How Musicians Can Ask For Fan Support During The Coronavirus Pandemic

Guest post by Dave Cool. This article originally appeared on the Bandzoogle Blog

The situation around the coronavirus pandemic is changing by the hour, let alone by the day. First SXSW was canceled, and many other festivals and conferences followed suit. Then thousands of live events and tours were postponed through March. 

As of March 15, the CDC is recommending that all live events with more than 50 people be canceled or postponed for the next eight weeks. This will have a huge impact on the smaller venues, clubs, and bars that are vitally important for performing artists and bands to earn an income. 

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MusicThinkTank: Call For Submissions!

Thank you to the Music Think Tank community for your committed readership and the insightful content that many of you have shared!

Without your contributions, this website would not exist. If you have something to say about the music industry, we encourage you to consider contributing a post to MTT. Please remember to review the submission guidelines posted on the MTT open page before posting.

MusicThinkTank: Call For Submissions

How Has The #MeToo Movement Impacted The Music Industry?

Though the phrase “me too” was first used by sexual assault survivor Tarana Burke in 2006, it wasn’t until 2017 when actress Alyssa Milano tweeted and encouraged others to use the hashtag #MeToo if they were victims of sexual assault. That was the hashtag that officially made the phrase “me too” into a movement.” As of 2018, #MeToo had been used on Twitter over 19 million times. 

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Hit Songs Deconstructed: The State Of The Hot 100 Top 10

This comprehensive 100+ page report provides critical insight into the compositional trends shaping the songs that chart in the Billboard Hot 100 Top 10 and the artists, writers, producers and labels behind them.

A few highlights from the 2019 report include:

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MusicThinkTank Weekly Recap: Gig Calculator & More

• Adam Mezzatesta | Free Gig Quote Calculator For Musicians And Bands
• Lizzie Weakley | Recording From Home? 4 Ways To Upgrade Your Set-Up
• Ashley Wilson  | 5 Tech Essentials For Starting Audio Streaming
• Anica Oaks | 4 Ways To Troubleshoot Your Home Sound System

Free Gig Quote Calculator For Musicians And Bands

As with any business, life as a working musician can involve some pretty monotonous and repetitive tasks, which quite frankly we could all do without.

At Bands For Hire agency we’ve built our internal systems to reduce the boring everyday administrative chores and spend more time on what really matters. For you, that means more time writing music, rehearsing and marketing your original music - for us it means more time with clients and doing the things we love such as creating content, listening to new acts and well… developing helpful little tools.

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Recording From Home? 4 Ways To Upgrade Your Set-Up

Whether you’re creating your next album or a weekly podcast, these four upgrades can make your recordings sound more polished.

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5 Tech Essentials For Starting An Audio Streaming Channel

Streaming eliminates the need to download large media files, which means you save storage space for other stuff like games and documents.

One fall out is that streaming may be interrupted due to various factors, which results in negative user experience – driving your audience away.

With the right equipment though you can ensure a seamless flow. The rest depends on the quality of your content.

Here, therefore, is a checklist of essential equipment you will need for setting up an audio or video streaming channel.

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4 Ways To Troubleshoot Your Home Sound System

If you enjoy music, then a home sound system is one of the best ways to truly experience your favorite tunes. Sometimes, however, you may encounter trouble with your sound system, which can quickly become frustrating if it’s not quickly resolved.

Rather than becoming angry, though, there are some simple steps you can take to troubleshoot your sound system and identify the source of the problem. To avoid an unpleasant listening experience, here are four ways to troubleshoot your home sound system.

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MusicThinkTank Weekly Recap: House Shows & More

• Sam Bowman  | How To Prepare A Space For House Shows
  
• Dan Matthews | Music Of The Heart
• Wallace Collins  | Legal Basics For DIY Artists And Musicians
• Magnolia Potter | Sustainable Moving & Living Tips For Musicians

How To Prepare A Space For House Shows

House shows are always popular with traveling musicians, both for those with an existing fanbase or those who want to build a fanbase. For musicians, house shows are a way to reach a new audience, connect with other musicians and those who support them, and maybe even get a few extra perks along the way — like financial support or a place to stay for the night. 

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Music Of The Heart: Partnerships With Nonprofits And Advocacy Groups Can Lead To Growth For Everyone

Music is your heart. It’s your soul. It’s your blood. The air that you breathe. The thing that gets you up in the morning. And building your music career is your life’s purpose. It’s what you devote all your time, energy, and effort to.

But giving your all to your music doesn’t mean you can’t also give to your community. In fact, as a musician, you have an incredible opportunity not only for supporting your band’s success but also for making a difference in the world as you do it. You have a public voice, one that’s growing stronger every day. 

Who better to use that voice for people who don’t have a voice? How better to build your band’s image while you draw fans to your cause? In this article, we will explore the amazing partnerships that can develop between musicians and advocacy groups, the incredible force for change that such an alliance can become.

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Legal Basics For DIY Artists And Musicians

Under US copyright law, copyright (literally, the right to make and sell copies) automatically vests in the creator the moment the expression of an idea is “fixed in a tangible medium” (in other words, the moment you write it down, type it or record it). With respect to music specifically, there are actually two copyrights: a copyright in the musical composition or song owned by the songwriter and a sound recording copyright in the sound of the recording owned by the recording artist (but usually transferred to the record company when a record deal is signed). It is important to remember that you own the copyright in your work the moment you write it down or record it, and you can only transfer those rights by signing a written agreement to transfer them. Therefore, you must be wary of any agreement you are asked to sign. 

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Sustainable Moving & Living Tips For Musicians

As a musician, your career probably demands that you move around frequently, especially if you’re still getting established. But how sustainable are each of those moves that you make? Every move consumes fuel, packing materials, and more, and moving isn’t the most sustainable, eco-friendly activity to begin with. 

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