Promotional Companies, your thoughts?

[kcearl]

In one of the many music magazines I read it mentioned that one of the best ways to get airplay nationally is to use a promotional company. It recommended one that I thought Id take a chance and send my project in to...

Ive managed to get a little airplay on a couple of college stations but these guys have contacts with stations that wouldnt touch unsolicited demos or albums...they can also help with interviews and possible tour dates

They liked my album and said its something that they could definitely get good airplay for

Only problem is its gonna cost more $$$ and as I never had much intention of selling more than a couple of dozen albums is it worthwhile? I mean I have the money but this is just a hobby, it has to have some cap on it at some point


Do you guys even think of this when you finish your home projects or does it end with the finished album and just take that as the satisfaction of a job well done?


I dont lack confidence but my stuff is still just an amateur in his apartment with a handful of pretty cheap equipment, do these promo companies just say yes to get a fee??


any opinions would be more than welcome

 

[Greg_L]

I'm the satisfaction of a job well done camp. I couldn't care less about promotion. If it costs more money and takes more effort, count me out.

 

[kcearl]

I'm the satisfaction of a job well done camp. I couldn't care less about promotion. If it costs more money and takes more effort, count me out.

Yeah I thought that might be your take on it...and Im not saying thats wrong either


But I think the quality of your stuff could go further than it does, maybe mine too...but if it takes more $$$ and it doesnt find a market I think it may stop me doing this in the future...I cant spend thousands mastering, producing CDs, then promoting whats just homerecording everytime I finish an album..let alone the amount I spend on gear

 

[Greg_L]

Yeah I thought that might be your take on it...and Im not saying thats wrong either


But I think the quality of your stuff could go further than it does, maybe mine too...but if it takes more $$$ and it doesnt find a market I think it may stop me doing this in the future...I cant spend thousands mastering, producing CDs, then promoting whats just homerecording everytime I finish an album..let alone the amount I spend on gear

I think your music is potentially much more marketable and palatable than mine is. Your style is wildly popular right now. I don't know if "airplay" is where you should focus though. I mean, who listens to that stuff on the radio? Your kind of stuff drives hot sweaty chicks in dance clubs all over the world. But I don't know anything about promoting or marketing. I've never seriously tried. I don't do social media or even keep up with my music pages. I'm suspicious of any promotion/booking company though. I don't like the idea of someone making money off of me for doing nothing. With my band, we get offers from "promoters" all the time. They wanna get us all these exciting gigs and get a piece of the money. No thanks. We get our own gigs and keep all of the money.

Anywayz....if some exposure and a wider potential fanbase interests you, go for it. But more people are gonna have their hands in your cookie jar.

 

[kcearl]

Yeah....for around 200 stations over an 8 week campaign is gonna cost $2k plus more CD's and some postage costs...it may be too rich for me with little likelyhood of any return

 

[komposer]

Music Xray, Broadjam, Audio Rokit, etc. Your stuff is perfect right now for ad and media/film/tv placements.

 

[Greg_L]

Yeah....for around 200 stations over an 8 week campaign is gonna cost $2k plus more CD's and some postage costs...it may be too rich for me with little likelyhood of any return

2 G's? Insane. We're rooted deep into an era where no one is gonna make any money going the DIY route. There's just too much out there. You know who will make some money? The people you give the 2k to.

 

[kcearl]

Music Xray, Broadjam, Audio Rokit, etc. Your stuff is perfect right now for ad and media/film/tv placements.

Hey thanks for that...I tried one place that was suggested to me but because I use samples many of the songs got rejected...I hadnt actually thought it was a problem as I dont think any of them would be a royalty problem...I could go through them and remove them but I couldnt afford the remastering, Ill look into these places

 

[kcearl]

2 G's? Insane. We're rooted deep into an era where no one is gonna make any money going the DIY route. There's just too much out there. You know who will make some money? The people you give the 2k to.

Yup I know what youre saying 2 G's is a lotta cash, but the reason they were recommended is because theyre good, and Im just about to dump near that on another synth...I cant quite figure in my head if its worth the punt or not, I know in my head that nothing will come of it...a couple of non commercial stations may pick a up a tune or two but that'll prolly be it, but what if it kicked off something, anything??


I think I might just leave it to the follow up, it should be a better album as my skills have improved since most of that album was recorded over a year and a half

 

[Greg_L]

but what if it kicked off something, anything??

That's true. But what if it did? What's involved with taking your kind music to the next level? My shits easy - you tour and play live. My kind of music is easy to do with a band. But suppose one of your tunes takes off. What do you do? I've never heard of any artist in any genre that didn't play live. How would one perform your music? You ready to stand up there in a giant mouse head and play your stuff to a packed disco?

 

[Steenamaroo]

KC, I don't know where you want to go with this, but have you considered looking into companies that deal with syncing music for film, tv, adverts etc?

I mean, at least then if someone picked a tune up, that's it. You get paid for the use of it and it's out there getting played.

