How Musicians Can Build An Email List From Scratch

It’s fairly common knowledge today that email is among the most effective and affordable marketing tools. So let’s not waste any time with a bunch of statistics to prove what you already know.

Instead, let’s dive right into how to get started with email marketing.

The first thing you need is a list of email addresses to send your clever emails to. It might seem a bit daunting if you have no email list, but fear not - here are some simple tips on how to build an email list from scratch.

Click to read more ...

5 Ways To Market Your Music To New Fans

Building a fan base for your music is often the hardest obstacle to overcome as an independent artist. As artists, we tend to feel that the music should speak for itself, but that leads to an endless cycle of us releasing music and getting no response. Learning how to promote your music is the best thing you can do to build your career without having to worry about pitching music industry gatekeepers. Here are five strategies you can use to market your music and get more fans.

Click to read more ...

How To Use Merch To Engage Your Fans

Fan engagement and direct-to-fan are hot topics these days because it’s finally come to light that fans are the real gatekeepers in the music business. And by now we should also know that merchandise is one of the surefire ways that artists can make solid money today. Like most other revenue streams for artists, being successful at your merch biz is highly dependent on your fans. The good news is that in addition to being a cash generator, your merch can actually be used as a fan engagement tool. When you’re using your merch to engage your fans, they’ll feel connected to you.  When they feel connected and as if they are part of your journey, they will be likely to buy more. So how exactly can you use merch to engage your fans? Here are five ways:

Click to read more ...

8 Reasons Why Artist To Fan Social Apps Work

The big social networks should be seen as the top of the funnel in converting your followers into dedicated fans. Here are the top 8 reasons you should use a GigRev Powered direct-to-fan micro-community platform to build a digital fan club and bring fans closer.

Click to read more ...

In Defense Of The Facebook Group: Fostering Community And Engagement In Music Through Connections Online

In addition to the industry as a whole, Facebook also has a part in our personal connections to music – both in our local communities and music scenes and across the globe. And, one of the easiest ways to connect and interact with like-minded people on Facebook is through groups. For example, you may, like myself, be a member of the emo group Americ anFootballposting.  

 

The very existence of groups like these provides several benefits to musicians, fans, professionals, and hobbyists alike. They help foster a sense of community within the scene, increase engagement with music, and allow people to do what they’re ultimately on this planet to: make connections. 

Click to read more ...

Everyone Wants To Build Their Fanbase

I ask everyone who joins my email list at HTSR what the single, biggest, most important thing that they are worried about or trying to do when they are making or releasing music, and here’s a selection of responses (these are actual quotes):

Click to read more ...

15 Ways to Get More Music Fans

This post was written by Lisa Occhino and originally appeared on the Bandzoogle Blog

They say you need a thousand true fans to build a sustainable music career. But getting those first few diehard fans who play such a crucial role in building momentum can feel almost impossible when you’re just starting out.

There are dozens and dozens of ways to get more fans for your music, but it’s ultimately going to come down to your level of commitment and finding the right balance of tactics that works best for your personal music career strategy.

The list below isn’t exhaustive, of course, but if you nail these 15 essentials, you’ll be well on your way to getting more music fans.

Click to read more ...

10 Easy Ways To Support Your Favorite Bands

A fan of Giant Panda Guerrilla Dub Squad recently asked “Wouldn’t you, the band, make more profit if I order a CD instead of getting it from iTunes, where a large portion of it goes to Apple?”

First of all, hats off to @marino2210 for asking such a thoughtful and considerate question.  It’s a simple and powerful reminder that most people want to do good and support the things they love.  Thank you.

To answer the question…

Click to read more ...

Yeah, Only 13 Year Old Girls Like That Band

I am a muscian who recently read this article on The Guardian about musicians who scoff at their young female fans.  Even before reading it, though, I’ve heard many people elude to it: musicians having young female fans takes away some sort of credibility.  I even accepted this to be true as a teen girl myself, while listening to a song on repeat for hours, obsessing over every word and its possible meaning, and becoming entwined with the music and personal life of the artist.  It seemed that any musician on a poster in my room instantly and undoubtedly became laughable.  

Click to read more ...

Concert Road Warriors - How To Show Your Affection For Your Favorite Bands

When you go to concerts, it’s more fun if you can find interesting and effective ways to support your favorite bands. It doesn’t matter if these are world famous musicians or simply friends of yours who have started a local band that you want to support. Either way, there are ways to show your loyalty and make the experience of attending concerts more fun for you and your friends.

Click to read more ...