Music Promotion for Artists & Producers
There is no doubt that one of the biggest challenges for an up and coming music producer or artist is to get your music heard by the right people. Let me give you a few tips on how to handle this difficult task with the right music promotion.
Music Promotion – Defining The Goal
First of all we need to define the goal. I mean, who are the right people we want to hear our songs? Are they established artists, record company executives, publishers and managers? Sure, any of these would be great but unless you already have a track record and know a few people who can help you get to them, it is not the first step for you. Like any major goal in life, the key to reach it, is to break it down into smaller steps.
When it comes to music promotion your first goal is to place yourself in a situation where it is possible to network and promote your music. If you want to become a worldwide famous producer you can’t expect to be discovered in a small town in Nebraska. You need to be in a major city where there are a large music community. Los Angeles or New York are great places to write and promote your music. London is great too. If you live in Holland, Amsterdam would be the place to be. Copenhagen if you live in Denmark. Of course in a smaller country it is easier to get around quickly so your location matters less. The downside is that the music scene is much smaller there. So, the first rule of thumb is that in order for you to find the opportunities you need to place yourself where they exist.
Music Promotion – Showcases
What’s next? Let’s say you have arrived in Los Angeles with your guitar and at least 5 great songs demoed professionally. If you are a singer/songwriter/producer your first music promotion goal should be getting a small gig to showcase your songs. Check out every club and bar in town that features live music and ask if there are any songwriters showcases you can attend. It wont take long until other artists, songwriters and producers will start taking notice of you and invite you to other events. If you are really talented it is just a matter of time until a manager, publisher or A&R will notice and approach you.
What if you are not a singer or performer and just want to create and produce music for other artists? The same principals for music promotion still applies. You need to be in a place where the opportunities exists. You still go to the clubs and music bars, but this time it is you who are looking for talent. Look for an artists performing in the style you want to produce. After the show, approach the artists, tell them you are a producer and ask if they would like to collaborate on a new song. The key is to network and collaborate. Since you need an artist to showcase your songs you are forced to collaborate unless of course you are rich enough to simply pay for session singers to showcase your songs. Once you start to collaborate with other people you suddenly have access to their network as well and a much better chance of getting your music heard by the right people.
Music Promotion Online
There are many other ways to promote yourself and your music, including some online options, like Youtube, Myspace, Reverbnation and similar. The problem with music promotion using these online resources are that the competition are fierce. The are hundreds of thousands wanna be producers, artists, bands that are competing for the attention of the same few executives in the music industry. It is almost impossible to find the little gold nuggets in the vast sea of people who wants to make it. So most executives and managers simply ignore these online resources when it comes to searching for the next big talent. Don’t get me wrong, you should still upload youtube videos of your songs and have a myspace page. It’s your online business card and an easy way to send people you meet in the real world to a place where they can hear your music. Also once you get the attention from a manager or A&R, they will look online to check your web presence. Make sure it is vivid.
One of the best resources I have seen on Online Music Promotion, that is filled with hours of step by step video instructions and modules on how to get a great web presence, can be found HERE.
Music promotion is very difficult to do with great success but hopefully these few tips can steer you in the right direction.
Johnny Jam
{ 21 comments… read them below or add one }
will u chech out my music only 16 im pretty good thanks for ur time
Hi Johnny – would like for you to take a look at my daughter, we just completed the rough of her first EP / but are trying to get it into the right hands. We are continually being told that she is the complete package – striking to look at / genuine / great music writer. Here is one of her songs – she has about 11 songs so far – please take a minute and check her out at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9v3uUAbr_bM
I forgot to tell you that she is 16 years old. Thanks much.
Hi Suzy,
Your daughter has a very pure and innocent voice and i see great potential. I like the song too. The style is not quite what I am looking for at the moment but I am sure you will find someone soon.
Best of luck,
Johnny
Hi Johnny. Great Website, thanks for all the great info. I am currently representing Byron Richard (my first artist as an aspiring music producer). Will you take a listen and share your thoughts with me? Thank you.
