whats the most success you've ever had marketing your music

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lastsound

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am new to this board, but i can see there are lots of posts on diff ways to promote yourself, but how about just jumping right in the deep end:

whats the most success you've ever had in promoting your music. I'm talking one time you did x and y results happened...would be interesting to cross-reference and see where everyones succeeded...


I'll start off - most success I ever had was when I met a guy who works for Key103, a local radio station here, and he played my stuff a couple times...we got a few calls from local press etc off of that...that is the most success ive had from 1 promo avenue

what about everyone else?
 
That's your web page down there?

lastsound said:
am new to this board, but i can see there are lots of posts on diff ways to promote yourself, but how about just jumping right in the deep end:

whats the most success you've ever had in promoting your music. I'm talking one time you did x and y results happened...would be interesting to cross-reference and see where everyones succeeded...


I'll start off - most success I ever had was when I met a guy who works for Key103, a local radio station here, and he played my stuff a couple times...we got a few calls from local press etc off of that...that is the most success ive had from 1 promo avenue

what about everyone else?
Click to expand...

Are you selling beats and that's all? Had any success selling beats? Where's the market for that/ I've got trillions of-m. Please let me know when you have too many orders to fill! :eek:
 
Back in the 80's....I sold several of my cheezy instrumentals to several video companies( porn industry ) There's a legacy for my grandchildren..........hey grandpa, did you really sell music for people to screw too? :rolleyes:
 
launched an album locally and got press coverage in two newspapers, got on nine radio stations, and am about to go on TV... also got quite a buzz going. this just happened recently thanks to some good marketing courses I took back in high school. here in lynchburg, va.
 
Not sure I've had much success with anything...

I do have a question, though, and I think it ties in well with this topic. Has anyone ever tried sending a news release to local radio stations (college, and small indie stations, particularly) to promote shows? Can that be done through PSA type of thing, or would it need to be done as an actual advertisement (i.e. we would have to pay for it)? "Something like "Blah blah band is performing saturday at such and such club. This is a 21 and over show, starting at 8, and tickets are 5$"

Would such a thing ever get read on the air, and what would be the best way to submit it? is there a standard format for such things?

I know of one local station that has played our songs a few times. I thought I might try to squeeze just a little more out of them...
 
I don't know if you should try to "squeeze" anything out of them - be professional, courteous, and be their friend. They have a target audience that they are thinking about. I usually talk to the program director, music director or DJ of several different radio stations that play our music. Most of them are very nice and if they are playing one of your songs, they will probably be able to mention you have a show coming up if you just ask with a short email or phone call. You don't need to buy an advertisement, but sending out a "news release" seems kind of amateur... just talk to them - say what you want to do and don't sugar coat it - ask them if they will announce it or if it's possible to announce a show you have coming up (particularly next time they play one of your songs). I would also suggest letting them know you are *available* for an interview.
 
as far as the X -> Y ... well... my band broke up (badly) ... then all of our fans downloaded our entire album off of MP3.com (as we put it up for free) which put almost all of our songs in the top 50 of our genre... three years later I STILL get lables asking if they can sign us... :/

As far as X -> Y without breaking up... it's more complicated... like we arrive early to shows and make friends with bartender, door girl, merch girl, sound guy, and bouncer. as their friends show up we talk to them... after show everyone buys album because they are now friends.
 
lastsound said:
am new to this board, but i can see there are lots of posts on diff ways to promote yourself, but how about just jumping right in the deep end:

whats the most success you've ever had in promoting your music. I'm talking one time you did x and y results happened...would be interesting to cross-reference and see where everyones succeeded...
Click to expand...

Toured Canada twice in the mid 80s - Opened for Nazareth both times...
(didn't open for them for the whole tour, just in Vancouver)

I'll start off - most success I ever had was when I met a guy who works for Key103, a local radio station here, and he played my stuff a couple times...we got a few calls from local press etc off of that...that is the most success ive had from 1 promo avenue

what about everyone else?
Click to expand...

OK not to pick on you or anything, but at that point you were "hot" THATS when you start making pubicity noise. Here's what I would have done at that point:

Talk to the guy who played your stuff; offer to do a radio appearance... tell him you're thinking of setting up a charity gig with several other bands and you'd like to get public opinion... if he has you on it will likely be a call in show (a chance for people to call in with an opinion about the gig idea AND to tell you "Hey I think you guys rock!" - people calling in with praise is GOOD publicity)

Also contact the local newspapers that mentioned you and tell them about the idea and when (if) the radio show will be on.

If you get favorable response about the gig idea, then contact the charity (assuming you've already decided on one) and start contacting other bands etc - I posted a detailed explanation about how I would go about doing the charity thing:

http://www.homerecording.com/bbs/showthread.php?t=149677

Scroll down you'll find it...

Anyhow, you were already news - THAT'S the time to start working the angles, It would be easier to get other bands in on the concert as they'd be more than happy for the exposure...

Just a little food for thought.