If a radio station picks up your tune, you still run the risk that no one gives a shit, or listens, or whatever.

 

[heatmiser]

I think you should go for it if for no other reason that to satisfy my own curiosity.

I know that your music measures up, and I believe it is commercially viable, but I don't know enough about business to know where it fits in or where the money is.

I really just want to vicariously experience your rise to the top!

 

[kcearl]

KC, I don't know where you want to go with this, but have you considered looking into companies that deal with syncing music for film, tv, adverts etc?

I mean, at least then if someone picked a tune up, that's it. You get paid for the use of it and it's out there getting played.

If a radio station picks up your tune, you still run the risk that no one gives a shit, or listens, or whatever.

Yeah I know its prolly a lost cause


the only problem with the TV stuff is they dont accept music with samples, and a lot of mine contains sampled vocals etc...as I mentioned I could strip them from tracks but it would mean remastering


I need to try a few other places though, Ive only tried one...tbh once I made the album Ive kinda stopped doing anything with it or even recording that much...I need to either just leave it and get on with the next project or promote it more than selling to a handful to friends...I reckon there are two tracks on it that are worth something more than what Ive done...maybe not though

 

[kcearl]

I think you should go for it if for no other reason that to satisfy my own curiosity.

I know that your music measures up, and I believe it is commercially viable, but I don't know enough about business to know where it fits in or where the money is.

I really just want to vicariously experience your rise to the top!

lol


I doubt Id rise to anything but it would be interesting...the company I contacted are though well of enough to be mentioned in the Sound on Sound article, and they liked the CD...2 grands not a great deal of money just to see what would happen, but I really want that Access Virus

 

[Steenamaroo]

Ah fair enough. I did not know that about samples.
Best of luck, whichever way you go.

 

[Chili]

A lot of what Greg is saying is what I'm thinking also. The only person making money is the guy getting $2K. And if you did get a market, how will you play to it? Are you ready to tour? Website up to speed? 1000 CD's on order?

About the samples, is it possible to get licenses for them? With licenses in hand, you can submit to the film/tv/ad markets and not have leave your home. I still think that's where your music fits best. If you can't get licensed samples, then work on the next 12 songs and use your own samples.

Personally, I would not pay upfront for promotion like that. It might be old school these days, but the promoter shouldn't make money unless you make money. Same with agents, publishers, PRO's, etc.

just my worthless 2¢.

 

[kcearl]

A lot of what Greg is saying is what I'm thinking also. The only person making money is the guy getting $2K. And if you did get a market, how will you play to it? Are you ready to tour? Website up to speed? 1000 CD's on order?

About the samples, is it possible to get licenses for them? With licenses in hand, you can submit to the film/tv/ad markets and not have leave your home. I still think that's where your music fits best. If you can't get licensed samples, then work on the next 12 songs and use your own samples.

Personally, I would not pay upfront for promotion like that. It might be old school these days, but the promoter shouldn't make money unless you make money. Same with agents, publishers, PRO's, etc.

just my worthless 2¢.

I reckon Im agreeing with you guys as well


It all stems from an article about promoting your music and this was one of the ways mentioned, Ive sent stuff out to stations but I dont have the knowledge or know the people to hit 200 stations...I guess I just move on and enjoy making an album, which I have

Im not prepared to tour, or have a stack of CDs done... Ive been offered a couple of gigs and I turned them down...i wouldnt know where to start tbh


I dont know about getting the samples licensed, seriously they come from anywhere, you tube, netflix, old records I own....the company you suggested dont give an option of proving your samples are royalty free or licensed, they dont want them period...and Im guessing others will be the same...it makes sense if a client wants to avoid any risk


though this may all change by tomorrow and I blow a couple of grand, my bid on ebay will decide

 

[Chili]

On the other hand... your stuff is really creative and unique, it'll sell. Could get a good return on your investment...

keep us posted on what you decide.

 

[chuckduffy]

Hey thanks for that...I tried one place that was suggested to me but because I use samples many of the songs got rejected...I hadnt actually thought it was a problem as I dont think any of them would be a royalty problem...I could go through them and remove them but I couldnt afford the remastering, Ill look into these places

Yeah - they don't wanna clear the samples. Pretty much end of story. I agree with komposer though - I think there is potential in those markets for your stuff. Game tracks too.

 

[kcearl]

On the other hand... your stuff is really creative and unique, it'll sell. Could get a good return on your investment...

keep us posted on what you decide.

thanks man...but you are not helping

Yeah - they don't wanna clear the samples. Pretty much end of story. I agree with komposer though - I think there is potential in those markets for your stuff. Game tracks too.

I think games stuff is pretty sewn up with the "who you know" deal...Thats what Ive heard...but Im definitely going to try for more in the background music ideas...I may just polish up some older tracks with no samples and stick them up too


I think the flattery of someone saying they liked it out of the homerecording world was getting me carried away


thanks guys for the kind words and the opinions