June 2017


The contacts listed are sorted into FIVE sections:
    1. Publications, Review Websites and Music Blogs that will REVIEW your music
    2. Radio Stations, Shows and Podcasts that will PLAY your songs
    3. Labels, Vendors, Distributors and Promotional Services that will help you to SELL your CD
    4. Websites where you can UPLOAD your band's MP3s or videos
    5. Helpful Resources for recording artists

radio airplay promotion



SECTION ONE: SITES/PUBLICATIONS WHERE YOU CAN GET YOUR MUSIC REVIEWED

Hot Indie News
269 12th St. #1, Brooklyn, NY 11215-3919
James Lane hotindienews@yahoo.com
www.hotindienews.com
Indie resource for movies, music, politics and more. We always accept press releases and physical submissions to help indies increase their worldwide exposure. So, please feel free to send your CDs, DVDs and Press Kits to our mailing address. NOTE: Due to the high quantity of e-mail we receive on a daily basis, we request that you please do not submit electronic press kits. Thank you in advance for your cooperation. @hotindienews

The Bluegrass Situation
Amy Reitnouer info@thebluegrasssituation.com
www.thebluegrasssituation.com
Creating unique, quality content covering the international scene, ranging from traditional Bluegrass to progressive Folk Rock, Americana, Roots, and everything in between. facebook.com/TheBluegrassSituation @TheBGSituation

Black Cat Tapes
Josh Woodard info@blackcattapes.com
www.blackcattapes.com
An independent music blog and podcast intent on promoting human conscious evolution through music. It is my intent to promote good music with a message that provokes thought and discussion with regards to humanity's conscious evolution, to further progress towards world peace and understanding. For music submissions, send YouTube or Soundcloud links only please. facebook.com/blackcattapes @blackcattapes

Queen Beetch
Olga contact@queenbeetch.com
www.queenbeetch.com
A UK-based music blog featuring some of the most exciting signed and independent new releases. It's all about quality and value, so as long as an artist transmits these through their work, I'm more than eager to listen to that. @Q_Btch

Prog Sphere
info@prog-sphere.com
www.prog-sphere.com
A Serbian website for devotees of Progressive Rock/Metal, Jazz Fusion, and ALLLLLL of its varied sub-genres. We're mostly devoted to interviews of bands/artists, but we also have a small collection of articles. facebook.com/ProgSphere @ProgSphere



indie blast promo


ultimate indie bundle



SECTION TWO: RADIO STATIONS, SHOWS AND PROMOTERS

2.1 RADIO - STATIONS AND SHOWS

Solid Ground Christian Rock Show - WVCP
1480 Nashville Pike, Ramer Bldg. #101, Gallatin, TN 37066
PH: 615-230-3618
wvcp@volstate.edu
www.wvcp.net
A weekly 4 hour Christian Rock show.

Diners, Drive-Ins and Vibes - KVRX
PO Box D, Austin, TX 78713-7209
PH: 512-495-5879
Mindy kvrxmusic@gmail.com
www.kvrx.org
Jam out to some tasty tunes and join me on my trip to Flavor Town. I'll be servin' some Surf, Psych, Garage, Punk, Lo-fi, Indie, Dream Pop, Shoegaze, goin' full throttle! facebook.com/kvrxaustin @KVRX

NWCZ Radio
NWCZRadio@gmail.com
www.nwczradio.com
We'll play just about anything and everything. To submit your music, attach your MP3 file with metadata to include "SONG TITLE", "ALBUM TITLE" and "ARTIST NAME" and e-mail it to us. facebook.com/NWCZRadio @nwczradio

Soul Deluxe
c/o Radio Phoenix, Phoenix Center for the Arts, 1202 N. 3rd St., Phoenix, AZ 85004
www.souldeluxeradio.com
DJ Byron Fenix spotlights Soul music and various genres that either gave rise to or were influenced by it, including Electronic, Disco, Funk, Hip Hop, House, Jazz and R&B. In addition to the music, the show exposes listeners to a variety of emerging urban-themed artists and musicians. facebook.com/SoulDeluxe

The Jazz Vortex - NWCZ Radio
Kevin McBride and Angie Arett NWCZRadio@gmail.com
www.facebook.com/The-Jazz-VortexNWCZ-Radiocom-860902367269683
Streaming quality Jazz around the World. facebook.com/NWCZRadio @nwczradio

Acoustic Accents
PO Box 1902, Homer, AK 99603
Bud Johnson info@acousticaccents.net
www.acousticaccents.net
Syndicated show that showcases Singer/Songwriters who play Folk, Roots, Americana and Bluegrass music and includes an occasional ???Words and Music??? segment that features interviews and live performances from artists heard on the show. facebook.com/AcousticAccents

About 2 Blow Radio
PH: 718-210-4101
radio@unsignedhype.org
www.unsignedhype.org/radio
Indie and underground Hip Hop, mixes & interviews. @About2BlowRadio