Another post you might want to check out:

http://www.homerecording.com/bbs/showthread.php?t=157021

- Tanlith -
 
I've got a pro (well, semi pro anyway) wrestler using on of my tunes for his intro music. At first I thought it was a pretty weird angle but it has gotten my music out to an audience that I would not have reached otherwise. If he ever makes it big I'll get lots of exposure, if not, hell it was fun anyway.
 
Dani Pace said:
I've got a pro (well, semi pro anyway) wrestler using on of my tunes for his intro music. At first I thought it was a pretty weird angle but it has gotten my music out to an audience that I would not have reached otherwise. If he ever makes it big I'll get lots of exposure, if not, hell it was fun anyway.
Click to expand...


Nice - innovative idea. Did he approach you or you him?

- Tanlith -
 
What exactly are you marketing? Are you trying to get your music sold as an artist? Do you have a Indie CD? Are you tring to sell to TV, Film, Etc..., Drum loops, Samples?

Can you be more specific? Marketing depends on who your target "market" is. Who is your target market?
 
BMWerks said:
Are you selling beats and that's all? Had any success selling beats? Where's the market for that/ I've got trillions of-m. Please let me know when you have too many orders to fill! :eek:
Click to expand...

LOL...there is a market, but its small...

heheh

and as I can see from your post, there arent problems on the supply end thats for sure...hehe
 
tanlith said:
Toured Canada twice in the mid 80s - Opened for Nazareth both times...
(didn't open for them for the whole tour, just in Vancouver)



OK not to pick on you or anything, but at that point you were "hot" THATS when you start making pubicity noise. Here's what I would have done at that point:

Talk to the guy who played your stuff; offer to do a radio appearance... tell him you're thinking of setting up a charity gig with several other bands and you'd like to get public opinion... if he has you on it will likely be a call in show (a chance for people to call in with an opinion about the gig idea AND to tell you "Hey I think you guys rock!" - people calling in with praise is GOOD publicity)

Also contact the local newspapers that mentioned you and tell them about the idea and when (if) the radio show will be on.

If you get favorable response about the gig idea, then contact the charity (assuming you've already decided on one) and start contacting other bands etc - I posted a detailed explanation about how I would go about doing the charity thing:

http://www.homerecording.com/bbs/showthread.php?t=149677

Scroll down you'll find it...

Anyhow, you were already news - THAT'S the time to start working the angles, It would be easier to get other bands in on the concert as they'd be more than happy for the exposure...

Just a little food for thought.

Another post you might want to check out:

http://www.homerecording.com/bbs/showthread.php?t=157021

- Tanlith -
Click to expand...

...cool...

when it happened, we werent expecting it, and to cut a long story short, we didnt make full use of it...not our fault, just the situation the way it ran through...have seen it happened plenty of times...and yes, tanlith we will be looking to milk the socialist/charity for all its worth at some point in the future ;)

anyway, thanks and I will check out the 2 links you passed me
 
MXStudios said:
What exactly are you marketing? Are you trying to get your music sold as an artist? Do you have a Indie CD? Are you tring to sell to TV, Film, Etc..., Drum loops, Samples?

Can you be more specific? Marketing depends on who your target "market" is. Who is your target market?
Click to expand...

this topic was not intended as a `how can i market my music` thread, so i will be try and clearer in my posts next time :D....

but to answer your question we are marketing the site in my sig now, essentially the domain name as a gen. production site

we will be looking to add content, but as someone has already mention `beats` are only a small market, and as such we will be expanding in good time.

sorry if my post was not clear, i meant it to be a thread for people to relate their stories of previous successes out of general interest, i did this, i did that, etc, ..anyway...
 
andyhix said:
Not sure I've had much success with anything...

I do have a question, though, and I think it ties in well with this topic. Has anyone ever tried sending a news release to local radio stations (college, and small indie stations, particularly) to promote shows? Can that be done through PSA type of thing, or would it need to be done as an actual advertisement (i.e. we would have to pay for it)? "Something like "Blah blah band is performing saturday at such and such club. This is a 21 and over show, starting at 8, and tickets are 5$"

Would such a thing ever get read on the air, and what would be the best way to submit it? is there a standard format for such things?

I know of one local station that has played our songs a few times. I thought I might try to squeeze just a little more out of them...
Click to expand...

well, im uk based, but what i will say is ive found it easier to promote to local community press than radio...imho its easier to promote to press than radio, and then let the radio pick you up off that publicity...

do as many press releases as possible, tying each person involved in the creative process to the area the paper is based in, and exaggerate...if you blast enough of them, you will at least create a bit of brand recognition for whatever it is you are pushing, and you may get other forms of media seeing the buzz and liking it...
 
My old band had a song played on our local Southern Counties Radio through a friend. Almost had my dj mix played on it but didn't in the end. Also have played gigs in Brighton and in France

With the release of my new band's CD, we are looking to go very far. Check us out

http://www.unrequited-band.com/
 
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