About Music Careers

Weekly Forum Poll - Are Record Labels Obsolete?

2009-11-07T12:51:03Z

Join me in a new game, won't you? The weekly forum poll - each week, I'll post a poll in the forum, you come by and vote, and seven days later, I'll share the final results. First question: Are Record Labels Obsolete? Vote now!�

Speaking of the forum, one of your fellow readers is looking for advice about choosing a recording studio. Can you help? View her question to share your knowledge.

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Record Label Interviews

Weekly Forum Poll - Are Record Labels Obsolete? originally appeared on About.com Music Careers on Saturday, November 7th, 2009 at 12:51:03.

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SXSW Deadline Today!

2009-11-06T15:22:24Z

Here it is - your last minute reminder - the deadline to apply to SXSW is today, Friday, November 6. Get on it, people! Here are some links that will help:

SXSW Profile
SXSW Application via Sonicbids�- �note, you must use Sonicbids to apply. The cost of the application is $40 - if you don't already have a Sonicbids account, you can get a free, 6 month trial membership when you apply.
Application Tips from Sonicbids
Trade Shows 101

Good luck! (*Sorry for the late warning, everyone! This blog was supposed to publish yesterday!)

SXSW Deadline Today! originally appeared on About.com Music Careers on Friday, November 6th, 2009 at 15:22:24.

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Who Is Listening?

2009-11-06T15:21:06Z

Yesterday, a reader commented on my blog from earlier this week about MySpace (you can read that one here) and raised a very good point - when we're talking about MySpace or any music promotion tool, the most important thing to consider isn't what is in fashion right now and what isn't but rather what YOUR fans are doing.

This is such an excellent point because sometimes one obvious fact gets lost in the shuffle of discussions of online platforms, falling sales and so on - the starting point for every decision you make about your music should be knowing your audience. What are their ages? Where do they live? How do they buy their music? What sites/papers/magazines/blogs do they read? What social networking sites do they use - if they use them at all? When you know who is listening to your music, you know how to reach them.

For instance, let's consider promoting your music on social networking sites for a moment. You can read reams of blog posts/articles about how great social networking is for music promotion, how it is the wave of the future, blah blah blah. When you spend all day online and enjoy using social networks, it can be hard to imagine that is could be any other way - especially since so much information bigging up the effectiveness of social networking sites is being swapped on, well, social networking sites.

However, what happens if your fans just aren't on these sites? What if your fans couldn't care less about friending you on MySpace or Facebook, following you on Twitter, or any other site? Believe me, it happens. You could be investing lots of time running an admirable social networking campaign that might work wonders for other musicians, but your fans might not have any idea. You need to know where your fans are so they find out about all of those unreleased tracks, secret shows and everything else you're offering.

Knowing fans can also help you sell more music, book shows in the right places, target the right press, create the right merch and much, much more.

Next week, we're going to be�looking at different ways to get to know your fans and how you can use that knowledge to further your music career. In the meantime, do you have some suggestions of your own for identifying your fan base? Share your stories!

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Who Is Listening? originally appeared on About.com Music Careers on Friday, November 6th, 2009 at 15:21:06.

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Does Age Matter in the Music Industry?

2009-11-04T10:25:31Z

This question is one that comes to my inbox at least once a week - do older musicians have a chance of breaking into the music industry? Of course, we know it is possible for people to grow older IN the industry, but do you have a chance of promoting and selling your music as a new artist�if you are say, over 50? Over 60?

I think genre makes a big difference in the answer to this question. Pop music is a difficult genre for older musicians. To a certain extent, hip hop has a problem with age as well - even for those who have been in the genre since they were younger. Other genres of music tend to care less. World music, country, folk, jazz - these genres in particular can be welcoming to older musicians. That doesn't mean that there�aren't still obstacles, but there comes a time when you have a better chance of being Emmylou Harris than Britney Spears.

Besides genre, what other issues do you think older musicians face? What can older musicians do to get around these problems? Share your thoughts about age and the music industry.

