HI muffins!!!
I am so happy and excited to introduce to you a Part 3 of this little series....
Well, taking my little note pad to refresh the core aspects auuu!! : 0
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I write this for our fellow musicians, and may by for other people it might get a little tech :/ I apologize for that :)
All right, musicians out there! here we go!
Well, it is important to have a plan. According to some big dogs of the industry, and to be exact, Adam Herzog , VP of A&R, Warner Bros. Records (auu) , it works the same way, if you are an independent artist or you are on major label. It is important to have a strategy, a plan that coordinates all efforts and simply makes sense. He gave us an example. Say your goal is to release 5 song EP for free. Then it is needed to coordinate the release of single(s) and videos, create awareness in social media, press, radio campaign (although radio was named one of the main barriers to entry), and then tour to support the EP, follow up, and then tour again... They also suggested to start with regional campaign, and then branch out and reach out to close by markets. Know your target market and then carve your strategy accordingly.
May be many of you already know this, as i kinda thought that's how it works, but how much easier to be said than to be done! Again, Adam was talking about this one band that he took notice of, because they were executing their strategy, and as he saw them understanding the process, understanding how things work, he thinks that when they will be working with his label, they will already know how everything works. Hm, deep.
Well, nowadays not necessarily all artists want to be on a major label. Although this is a beast that provides you with unmatched marketing expertise and PR, and they are basically in charge of the radio. Though we had a little poll in the room, and only 25% of all people there raised their hands when were asked if they want to be signed to label.
.JPG)
The way to introduce your band is a one-sheet. And it is one or even half piece of paper that reflects "you story", meaning it's like a diary where u write your achievements (and needs to be updated and ready just in case) For example, this blog "blogged" about us, "we got on a radio show", "we played this festival". If it is an email, it has to be 2 sentences, them bullet points (again reflecting ur achievements), and a link. (well, this is what Simi Dube of Octone Records, said she really liked when she received it from one of the band's managers). They like it to the point. As they all agreed, they never read bio.
Numbers: there was a lot of talking about that. Well, numbers are not that powerful... The only thing that matters is: "Numbers are a side effect of everything being done right".
What are those A&Rs looking for? when is it time to approach them? one of the panelist gave us his view: * band is doing something that has never been done before *you can't get a ticket to their local show * a producer/ other music professionals are contacting the band (not vice verse)
But what is a REAL secret???!!!! what is that key to open a magical door?!!!
It is MUSIC. It is that song that you've heard one time and can't get enough of. It is when you are emotionally touched by the first verse and want more. This is the most important highlight through the whole conference: them (music business professionals) as us, just listeners, are doing all this just for that one moment when you put on a song on and you are blown away. Yes. This is it.
So artists and bands out there, the message from the CMJ panelists is - keep on writing! keep on writing and writing songs, push your limits, do something u have never done before, learn from other bands you like, think outside the box, be SINCERE and touch people!!! nothing above is valid until you have that song, the music. No viral social marketing campaign will work unless there is a really special song behind it.
Ufff..... So what do you guys think? did you already know all this? was it something new or interesting? please be free to leave comments. We are all doing this and it will be interesting to hear your fellow's feedback :) and may be your advices about music business.
Thank you for your time - and i am off to writing some tunes!!!!!!!!!
All the best, Ania
PS: in my next post i will tell you about my favorite CMJ artists, those bands that touched my heart...
I am so happy and excited to introduce to you a Part 3 of this little series....
Well, taking my little note pad to refresh the core aspects auuu!! : 0
.JPG)
I write this for our fellow musicians, and may by for other people it might get a little tech :/ I apologize for that :)
All right, musicians out there! here we go!
Well, it is important to have a plan. According to some big dogs of the industry, and to be exact, Adam Herzog , VP of A&R, Warner Bros. Records (auu) , it works the same way, if you are an independent artist or you are on major label. It is important to have a strategy, a plan that coordinates all efforts and simply makes sense. He gave us an example. Say your goal is to release 5 song EP for free. Then it is needed to coordinate the release of single(s) and videos, create awareness in social media, press, radio campaign (although radio was named one of the main barriers to entry), and then tour to support the EP, follow up, and then tour again... They also suggested to start with regional campaign, and then branch out and reach out to close by markets. Know your target market and then carve your strategy accordingly.
May be many of you already know this, as i kinda thought that's how it works, but how much easier to be said than to be done! Again, Adam was talking about this one band that he took notice of, because they were executing their strategy, and as he saw them understanding the process, understanding how things work, he thinks that when they will be working with his label, they will already know how everything works. Hm, deep.
Well, nowadays not necessarily all artists want to be on a major label. Although this is a beast that provides you with unmatched marketing expertise and PR, and they are basically in charge of the radio. Though we had a little poll in the room, and only 25% of all people there raised their hands when were asked if they want to be signed to label.
.JPG)
The way to introduce your band is a one-sheet. And it is one or even half piece of paper that reflects "you story", meaning it's like a diary where u write your achievements (and needs to be updated and ready just in case) For example, this blog "blogged" about us, "we got on a radio show", "we played this festival". If it is an email, it has to be 2 sentences, them bullet points (again reflecting ur achievements), and a link. (well, this is what Simi Dube of Octone Records, said she really liked when she received it from one of the band's managers). They like it to the point. As they all agreed, they never read bio.Numbers: there was a lot of talking about that. Well, numbers are not that powerful... The only thing that matters is: "Numbers are a side effect of everything being done right".
What are those A&Rs looking for? when is it time to approach them? one of the panelist gave us his view: * band is doing something that has never been done before *you can't get a ticket to their local show * a producer/ other music professionals are contacting the band (not vice verse)
But what is a REAL secret???!!!! what is that key to open a magical door?!!!
It is MUSIC. It is that song that you've heard one time and can't get enough of. It is when you are emotionally touched by the first verse and want more. This is the most important highlight through the whole conference: them (music business professionals) as us, just listeners, are doing all this just for that one moment when you put on a song on and you are blown away. Yes. This is it.
So artists and bands out there, the message from the CMJ panelists is - keep on writing! keep on writing and writing songs, push your limits, do something u have never done before, learn from other bands you like, think outside the box, be SINCERE and touch people!!! nothing above is valid until you have that song, the music. No viral social marketing campaign will work unless there is a really special song behind it.
Ufff..... So what do you guys think? did you already know all this? was it something new or interesting? please be free to leave comments. We are all doing this and it will be interesting to hear your fellow's feedback :) and may be your advices about music business.
Thank you for your time - and i am off to writing some tunes!!!!!!!!!
All the best, Ania
PS: in my next post i will tell you about my favorite CMJ artists, those bands that touched my heart...