Aussie Grown Radio
PO Box 250, Palmwoods, QLD 4555 Australia
Hank David aussiegrownradio@gmail.com
www.aussiegrownradio.com
Specifically set up to showcase Australian Christian artists and bands. Our internet station also carries specific programmes highlighting Christian indie music worldwide. facebook.com/AussieGrownRadio @HankAussieGrown

True Fidelity Show - NWCZ Radio
PH: 253-254-5111
Big D trufishow@gmail.com
www.facebook.com/nwconvergencezone
Features independent music, artists, labels, blogs and news from around the world. Liberating YOU from the musical mainstream! Hosts: Big D, Voxxy, Patrick Galactic and their silent partner Squeeze. facebook.com/NWCZRadio @nwczradio

Fuego Beats Radio
Fuego info@fuegobeats.com
www.fuegobeats.com
Broadcasts a distinctive blend of talk radio interviews with a mix of Hip Hop, Pop and R&B music from emerging musicians. Topics range from celebrity gossip to controversial issues relevant to a modern society, as well as pop culture. Submit your music via our ONLINE FORM. Send us an e-mail if you would like to be considered for an interview. @WFBS981


jerome promotions


jerome promotions


indie contact newsletter

2.2 RADIO PROMOTERS



Howard Rosen Promotion
521 W. Channel Islands Blvd. #15, Port Hueneme, CA 93041
PH: 805-382-2200 FX: 805-201-7816
info@howiewood.com
www.howiewood.com
Since 1985 We have been helping artists reach their goals of obtaining radio airplay, expanding their fan base, and creating awareness throughout the industry. @Howiewoodpromo

National Record Promotion
137 N. Larchmont #500, Los Angeles, CA 90004
PH: 323-658-7449
Larry Weir larry_weir@sbcglobal.net
www.larryweir.com
We promote artists and groups at radio with an emphasis on independent labels and recording artists. Over the last five years NRP has worked with many major acts. NRP will assist you in weekly tracking reports...national chart activity & radio interviews. facebook.com/National.Record.Promotion

CIMG, LLC
119 Bowling Ave. Nashville, TN 37205-2357
Tony Bates contact@cimgllc.com
www.cimgllc.com
Our Radio Promotion work focuses on relevant radio stations (terrestrial and online), especially college radio stations, in the U.S., Canada and the Commonwealth of Independent States. Our staff works daily to build relationships with radio stations, regional promoters, music/entertainment publications and websites, and media outlets throughout North America as well as in eastern and central Europe. We work mostly with Rock, Pop-Rock, Americana and Alt-Country artists. facebook.com/cimgllc

ultimate indie bundle

indie contact newsletter


SECTION THREE: SERVICES/VENDORS/LABELS THAT WILL HELP SELL YOUR MUSIC

3.1 SERVICES - PROMOTION/PUBLICITY

stlhiphop.com Promotion
Patrick Jackson pjackson@stlhiphop.com
www.stlhiphop.com
stlhiphop.com has teamed up with unsignedhype.org to create a path in and out the midwest, Hip Hop's biggest underground secret. We have created a back door into the industry consistently launching artists - a fav destination for newly signed, XXL Freshman and major artists who work with indie artists. The collab is designed to allow indie artists the same level of servicing as major & major indies who have come through stlhiphop. To celebrate this collab we're offering artists a chance to step up their game, get the same service and same features we provide majors, major indies and newly signed artists. Promos and features include FM & Digital Radio, performance opportunities, interviews, blog features & placements, website features, write ups, reviews throughout the Midwest! We offer a free consultation. Hit me back about your project and I'll show you what we can do. facebook.com/stlhiphop @stlhiphop

Marushka Media
Jacquelyn Marushka jackie@marushkamedia.com
www.marushkamedia.com
Jacquelyn Marushka has established Marushka Media, an entertainment-focused company specializing in branding, public relations and media coaching. A 20-year music industry leader, Jacquelyn most recently guided Shore Fire Media's Nashville office as General Manager, executing career-advancing campaigns for her clients. Prior to her term at Shore Fire, she navigated public relations strategies for Sony Music Entertainment's Provident Label Group as Vice President of Public Relations. In addition to spearheading successful campaigns for the artist rosters on five labels, she created and delivered publicity strategies for the company's publishing, distribution and film divisions. facebook.com/marushkamedia @MarushkaMedia