More Reader Response Questions:

Does Age Matter in the Music Industry? originally appeared on About.com Music Careers on Wednesday, November 4th, 2009 at 10:25:31.

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Indie Artist X: Reveal Thyself

2009-11-03T10:47:24Z

The Indie Artist X Project is a wrap, and we can now reveal the identity of the mystery musician/guinea pig at the center of the experiment. Meet Austin Collins of Austin and The Rainbirds.�Austin was handpicked by David Rose of KnowThe MusicBiz, who also deserves the credit for�dreaming up this project. David�revealed the whole story of how Austin became Indie Artist X in his blog this morning� - check it out for some good behind the scenes insight.

Before we get into the results, there is one other thing we have to reveal about Austin. Right at the start of the project, he�won Airplay Direct's All Things Americana contest, which came with a nice $35,000 price.�This money is earmarked for future recording, however, and was not invested into�his IAXP work.

So, results. You can see the final results on the marketing plan��(click the tab on the bottom that reads "stats summary"), but let's take a look at a few highlights:

Band Metrics Score: At the start of the project, Austin's score was 183 at the start of the project and 244 at the end of October, when the project wrapped.
Fan List: The list went from 739 in July to 786 in October.
Website Visitors: 689 for the part of July we tracked/1134 in October

There are plenty more stats to compare, so definitely do check them out. David Rose did a great job of summing up some major lessons in a guest blog for Hypebot today, and I really have to echo his points. For me, the biggest walk away here is the confirmation of what I've always believed - you must play live often. As much as you can. And not just in your home town. Austin was on tour in the middle of the project, and the many of the�stats peak and fall off in conjunction with his tour dates. Another point to consider - check out Austin's Soundexchange royalties. Bet you can't guess that Austin has had thousands of plays by looking at those big, fat zeroes.

Of course,�another lesson here is another one we all suspected at the beginning - there is no special formula, no road map from A to B. Playing live is a must, and if you don't do it, your career will suffer - period. Beyond that, a plan helps organize your tasks and keep you on the right track, but there are no guarantees. Making it in music requires a long, hard slog, and most sustainable music careers are built slowly, with small successes along the way. Our plan for Austin is available to everyone: click here to get the plan and tailor it to your situation.�Remember, however, that is a plan that requires a lot of work on your�part. It is a guide, not a ticket to stardom. But if you put in the work, you CAN reap the benefits.

Thanks to everyone else involved in this project - it has been fun!�KnowTheMusicBiz�, ArtistHouse, Musician Wages, HypeBot�and Revolution Number 3. And of course, thanks to Austin!

What are you thoughts about the project? Are you surprised by the results? Let me know!

Indie Artist X: Reveal Thyself originally appeared on About.com Music Careers on Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009 at 10:47:24.

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Do You Still Use MySpace for Music Promo?

2009-11-02T11:20:41Z

I know, MySpace is hopelessly unhip these days. I don't need to be convinced. I've always hated it. But then, I hate Facebook, too. I get some useful stuff out of using Twitter, trending topics aside. The bottom line is, however, that I'm just not a social networking kind of girl, and I am especially skeptical of the idea that having loads of social networking friends/followers/whatever you call them on Facebook-ers has any relationship whatsoever to how many fans you have.

BUT...I have to say something about MySpace. It works for me. When I promote an article on MySpace, in the Musicians' Group, people click on it. They read. They get in touch. In large numbers. And let me say, I have hardly any MySpace friends. Less than 400. I haven't proactively "friended" anyone since the novelty wore off about a week after I set up my page. Yet, when I post something in the groups, it just works. I have no idea why, but it does. So, despite the fact that many people, including myself, find MySpace to be objectionable, I have to set aside attitudes about the site to take note of the fact that it really is giving me more traffic than ever before. It is something to consider.

So, it got me thinking - is anyone out there still using MySpace for music promotion? Has it worked for you? If you have been a long time user, have you noticed a change in the effectiveness over the years? Let me know how MySpace is working for you these days.

And�we do all�know that Facebook and Twitter will become uncool, too, right?

