REEK BROCK
MR. LAST WORD
I'm not an expert so I want to know what ways do you promote your music.
gullyjewelz
New member
Im Lousy At This . . . So Im All Ears . . .
Fyre
New member
me 3 lol.......
gullyjewelz
New member
Although I Would Love To Promote My Self On Over Top Of That Pic - Reek - Got Dammm! That Is Just Tooo . . . . Uh Let Me Shut Up!
C
C jOker
Concious Emcee
right now i just go to ppls myspace or when i meet someone on the street or somethin and they talk about hip hop i be like yea i rap and...blah blah w/e myspace is a great tool...networking...ummm do some benefit concerts to get yourself good publicity and etc...ummm go on soundclick, go on myspace, go on a bunch of sites that has a bunch of ppl on it and talk aboutyour music...DO NOT SPAM it will go in the direction you dont want..
mentalattica
Just a Home Recorder
Hope I don't ruffle anyone's feathers here...
Best promotion is word of mouth in hip-hop from my experiences. Online promotion might have been cool 5+ years ago, but now everyone who has vocal chords and can rhyme words together is a rapper these days. Damn near everyone who has a pentium 4 has a downloaded version of FL or some other recording software and thinks they're a producer.
MySpace, Soundclick and tons of other websites are flooded with these half assed rappers and producers promoting their garbage. Mathmatically if you have 50,000 rappers (which I'm sure is not far fetched, more than likely an understatement) on these websites promoting their trash, and you have 2,000 that are absolutely GREAT, they are going to get overlooked due to the volume of garbage on these websites. That's why I think online promotion should be a secondary thing.
I'm gonna use a member of this forum as an example because he's shared some of this info with us. Change, he does shows and gets paying gigs (not trying to sound like I'm on his nuts...lol But that is way more than I can say for myself), he's not solely relying on the internet but is using it. At a show if someone is really feeling you, they may look you up online, or you can share your website address with the crowd by selling CD's or passing out freebies etc...
Nothing beats getting out there and grindin it out amongst the public, there's really no better alternative. Most musicians become "local" before they blow up anyway, most of us don't have the resources or $ to really promote and market outside of our local area. If these are the people you want buying your CD you gotta get out there and show them your trying to sell it. Simply relying on the internet isn't gonna cut it, no matter how good your are the chances are slim that you can sell your CD or get discovered. There's just too many half assed rappers and producers flooding the net.
I'm not saying anyone in paticular is half assed and I'm so much better...lol
Best promotion is word of mouth in hip-hop from my experiences. Online promotion might have been cool 5+ years ago, but now everyone who has vocal chords and can rhyme words together is a rapper these days. Damn near everyone who has a pentium 4 has a downloaded version of FL or some other recording software and thinks they're a producer.
MySpace, Soundclick and tons of other websites are flooded with these half assed rappers and producers promoting their garbage. Mathmatically if you have 50,000 rappers (which I'm sure is not far fetched, more than likely an understatement) on these websites promoting their trash, and you have 2,000 that are absolutely GREAT, they are going to get overlooked due to the volume of garbage on these websites. That's why I think online promotion should be a secondary thing.
I'm gonna use a member of this forum as an example because he's shared some of this info with us. Change, he does shows and gets paying gigs (not trying to sound like I'm on his nuts...lol But that is way more than I can say for myself), he's not solely relying on the internet but is using it. At a show if someone is really feeling you, they may look you up online, or you can share your website address with the crowd by selling CD's or passing out freebies etc...
Nothing beats getting out there and grindin it out amongst the public, there's really no better alternative. Most musicians become "local" before they blow up anyway, most of us don't have the resources or $ to really promote and market outside of our local area. If these are the people you want buying your CD you gotta get out there and show them your trying to sell it. Simply relying on the internet isn't gonna cut it, no matter how good your are the chances are slim that you can sell your CD or get discovered. There's just too many half assed rappers and producers flooding the net.
I'm not saying anyone in paticular is half assed and I'm so much better...lol
Trumpspade
I'M BLESSED.......
I say the best self-marketing tool is being true to who you are and find a way to transfer that into your music! Every show you need to bring heat, there is NO taking breaks.....You have to treat every performance as if it's your last, be it live or studio. In turn, you will form many fans, people who can identify with your journey. With that being said, they will be faithful to you and they will be the best promoters/marketing team you can ever pay for.
Now the other side of it is pure coincidence.........Being at the right place at the right time! But even given that opportunity you need to bring the heat!