Tehillah Enterprises
PO Box 1855, Waldorf, MD 20604
PH: 240-222-3022
Andrea R. Williams info@tehillahpr.com
www.tehillahpr.com
Tehillah, pronounced "teh-HEE-lah", means "praise" in Hebrew. Our goal is to position a ministry's brand in order to generate interest from Christian and mainstream media, ministry supporters or the Gospel and Christian music industry. With numerous contacts throughout the faith-based media community, Tehillah Enterprises sets each client apart. We do everything from image consulting to photo shoots to press kits to press releases. We target coverage in newspapers, magazines, websites, e-zines, blogs and on television and radio and we also pitch our clients for award shows. We organize book and CD release events (and signings), listening parties and provide event management for your Christian event. We implement social media strategies, create websites, e-blasts, e-zines and other marketing tools to get the word out about your ministry or event. We assist with advertising and media placement along with Internet marketing. For Gospel and Christian recording artists, we offer artist development sessions and artist management. facebook.com/TehillahPR @TehillahPR

MTS Management
www.mtsmanagementgroup.com
Specializing in full-service artist management, publicity and promotions, and social media campaigns for new and established independent artists and indie labels, MTS Management is on the cutting edge of today's new music business. @MTSManagement

Miles High Productions
PO Box 93157, Hollywood, CA 90093
PH: 323-806-0400 FX: 323-462-0829
mhpmanagement@mileshighproductions.com
www.mileshighproductions.com
Created to bridge the gap of companies working directly with music artists and entertainment based projects who are in need of additional marketing support. MHP also focuses on non-music ventures such as corporate brand building, cosmetics, gaming, sports and other industries. MHP's goal is to elevate your product or artist to a higher ground in an expedient timeframe by exposing them to new and existing online audiences. MHP also focuses on taking our campaigns one step further by cross-promoting all traditional methods of marketing with online opportunities for further outreach. @MilesHigh

CIMG, LLC
119 Bowling Ave. Nashville, TN 37205-2357
Tony Bates contact@cimgllc.com
www.cimgllc.com
We provide Social Media Marketing and Social Commerce Solutions for our clients, in addition to Artist Management and Record Label Services. We work with artists, record labels, agencies, events, and brands of all kinds that want to effectively engage their supporters and fans via social media. Considering the global marketplace and international appeal, we offer our services in several languages as well, when appropriate to meet your goals. We work mostly with Rock, Pop-Rock, Americana and Alt-Country artists. facebook.com/cimgllc

indie contact newsletter


jerome promotions

3.2 SERVICES - LABELS, DISTRIBUTORS AND ONLINE VENDORS

Unable Records
1950 Old Cuthbert Rd. Ste. F, Cherry Hill, NJ 08034
PH: 732-991-8404
Mike Ransom info@unablerecords.com
www.unablerecords.com
While Unable Records was originally founded as a Punk Rock label, today it works with bands and artists of all genres, provided the music moves us. Through Unable Records, we provide artists with the funds, support and guidance to make an outstanding record, from start to finish. We are always open to receiving press kits and discovering new talent, so if you've got what it takes, send something over! facebook.com/unablerecords @UnableRecords

Sound of Change
Vlad Sitnikov hello@sound-of-change.com
www.sound-of-change.com
Russian label that supports buskers beyond the streets. Sound of Change is the new record label, which gives buskers the opportunity to have their music recorded in a studio and listeners the world over, to help them make money beyond the streets. facebook.com/soundofchange

SquidHat Records
848 N. Rainbow Blvd. #889, Las Vegas, NV 89107
PH: 800-704-7101
Allan Carter ac@squidhatrecords.com
www.squidhatrecords.com
An artist friendly, independent record label created to help talented, interesting, creative and passionate artists record and promote their music, develop their brand and image and increase their exposure to a larger audience. Our focus includes, but is not limited to Punk, Funk and aggressive Indie Rock. facebook.com/SquidHatRecords @SquidHatRecords




CIMG LLC ad

mi2n - music industry news

SECTION FOUR: SITES WHERE YOU CAN UPLOAD YOUR BAND'S MP3s OR VIDEOS

Hot Indie Media
269 12th St., Brooklyn, NY 11215-3919
PH: 917-865-2591
James Lane HotIndieMedia@yahoo.com
www.hotindiemedia.com
Independent Media For A Better World. This website is a culmination of over 10 years of experiences that I've had the good fortune to capture on video. I hope that you find the content here entertaining and thought provoking which is really the only thing that I've ever wanted to do in regards to documentary filmmaking. If you have any particular areas of interest that you would like to see featured on this site, please feel free to e-mail us anytime with your idea. Send submissions to our mailing address. @HotIndieMedia

JukeBoxAlive
311 Montford Ave. Asheville, NC 28801
PH: 828-232-0016
Will Cumberland cumberland@jukeboxalive.com
jukeboxalive.com
Our Advanced Jukebox Player protects your music from being digitally downloaded, yet allows fans to hear your music online. This creates exciting possibilities for you to present yourself to new audiences without being ripped off.



