It’s a new year with many challenges still facing artist as they try to connect with music fans during a global pandemic. Take heart! Indie artists have always lead the charge when it comes to music promotion innovation and adapting to tough circumstances. In this episode, Kevin and Chris discuss what you’ll need in order to make 2021 your best year yet!
#268: How to release your music in 2021
The way artists release music completely changed in 2020. As we approach 2021, artists are asking what is the right balance between singles and albums? How do you target and engage new listeners in the streaming world? Kevin and Chris answer these questions and more.#267: Cheryl B. Engelhardt – Organizing your fans to reach a goal
Whether you’re launching a new album, promoting a livestream, or trying to shoot for something bigger like a Grammy nomination, getting your fans onboard can be a challenge. In this episode you’ll hear how Cheryl B. Engelhardt organized her fans to feel ownership in her quest for a Grammy nomination.
#266: Preparing for the 2020 holiday release season
Releasing music before the end of 2020? Listen to this episode, where Kevin and Chris talk about distribution deadlines, holiday music promotion, which Christmas favorites you can record without paying a mechanical royalty, and more. Plus, listener calls and questions.#265: How artists make money from sync licensing
Sync licensing has grown into a huge opportunity for indie musicians to gain listeners and earn money. That’s increasingly true for thousands of CD Baby clients whose songs have been licensed to numerous projects on almost every major and cable network, streaming networks, film studios, and more. What do the tracks that we place in film and TV have in common? How can you increase your chances of getting a sync placement? Let’s talk.
#264: Live-streaming on Facebook (Musicians, DON’T panic!!!)
The internet exploded with news that Facebook was no longer going to allow artists to livestream on the platform. Fortunately, that information was completely false. However, on this episode of the podcast Kevin and Chris help define the mysterious “listening experience” issue that has Facebook muting some artists videos. Plus, we take some amazing listener calls.
#263: How to deal with failure and rejection
Let’s get real for a sec: Musicians are well acquainted with rejection and failure. But we don’t want to admit it, do we? In this podcast episode, Kevin and Chris talk about the kinds of rejections you’ll inevitably encounter as a musician, how to deal with it, and maybe even transform it into something positive. Plus listener questions.
#262: Getting attention with online advertising
Few people are going to notice your music simply because you’ve made it. You have to do something ELSE to get attention, and online advertising opens up an affordable way to create awareness, stir interest, and build a fanbase as an independent musician. In this episode, Kevin and Chris talk about advertising for musicians, the power of a new interactive ad tool, and much more.
#261: What musicians need to know about Instagram Reels
Musicians, it’s time to get Reel. Instagram Reels — Facebook’s answer to TikTok — is now available, and your music can be there too! In this episode, Kevin and Chris discuss the features of Instagram Reels, why it matters for your music career, and what it means for TikTok. Plus, gossip and rants about Spotify’s Daniel Ek, listeners calls, and more.
#260: Creating videos for 2020 and beyond
When it comes to creating videos to promote music, most artists and labels are still operating under that old paradigm of one “Official†music video, which drastically limits their reach and potential impact they get from video. In this episode of the podcast, Kevin is joined by Diarmuid Moloney, the CEO and Co-Founder of Rotor Video to discuss how developing a video strategy in 2020 and beyond looks very different than what we were used to in the past.
#259: 10 Strategies for releasing a single in 2020
It’s time to rethink the way you release singles. Standalone tracks are no longer SOLELY tied to larger album promo efforts. In this episode, Kevin and Chris discuss 10 strategies for releasing single songs so you can grow your audience, build algorithmic momentum on streaming platforms, and stay inspired. Plus listener questions!
#258: Taking your live-stream to the next level!
With so many artists turning to live-streaming, it’s time to ensure you stand out from the rest and take yours to the next level. In this episode Kevin and Chris share more tips on presenting yourself like a pro. Plus, you get a rundown of all the gear Chris uses to pull off a top notch livestream.
