The X-Factor In Music Uncovered Reveals The Anatomy Of Hit Songs

What makes a great song? A catchy melody? Definitely. Killer lyrics? Possibly. But if you really want to know what helped Mark Ronson shift 14 million copies of Uptown Funk in an age where piracy and streaming rule, research suggests you may have to dig a little deeper.

Click to read more ...

8 Reasons To Enter A Band Competition

Band contests don’t pay, but can be useful if they fit in your plan to invest in your band.

Click to read more ...

BRASH! Magazine 2016

BRASH! - A Music Marketing Blog started in 2012. This blog was designed to provide music marketing tips for Independent Artists as well as provide a platform for exposure by giving exclusive interviews and social media promotions. In 2016, BRASH! is ready to expand to the magazine scene but we need your help. In order to bring this to life we are accepting donations to design, create, and develop a Music Marketing Magazine to increase exposure and awareness for quality Indie Artists. Funds raised will be used for staff memebers (writers, graphics artists, events etc.) as well as the development for the magazine’s platform, both online and print.

Click to read more ...

The Ultimate Gig Booking Guide | Phosphene Productions

Booking regular shows is an essential part of being a musician when expecting to be heard by the public, and a question we here at Phosphene Productions get asked a lot about. Though everyone has their own technique when it comes to finding the perfect show, many artists new to the scene should devise a “template” to work by and to keep yourself organized when contacting so many different people.

Our goal in this article is to give you a sort of template to use when beginning to develop your own booking strategy, and by the end you should have all the necessary information to kick off your gig.

Click to read more ...

How to Master Confidence On-Stage in 3 Easy Steps

If you have ever held back in a performance and left the stage feeling that you know you could have done better and can’t understand why you didn’t just go for it, then you will get what I mean when I say that confidence on stage can be the difference between a fantastic performance and a lacklustre one.

Yet confidence is one of the things that so many singers struggle with and it is something that is never really talked about. You’re just expected to be born awesome and put on a great show and not doubt yourself, but there isn’t a musician alive who wouldn’t doubt at least one aspect of their performance.

Just as stage craft, musicianship and songwriting are skills that are learned, confidence is no different. Let’s have a closer look at how you can master confidence on stage if you break it down into three easy steps:

Click to read more ...

Post-Show Procedures: 8 Things Every Band Should Do After the Performance

Do you have a post-show plan? Is there a set of procedures that you work on after each performance? Or, does your band simply work on the next upcoming event – the next show, the next rehearsal, time in the studio, etc.?

In almost every professional endeavor, there is some kind of routine or review period to measure performance or follow-up with customers:

• In sports, the coach diligently sits down with the entire team to review footage of the previous game. Team member celebrate successes and most importantly, look for areas of improvement.

• In corporate business, the board of directors and executive staff look over stock performance and make decisions to keep their shareholders satisfied.

• In the arts, performers carefully review each element of the show to see what delighted audiences and what could use work.

Click to read more ...

Need help winning Joe Bonamassa's Blues Masters Competition

Hello my name is Hollaman Lindsay and I am asking all of you to see if you can possibly aid me in my attempt to win Joe Bonamassa’s Blues Masters Competition. The first round for this contest is based off of viral popularity and how many views and shares your audition video gets, now I aint sayin that I cant generate that many views and shares because I dont have the talent, Its just that I live in Hiram Georgia and we got more stock in rakes then we do computers so its hard for me to find many people around me to support it. So I am inquiring you to see if you can help me get my name out there and get my audition video views and shares because if I can get past this first round and make it to guitar duals I think I got it made in the shade.

Click to read more ...

From Graduate to Professional Musician: How To Kick Start Your Career

Studying music at University level is the ultimate double edged sword. Whilst the prospect of spending three years practising, rehearsing, writing and networking is both exciting and fun, finding employment after graduating is an altogether different prospect.

Click to read more ...

10 Steps Ever Artist Must Take to Promote Their Tour

Do you have a tour or one-off show coming up? Let’s talk about how to promote it.

Now, I understand that there are many debates on where the responsibility of promoting lies (some argue the venue/promoter, some argue the artist). Those debates aside, let me say this: the time and money that goes into strategically promoting your shows will always provide a good return on investment. Who doesn’t want to gain a reputation as a hard-working artist willing to do nearly whatever it takes to make the show a success?

Click to read more ...

Creating a Booking Contract or Performance Agreement

Last week, I received several questions about bands or venues cancelling last minute and what the repercussions were. Between that and taking law classes at night, I’ve had a lot of contracts on the mind. Hopefully this will help answer some of your questions about band contracts, if you need them, and how to create one.

I’ll cover some of the more popular questions below:

Click to read more ...

Music Without Labels Seeking Submissions for New Web Series!

Hello Everyone!

I am the spokesperson for Music Without Labels & Beat-Play LLC.  MWL is an umbrella for many music projects, ideas and conversation. The MWL Live just wrapped up a on a 15,000 mile cross-country video tour covering the hottest summer musicians and artists across the country. We featured several great bands such as Portugal. The Man, Datsik, The Lonely Forest, Yann Tiersen, Carina Round, Vintage Trouble, Dry the River, Washed Out, Gardens & Villa, Fun. and many more! Check out the MWL Live Tour 2012 videos here. 

Click to read more ...

Lifetime Opportunity to Open Concert for Kunal Ganjawala

Kunal Ganjawala, one of the greatest singers alive is all set to perform at Shivamogga. Here is your chance to open the concert for the great singer and your chance to meet face to face with him.

Click to read more ...

6 Ways to Put on a Great Live Show

Last month I took in the Jane’s Addiction concert at Massey Hall in Toronto. It was a great event and a fantastic show which started with a frenzy and built its way towards an all out love fest. Regardless of what you think of Jane’s Addiction as a band, as individuals or of their music, it is undeniable that they put on a great and memorable live show. So let’s take a look at what your band can learn from one the best in the business.

Click to read more ...

True Entertainer OR Master of Smoke and Mirrors from BRASH! - A Music Marketing Blog

I have tuned into various award shows, concerts, and talk show performances displayed by artists. The performances that I love the most are when artists show their TRUE self whether it’s the dance skills amazing or just a microphone and a piano expressing their inner selves with. However, some artists take advantage of high technology, background dancers, and major effects using it to mask their lack of talent. As a devoted entertainment fan, it’s easy to tell the difference.

In this industry artists are charged with the task of entertaining. With that in mind, some feel that pulling out all stops to perform a good show along with creating a massive buzz for the media to cover is the way to go.

Click to read more ...