Ultimate Indie Bundle Affiliate Signup


indie contact newsletter


SECTION FIVE: SOCIAL NETWORKS AND ONLINE COMMUNITIES

RapHead.com
www.raphead.com
Social networking for Urban music and entertainment. @RapHead

indie contact newsletter


indie blast promo

SECTION SIX: HELPFUL TOOLS AND RESOURCES FOR YOUR BAND

6.1 RESOURCES - GENERAL

RadioInfo
785 Williams St., PMB 429, Longmeadow, MA 01106
Matthew Harrison matthew@radioinfo.com
www.radioinfo.com
We are a trade publication for music radio stations that offers charts and reviews of music they should be playing. @radio_info

Festival Network Online
PO Box 18839, Asheville, NC 28814
PH: 828-658-2779 FX: 828-645-3374
Julie Cochrane julie@festivalnet.com
www.festivalnet.com
Lists more than 10,000 events throughout the U.S. and Canada seeking performers, from local & regional to national & international. @_festivalnet

radio airplay promotion


6.2 RESOURCES - EDUCATIONAL

Help for Bands
Graeme Woodcock graeme.woodcock@helpforbands.co.uk
www.helpforbands.co.uk
Here to give free and impartial help and advice to anyone who performs or sells their music. We cover all areas of the music industry. Help for bands delivers news, advice and tutorials to musicians, bands, artists and labels alike. Our goals are to educate our readers in an empirical and objective way. @HelpForBands

CD Baby Podcast
13909 NE Airport Way, Portland, OR 97230
Kevin Breuner podcast@cdbabypodcast.com
www.cdbabypodcast.com
Join CD Baby's Kevin and Chris as they discuss current music news, interview artists and industry professionals, offer tips and tricks to help today's independent musician move their career forward and much more! Interviews about how to be a successful musician without compromising your art. It's a perfect time to take advantage of the many opportunities for Do-It-Yourself artists that are springing up everywhere. @cdbaby @kbreuner



indie contact newsletter

6.3 RESOURCES - TOOLS AND APPS

TAD
www.tadtheapp.com
A Thumbnail Art Design App for iOS. Creates sleeve and album cover art in minutes. The perfect solution for time poor musicians who aren't designers. Also use TAD for Instagram, Apple Connect, Spotify and much, much more. Get creative with ???Art' elements to create millions of possible designs.

MyNewsletterBuilder
comments@mynewsletterbuilder.com
www.mynewsletterbuilder.com
A user-friendly, feature-rich, online newsletter management program for novices and professionals alike. facebook.com/MyNewsletterBuilder1


indie blast promo


indie blast promo



6.4 RESOURCES - AUDIO

Peerless Mastering
1085 Commonwealth Ave. #322, Boston, MA 02215
PH: 617-527-2200
info@peerlessmastering.com
www.peerlessmastering.com
Dedicated to providing the highest quality restoration. We offer the highest quality stereo and 5.1 pre-mastering, CD, CD Enhanced, and DVD-A authoring and full audio restoration. Our staff is exceptional at giving our clients the best quality and service, guiding them through the final phase of their sonic process with ease and expertise. We are uniquely equipped to provide the highest quality mastering available anywhere. We have the expertise, equipment, and skills to achieve the full sound potential of your album. As more and more artists are choosing to record in project and home studios, high-quality professional mastering in an acoustically accurate room has never been more important. Working at Peerless' state-of-the-art studios with our highly trained engineers, you can realize your sonic vision and make your recording sound as full, warm, punchy, and clear as possible. We will guide you through every step of this final phase of your project, and you will be truly amazed when you hear how incredible your music can sound. @PeerlessMaster



Ultimate Indie Bundle Affiliate Signup


6.5 RESOURCES - ORGANIZATIONS

Songsalive!
PH: 866-526-6565
Gilli Moon (contact through website)
www.songsalive.org
The largest international non-profit membership organization and social community for songwriters and composers, since 1997. @songsalive



indie contact newsletter

indie contact newsletter

SECTION SEVEN: THIS MONTH'S ARTICLE

Indie Musician - Where Am I Going Wrong?

by Lee Jones, TAD
© 2017 All Rights Reserved. Used By Permission


In my indie musician past I've been in some fairly successful bands, and some really unsuccessful bands.

It dawned on me recently that the wins I had achieved in my career were usually when I was either:

a) In the hands of a professional manager; or

b) I was piggybacking off somebody else's success - somebody who had already put in the hard yards.

Whenever I took it upon myself to manage my own project I really had no idea what I was doing and became frustrated pretty quickly at the lack of immediate success. Especially given that I'd tasted it before and it seemed so easy!

So where was I going wrong?

INDIE MUSICIAN CAREER TIPS!

After spending a couple of years working as an in-house producer for a Major Label development company and alongside my partner in the App Ian, who runs DIY musician site, Make It In Music, and a digital music marketing agency, I learned a lot about the industry behind the scenes, on top of a whole bunch of stuff I had previously learned through trial and many an error!

