Then let it ‘marinate’ for a few hours or overnight.  You’ll be amazed at how many spelling and/or grammatical errors will appear, as well as glaringly required edits, when you come back to it with fresh eyes.  Sloppy, incoherent press releases or introductory pitch letters will result in their instant deletion.  You only get one chance to make a first impression. 

Click to read more ...

How NOT to Social Network

Myspace, as a medium for social networking, is useless. The signal to noise ratio has plummeted so low that there is essentially no point in trying to reach fans through MySpace. It’s all comment spam, automatic “friending” programs, and bots. Most myspace comment boards look like this:

Click to read more ...