If you're looking to get some more gigs for your band, check out http://www.alivenetwork.com, The UK's largest online music agency. Submit your photo and demo tape and you could be added to their database of bands available for hire through their site.
The number 1 mistake people make when trying to get more traffic to their websites is jumping from technique to technique, not following through with anything, and being lured by the promises that this next technique is truly "the one."Unfortunately, there is no traffic generation technique that is SO good, all others should be dropped. You need to take several techniques, mash them up together, and implement them all consistently.
An example - you use MySpace to generate traffic to your webpage. If you have audio available for people to listen to, wouldn't it also make sense to submit your audio to podcast directories? It's just one more way to leverage the content you already have, to make it available to internet users in as many ways as possible.
The goal here is to put your website, your links, your content, in as many relevant places as possible - thus increasing your chances of people stumbling over it and visiting your site. Simple as that.
Another recently touted traffic-generation website - YouTube. Think about the power of combining your already existing MySpace marketing campaigns with a YouTube campaign, as well as submitting your content (video and audo) through the podcast directories AND other video websites. You've just taken what was a one-shot-deal and turned it into 4 streams of traffic from all over the net pouring into your site.
It's the smart way of using your time and your content as powerfully as possible. Getting people from all over the internet - all over the world - funneling into your website from the little "trail" you've left everywhere - MySpace, YouTube, etc.
We've all heard about bands and singers who create an at-home, no-budget video that they put up on YouTube for their song which catapults their exposure. Making compelling video and getting it on YouTube isn't as hard as you might think. Neither is using YouTube to generate massive amounts of traffic to your website - if you know the key elements of success. Check out EasyTubeTraffic for more info.
While YouTube traffic isn't as hard as one might think, there is more to it then simply uploading a video and waiting for the masses to come. EasyTubeTraffic explains it.Whilst Myspace.com and YouTube are making all the headlines, below are some of the many other companies that can promote your music and maybe even get you a recording contract.
With Promosquad you get points by Promoting artists, rating songs in the jukebox, participating in a poll, find a hot new band…they all get you certain amounts of points that you can then cash in for prizes! Know an unsigned band? (Your own?) You could earn extra points or even a $1000 finders fee as well as great publicity!
is a UK site that pays members to review music. Scout Rooms are the A&R engine room of Slicethepie where anyone can review new music and get paid for it with up to 1,000 artists with 3 tracks each are waiting in each Scout Room for you to rate. The better you are at scouting, the higher your scout star rating and with it the amount you get paid per review.
Slicethepie
Are you looking to professionally record and release an album? If so, Slicethepie is for you.
Slicethepie enables you to raise money to record and market your music. This money comes from your fans who, in return, get lots of benefits and can also share in your financial success. What's more, you will keep all your copyright and publishing rights and will only surrender a small royalty on your music sales.
There are two routes to funding: If you already have a dedicated fanbase of over 5,000 fans then you may be able to go directly to the financing stage, if this is the case then please contact us; alternatively, if you are not yet established, you can join a Slicethepie Arena. Each Arena is divided into 3 stages:
- Scout Room - Up to 1,000 artists enter a Scout Room where music fans give you high quality feedback on your 3 demo tracks.
- Showcase - Up to 20 artists with the best reviews from the Scout Room are then featured in the Showcase.
- Get Financed - All artists who get enough support in the Showcase will receive £15,000 to record an album. Whatever happens, the most popular artist is guaranteed £15,000.
Songcritic.com is a place to get opinions from real music lovers, where fans will download and listen to your songs (driving traffic to your site) and then post their feedback on your tunes. Using this information, it gives you the opportunity to make your music better are give you much needed exposure.
Garageband.com presents a new way for bands to make it big. Their "New Deal" is a way to earn a $250,000 recording contract for your band, and to get constructive feedback from musicians and fans worldwide. You can also sell your CDs through the site and get free gig promotion plus access to expert advice from world class producers like George Martin and Brian Eno and many other essential resources.
Internet Underground Music Archive, IUMA for short is one place to post your music where actual musicians are watching out for you. You have your own URL with your band name first. And a custom web page where you can post all your band info and MP3s, sell CDs, create message boards, fan lists, and of course, get e-mail from your fans - all Free.
Contactmusic.com You provide them with your music preferably as MP3 (although they do accept CDs and tapes). They will then
- act as A&R/Management for your music
- promote it on the Internet
- include it on our chart
- offer it to a potentially worldwide fan base
- put links from our site to your site
- publicise you internationally
and will give you 100% of the operating profit they make for you. No strings attached! Click on "artist signup" at the bottom of their home page for more information.