I now work in digital marketing (alongside music, of course!) and that's also been such an eye-opener. How social media can work has blown my mind. More on that in the future (I'm going to do an online tutorial uncovering some of the trade secrets, sign up if you want to be involved!)

If I knew 5 years ago what I know now, being in a band would've been much less of a grind.

So, if you're in a group, or you're a solo artist, who feels like their career has plateaued, here's some of the dumb things I've said and done, and what I've learned from them.

I'm sure you'll recognise a few of them yourself, but I hope you can avoid them where possible!

As always, I welcome any feedback and your own suggestions in the comments. These are just my opinions and experiences and I'm sure there are things I've missed or perhaps you disagree with.

"I'M GIVING UP!"

This sounds like a glaringly obvious one and a terrible way to start an article (and it is), BUT it's without doubt the most sure-fire way to stop you in your tracks!

If you really want to make a career out of anything you have to stick at it.

I'd go as far to say if you are not prepared to commit 10 years to it, you might as well give up now, because that's how long it could take to make it really work!

Ohio band The National didn't really break the mainstream until their FIFTH album, 'Trouble Will Find Me' which ended up being nominated for a Grammy that year.

Green Day formed in 1986 and didn't have any commercial success until their 3rd record 'Dookie', 8 years later in 1994. The band are still going now of course, more successful than ever.

Hell, even Katy Perry couldn't get arrested for years and she had some of the best representation in the industry.

Every successful musician I know personally has been doing the same thing for about 10 years. Not just 'music' but THE SAME THING.

Build your brand and keep building - eventually the numbers start to add up.

Persistence is key!

There's a whole list of examples of other artists who made it later on in their career here.

A music career is like any business - Rome wasn't built in a day!

Even if you don't 'hit the big time' within that decade, if you follow the right steps there's no reason you can't gain enough traction to have a sustainable career as an indie musician.

Think about this; you only need 5000 people to give you ??10 each in a year to have a very respectable salary. That can be from an album sale, a gig entry, or perhaps a donation through a crowdfunding campaign?

When you get a minute, why not check out this article from Music Think Tank on how to promote your music to your fans independently.

In my previous career as a musician I have, pretty much like clockwork, spent about 3 years on each project before becoming bored, bitter & disenfranchised before blowing it off. Does this sound familiar?

Looking back, it WAS moving forward - things always are!

Every single move you make gets you one step closer.

But when you begin to feel like things have stagnated, it's back to the drawing board with a new exciting project, and starting right from the beginning again. Which really only sets you back another 3 years!

Have you ever come across this?..

Once you stop a project because 'nobody gets it' that 2 years down the line, everyone is doing it!

You would have been a pioneer!

Basically, a simple rule of thumb here is, don't give up. You're only going to have to do all the same shit all over again. Enjoy the small victories as they appear and keep moving forwards.

"I'M RELEASING AN ALBUM!"

Don't make an album.

Unless you have, like, 1000 pre-orders, just don't.

It costs a small fortune and it will just end up being a bunch of CDs in a box under the bed haunting you, constantly reminding you of your inability to make a difference in this world.

You'll be so sick of the sight of them that you'll end up trying to give them away at gigs, but people won't even want to take them off your hands for free. This will make you feel pretty worthless and question your existence.

You will also realise that after making that album, and having no-one review it or buy it, you've pretty much wasted 10 pretty decent songs.

On top of that, since you finished the record, you've improved those songs 10-fold. So you can't even listen to it any more as it's not as good as you know it could have been.

You still really want to make an album though don't you?

Of course everybody wants to!

It's one of the reasons you got into music. But these days there are pretty much zero positives in doing so, so early in your career. Your songs will continue to evolve, so why waste them now? Wait until people are banging your door down for a long-player!

Blogs and print media tend to only review albums by established acts, so if you don't want yours to fall by the wayside - wait 'til you're established!

'A box of LP's & EP's by my old band The Solicitors . Anybody want one?!'

You may have also noticed that when taking submissions, music blogs want ONE song, typically either a SoundCloud or YouTube link.

A number of music blogs are now using a program called Submithub, which some blogs give priority to over a direct email. Worth checking out!

Just release singles.

Always singles.

Perhaps an EP (although, word to the wise - they are pretty redundant now too).

With a single, you can throw everything into that one song and promote the hell out of it. It only takes one song to make a difference.

Have you released an EP recently? Or know someone that has?

Have you heard anyone proclaim in the last 5 years "Wow, what a brilliant EP!"?

Unlikely.

The usual positive sound bites you hear are things like "TUUUNE!', "WHAT A TRACK!" and "BANGER!" - because they like that song.

If you can get listeners hooked with one song, they will tell you when they want more.

Electronic musicians and producers have been doing this for years and years, and the rest of the world is catching up.

Release solid track after solid track and wait until you have a captive audience before you try and sell them something. Club tracks are like a DJ's business card, and you need to think of your single as a representation of why people should come and see you live, because that's where the money is these days!

