Releasing Music? Don’t Be Lazy.

Why do musicians and bands put their time and artistic craft into a music recording if they’re not willing to put effort into getting the public to listen to it? I have seen so many bands record amazing material but then not really do anything with it. If you are planning on recording and releasing your music in any format, and genuinely want people to listen to it, there are a few things that you really should consider doing.

If you announce that you’re releasing something on a specific date, make sure you have it available and ready on that date. We’re at an “on demand” age where people are not willing to wait to hear your track(s) on the radio, nor do they want to hear it’s been pushed back a week, and another week, and another week… Before the release try a teaser video? They can get people excited for the full release and everyone likes a sneak peek at something. Streaming your music online is a sure bet. Bandcamp is great because people can listen and even BUY your music. Selling your music is important, piracy is down and revenue is up! http://business.time.com/2013/02/28/revenue-up-piracy-down-has-the-music-industry-finally-turned-a-corner/ If they are your fans they WILL buy your music. While I like Bandcamp, don’t forget about iTunes, Amazon, etc.

Social media is important. Be present, respond to people. Get a conversation going! Keep an eye on your stats too. Figure out what posts are working and what ones aren’t, then try to understand why. Were you being funny? Serious? Did you post a pic or video? Why did one post get retweeted or shared a lot more than others? Also, be professional and get a website. They’re cheap (if not free) and very easy to maintain yourself starting out. Keep it fresh with blog posts, pics, short updates, and be creative! Sorry, but there are hundreds of other bands out there just like you. You need to market yourself and stand out.

Know the radio game. Or, find someone who knows the radio game. You can hire radio promotion companies to do all the work for you, they even track your music for you with radio stations so you know exactly how much airtime you’re getting where. This is a fantastic option if you have a decent budget. No budget? Find someone like me. People who work at a campus/community radio stations know what’s up. We’re the ones who field the tracking phone calls from the radio promoters and know the game better than anyone.