The Indie Bible: 3500 Publications that will review your CD. 2900 radio stations that will play your music. - David Wimble
Amazon Price: £16.95 Paperback - 305 pages(January 2003)
It's no secret that the Internet is a great way to get your music out to the world. There's only one problem. The Internet is so big it would literally take you THOUSANDS of hours to find all of the places and people that are interested in your music and are willing to help you and your band out. A solution is finally here. It's called The Indie Bible. The Indie Bible (formerly Independent Musican's Contact Bible) will show you where to promote your music, regardless of your musical style, and save you MONTHS of valuable time! The Indie Bible shows you where to get your music reviewed, your songs played, and your CDs sold. Now in its fourth edition, The Indie Bible has 310 pages of valuable contacts and music-related articles.- 2900 Radio Station/Shows
- 3500 Music Review Publications
- 350 CD Vendors/Promoters
- 400 MP3 Sites
- 500 Misc. Resources
- 8000 Total Contacts
Music:
the Business - Ann Harrison
List Price: £20.00 Amazon Price: £18.75
Paperback - 303 pages (6 July, 2000) Virgin Publishing;
ISBN: 0753504332
Essential to everyone who wants to be in the music business, and to everyone already in the music business who wants to broaden their knowledge and put themselves on the fast track to the top, MUSIC - THE BUSINESS tells it like it is. From bedroom demo to arena tour, highlighting the impact and the potential pitfalls of new media and the Internet, MUSIC - THE BUSINESS tells you everything you need to know about how to protect your rights and maximise your earnings. Never before has there been such a comprehensive and easy-to-read guide to the UK music business, written by an insider, a lawyer who has worked full-time in the industry for fifteen years.
Answering all the questions, demystifying all the jargon, revealing the facts behind the headlines and the real figures underlying those multimillion pound deals, MUSIC - THE BUSINESS is the definitive guide to the UK's most happening industry.
In the only major book of it's kind that comprehensively covers music law in the UK, there are fascinating studies of cases involving some of the greatest British stars, including Elton John, Robbie Williams and George Michael. This is the only non-legal textbook that looks at all the leading cases on the music business: how they changed the deals, the contracts and, in some cases, the whole way the music business operates.
MUSIC -THE BUSINESS describes the precedents that have helped shape the body of UK music law as it stands today, but, even more importantly in an age of exponentially rapid technological change, it shows the options for the future.
Written by leading lawyer, Ann Harrison, who heads up the Music Group at one of the biggest and most highly respected entertainment law firms in Britain, MUSIC - THE BUSINESS is the ultimate guide to all the issues facing this exciting industry both now and in the future.
The
Manual: How to Have a Number One the Easy Way -
Bill Drummond, Jimmy Cauty, Jon Savage (Introduction)
Price: £10.00
Paperback - 160 pages 2nd revised edition (30 September,
1998)
Ellipsis London Ltd; ISBN: 1899858652
The
Musician's Guide to Making & Selling Your Own Cds &
Cassettes - by Jana Stanfield (US Publication)
Amazon Price: £12.99
Paperback - 160 pages (August 1997) Writers Digest Books;
ISBN: 0898798086
Jana Stanfield shows you how to produce your own albums and make your own music career. You don't need a shelf full of Grammys to be a successful songwriter, singer or musician. Here, you'll learn how to define your own "outrageous success" and how to have the musical freedom that comes along with producing your own albums.
Jana Stanfield is a triple-platinum singer/songwriter whose songs have been recorded by Reba McEntire, Andy Williams, Gary Morris, John Schneider and Suzy Bogguss.
How
to Make and Sell Your Own Recording - by Diane Sward
Rapaport, Loreena McKennitt (US Publication)
Amazon Price: £20.63
Paperback - 258 pages 5 edition (April 19, 1999) Prentice
Hall; ISBN: 0139239472
This is the latest, up-to-date information on such broad items as selling on the Internet through download or through amazon.com; pricing wholesale; what to put on the record label; web site design needs; pre-mastering; microphones and much more. At the end are a series of work pages on promotion, sales, graphic design, plus resources like trade publications and directories. This . . . should get your career in order and on a much faster track. This is as good as it gets in straightforward, clear, complete how-to-do-music books for pros or beginners.
2002
Song Writer's Market : 1,300 Places to Market Your
Songs Ian C. Bessler (Editor) (US Publication)
Amazon Price: £14.30
Paperback - 518 pages (October 2000) Writer's Digest Books; ISBN: 0898799805
This guide to places to market songs includes listings for record companies, music publishers, managers, booking agents and record producers, as well as 50 contests and awards, and 2000 phone numbers, e-mail addresses and Web sites, and information on understanding copyright laws.
