on Nov 2nd, 2007Music As A Business - Practical Tips On How To Get Heard
If you are a musician, it is natural that you want other people to hear your work. The general route would be to send demos to music labels in the hopes of getting signed. This, however, can be a long and tedious process and only a small percentage of musicians end up getting that sought after contract.There are other considerations for not going down that track. Creative freedom is one of those. Whilst some labels allow you to make the music you want and give you room for experimentation, others do not like taking risks. You might end up being nudged in the direction of commercially safe projects.
Although record labels can certainly help you make money, they also need to earn their investments back. This means they will take their share. Some contracts are fair, others don’t leave you with much. It must be said that the majority of labels will give artists an honourable deal, but it’s best to keep both eyes wide open.When you sign up to a label, expectations will be placed on you. Depending on your contract, you will be expected to create a certain amount of tracks or albums within a set time span. This is fair, and many artists are able to work within these deadlines. Other artists don’t deal so well with that pressure, and would like more freedom to just make music when inspiration strikes.
If a label is not for you, or if you are hoping for a contract but you want your music out there now, there are plenty of opportunities to start your own little music business from the comfort of your home.
First of all, you will need to register with the organisation that deals with licences and royalties in your country. In the UK, this is the MCPS-PRS Alliance. This alliance ensures that every time your music is being played, for example on radio or television, the organisation using your music will pay a fee and you will receive your royalties.
One way to get your music heard is through the traditional route of gigs and sets, often starting within your own area. Performances, even if in a small club, get you in touch with your target audience and allow people to provide you with instant feedback. The more you play, the more your name gets out and the more venues will request your return.
Another great way to get your name out these days is the Internet. Creating your own website is helpful because it gives fans a way to find you, to see what you are up to, to find out where you will play next and, if you so choose, you could allow people to purchase your tracks online.
Just about every artist is found on social networks these days. Websites such as MySpace have a huge member base. Some artists’ careers have properly launched through their profiles on such sites, because people discovered them, listened to their music, liked what they heard and told their friends. Record companies look there for the next big artist. The more others are seen to enjoy your work, the more interest from the music industry you will receive.
Such sites will allow you to upload your tracks and for people to get a preview of your work. Additional players can be added. Some of those will allow you to set a price for your tracks, and offer shopping services. It’s a great way of making a bit of money through your music. Before choosing such a player, have a look around at the options available. They tend to charge a commission, so you will need to look at their terms and conditions to allow you to receive the best possible deal.
One of the most popular places for downloading music is, of course, iTunes. iTunes welcomes new and unsigned artists. You can submit your tracks to them, and once they are approved, people can download them off the site. With iTunes doing good business, even if you only receive a small amount of money per download, it can add up. Plus, again, it gets your name out.
Downloads also influence the charts these days, so you never know… you might end up in the Top 40 if you are lucky.
If you have all this set up, it doesn’t hurt to print some flyers and business cards. The designs can be simple, but make sure to include your website and/or MySpace, so that people can come and check you out. Bring them to gigs. When your audience enjoys your music, they will more than likely look you up online.
Music is a strange business to work in, but it can be a lot of fun. Once everything is up and running, you get to concentrate on what you love best - making music. And that’s the most rewarding aspect of it all.
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