|
 Take
Control of
Your Music Career
Now
By Chris Standring -
A&R
Online
- November 2006
Back to The
Academy
The music industry is changing, has changed.
We are
in serious transition now. The days of effectively shopping an artist to record
companies are coming to an end. Retail stores are about to go out of business.
Just watch them if you don't believe me. So what hope is there for artists
now?
There is huge potential for artists! It's a fantastic time, but the
model has changed. It is no longer cost effective or even smart for a record
company to sign a new artist, spend gobs of money on retail promotion and maybe
see the same money back that was invested. It simply doesn't make any sense. We
are living in a digital world now and we must prepare for it. That means that
instead of being discovered (old school) you must truly be independent and
become the entrepreneurial artist now (new school).
You must educate
yourself about the new model and rise to the occasion. Only the strong will
survive now and I firmly believe that only the smart will have longevity. We
must become internet marketers and learn how to drive traffic to our websites
and partner with other forward thinking music moguls and creative thinkers. The
'geek' will truly inherit the earth. There is a bright future if you want to
embrace the world. But we must do away with the old school model and prepare for
the new day. It is here.
Armed
& Ready
"A&R" traditionally, has stood for "Artist &
Repertoire", a term for record label reps who are designated the task of
developing acts, honing their skills and pointing them in the right direction.
This is fast becoming an antiquated idea. That labels are developing artists at
all is now barely something to be entertained. From here on out, as far as you,
the indie artist are concerned, "A&R" should now stand for "Armed &
Ready". You are about to enter a new musical arena, and you will need as much
information that pertains to this new state of play as you can possibly
get.
A manager said to me a couple of years ago, "Chris, from here on,
try not to sign record deals, but licence your music to different territories
and keep your masters. Look for interesting ways to get your music to the
masses. TV, movie, ringtones, jingles, etc etc". This was sound advice.
My
Personal Advice
And my personal advice is to build your fanbase. Have people sign
up on your mailing list at gigs, and build your database. Study internet
marketing and ways to get traffic to YOUR website. Use remote sites (such as
MySpace.com) to attract new fans and get them to signup on your list at YOUR
website. Understand that remote sites (such as MySpace) will be out of business
within a matter of years so you HAVE to work your own domain, but most of all
your own opt in list. (Imagine you had 100,000 people on your subscriber list.
You make a new CD and you can be guaranteed about 30,000 sales right out of the
box!). Utilize timed autoresponders to sell your merchandise to your fans.
Automate all of this as much as possible so you can take care of the creative
stuff.
Take control of your career now. You have nobody to answer to you
but yourself. Now go get 'em!
Chris Standring
CEO
www.aandronline.com
-----
Chris Standring is the CEO and founder of A&R
Online. He is also a contemporary jazz guitarist
presently signed to Trippin 'n Rhythm/V2 Records. The music is marketed at NAC
and Urban AC radio. For more info on Chris' recording career go to his personal
website at www.chrisstandring.com |
|
|
Submit An Article for Consideration!
Would you like to submit an article for publication at MusicBizAcademy.com? If you have music-related expertise
you'd like to share with other musicians including career tips, how to's, or general music business-related articles,
please feel free to send them our way. We'll be glad to consider them. Submit your article! |
|
|
|
untitled
|
Follow The
Music Biz Academy
on Twitter. Get instant notifcation of new music promotion tips tips, music business articles, resources and news. It's all business, all the time.
Subscribe FREE...
to the Music Biz Academy newsletter! Music promotion tips, articles, site recommendations, and industry news will be delivered
to your inbox. Details Here.
How to Promote Your Music Successfully on the Internet
This easy-to-read guide to music promotion teaches you how to effectively sell your music online! Learn what works
and what doesn't from a musician who's now promoting music on the Internet full time! More....
Get Educated...
Master the Music Biz!
Online Courses. Many Programs. Learn Day or Night.
Details Here.
Our Top 20 Articles
21
Songwriting Tips
How
to Write an Artist Bio
Mastering
Your Music
Improve
Your Press Kit
Sell
Your CDs Online
Performance
Contracts
What's
a Record Deal About?
Inside
Record Labels
A
Legal Checklist
How
to Write a Press Release
Record
Distribution: 25 Tips
Guerrilla
Marketing Tips
How to Make a Living w/ Music
Internship
Do's & Don'ts
Starting a Music Business
Reasons
Demos Are Rejected
Artist/Band
Interview Form
Facts
About Music Licensing
Planning
A Radio Campaign
Tax
Tips for Musicians
Lots
More Articles...
The Complete Guide to Starting
a Record Company
This
wonderful book guides you step
by
step through the process of starting up your own independent record label.
It
includes vital advice on how to retain lawyers and accountants, construct budgets, sign artists, navigate
artist contracts, find a distributor and how to develop and
execute an effective marketing plan.
More...
MySpace
Music Marketing
With tens of millions of registered
users, MySpace.com has become a
godsend for countless independent artists. If you're not promoting your music on MySpace yet, you
need to start - right away. Everything
you need to know, including tips
and tricks, interviews with successful
MySpace bands, and how to fine-tune
your MySpace profile for maximum
punch. The perfect "how to"
guide for MySpace beginners, especially!
More...
Music Is Your Business
Christopher Knab and Bartley F. Day's expanded edition of "Music Is Your Business" is filled
with more insights into the business side of being a successful
musician or band. Included are chapters on both Internet and traditional
music marketing methods. The essential legal issues you need to
know are explained as are music contract tips, how to license your
music, attract
distributors, get radio airplay and create a
demand for your music. More...
How to Be Your Own Booking Agent
Jeri
Goldstein’s award-winning
resource for artists and musicians is artfully organized into 510 pages
of savvy advice, realistic methods and action plans for the performing
artist. The book is a step-by-step guide through virtually all aspects
of the music business. It's a fantastic resource, a MUST-READ and a
favorite here at the Music Biz Academy. One of the best, most in-depth
books written about how to run your own music business. More...
Guerrilla Music Marketing Handbook
This is your guide to independent music success secrets, featuring over 175 ways to thrive and prosper with your
own band or record label. Goal setting, networking, lists of distribution channels, offbeat promotional ideas.
It's all here! More....
The Indie Bible
With 350 pages containing over 10,000 contacts, including music reviewers and radio stations, The Indie Bible
is a resource for songwriters and musicians who wish to have their music heard, reviewed, or considered for radio
play. More....
All Content © 1996-2009
Midnight Rain Productions.
All Rights Reserved.
Privacy Policy |
|