The article on Zoom audio tips mentioned in the episode can be found HERE.
#257: Live-stream success pt 2 – Henry Invisible
On this episode of the podcast, Kevin chats with Henry Invisible to discuss how he’s using live-streaming to make his music go further and reach a broader audience. Henry had been live-streaming before COVID-19, but really took advantage of new opportunities that have popped up as people learn how to socialize in the currently reality.
#256: Live-stream success pt 1 – Dawn Beyer
Like many artists, Dawn set her sights on Nashville in order to pursue her musical dreams. When things hit rock bottom, she randomly notice the “go live†button on Facebook and everything changed. In this episode you’ll hear how Dawn has turned her use of Facebook Live into a full time sustainable career.Check out Dawn’s live-streaming resources at TheRealMakingIt.com.
#255: The truth about live-streaming!
Is your social feed crowded with seemingly every musician on the planet “going live” at once? How many of those livestreams feel like genuine, engaging events? In this episode, Kevin and Chris dig into a lot of the common misperceptions about live streaming and offer some best-practices as well.
#254: Important news you may have missed
You might have missed some important music industry news during the COVID-19 pandemic. Let’s catch you up! In this episode, Kevin and Chris talk about recent music biz developments that could impact your music career. Plus some great listener stories and questions.
#253: What’s the difference between This and That?
There are seven things that many musicians get mixed up — publishers and PROs, cover songs and Public Domain tunes, UPCs and ISRCs, etc. In this episode, Kevin and Chris clear away the confusion. What’s the difference between “this” and “that?” Listen up!
#252: What to do when your tour gets canceled
What do you do when a gig or tour is cancelled? Touring musicians are facing a time of uncertainty and financial sacrifice as the Coronavirus pandemic has lead to many public gatherings being postponed or cancelled. In this episode, Kevin and Chris talk through some of the difficulties artists are confronting, and present a few alternatives to touring so musicians can still engage with fans, drive revenue, and make use of this unexpected downtime.
Our list of resources for artists can be found HERE.
#251: 7 tips for pitching your music
Whether you want a gig, playlist placement, or press opportunity, you’re going to need to sell someone on your music — and that means “pitching.” In this episode, Kevin and Chris dissect successful music pitches and find 7 things in common.
#250: Social media marketing hacks
Promoting your music on social media can eat up a lot of your time. Sadly, most artists waste that precious time using social media in ways that are rote and uninspired. In this episode, Kevin and Chris walk through a list of quick tips that will help you get better results, have more fun, and create a deeper connection with your audience on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and Twitter.#249: Evolving with the music business
The music business is constantly evolving. Streaming dominates. Markets are truly global. The way people promote & monetize music shifts every year. And videos are growing shorter and more important than ever before. In this episode, Kevin and Chris talk about some important changes at CD Baby that will help artists stay ahead of the curve.
#248: TikTok 101 for musicians
TikTok has more than half a billion active users, it’s the most downloaded app in the world, and the entire platform runs on music! Now that CD Baby is delivering YOUR music to TikTok, Kevin and Chris walk you through TikTok culture, features of the app, and a few of the opportunities you have to promote your music with short video.
#247: Dave Cool – Building a compelling artist website
Having your own pro website is even MORE important in an age where fan relationships are often owned by anyone but the artist. In this episode, Bandzoogle’s Dave Cool talks about creating a good experience for your followers online, capturing their contact info, and using your website as the hub for your music career.
#246: Starting your music career from the beginning
First time releasing music? Returning to music after a hiatus? Where do you even start? With a plan — then you build the foundation. In this episode, Kevin and Chris outline the basic steps artists should take before, during, and immediately following their first release.
#245: Merch sales and your music career!
What kind of merch is selling in the streaming era? How do you experiment with t-shirts and other kinds of band merch without going broke? In this episode, Kevin and Chris talk through some of the things they’ve tried recently, both on tour and online, and some of the trends they see working for DIY musicians today.