NEWSFLASH!

IF a label is interested in something they have heard by you (as well as your looks, style and personality), they don't want your full, finished product delivered to them. Labels like to get in on the ground floor and feel like you're growing together.

I always thought that by having a finished album a record company would be over the moon that there were zero recording costs! Nuh-uh. The label wants to influence the record, they might even want you to go in with a particular producer or writer.

Save your money for now. Put everything into your strongest song at that time. EP's & LP's tend to over-face people these days so just give people a taste.

If you want, you can always bundle your singles together as an EP or album later.

"THE STYLE ISN'T IMPORTANT - WE'RE UNIQUE!"

Look, everyone thinks they're unique, and in some small way they are.

But you need to pay attention to the small details of your styling.

One small anachronism can be all it takes to really put off prospective A&R, Management etc.

For example, if you're a metal band with long hair, black jeans, ripped sleeve Metallica t-shirts playing heavy riffs, great, that's what you want from a metal band.

But, if your bass player rocks up to the gig with a Paul Weller hair-do and a Fred Perry polo-shirt you're going to look SO wrong on stage. People cannot process that kind of shit. Even if you sound amazing they'll take one look at you and think, "They don't quite know who they are yet".

Think about the most successful acts you can. There is a very keen eye for detail in the styling. First of all, the look has to match the music. If it doesn't, it confuses people.

You also need to look like you belong together, to convey an image of togetherness, of a 'gang'. These are the acts that people want to get on-board with - the ones that already look like they have something going on within themselves. Not just a bunch of mates turning up to a jam session.

Be aware of your 'brand handwriting'. This is a term used in fashion, but is very applicable to your music act.
- Who is your potential audience?
- Who are you hoping that your music reaches out to?
- Who is your current fanbase?
- What do they look like?
- What do they buy into?
- Who is YOUR fan?


Really think about that before you decide on wearing your spiked collar and mohawk to your heartfelt-acoustic-indie showcase gig.

It seems fickle but these things can make the difference.

"THE WORLD IS OUT TO GET ME!"

The world is full of shysters and the music business is no exception.

But there are also a lot of people out there who can help you, and sometimes it's hard to tell who's who, so I say err on the side of caution with any meeting.

Nothing will turn prospective partners off you and get their back up quicker than you pre-emptively acting like they are the enemy, or 'the man'.

They will run for the hills. There are plenty more musicians out there willing to put their trust in them.

You may have heard some horror stories and urban legends about copyright infringement and stealing other people's songs but honestly, stop worrying, it really doesn't happen very often, if at all.

If somebody 'steals' your song, there's a 99% chance you will be able to claim copyright on it. Everything recorded in the digital age has the embedded data of exactly when it was recorded, you don't need to post songs to yourself and leave the mail unopened any more.

How would you feel if you turned on the radio and heard Justin Bieber singing one of your songs? Personally I would be well chuffed. It would certainly open some doors!

Of course, in life, it is good to be cautious, but be trusting also.

You might be about to embark on a wonderful, prosperous relationship with a new partner, so leave your doubts at the door and go in with an open mind.

Not everyone is out to get you.

As a side-note, be aware that 'Artist Development' used to be an in-house procedure when you signed for a larger label. That was in the days when labels had money to develop artists. Those days are gooooone.

Forget what you learned. Artist development is now outsourced, often to companies formed by ex-industry professionals who know the game, and can get you ready for a shot at the labels. And yes, sometimes you will have to pay for these services, as that is how these companies stay in business. Be wary of some, do your homework, but also don't run a mile because they are asking you for money. Not everything in the industry is a scam! (yet...)

"I KNOW WHAT I'M DOING, THANKS!"

If someone with a good track record and who knows their shit says to you, "This is good but it still needs work", focus on the first part of that sentence.

Be happy.

Now, go back and work some more.

You'll often find that you aren't always right and that a little tweak here and there can really bring your song to life.

Do not be precious.

It's a pointless trait to have in the music industry.

Your songs, opinions, voice & looks will be questioned, criticised, even slandered in some cases. Whether it be by a trusted member of your team, or by a snotty blogger reviewing your new track.

You need a thick skin to start with, but eventually, if you can just detach yourself slightly from your art and see it more objectively, you often get a clearer view of the bigger picture that everyone else sees. It can be easy to miss this because you are so close to the material.

Your songs are your babies I know!

But sometimes your judgement can be clouded by what you put into a particular song. Perhaps the lyrics are about the 'ex' who you can't get over, maybe it's a brand new song that feels really fresh and you still buzz off playing that riff.

Before you release something, get some outside opinions.

Producers, managers, other bands, friends, whoever. Give people 4 songs and do a poll. Ask them to put them in order of their favourites and you might be surprised at the results. (You also might be gutted that actually no-one really likes your new song...)

Sometimes you need to stop white knuckling and take your hands off the wheel.

