Friday, December 29, 2000

Add Your Link to the New Buzz Factor Music Directory

Get some free exposure for your music-related web site in the new Buzz Factor Music Directory. You'll find categories for Record Labels, Music Press, Organizations, CD Sales Sites, Band/Artist Sites and more.
posted by Bob Baker 1:39 PM

Tuesday, December 26, 2000

Starving Musician, My Ass!

The next time you feel sorry for yourself for being drawn to a career with little profit potential, think about this: "One study released last week by research firm Economists Inc. found that in 1999, the creative industries -- which include movies, TV programs, home video, business and entertainment software, books, music and sound recording -- contributed more to the U.S. economy and employed more workers than any single manufacturing sector. The report showed the core copyright industries accounted for 4.94 percent or $457.2 billion of the U.S. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 1999."

This was quoted in a Reuters news report on Internet copyright issues and subscription services. Yeah, yeah ... I know most of that money was gobbled up by major entertainment conglomerates. But with that much cash being spent on entertainment, surely you can find a sliver of the pie where you can have an impact.
posted by Bob Baker 4:42 PM

Thursday, December 21, 2000

The Dixie Chicks Get It: Make Creative Use of Current Events

Smart music publicists know the value of hitching a media ride on a current event or hot topic. Take a look at this excerpt from a press release just issued by the Dixie Chicks:

Nashville, Tenn. – Upon reading yesterday's "premature" accounts that Tim McGraw and Faith Hill's Soul2Soul Tour was the top grossing tour in country music for 2000, the Dixie Chicks' camp issued the following statement: "Contrary to what has recently been reported, the Dixie Chicks have not conceded."

According to published reports, with combined grosses of both tours approaching $100 million in ticket sales, the Soul2Soul Tour leads the Fly Tour by a mere $67,000 and the Chicks are demanding an expeditious ticket stub recount.

"This was an incredibly hard fought concert season, one in which the Dixie Chicks laid out a clear and compelling vision for the future of country music. Thanks in large part to their energy and the support of their fans, the Dixie Chicks won the popular vote, and, we believe, the vote in Florida as well," stated long-time manager Simon Renshaw.

Don't let the news of the day slide on by you. Examine the headlines for new ways to promote yourself.
posted by Bob Baker 5:23 PM

Wednesday, December 20, 2000

How to Help New Fans Find Your Music Online

Having problems getting new fans to your band's website? My latest column at GarageBand.com offers some practical steps to make your music web site more "search-friendly." Get the traffic your music deserves! Part #1 of a two-part series is here.
posted by Bob Baker 10:40 AM

Sunday, December 17, 2000

Courtney Love Sounds Off

I missed it when it first appeared at Salon.com back in June. If you missed it, too, do yourself a favor and curl up with Courtney Love's lengthy rant on recording contracts, digital media and the commercialization of music. They may be old-school values, but the singer/actress puts a fresh, hard-hitting spin on these timeless values. Here's an excerpt:

"I'm looking for people to help connect me to more fans, because I believe fans will leave a tip based on the enjoyment and service I provide. I'm not scared of them getting a preview. It really is going to be a global village where a billion people have access to one artist and a billion people can leave a tip if they want to.

"People that give advice and technical value are the people we need. People crowding the distribution pipe and trying to ignore fans and artists have no value. If you're going to start a company that deals with musicians, please do it because you like music. Offer some control and equity to the artists and try to give us some creative guidance. If music and art and passion are important to you, there are hundreds of artists who are ready to rewrite the rules.

"In the last few years, business pulled our culture away from the idea that music is important and emotional and sacred. But new technology has brought a real opportunity for change; we can break down the old system and give musicians real freedom and choice."
posted by Bob Baker 10:54 PM

Friday, December 15, 2000

The Last Word on Internet Music Marketing

What's the best way to stand out online? Using cool graphics, MP3 files and interactive technology? Maybe for a while, but most of those features are mimicked by thousands of other sites. Strip away all that nonsense and you're left with the true essence of a web site: words. I'm talking about the words you use to describe your music, your ideas, your unique point of view. You may think I'm biased because I'm a writer, but I firmly believe the words you use to communicate with people through your web site and newsletter are just as important -- if not more so -- as the songs and images you display.

Nick Usborne's Clickz.com column, titled "Words: The Last, Best Way to Differentiate Yourself Online," hits this sentiment on the head. "The way in which we write is as unique as the way in which we speak," Usborne explains. "We all have different ways of putting words together, and we put them together to say different things. These differences reflect our individual characters." Write on!
posted by Bob Baker 11:37 AM

Thursday, December 14, 2000

Tip the Airway Odds in Your Favor

Radio talk shows are a good way to get exposure. Want a way to improve your chances of landing an interview? Add some controversy. Pick a topic related to your music. Then propose a show that features you, a supporter and someone with an opposing view. By pitching the entire package, you make the radio show producer's life easier and better your odds of getting on the air.
posted by Bob Baker 2:08 PM

Tuesday, December 12, 2000

Give Till It Feels Good ... and Get a Lot in Return

Here's a great way to give to a worthy charity this holiday season and get tons of music biz resources in return. The Buzz Factor has joined forces with IndieBiz, Rain Music and CD Baby to reward you for donations you make to any of these worthwhile charity organizations: RAINN, the Humane Society, Make a Wish Foundation, Special Olympics or UNICEF.

