Hi, I am a musician and I've just gotten into marketing my music. However, I'm really not sure where to start. I was wondering if anyone can suggest a way to get my music out there and known to producers without really risking people stealing the musical ideas or the music itself. I appreciate the help, Thanks
Yea social sites is good way to get connection with music community, check out with the site like bebo.com/myspace/facebook/last.fm, I hope such site would be helpful for you to get around.
I actually run a large new media and marketing company that handles accounts for major record labels and artists. We handle other industries to but focus on what you are talking about essentially. If you have a budget of some type I am sure my company could help you but if you are just starting out with music I suggest you wait minimum a year of trying to market your music on your own. I would focus on the main places such as Youtube and Myspace. These two can get you results and without giving away too much on what we do that works I would also just be creative and try many things because it is always the one with the big idea on how to market their music that makes it big if the music is good not the one who gets friend adders and spams away until people will listen. It is essential that you build a fanbase through the internet and stay in contact with fans but many musicians sales now come from touring and shows where you can sell alot of albums in one place.
And should you start touring, use my services to inform your public that your playing this weekend at such and such. Its a great way to create awareness for such events.
Get a demo going, and canvass for the producers. Also submit them to radio stations to help fill any dead air thay may have. Get a MySapce space going, and other such sites. Put in a few of your songs for them to listen to, how you did it, free advice for others.... Then get a following going.
publish at youtube and ask for copyrights at cafepress.com, I have asked them already about this and they will not directly do t but they will hook you up with exact info on this
I have had good luck advertising my myspace music profile with the plays/views program at spaceviewers.com
Give it (music) away for free! if you have lyrics pm me and I will make a special link on my site to do a search for you. (link in sig)
Thanks for all the replies everyone. I should have mentioned that my music is classical, in a baroque-style, so it's not like a typical garage band or anything. I will definitely consider some these suggestions, like youtube, where I could make like a music video with a mix of different songs. But I suppose my first step is actually getting my music performed- getting in touch with producers and the like. Right now my songs which were made with notation software sit on my computer. ... Actually I suppose I need a budget first in order to have it performed.. but then again I have heard of selling sheet music- I wonder if midi tracks playing in a youtube video would be a good way to advertise sheet music for orquestras/ensembles to buy? hanks for the help.
Sheet music is also a pretty big niche in the music world but is getting smaller by the day. If you are doing classical I would not waste my time with Myspace as no one looks for classical there. I would try to find some niche type social networking websites for classical music. I think with music you just have to be creative and do cross promoting to make it work. Classical might actually help you because there are 10000000 garage bands around promoting their music on the internet but not many classical.
Also just to give you some advice from someone who has been in the music industry on the marketing side for over 5 years now successfully. Do not pay anyone for any services until you start having money coming in unless you have a huge budget to blow. I see so many people giving musicians all kinds of services and none help them get them any closer to reaching their goals.
Hmm, so you think I should not pay a producer to produce my music, primeelite? Can I ask what you think I ought to do? The only promotion I have started so far has been starting an album on jukeboxalive, here: http://www.jukeboxalive.com/audio_play_offsite_message.php?mid=1842087&skin=328589&method=play But again it's all like midi sounds, so I need to have it performed.. I think.
You should try promoting on MySpace. Make a music profile, upload your music, then start adding people from profiles of artists that sound like yourself. Post a few bulletins daily and be sure to comment or message people when they accept the friend requests.
Are you a student? If so, I'd love to feature you and your music on my site (www.dormwise.com). Of course it'd be no charge to be featured, I think it's unique that someone is creating some classical tunes amidst all the garage band stuff out there now
Thanks for the advice Lumberjack.. I'll have to do that. Meaghannf, I would love for that... and no, I am a recent graduate with a degree in Ethnic Studies- music is more of a hobby for me. I'll send you a pm a little later today.