Yes, back when guys like Cousin Brucie and Dick Clark could open a mic and cause a Sam Goody stampede, radio (and TV) could dictate what records flew off store shelves. Not today. Focus groups and sales forecasts determine what…
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Grow Your Audience
Is YouTube Generating Music Stars?
I guess with folks dissing MySpace and the Sandi Thom incident souring fans on the idea of an internet-generated music superstar, it makes sense that YouTube is the new meme on the block. I’ve been digging all the tracks from…
Be your audience’s road manager?
Sure, you might have always dreamed about having an audience that follows you around, like Phish or Panic or the Dead. What if you actually facilitated those travel arrangements for them? Travel agents — looking to find new streams of…
It still takes money…
Coolfer points out that the new music business still needs money to function, and references two articles about the unseen overhead of promoting a single in the age of MP3s and MySpace. Cheap technology and internet may have eliminated some…
Global gigging via the Internet
If you’re weary of hauling equipment from gig to gig and pouring your money into repairs for your tour van, you can always try what Scottish singer Sandi Thom did: set up a webcam in her basement. In a packed…
T-shirts first, then everything else
If I could start my music career over, I’d do t-shirts first, before I even had a CD. I’m not kidding. If you’re anything like me, you probably started playing shows long before you had a CD to sell. You…
MySpace and the 80/20 Rule
VayderX points us at an article from ABC that asks whether MySpace is really as popular as the media claim it is. Of course not! There’s a mathematic equation you might have heard called the “Pareto Principle.” It states that,…
A Ninety Day Dash
Brent from the Music Marketing Cheat Sheet is putting the wolf at the door and challenging himself to grow his own band’s mailing list by 5,000 members. He intends to celebrate his achievement with a big show in a big…
You vs. Simon Cowell
If you think you have what it takes to become America’s next big superstar, I’m not about to suggest that you try out for American Idol. Instead, check out American Idol Underground, a website that provides an online community that…
Musicians MUST Overcome Cocooning
The Bureau of Labor Statistics has new figures that should send a chill down the spine of folks that want to start making more money as working musicians. 22% of Americans’ “entertainment budget” now goes to cable and satellite TV,…
Getting fans involved online
How can you get your fans more involved with your career with your website? Acoustic soul-rocker Granian has a “share” page with info on how to spread the word about his music. Ironic popster Brad Sucks encourages his listeners to…
Derek Sivers on music marketing
Years ago, Derek Sivers of CD Baby created a website called Marketing Your Music, and it remains one of my favorite bookmarks. I consider it a must-read for anyone try to “do something” with music. Why more people don’t know…