It makes me smile when i read "how to" related to promoting and marketing songs. Mainly because someone decades ago have made something new, and at that time it worked, and everybody is trying to repeat it and teach others, in already changed environment.
First thing I would like to raise is free samples. Some people like to say - if you want to get noticed give away free mp3s. They really think that the listener who is offered a "free mp3 download" is an idiot? In case if he DECIDES to download it (But why he had to download when he can listen to it online at home or using mobile inet?) it will not mean that he will by all other mp3s to support an artist. He will wait until they will become free for limited period of time. But the main point is that he will not do this neither. If he discovers songs he likes, he will listen to it maybe 10 times maybe 20 times and his demand for this song particular song will fade away. You cannot eat chocolate every five minutes. It will lose its taste.
Guys from Apple have realized this simple issue and you cannot get full preview of the mp3 on iTunes. But poor musicians - cannot. They put their songs on soundcloud reverbnation youtube. Smart guys can use "Record what you hear" button and get your sound for free, some may use two soundcards - one integrated and another - usb and get recorded "what they hear". Thanks to God there are tuneport.com or routenote.com/ or others that can help you make excellent online store for reasonable commission.
So at my opinion if you want to make some money from your songs - make available only audio watermarked part time audio previews to keep listeners interested in purchasing your music. If you put on youtube - they will listen to it several times and will forget.
To be continued ...
First thing I would like to raise is free samples. Some people like to say - if you want to get noticed give away free mp3s. They really think that the listener who is offered a "free mp3 download" is an idiot? In case if he DECIDES to download it (But why he had to download when he can listen to it online at home or using mobile inet?) it will not mean that he will by all other mp3s to support an artist. He will wait until they will become free for limited period of time. But the main point is that he will not do this neither. If he discovers songs he likes, he will listen to it maybe 10 times maybe 20 times and his demand for this song particular song will fade away. You cannot eat chocolate every five minutes. It will lose its taste.
Guys from Apple have realized this simple issue and you cannot get full preview of the mp3 on iTunes. But poor musicians - cannot. They put their songs on soundcloud reverbnation youtube. Smart guys can use "Record what you hear" button and get your sound for free, some may use two soundcards - one integrated and another - usb and get recorded "what they hear". Thanks to God there are tuneport.com or routenote.com/ or others that can help you make excellent online store for reasonable commission.
So at my opinion if you want to make some money from your songs - make available only audio watermarked part time audio previews to keep listeners interested in purchasing your music. If you put on youtube - they will listen to it several times and will forget.
To be continued ...