Music Promotion and Marketing tips for Indie Musicians
In this episode, which was recorded at the 2021 virtual DIY Musician Conference, Jackie Venson details how she adapted for continued success during the uncertain times brought on by the pandemic. Not only has she…
Anyone can point a smartphone and hit the Facebook Live button. But can you put on a real SHOW through Facebook Live? IN this episode, Kevin talks with Wade Sutton and Amanda Jones about how…
What rights are you entitled to when you create original music? WHY and HOW should you copyright your music? What happens if you don’t properly register your copyrights with the Library of Congress? How do you put…
Yes, the entertainment industry is obsessed with newness and youth, but your age doesn’t have to be an obstacle to success. In fact, if you play it right, your history can be an asset. In…
The biggest thing holding your music back might be YOU! In this episode you’ll hear Jack Conte (of the band Pomplamoose) talk about the importance of creative momentum, the crippling effect of premature self critique,…
You’ve finished your first recording, but how do you turn that into the start of an actual music career? In this episode, Kevin and Chris discuss the essential steps you should take to begin (or…
Recorded live at the 2016 DIY Musician Conference with Tony van Veen, Karen Marie Mason, Bob Baker, Martin Atkins, Chris Robley and Mark Hornsby. A solid hour of 60 quick tips on marketing, social media, songwriting,…
The first step in establishing a playlisting presence on Spotify is to create your own playlists, seed them with your own music, and attract followers. But what works? What’s a waste of time? How do…
Getting your music onto a popular Spotify playlist is the modern-day equivalent of having a hit song in a local radio market. It’s an important step in reaching a larger following, and it can drive…
Checking the data — it’s probably NOT the most inspiring aspect of your music career, right? But the key to success could be waiting just below the surface of those daily reports and analytics. You…
We love getting listener feedback, whether it comes in on our listener line, by email, or in comments and tweets. As 2016 nears its close, Kevin and Chris use this final episode of the year…
“Christmas time is here again,” as the Beatles once sang, bringing with it a huge spike in music sales, streaming activity, concert opportunities, YouTube ad revenue, tablet and smartphone purchases, and more. Is your music…
Are you really ready to release your new music? In the frenzied juggling act that leads up to the launch of a new song or album, it’s easy to miss some crucial things, or let…
Most musicians are terrible at telling their story and describing their sound. Why? We’re inside the music AND the mind that made it, so it’s easy to lose perspective. But a band that has a…
You don’t need to completely redesign your website to keep your fans engaged. Sometimes all it takes is a few simple tweaks. In this episode, Kevin and Chris discuss 12 tips that will help you get…
How do you get music noticed in a world that has become so noisy? Is it possible to get anyone’s attention in an age where we’re bombarded with constant messaging and information? In his opening…
Deep voice: “In a world where one thousand independent musicians take over a historic and haunted hotel in the heart of downtown Chicago for the weekend…” For this episode, Kevin and Chris give a preview…
We like to think we’re unique as snowflakes, but we musicians can be pretty similar when it comes to the mistakes we (continue to) make. In this episode, Kevin and Chris discuss 10 common errors…
Bad reviews, negative YouTube comments, hecklers: we all experience them from time to time. Criticism is an inevitable part of putting your music out there, but still it always seems to hurt. What are some…
Want your songs placed in TV and film productions? Had success in sync licensing, but you’re looking to secure higher-profile placements? In this episode, Kevin talks with Cathy Heller, an independent artist who quit trying…
A music video is a practically required these days when promoting new music. But most DIY artists don’t have a budget left for video production after all the expenses of recording, manufacturing, and distributing an…
Just because you wrote a song and happen to be standing on a stage doesn’t make you a great performer. Captivating a live audience is a skill all its own, one that you must learn…
Once upon a time, the single ruled. Then, for almost half a century, the album dominated. Now that the means of distribution are in YOUR hands, which format makes the most sense for your music?…
Blog premieres and exclusives have become a ubiquitous way of promoting new music, but are they WORTH it? Some blogs are putting an end to the practice on their own sites, and many musicians are…
Music Marketing: it’s either the art of effectively communicating your story to potential fans or it’s an utter waste of time spent staring at computer monitors and smartphone screens. How can you tell the difference?…
Audio mastering is often the last, mysterious step in preparing a new song or album for mass consumption. That’s if you’re lucky. A lot of artists skip the mastering process for various reasons (time, budget,…