Everything
You'd Better Know About the Record Industry - by
Kashif, Gary Greenberg (US Publication)
Amazon Price £25.01
Hardcover (December 1996) Brooklyn Boy Books; ISBN: 1885726031
Everything You'd Better Know About the Record Industry is "must" reading for anyone seeking to engage the music business professionally. Everything You'd Better Know About The Record Industry is about how to find success in the music business and how to make money doing it. by answering all the questions -- especially those that the novice wouldn't even know to ask! Included are over 150 pages of contracts and their explanatory notes, information on obtaining recording and publishing deals, understanding how royalties are calculated, choosing the right manager, and what it takes to start your own record company. Comprehensive and comprehensible, this is an urgently recommended addition to the reference shelves of every music department and community library collection.
'The Serious Writers Guild' at www.makehits.com gives you the chance to learn how the real Pros in the business make their music earn that elusive Dosh! All the secrets, know-how, techniques, tricks, and sheer knowledge are given to songwriters/composers who want to take this Business seriously. Not for the faint hearted, this site plays host to ‘The Serious Writers Guild’ hosted by Dec Cluskey, whose UK based band ‘The Bachelors’ outsold The Beatles in 1965, just released their 60th album, with Number Ones, gold and platinum albums, Dec is now THE GURU of the Recording Industry.
Learn how ‘Deeajay’ has just signed with EMI. Learn how ‘Indian Rope Man’ got his first chance (yes, through Dec), learn how Derek sold 100,000 of his first album after joining the Guild with Dec.
Check it out....could be the best ‘click’ you ever made! Get in touch direct with Dec: dec@makehits.com.
Organisations
Musicians Union - over 100 years of service to musicians of all types.
Performing Rights Society - the UK association of composers, songwriters and music publishers. It administers the 'performing right' in their music.
Phonographic Performance Limited - a music industry collecting society representing over 2,000 record companies, from the large multinationals to the small independents. They collect licence fees from broadcast and public performance users on behalf of the record companies. This licence fee revenue, after deduction of running costs, is then distributed to their record company members and to performers.
If you're looking for replication services but also quality at the right price, on time and the chance to speak to people, not robots then Breed Media is certainly worth a look.
Additionally, Breed Media has taken steps to ensure its impact on the Earth is reduced by investing in Carbon Neutral projects across the globe on their customers' behalf. 1% of the cost of every order goes to Carbon Neutral projects - including Renewable Energy, Energy Efficiency, Methane Capture and Forestry - and all emissions offsetting is verified by 3rd parties to ensure promises are kept.
They also do lots more besides, like ensuring suppliers use recycled goods and continue to recycle as much as possible, and that they commit to eco-friendly innovations, and by recycling all non-confidential material their office generates.
Anda La Musica is an excellent example of how to promote your own work by creating your own site.
Musicguard offer specialist insurance for musicians, bands, orchestras, recording studios, sound engineers etc. Lowest prices guaranteed plus £5 off when you take out a policy online.
Rhyming Dictionaries - you'll find a selection here
www.vocalist.co.uk is a great site for singers, whether you have a passion for pop, jazz or opera and are a happy amateur, budding wannabe or seasoned professional. Includes an extensive list of useful links and noticeboards to exchange ideas and information.
The Moby Project is a free Mobile Recording Studio project for the disabled who might otherwise be unable to fulfil their dream to make a recording. It will operate from an HGV type vehicle, or Portable Cabin transported to a pre-arranged area for a limited time period. They need expert assistance to create a great studio, and to help raise funds and are inviting the music industry, and celebrities to involve themselves in helping the disabled express their creative talent. Disability Projects, Groups, Organisations, and Individuals are invited to make this project a success. This is the first of its kind and as such is a ground breaking venture that they hope will reach across the UK.
Highly Strung is a fast mail-order service for guitar strings (and other instruments) and accessories. Based in Oxfordshire in the UK they will ship anywhere in the world.
Cops With over 20 years of experience supplying the industry, this is one company worth looking at for all your recording needs.
Their 'On the Beat' service means you can get 300 CDs in packaging from just £568 + VAT. Includes Recording, Glassmastering and Label layout including CD logo. You can record a promo video for your song for just £500 plus VAT. Three takes are included, for instance in the studio, at a gig and on location. These are then mixed into a video. They can also quote you for replication in CD-Rom or video format.
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