It's one thing to give, it's another to be rewarded for your good deed. Here's how this holiday promotion works:

Donate $100, get a free one-year membership to Indiebiz.com
Donate $150, get the above plus the "Guerrilla Music Marketing Handbook"
Donate $175, get all the above plus the book "How to Promote Your Music Successfully on the Internet"
Donate $200, get all the above plus free registration and set up with CD Baby

One hundred percent of all proceeds go directly to the charity. For more details, go to http://www.indiebiz.com/charity/. There is also a PDF document with complete information at http://www.indiebiz.com/charity/indiebiz_charity.pdf.
posted by Bob Baker 10:50 PM

Monday, December 11, 2000

8 Ways to Improve Your E-mail Music Marketing

There are good ways and bad ways to use e-mail to promote your music. Your mission is to communicate your musical message in ways that even the busiest, most distracted fan or media person can comprehend. Here are eight writing tips to help you get your band's point across faster using e-mail. It's all in my latest column at GarageBand.com.
posted by Bob Baker 9:21 AM

Sunday, December 10, 2000

7 Fresh Indie Music Contacts

David Wimble is the smart guy behind The Indie Musician's Contact Bible. The latest edition features more than 4,000 places (many of them online) that will either play your music, review it or let you post info about your band. Wimble continuously compiles new resources.

Here are several of the latest:

Through These Eyes
http://www.throughtheseeyes.net/
A hardcore music site dedicated to showcasing new bands and keeping the public informed with news, reviews, etc.

These Boots!
http://www.geocities.com/theseboots66/
Web and paper-based bimonthly publication from Australia. Genres: ska, punk, hardcore. "We love DIY bands!"

Here and There
http://members.aol.com/bookermps/
"We are reviewing anything and everything that comes our way, and then posting it with information on how to find those hard to find CDs that Sam Goody never has in stock."

DWM Music Comp
http://www.DWMmusic.com/
DWM Music is devoted to bringing the work of independent musicians focusing on American-styled, roots/early rock based music to audiences worldwide.

Buzz Emporium
http://www.buzzemporium.com/
An online distributor of indie music. "We offer a free monthly newsletter featuring our buzz artist of the month. A great way to get free promotion for your band."

Reno Bands
http://www.Renobands.com/
Reno bands is a service that offers independent musical artists with free places to post links to their site add pictues tour dates and much much more.

Tin Foil Music
http://music.tinfoil.net/
A free service to allow bands, musicians and the musically inclined to post information and mp3s and talk to fellow musicians.

Want to get your hands on about 4,000 more listings like these? Go here.
posted by Bob Baker 3:16 PM

Tuesday, December 05, 2000

The Snowballing Effect of Online PR

In my Nov. 21 weblog post I talked about how impressed I was with indie singer/songwriter John Taglieri and how he used a focused, low-cost, guerrilla approach to establish a name for himself on the Internet. I was so intrigued by his accomplishments (selling 2,000 CDs, landing an Ovation sponsorship deal, etc.) that I wrote a two-part story about him in my GarageBand.com / GetSigned.com column. Read part 1 and part 2 now if you missed it.

John was thrilled with the coverage and sent me a thank-you note. But he didn't stop there. I just found a press release posted on the Mi2n site with the headline "John Taglieri Featured In Two-Part Series At GetSigned.com!" This demonstrates a key marketing philosophy: When you get media exposure, the game doesn't end there. Instead, you're presented with another opportunity. Always use coverage in one media outlet to get coverage through another.

Also, since John (or his PR person) has taken this extra step, a lot of people benefit. He gets more exposure, his sponsors get more exposure, I get more exposure for my music biz advice, GetSigned.com gets more exposure. Plus, I'm writing about him again right now. Everybody wins!

What steps are you taking today to become a winner?
posted by Bob Baker 10:32 AM

Sunday, December 03, 2000

Rocking the Big Apple

Sandi from NY Rock sent a note letting me know about the cool content and services available on the site. "We have a classified section where musicians can advertise their web sites, shows, etc. for free." Not all areas of the site are New York-related only. For instance, NY Rock also reviews CDs of unsigned artists from around the world. Submission details are at the bottom of the review pages.
posted by Bob Baker 5:47 PM

Saturday, December 02, 2000

Looking for Exposure in Austin, TX?

The Downtown Austin Rotary Club is looking for acoustic musicians to perform a half-hour set in front of 250-plus Austin business leaders. The performances are 11:30 am to 12 noon. The organization can supply a keyboard, mike and sound system. There's no pay, but you'll be treated to a free lunch, can place business cards and brochures on each table, sell your CDs and shamelessly plug your projects. If interested, contact Anders Rasmussen by e-mail at anderasmus@aol.com.
posted by Bob Baker 10:34 AM