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Do You Still Use MySpace for Music Promo? originally appeared on About.com Music Careers on Monday, November 2nd, 2009 at 11:20:41.

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Weekly Music News

2009-11-01T15:35:47Z

According to Billboard, Live Nation and Ticketmaster are working things out with the Justice Department in the US to get the green light to create their monopoly. Are we really surprised? I have to say, it had been YEARS since I'd bought a ticket using Ticketmaster, but I bought some football tickets using Ticketmaster a few weeks ago. The fees were ridiculous, then the MyTicketmaster account I had to create wouldn't work, and I waited on the customer service line for 30 minutes before giving up. Boy, I bet the service and prices will get better after the merger!
By the end of this year, TuneCore will have sold $30 million worth of music. One song distributed by TuneCore is sold every second on iTunes. (Despite the fact that people don't buy music anymore and it is just a promotional tool to sell merch and concert tickets! I know, I know, sarcasm is unbecoming.) We Are Listening spoke to TuneCore's Jeff Price about their success - check it out. I'm not sure I really understand the Universal deal and the appeal of opting to use Universal channels, but I guess you can't argue with options!
The Sony Corp is suffering, thanks to falling sales of electronics, but Michael Jackson is helping. Sales of his back catalog in the wake of his death haven't taken the company out of the red, but they have helped to make the losses much smaller than projected.� Though Sony certainly can't be blamed, all of the stories of all of the parties who are profiting from Jackson's death just kind of make a tragic story a little more depressing.
Good article from CNN about politically active African musicians: check it out.
It's not news, but remember when music used to be this simple? Minimal bells. Minimal whistles. Just talent. I think there's a lesson there for us all.

Weekly Music News originally appeared on About.com Music Careers on Sunday, November 1st, 2009 at 15:35:47.

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Does It Matter Where You Live?

2009-10-30T08:39:53Z

The music industry isn't like, say, the restaurant business. It's not everywhere. Music related jobs/opportunities for musicians tend to come highly concentrated clusters with big, empty spaces on the map in between. Given that fact, how much does your address affect your music career?

I'd say the answer is - it depends. It depends on what you want to do, and it depends on how proactive you are. Consider the following:

If you want to work for a particular music industry company or sector of the industry, you may have to go where the jobs are. For instance, if you are set on working for a major label, you have to go where those companies are located.
On the other hand, if you know you want to run your own label, book shows, be a manager, or so on, an internet connection can make any location a viable HQ. If you don't live in an area with a music industry presence to speak of, you may have to travel sometimes (think of a manager traveling to have a meeting on behalf of their client), but modern technology and a lot hard work will allow you to set up shop just about anywhere.
Networking is a terrible word, but there are benefits to being able to develop working relationships over lunch or a beer in person. However, there is a thriving music industry community online, so you can foster these relationships with some friendly email exchanges/online banter as well.
As a musician, you need places to play, and if there isn't much locally, it can be tough. Of course, touring is a part of life anyway. Even musicians who live in London or New York have to tour if they are serious about making it. Not having 100s of venues in town doesn't mean your career is over before it even started.
Further, being part of a music scene in a large city with lots of industry presence has a downside. There is so much competition on any given night that it can be even harder to get people out to your show and get the press to cover it than it is in a small town. Being the only show in town can work to your advantage.

Bottom line - where you live may mean you have to work harder, but being outside of a major music industry center can have its advantages. Before you pack your bags, weigh up the pros and cons. You may find you are living in the perfect place to make it happen after all.

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Does It Matter Where You Live? originally appeared on About.com Music Careers on Friday, October 30th, 2009 at 08:39:53.

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Fear Not The Door Split Deal

2009-10-29T11:51:05Z

When you play a show - especially if the show is costing you some cash - it's natural to want to know that you're going to make X amount of money for turning up and plugging in. If you've got an audience and proven track record of ticket sales, you may get that peace of mind you are after. If you don't have that yet, you're going to be met with some musicians' biggest fear - the door split deal.