For instance, a producer is there to produce you, to get the best out of you (and wants to do the best job they can for their CV too remember!).

Ultimately you as the artist have full creative control, but sometimes letting go and putting yourself in the hands of someone else is the best thing. You won't realise it until later down the track, but when you relinquish a bit of your control, not only do you become more relaxed about the whole process, but you realise that you only have to do what you're good at - writing and performing music.

How liberating!

"WE DON'T NEED AN ONLINE PRESENCE!"

I'm going to touch on this a little now, but expand hugely in an blog post / online tutorial in the near future. If you're interested in learning mind-boggling social media techniques sign up here.

I didn't 'get' this until recently, but really all most social media channels do are create brand awareness, and different paths that all lead you to one place - your website. And every indie musician should have one!

The two magic bullets you need to take into account here are your Landing Page & Mailing List. You might need a little lesson in using your online presence to get fans, keep them and, eventually, sell to them. Remember what I said before - you only need 5000 people to give you 10 bucks each a year to have a very sustainable career.

So how do we get these 5000+ people?

Well, how many 'likes' on Facebook do you have?

That's a start!

Shame we haven't we got their email addresses, huh?

Reach out to your existing fans and offer them something, a free download of an old EP, or a new track, from your website, in exchange for their sign-up.

(Alternatively you can use something like Artist Union which exchanges sign-ups/social shares/reposts etc. in exchange for downloads)

Fans will give you their email addresses when they want to hear from you, but you need to make your mailing list visible.

Make sure it's on the first page of your website, maybe integrate a pop-up on the page? Go old-school and have a clipboard at gigs and actively try and get your fans email addresses. Offer giveaways and special offers on your Facebook, Twitter & Instagram etc. that lead your fans directly to your sign-up page.

Once you have an engaged email list, you can send out mails about new tours, special 'subscribers only' offers, you can even ask them their advice on what your new single should be!

Engage with your audience but DO NOT try to sell them stuff too early on. The fact that they are there following you should be enough for now. You need to earn their trust and then, when the time comes you want to release a new single or whatever, offer it to them first, at a good price.

Once you have built up your email list one of the best programs to use for a bulk mail-out is MailChimp, but I actually prefer Aweber as it's so much more powerful as your mailing list grows.

An email is the best way to keep in touch with your fanbase, a letter direct to their inbox. I'm sure you've already come across how difficult it is to reach your audience with a Facebook post and it's 'reach' algorithms, right?

Speaking of Facebook, posts there should be done sparingly, and should only include good, engaging content. The way Facebook's algorithms work is that one post can cannibalise another; e.g. if you post a great blog article about your band that people want to read and it gets a lot of likes and comments, that will rank you higher in people's feeds. That can be instantly undone by a photo of your drummers new sticks that no-one cares about.

So think about what you're posting.

If you have a new video out in a few weeks, make sure that everything you put on your page leading up to it is getting some traction. Ask questions of your audience, make something that is shareable. Sad as it seems, memes are still the most shareable content online!

This really is the tip of the iceberg and I haven't even gone into any of the programs you can use to manage your social media effectively to grow your numbers. But I will soon, I promise!

If you want to be notified about this and other opportunities sign up here. tadtheapp.com/tad-sign-up

"I'M GOING TO LEAVE STONES UNTURNED!"

To quote one of my favourite ever movies, 'Over The Top' (Sylvester Stallone kidnaps his estranged son and takes him on a truck-driving and arm-wrestling mis-adventure of a lifetime):

"The world won't meet you half way".

As I touched on in the previous section, you really want to be everywhere you can be and this is going to mean some really hard work that you must keep on top of. Organisational skills and (where possible) delegation of tasks are your key friends here.

When you release something and it doesn't quite take off, do you ever feel like "I could have done more?" - well that's because you most definitely could have!

It's impossible to do everything but if you have the drive and determination you can accomplish quite a lot with limited resources.

One such resource I can not recommend highly enough is The Indie Bible . We managed to get a special 70% discount especially for our readers HERE!

It's a 2500 page directory of music print magazines, blogs, labels, publicists, PR, you name it! You could spend a week at your computer with the Indie Bible plugging your new release and you still probably wouldn't even scratch the surface.

I also recommend having a look at Hype Machine where you can explore the world of music blogs, by country or genre, and do some research into which relevant blogs you should be targeting to suit your genre.

You should also be visible on all online platforms. To get your music out to Spotify, Apple Music, Deezer, etc. you need look no further than companies such as CD Baby or Ditto Music . In fact Ditto have recently launched a Record Label In A Box. Which has everything you need for releasing your own music independently online.

As well as those platforms you should have your music on SoundCloud, Bandcamp and YouTube, and basically anywhere that you can be discoverable!

And it doesn't have to be only online.

Do you tell everyone about your band? Or are you ashamed of it? Be loud and proud because you never know who you're speaking to!

