September 15, 2012 
The Music Industry
Thinks Out Loud
MTT News & Announcements tagged MTT community September 13, 2012 Hey guys, this is a follow up to my guide on how to sell your music on iTunes and Amazon MP3. In that guide I looked firstly at the process of digitally distributing your music online, and secondly at what you need to do once your music is on there. This second point I don’t think I looked at in enough detail however, so want to talk more about it today.
While getting your songs and albums on to these big online stores is a good feeling in itself, if you want to actually makes sales of your music, getting your music on iTunes is only a small part of what you need to do. Let me explain.
September 12, 2012 If you hold the belief that it is ‘wrong’ to try to make money with your musical talents, do not read any further…simply close this page now.
For those of you who have decided to continue reading….welcome. Fact is, the majority of musicians want to have a career in music. However, these musicians also doubt their abilities to make good money in music, and fear that they will not be able to support themselves. Unfortunately, these people end up pursuing non-music jobs where they work full time and despise every time they go to clock in. This is all done out of the idea that a ‘normal job’ is safe and secure, while a music related career is highly risky with little security. This is one of the very most common misconceptions that I see ALL THE TIME while training musicians to succeed in their careers!
September 11, 2012 The digital revolution came seemingly overnight. It crept into our living rooms, bedrooms, and court rooms. The moment that Metallica sued Napster, the point-of-no-return hit. We’re on a crash course with a digital destiny, and there are many artists who are adapting beautifully.
Take Louis C.K. for example. He revolutionized the standup comedy business with his tech savvy tour. He still made millions, and he got lower ticket prices for his fans. All he had to do was a little bit of extra work by calling each of the venues and setting up contracts with them individually. Not too much to ask for $4.5 million.
September 10, 2012 Why Your Band Needs an App
It’s no secret that the world of music has changed over the past decade. In fact, there’s no aspect of writing, recording, distributing and marketing music that hasn’t changed. While some bands may be actively seeking major label success, the truly inventive bands are working hard on every aspect of their music, including promotion. This is largely because today’s independent musician is truly independent. They often produce, record and promote their music without the help of a record producer or PR company.
Branding tagged mobile, mobile apps, mobile marketing September 8, 2012
The Music Industry
Thinks Out Loud
MTT News & Announcements tagged MTT community September 5, 2012 As technology becomes an ever increasing part of our daily lives, the way we interact with the things we label as entertainment evolve as well. Whether substituting regular cable for Netflix or curating a coveted music playlist with Spotify, the consumer is consciously changing the way companies market to them. With the focus of most marketing initiatives shifting from web 2.0 to the era of data collection and mobile, it should be noted that most marketing initiatives and the archaic ways we try to get fans or consumers to engage with the product should follow suit. It’s no longer okay to just have a Facebook page where posts are made on a somewhat normal basis or a Twitter account where a tweet lives for thirty seconds. The shift to mobile and data collection has seen an increase in how fans want to be not only engaged with but to have the content of engagement be compelling.
September 4, 2012 This morning, I read an article that talked about how hot dog manufacturers have been closing six to seven digit sponsorship deals left and right, especially with local football and baseball teams. I immediately thought: how could a partnership like that be beneficial for everyone if my band got involved?
When I first wrote How to Get Sponsorships and Endorsements, I wanted people to stop thinking of the sponsor relationship as a one way transaction. It isn’t, it is a partnership. Unless you think of an equitable way for everyone involved to benefit from the relationship, you will not create lasting partnerships and you will not attract sponsors. People are starting to understand this about social media (it’s about conversation, interaction, engagement not just promotion), but that concept still hasn’t hit home in other areas. So before you go chasing down a company asking for money, really focus on developing these points:
September 3, 2012 1. The 4 Best iPad Apps That Can Make You A Better Musician
2. How To Develop A Hardcore Fan Base
3. Jeff Price Steps Down As Tunecore CEO In An Open Letter
4. Don’t Act Like an Amateur Band
5. Eight Ways To Compose Music More Effectively
6. How to Get Endorsements or Sponsors for your band, tour, record, etc.
7. My Ever Changing Career As A Musician
8. Cures For Writer’s Block
9. How To Get Into SXSW
10. How to Find A Music Manager
MTT News & Announcements tagged MTT community September 1, 2012
The Music Industry
Thinks Out Loud
MTT News & Announcements tagged MTT community August 29, 2012 If you are like me, you probably despise the fact that there is an endless stream of companies that are willing to place ads (through Google) on sites that rip off artists.
Now you can do something about it.
Understanding Copyright Law tagged Copyright August 27, 2012 I’ve written many things about booking, such as a step-by-step guide on booking a tour and a few things on getting into SXSW, but what happens if you don’t have a massive history of touring the country? What if this is a new band and this is your first gig? How do you get started?
Here are some tips on booking your band’s first show:
Going on Tour tagged Live Shows, SXSW, touring August 25, 2012
The Music Industry
Thinks Out Loud
MTT News & Announcements tagged MTT community August 23, 2012 When I was in college, I held several part time jobs to make ends meet. One of those part time jobs was playing guitar at a few restaurants every month. Nothing glamorous, but I was happy to be playing guitar. I started keeping track of how much money I made on those gigs to see if I could justify quitting one of the other part time jobs.
It turns out keeping a detailed list of my music income has served me well over the last 10 years. I was eventually able to justify quitting all of my day jobs and become a full time musician, and since being a full time musician, I’m able to keep a finger on the pulse of my various streams of musician income. Just as a shop owner keeps track of her inventory and carries whatever products are in demand, I’ve been able to assess and adjust my inventory of music jobs that keep me in business.
Over the last 10 years the way I make a living has changed dramatically. I’ve never made a lot of money, but I’ve been able to make more each year despite the changes in the music industry and economy in general. Here’s my method and what I’ve learned along the way.