How Can We Market Your Band Today, With Success?
Posted on Mar.29, 2010
Let’s talk about new inventive ways for an artist (in the music industry today) to create a following and revenue. In my own personal opinion, traditional marketing tactics have drastically changed leaving old school methods of “creating a local or even national buzz” useless to a large degree.
I remember sitting at Kinko’s night after night making new flyers (several 1,000 copies!) Today, we have home computers and printers to make this task quite a bit easier! Unfortunately… where can you staple up a flyer today!?! Due to major changes in the music industry, most “record” stores have closed their door. Perhaps a good reply to this would be myspace, although from my recent findings, myspace has become more of a cesspool of spam rather an ideal place for picking up a fan base!
I really feel like the usual “e-mail blast” is not as effective either. I realize more and more people are utilizing social media sites like “facebook & twitter”, but what past methods can still be put to use? And aside from that, what other roads can today’s musician or band travel to create individuality in this highly competitive internet based world?
I’m hoping to create a “hub of industry info” for new voyagers in this crazy modern music business we have at our disposal today”. So please, give your thoughts ( as always ALL COMMENTS are welcome), lets create a “depot of new inventive ways to market yourself in the present music industry ”.
Thoughts?
March 31st, 2010 on 4:08 pm
Yes – that face to face stuff is PRICELESS! Once upon a time I went to a Beck concert and went from car to car to try and sell CDs. I met HUNDREDS of people and sold dozens of CDs. I was also offered lots of free beer, shots, and drugs. I actually ran into one of the people I sold a CD to at the show you put together at the Bullfrog (Tim). What is good about something like that is they can TOTALLY buy into your enthusiasm. . .
I also wanted to say that though Facebook is the social networking site du jour Myspace still has MILLIONS of people that login every day. I wouldn’t discount it as a resource but its good to realize what the hottest sites are.
I got a lot out of this thread – and I hope that other people join in.
~eMpyre ramireX
March 31st, 2010 on 3:00 am
eMpyre-
You are absolutely right…be CREATIVE. Although, sometimes I feel as though we are in an age where “it feels like everything has already been done!!”.. lol. In reality we all know that, that is far from true. I do want to say that I really like your “detour like” promotions of hitting the comic book conventions to become more widely visible.
I find myself promoting heavily on myspace and a smaller amount on facebook. I still use “email blast” as a monthly part of my “hand to hand combat”. But more recently I took it to the streets… by this I mean, I literally went door to door introducing myself and my Recording Studio to local businesses (music related). It was allot of fun to actually talk face to face with allot of interesting people from the tri-city area! Not that any of this should come as a surprise, lol. It was a nice break from “Cyber-Promoting”.
I learned allot about marketing in general, I recommend it!
Aside from that I do want to personally thank each of you for contributing to this site. Both of you have been in the business for quite some time, and have lots of insight to offer!
Thanks again!
Tim
March 30th, 2010 on 11:03 pm
I remember a few years back stating that there were like 4 main types of marketing and promotion and that strong success in any of them could pave the way for record sales. . . but now there are more “main” types of marketing and promotion.
Radio (CMJ, FMQB, Billboard), Press Reviews, Live Shows, Street Teams, Film and Video licensing, and now social networking sites (Facebook, Twitter).
Radio is still strong – however fewer and fewer people read print media and more people are reading online reviews and blogs. Street teams have largely been replaced by social networking sites. . .so you could still categorize everything into 3 or 4 categories. . . and lets not forget WOM (Word of Mouth).
To me what is important to not have that “bombardment” effect is to target very carefully. . and as Tim pointed out making the things you do say very compelling. I find that people are a lot less “annoyed” if they come to your site whatever it may be and like what you’ve drawn them there for.
. . .and of course persistence helps. Doing all the work and meeting people and making connections at shows always helps (unless you are a jerk).
I thought that you guys were going to say this a few times in your posts – but the final thing that I would say is BE CREATIVE. Come up with new marketing strategies. Try and think of things that the other people aren’t doing. I myself promote heavily at comic book conventions. . .and have industry artists draw up things I can use on fliers.
~eMpyre
March 29th, 2010 on 2:47 pm
Tim wrote: Thanks for your comments Ryan! Everything you have stated, is to me, great news! Social media web sites seem to be today’s mainstream formula to reaching or creating a new fan base. My main question for you is, do you find that people are now treating your attempts (on such sites as facebook) to “rope them in” to listen to your new song or to attend one of your shows, as spam… ? Has it gotten to the point where already …it is not as effective?
Ryan wrote: DEFINITELY! MAYBE! WELL, IT ACTUALLY KIND OF DEPENDS. YOU NEED TO “BOMBARD” WITH ADVERTISING. BUT ON THE OTHER HAND YOU RISK BEING AN ANNOYANCE. PEOPLE MAY MARK YOU AS SPAM. ON THE OTHER HAND, IF PEOPLE REALLY ARE INTERESTED IN YOUR STUFF, THEY WILL READ IT. THE BASIC QUESTION IS, ARE YOUR POSTS ANNOYING OR INTRIGUING?
Tim wrote: On average, do you find that “one particular site” is the place to be for a growing musician? Do you find that these social media sites have significantly added to the attendance at your personal showcases, or sales of a new CD?
Ryan: YES! THE FIRST IS FACEBOOK ALL THE WAY, BABY (FOR NOW ANYWAYS)! AND OF COURSE MY ANNOYING BOMBARDMENT OF EMAIL BEFORE A SHOW SEEMS TO DRAW SOME FOLKS TOO.
March 29th, 2010 on 1:44 pm
Thanks for your comments Ryan! Everything you have stated, is to me, great news! Social media web sites seem to be today’s mainstream formula to reaching or creating a new fan base. My main question for you is, do you find that people are now treating your attempts (on such sites as facebook) to “rope them in” to listen to your new song or to attend one of your shows, as spam… ? Has it gotten to the point where already …it is not as effective?
On average, do you find that “one particular site” is the place to be for a growing musician? Do you find that these social media sites have significantly added to the attendance at your personal showcases, or sales of a new CD?
Thanks again for joining in! I’d like to see as many people taking part. You know what they say…two heads are better than one! The more people that have something to add, the more information we can collectively bring together for new musicians getting into this crazy music business! In fact, if anyone is interested in offering new topics…I’m all about it!
Rock on!
Tim Smith
The Soundscape Recording Studio
March 29th, 2010 on 7:34 am
Networking:
I’ve found FaceBook to be the new standard for networking and advertising my events. It’s a great site for networking, but in all honesty, it’s merely the site du jour. Something else will eventually come up that works better. A few months ago, it was MySpace helping me to generate my fan base. The consensus is that MySpace has pretty much gone the way of the dinosaur. It is only a matter of time before we’re flying to the gig on our jetpacks as we transmit to our fans via cranially-mounted ESP transmitters. Perhaps before that happens we’ll more realistically be using another form of high-tech networking (4D goggles, anyone). The point: As artists, not only is it our responsibility to develop NEW music, but also to utilize NEW resources ultimately to enhance our art, and NOT get stuck with the soup (er, I mean, site) of the day…
But the fact of the matter is the same: there is no one-size-fits-all approach to marketing your music. Artists must utilize an aggregation of available resources: Local music networking sites (like the Michigan Musicians Collective), Craigslist (no casual encounters here!), FaceBook, Twitter, traditional email, and of course, the oldest form of advertisement, word of mouth. And above all, you have to hustle!
Ryan Enderle
http://www.313Jazz.com
Email: contact@313jazz.com