A great brand takes a lot of brains to come up with, and even more to execute properly. You need great ideas to create a brand, and you need some know-how and a whole lot of determination to make it happen. However, a good brand goes hand in hand with good music and a successful…
You’ve seen the acronym, you’ve heard people talking about it, but do you really know what ASCAP is? Are you feeling lost between ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC, and wondering whether or not any of them are even worth your time? Well let me tell you, it is definitely worth your time, and it’s probably not…
You’ve heard about royalties before – artists living off of royalties, not getting paid enough royalties, etc. But do you understand what it all means? How it all works? Probably not! But you should, and you can definitely grasp the basics after a little bit of reading. The first thing you need to understand is…
If you’re at all involved with the music industry, you know how fast everything changes and evolves. One year everyone is illegally downloading music, and the next everyone you know is streaming it legally. The examples of rapid change are too many to name, but the point is that the only thing consistent about the…
Artists don’t always find themselves with a bit of extra cash lying around. But if you do, it’s important to invest some of it back into your career – namely, for promotion. This is particularly beneficial leading up to a release, tour, or new video. Whether you spend it on ad buys, promotion services, or…
There’s more to the music industry than just being an artist. The music business is a big industry, generating more than $130 billion annually. And if you’re thinking of moving into the business side of music, I can’t blame you. Sure, it can be an unstable industry, but it’s definitely not as unstable as being an artist….
For many, many artists, signing a record deal is at the top of their priority list. Despite what you may hear, labels are not dead. Nearly every single artist that is on any chart ever has a record label behind them. The resources that a record label has to offer an indie artist are invaluable….
Have you ever been told that your artist name sucks? Do you find yourself having to tell people over and over again what your name is? Or do people frequently misspell it? Have you thought about changing your name? I say do it. Don’t delay, do it now. There is never a “good time” to…
A booking agent is one of the most important team members to bring on board. Many artists actually start with an agent, even before they have management and label support. The reason for this is that there are many levels and types of agents, and you are not obligated to stay with the same one…
Sending emails can seem like half your job when you’re a musician. But when you take a step back to think about what it must be like to be on the receiving end of such emails, you soon realize emails can take up a ton of valuable head space, time, and storage on one’s email…
It seems like every artist is getting into crowdfunding these days. As a musician, there’s just too much to pay for and too little money! Crowdfunding can be the answer to your financial woes. It can be a great way to connect with the audience you’ve built through little videos, shows, personalized “thank you’s”, and…
At some point in your touring career, you’re going to need to cross the border. Whether you’re an American looking to build a new market up in Canada, or you’re a Canadian trying to crack the American scene, or even if you’re looking to tour to Europe, Australia, or Asia, you’re going to have to…
Everyone should know by now that mailing lists are extremely important. Whether it’s in the music world or in the world of marketing, an email is the golden ticket to direct marketing that everybody wants. As a musician, you principally want two things: people at your shows, and people viewing and listening to your content….
Have you ever come away from a show – big or small – and been absolutely floored? It takes more than just great songs to leave this kind of impression on a crowd. You need a great show. A great show leaves you energized the entire time, mesmerized by what’s happening on stage. A great…
Recording your album is without a doubt the best part of releasing music. The creative process is a joy (that’s why we do it after all), and you get to call a lot of the shots. At the end of the long process, you have something concrete you can be proud of. Then comes the…