Though door split deals can be a gamble, there is no reason to run and hide from them. If you are an up and coming artist, the door split deal is your friend. It allows promoters and venues to take a gamble on an unknown act - so it gives you a chance get on stage, play for an audience and win over some paying customers. Although it is true that you will not make any money if the promoter doesn't cover their costs or you may not make much if the show just barely breaks even - well, that's fair, right? As a musician, gigs offer both financial and promotional opportunities, so if you go in with the right frame of mind, it is rare for a band to leave a show completely empty handed. Even if you don't make any money, you've put some good will in the bank.� Plus, if the show is wildly successful, a door split deal can net you more cash than what the promoter would have been willing to guarantee.

So, fear not the door split deal. It is a stepping stone, and it is your friend when you are trying to establish yourself.

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Fear Not The Door Split Deal originally appeared on About.com Music Careers on Thursday, October 29th, 2009 at 11:51:05.

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Music Industry Funding

2009-10-28T10:06:15Z

One of my old econ professors was fond of saying that a system of investment for industry was developed because people with good ideas rarely have any money. Sound familiar, music industry? You may have a great idea for an album, tour, creative bit of merch or something else entirely, but pulling it all off requires money. Often, it requires a lot of money. If you are a musician trying to make it on your own or a small music related business, and out of necessity your idea of a splurge is going for the Charmin over the�Angel Soft�this week, funding your great ideas may require a little help.

So, what are your options? Credit cards - yes, it's been done. It's a little scary and not�usually your best choice. If you have a sky high interest rate and no idea when you will see some returns on your investment, using your credit cards�to fund your project can leave you very personally vulnerable. Preserving your ability to rent an apartment, get a car and so on will make your life easier, so think long and hard before relying on cards to finance your project.�If you have a card, the interest rate is low and�the amount you need to spend is modest - and if you are confident you can pay it off in a reasonable amount of time - �then a credit card could *maybe*�bridge some gaps for you in a pinch. If you are frantically applying for all of the cards you can to stack up enough credit to make your project a go - no! Stop! Don't do it!

Another option is fan funding, via a source like SellaBand. This type of funding protects you from the financial risk of your project, though you lose control of your timeline. There is no guarantee of when - or if - all of the funds you need will ever be generated. On the positive side, worked correctly, the fact that you used fan funding can be a selling point of your project when it comes time for promotion.

Music industry companies - like labels and distributors - can be a source of funding for recorded projects. Of course, there are many pros and cons to consider. You will likely have to give up some of your your rights, some of your profits and some of your control. Of course, you may also get the benefit of tapping into the contacts and expertise of the company you are dealing with. Careful consideration of the specific offer on the table is the key. (See Indie Label Pros and Cons as well as Major Label Pros and Cons.)

Of course, there are always benefactors. The Bank of Mom and Dad, or maybe that weird but�wealthy old uncle of yours is due a visit. Nice cash if you can get it, but not an option for most- and let's be honest, it is probably not the best option even if the money is there. You may find benefactors outside the family, but that whole situation could go very Lifetime Movie Network if you're not careful. If someone wants to hand over cash to you, be sure you understand why.

Which leaves us with more traditional funding sources, like arts councils and music business angels/music business venture capitalists. Arts councils can be wonderful - you get the money you need without being personally liable if the investment is not recouped, and you may even get some support along the way as you pull your project together. The downsides? Not everyone has access to an arts funding body, and as these groups need to prove that they are investing in successful projects, there can often be a tendency to award the same people funding over and over again in hopes of propping up a failed past investment.

Venture capitalist investment can be hard to come by, especially of you need a relatively modest amount of cash. You may be required to give up a great deal of creative control, though working with a venture capitalist with music industry experience can give you access to a wealth of knowledge to help make your project a success. VCs are best suited to people who need a significant investment, and even if you do, always proceed with caution and be sure you are teaming up with an investor that you can work well with. The working relationship is very, very important here. A VC relationship that goes sour could rock your world, in all of the wrong ways.

For more info about music industry funding, see:

Music Industry Funding originally appeared on About.com Music Careers on Wednesday, October 28th, 2009 at 10:06:15.

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