Audrey Marchionno
http://www.amarchionno.com
http://www.byronrichard.com
Hi I am really looking for a manager or a record label that will listen to my songs. My equipment is not all that great but still the music the voice and other skills I have will put me on the top like nicki manji. Please listen to me and tell me what you think. I like all types of music and willing to explore and trying new things is my speciality. I didn’t like dressup or anything but I have a website on explore talent to show you the look I can have it’s keashagalloway1@exploretalent.com. Please Please check me out I have skills I dance, sing, write songs, rap and plenty more. I would love to be in the spotlight whateva it takes I’m in. Thanks for your time. Hope to hear from you soon.
You should check out my youtube page.. i sing and i rap. I’m also 17. I don’t have any songs of me singing up on my channel but if you’d like to hear some things just get back to me.
http://www.youtube.com/user/HeardThatNunu#p/a
Hi Johnny,
I came across your website and I find it very informative. My daughter is a 15 year old singer/songwriter/guitarist and she performs all over LA, mainly at malls, fairs, farmers markets, art shows, etc. She has written over 100 songs and just recently recorded seven at home on her own computer. It’s basically just her voice and her guitar. She is trying to find a producer who could work with her on spec since we were told it costs between 10,000 and 20,000 to get a five song EP produced. We don’t have that kind of budget. Please listen to her music as we would appreciate some advice .
http://www.youtube.com/christyschmidt
Thanks,Sabine
http://youtu.be/xNRGyl-dFpc
hey can you give this song a listen to and tell me what you think?
Hey johnny im a 16 yr old piano player ..ive been playin for nine years and finaly got a cd put together its mostly instrumental indie stuff but recently i got together with a girl who has an extreme gift for jazz singing and we made a song ( you dont know how to love me) which we recorded at a music practice room at chapman university in orange county on my ipad so if your interested please give me your email and ill send you some stuff thanks for your time i know your probly real busy ..:)
Hey my name is keasha and I really wanna be a singer can you please look me up I sing dance write songs and rap. So much more skills I have please check out my videos. 04passionfruit@youtube.com
hey Johnny,
Helping my cousin promote. She is currently working on more tracks to cover and is finalizing some of her own tracks.
Would appreciate any input or recommendations you could offer to assist her in achieving her dream
*if possible, any suggestions/recommendations via email, as I am in the military and have limited access to the internet at the moment.*
best new hiphop artist ice cold looking for producer
am an upcoming artist in search of a producer i got my songs voiced and masterd ready 4 promotion
Hello Johnny
I was just wondering what kind of style are you looking for ?
My sister,cousin,and i have a group we rap sing and also dance but we are lookin for someone to sign us we dont have any uploaded videos but we will be doin that soon
hi,
my name is izalee but people call me tasha i love to sing and i write my own songs i have songs on youtube if you could please listen to them and tell me what you think i love to sing and a very hard and committed singer if i could get a chance i would let you down ….thanxxx
Hey Johnny, could you please give some info for people out there who want to produce electronic music like dubstep or hardstyle? Thanks.
BTW i have two low quality tracks i created on youtube. im 15
I’m Glenn Miller, age 19 and getting on china bus tomarrow realyong on hopes and dreams as I always have. My music is on soundcloud with one song now that is a rough demo and only has one verse and hook is added too. Although its only t a 2minctste of what I have to offer I have got nothing but positive feed back from lots of ppl. I have more than enough self confidence but I am not big headed, and absolutely believe I’m here to be the biggest inspiration through music the world has ever seen. Please let me kno what you think; pavedroadone, soundcloud.com, Glenn Miller
Hi This is Zack,
Ihave been singing for the past 17 years and so ready to take my courrier to thenest level i really would like to know if we can do something together.
Unfortunatly i do not have my own songs, It has been a real dream to have my own album, I have been singing for diffrent artist.. I AM SO READY TO HAVE MY OWN…
Kindly check my video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=stXZGn_9i2k&feature=plcp&context=C346fe2dUDOEgsToPDskJsBX3zRSAQjKGErK2SL6Ne
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGp-oRizzuE&feature=plcp&context=C3066341UDOEgsToPDskJKs7X1QkgKLS3V-GTDDUSx
Thanks for all the help…