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Marketing Music on the Net:
An Interview with David Nevue
In this 2001 interview, pianist David Nevue offers other musicians
advice on how to successfully promote their music on the internet. Interview by Daylle Deanna Schwartz of Revenge Productions for the new edition of 'The Real Deal: How to Get Signed to a Record label from
A to Z.'
Back to Music Promotion 101
How did you create the base of your following as a pianist?
When I first started out (about 15 years ago) I simply sent out
notices of my album release to every single person I knew from college, high school, family, extended family, friends,
and church. After that I built up my mailing list at shows and via the internet.
Do you tour? If so, how did you get started?
No, I don't tour. I do one-time gigs here and there, but no tour
yet. If I ever did tour, it would probably be in short spurts - a couple weeks here, a couple weeks there. At least
until my kids get older and I can bring the whole family along.
What was the best lesson you learned about marketing
on the
internet?
Know your customer. The question to ask yourself is, what are
people who like your style of music searching for on the internet? Figure that out and design a web site geared
toward that topic. Once you are bringing targeted traffic to this 'topical' web site, then you can
introduce them to your music. The result is a much higher sell through rate.
How can MP3.com best help an unknown musician?
For me personally MP3.com has been an incredible networking tool.
I've licensed music for a documentary, signed a record deal (Musicmine Records in Korea), been offered a studio
gig, and been approached by a sheet music publisher - all from contacts made through MP3.com.
Aside from that I've created an MP3.com 'pianist' community and it's been a great place to get advice and bounce
ideas off of others in my genre. Collectively, a community of 20 like-minded musicians has a lot more experience
to draw on than a musician trying to do it all on their own.
What are some suggestions to draw potential fans
to a website?
Aside from what I mentioned before (knowing your customer), think
about what bands or artists your potential customers listen to. For example, as a pianist, people who like George
Winston's music tend to love mine as well. So, I try to target fans of George Winston. Most piano music lovers
haven't heard of David Nevue, but they have heard of George Winston or Jim Brickman. I try to use that to my advantage
to attract new listeners.
Also, the word FREE has a lot of pull on the internet. Find a way to
use it.
How would you describe your success as a musician
on the
internet.
The internet has opened up a world of opportunity. Things that
did not seem possible for me five years ago are quite possible now. I'm very close to quitting my full time job
and dedicating all my time to my music business and career. That's every serious musicians dream. To me, that's
success.
Anything else you'd like to say to musicians trying
to market
themselves online?
Prepare yourself for long hours and hard work. Up to now, I've
spent much more time working on the 'business' than I do on the music. But that work has paid off and very soon
I'll have more time to focus on my music. You have to treat your music career like a business if you want to bring
in the income to allow you to do what you really want to.
If you are a talented musician and have something unique to offer, Ibelieve my own success proves that doing music
full time is withinanyone's grasp. You just have to be willing to work for it, be patient, and keep going no matter
how discouraged you feel.
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David Nevue is the founder of The
Music Biz Academy and author of How to Promote Your Music Successfully on the Internet.
Interviewer Daylle Deanna Schwartz heads Revenge Productions, and is
author of How to Get a Record Deal From A to Z and Start & Run Your Own
Record Label (Billboard Books). |
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