It just sucks that many gifted artists don't even get the opportunity to audition because of the behind the scene connections/favors that push talent-less people to the front!
Just my Opinion~
Now the other side of it is pure coincidence.........Being at the right place at the right time! But even given that opportunity you need to bring the heat!
It just sucks that many gifted artists don't even get the opportunity to audition because of the behind the scene connections/favors that push talent-less people to the front!
Just my Opinion~
Trumpspade
I'M BLESSED.......
I was given the opportunity to do something that was a big deal to me. (To sing back-up for Woody from Dru hill @ a show.) Me not taking it serious, I was sick come showtime and I could not perform with the energy I needed to impress the many producers that was there! Now, the reason I was not feeling well was, I was out the night before partying and getting straight bent. I felt like Sh*t the whole day and that was unresponsible of me. To me, that was an opportunity that I messed up!
So take your opportunities SERIOUS, because they come around sparingly, even if it comes at all!!!!!
So take your opportunities SERIOUS, because they come around sparingly, even if it comes at all!!!!!
B
BillyBo
New member
amen.mentalattica said:
next to word of mouth is shows, which basically goes hand-in-hand with word of mouth. tell you the truth, i did one show, about a week ago, and i've sold nearly 30 cd's already and it's not even "released" yet. i quote released because i just gave it a date as a deadline for myself really, and to give people who wanted to preorder a little bit of a discount. it's called a grind for a reason. you just dont sell cd's by dropping a website or myspace site and having people grab your cd. the more people that hear YOU and see YOU, not just a website, will grab your cd. when have you ever heard a fan say "i saw this dude's site and was blown away". nah... they say "i met dude at this spot and he's mad cool" etc....
thats my 2.
M
Mindset
Well-known member
I believe change is doing right.
Best and for always, is the word of mouth as said.
For me, it's that, the internet, connections (like XM radio station, industry insiders, magazine owners, friends as journalists that write the local paper etc). Tools like professional manufacturing, also increase your chances to get known, and respected. I usually order CD's from www.oasiscd.com, because of their promotional tools, that come free, and the extra's that you can pay for. These are great tools to getting yourself known. Along with the internet, you can get known better. My old recording label Shotup Records, I advertised the crap out of it, now it's better known as Mindset Entertainment. There's also options like posters, flyer's for your next shows, and just plain freebie pro-manufactured CD's along with a poster. Make it second nature to say something about your music when introducing yourself, there are a LOT of other cats out there just like you, me, or the guy down the street on his SM57. All in All you got to have a plan, just going out there and selling out of trunk, isn't going to be as effective by itself, without the system you set up.
For ever 3 months, I make it priority to at least reach mass population (not like the whole U.S or anything). Just last month, I payed $300 dollars to reach all of Ireland.
For every DAY, I spend it grabbing at least 1-2 new listeners/fans/customers etc.
For every album release, I add on 500 posters, and if a show is coming up, at least a 1000 flyers.
I make it top priorty, to um... WEAR YOUR MIND (lol my soon to be clothing line for Mindset). Get yourself some tight looking Jersey's, T-Shirts, Overalls, Jackets, Coats, Hats, Socks, Shoes, or whatever it may be, and design yourself a eye-catching advertisement on there. Put your label name on it, your artist name, or whatever. Just by walking around, there will be a few people who will notice it every hour. Give a few shirts to your friends, and everyone else.
I also burn millions of sampler discs and give them out free, that offer tracks from various artists of ours.
I tend to --try-- to get a new connection in the industry every month. This month, I got a top notch producer who works close with Dre's business manager, and also is currently working with Kanye on his new artists etc..
Soon, I plan to decor my whole car, to advertise. It can cost, a little, to a whole lot. Anything is everything.
You can also manufacture bumper stickers for very cheap, and then give them out to your relatives, friends, and people who will post them up on their cars.
All in all, maximize your exposure, by doing all the small things that can matter, and then add some bigger, better exposures in there, by doing something that's um worth more, or however you want to say it. That's if your serious about yourself
Best and for always, is the word of mouth as said.
For me, it's that, the internet, connections (like XM radio station, industry insiders, magazine owners, friends as journalists that write the local paper etc). Tools like professional manufacturing, also increase your chances to get known, and respected. I usually order CD's from www.oasiscd.com, because of their promotional tools, that come free, and the extra's that you can pay for. These are great tools to getting yourself known. Along with the internet, you can get known better. My old recording label Shotup Records, I advertised the crap out of it, now it's better known as Mindset Entertainment. There's also options like posters, flyer's for your next shows, and just plain freebie pro-manufactured CD's along with a poster. Make it second nature to say something about your music when introducing yourself, there are a LOT of other cats out there just like you, me, or the guy down the street on his SM57. All in All you got to have a plan, just going out there and selling out of trunk, isn't going to be as effective by itself, without the system you set up.