I once worked in a coffee bar in Melbourne, and was chatting to one of our regulars and mentioned I was in a band. It just turned out her son was in a very very cool band who we ended up supporting when I brought her a CD in the next day!

I used to think of my life in two parts. My 'day to day living' and my 'rockstar by night' entities.

Then 'Boom!'. It hit me.

I should just always be the musician, regardless of what I was doing.

Some of my best contacts over the years have been through chatting with people in coffee shops, bars, shops etc.

So always be on, and always be looking for a way to tell people about your music.

Online, and in real life!

Leave flyers at coffee shops, put posters up in shop windows, carry around download cards that act as your business card, but with access to your music on! Give them to anyone who is interested.

Leave no stone unturned!

Making yourself visible is one thing but don't get it confused with my next point, something I had real trouble with for a time ...

"I'M GOING TO SAY YES TO EVERYTHING!"

Okay, I know what you're thinking. He just said "Leave no stone unturned".

And I meant that, but saying 'yes' to everything straight away can often turn out to be counter-productive, and have negative effects.

Gigs are a big part of being an artist, and getting out there and exposing yourself to as many people as possible is a course of action that should be explored, but also considered before jumping onto any old bill.

Have you ever said yes to a gig months away and then later been offered a much better show?

I'm sure it must have happened to you, and, like me, you probably felt like you had to honour your original agreement. When the time came for your gig, it was empty, the sound sucked and you couldn't take your mind off being at that other gig, which had sold out a much better venue.

If you're anything like me you get excited about music, about being a musician, and your musical calendar couldn't ever be full enough! Sound familiar?

Well, I've got news for you - it will burn you out and drag you down eventually! A few bad gigs in a row are all it takes to feel like you're moving in the wrong direction.

Take your time when deciding on whether to do a show or not. Research the bands on the bill, check out the venue. Discuss the pros and cons with any of your fellow band mates in a band meeting and don't worry about replying to the email straight away - nobody expects an instant answer.

When you get an offer, say "Thanks for thinking of us, sounds good, let me check with everyone else and get back to you". DON'T say, "Yes we're in!" and then end up having to convince your bass player to cancel their holiday plans to save face.

No-one would jump the gun like that really though would they? I used to. And my band haaaated it! Be honest, maybe you can be a little hasty too?

This point isn't just for gigs either, but all facets of the industry. Music is a lot like relationships; It's very tempting to say yes when someone shows an interest in you. The fact that that particular person finds you an attractive prospect makes them more attractive in your eyes.

Hello Ego!

But we're supposed to be with Mr. or Mrs. Right! NOT Mr. or Mrs/ Right Now!

This is really applicable to record labels.

Everyone wants a record deal, right?

Someone to shoulder some of the responsibility, to promote you, to front some cash etc.

Well, let's be honest, a lot of indie labels now only have access to the resources you have yourself, they don't have much money, and aren't exactly time-rich as they likely have another job and other acts to 'take care of'.

It's a great feeling signing a contract and being able to say "I am signed to blah blah records", but it's that bloody ego again playing tricks on you!

Definitely, 100% take a deal if it is going to work for you.

But do your research.

Look at the bands on the roster, make contact with them and ask them how they find being on X label, what has it done for them?

And take your time.

If you rush blindly into it, you might find you end up shackled in a poor deal for a period of years or records.

Get someone to look over the contract and don't be disheartened if it transpires it isn't a good deal. Consider yourself lucky!

You can always negotiate terms, but there are some red flags to avoid when being presented a recording contract. You can read about some of them HERE.

If someone digs what you do that interest isn't going to disappear overnight, and who's to say they are the only interested party? You never know what other offers are going to come your way!

Lee Jones is the creator of TAD, a Thumbnail Art Design App for iOS. Creates sleeve and album cover art in minutes. The perfect solution for time poor musicians who aren't designers. For more information visit tadtheapp.com



indie blast promo

indie contact newsletter

indie contact newsletter


indie blast promo


Ultimate Indie Bundle Banner


Ultimate Indie Bundle Affiliate Signup

indie contact newsletter


jerome promotions


mi2n - music industry news

indie contact newsletter



ADVERTISE IN THE INDIE CONTACT NEWSLETTER AND REACH OUT TO 180,000 MUSICIANS AND SONGWRITERS EVERY MONTH!
indie music promotion
Ads are $250 each (600 x 400 pixels).

If you advertise for 3 consecutive issues, you will receive a $100 discount ($650 total).

Premium placements (the first 2 ad spots) are $400 and $300 per month.


Contact: newsletter@indiebible.com
or 1- (613) 596-4996 (Eastern Time Zone UTC/GMT -5 hours)







Copyright © 2021 Big Meteor Publishing
e-mail: info@indiebible.com
Phone: 1-613-596-4996 (Eastern Time Zone UTC/GMT -5 hours)