For ever 3 months, I make it priority to at least reach mass population (not like the whole U.S or anything). Just last month, I payed $300 dollars to reach all of Ireland.
For every DAY, I spend it grabbing at least 1-2 new listeners/fans/customers etc.
For every album release, I add on 500 posters, and if a show is coming up, at least a 1000 flyers.
I make it top priorty, to um... WEAR YOUR MIND (lol my soon to be clothing line for Mindset). Get yourself some tight looking Jersey's, T-Shirts, Overalls, Jackets, Coats, Hats, Socks, Shoes, or whatever it may be, and design yourself a eye-catching advertisement on there. Put your label name on it, your artist name, or whatever. Just by walking around, there will be a few people who will notice it every hour. Give a few shirts to your friends, and everyone else.
I also burn millions of sampler discs and give them out free, that offer tracks from various artists of ours.
I tend to --try-- to get a new connection in the industry every month. This month, I got a top notch producer who works close with Dre's business manager, and also is currently working with Kanye on his new artists etc..
Soon, I plan to decor my whole car, to advertise. It can cost, a little, to a whole lot. Anything is everything.
You can also manufacture bumper stickers for very cheap, and then give them out to your relatives, friends, and people who will post them up on their cars.
All in all, maximize your exposure, by doing all the small things that can matter, and then add some bigger, better exposures in there, by doing something that's um worth more, or however you want to say it. That's if your serious about yourself
J
jibran
DC's Finest
MySpace is great - some of my boys with contacts high up have given me an open invitation to send them stuff that they'd pass on [only reason I haven't done that yet is 'cause I want to hone my skills first] - Open Mic Nights and other events are dope - also, when I get my weight up, I'm gonna get me a producer manager.
S
SpeedSound
New member
One way (not sayng its the best)
If you have the money print up alot of your music and basically give it away for free . A mixtape for an example.. and just give it away for FREE. Of course itll have to look somewhat professional
If you have the money print up alot of your music and basically give it away for free . A mixtape for an example.. and just give it away for FREE. Of course itll have to look somewhat professional
BeatsBuY
New member
I try to promote every way possible:
Web sites
Web promotion
Link Exchanges
Clubs
ads/ flyers
word of mouth
free samples
Street Team (coming soon)
Studios
Web is really great because you do't have to spend tons of money. There are a lot of sites that can really promote you well...
And you are your best promoter. You have to always keep you eyes open. Say you're walking down the street and hear someone about producing. Give them your business card. That's traffic going to you. Grind...
Web sites
Web promotion
Link Exchanges
Clubs
ads/ flyers
word of mouth
free samples
Street Team (coming soon)
Studios
Web is really great because you do't have to spend tons of money. There are a lot of sites that can really promote you well...
And you are your best promoter. You have to always keep you eyes open. Say you're walking down the street and hear someone about producing. Give them your business card. That's traffic going to you. Grind...
D
definitesupreme
New member
want to promote?
dont release garbage. plain and simple.
dont release garbage. plain and simple.
BeatsBuY
New member
Yep, Second that. It's all about a quality product to sale...
This brings me to Krispy Cream Donuts. They never paid for promotion. You never have seen ads on Google or the web. No TV ads. No magazine ads. It was all word of mouth and people taking about it. If you have a good product it will sale it self. Word of mouth is the best. And it doen't cost money...
FREE!!!
This brings me to Krispy Cream Donuts. They never paid for promotion. You never have seen ads on Google or the web. No TV ads. No magazine ads. It was all word of mouth and people taking about it. If you have a good product it will sale it self. Word of mouth is the best. And it doen't cost money...
FREE!!!
ethos
Swag Type Heavy
mentalattica said:
I echo the sentiments in the above post.
The internet is very useful, But I think it's best utilized to help people stay up to date on what you're doing, not to get them interested in you.
Theres no better promotion than playing live shows and talking to people afterwards. The internet should be used as a tool after thats done.
Im not saying you wont hook people from myspace who hear you, but you wont hook enough people to bank on that being your promotion strategy.
the fans you do get are a bonus.
Everyone is a rapper today, but not everyone is able to put on a good live show, and actively promote themselves in their respective cities. Which is why the talented and dedicated people are still getting recognized.