Control your image
Introduction
Although it's not set in stone, this business is image based and good promotion in the form of a marketable image can make record companies more confident about investing in you.
This is because a strong image will give them a better idea about who is going to buy your records and from this they predict how many records you're likely to sell.
Read on for:
The Industry
Labelling your music
What style?
"Promotions create awareness for an artist. Through promotion the audience also gets to know the artist."
Lisa Lindahl
PR Manager
The Playcentre
The Industry
Remember, this industry is about making money through selling records/CDs, not just making them for the sake of it.
Hundreds of new records come out every week so a strong package of your music and image is vital to make you stand out and easier to market.
If you don't have an image then the record labels will make one up for you so it's better to think now about which image you think works best and that you feel most comfortable with.
"The music industry works like a triangle with few people at the top. These people need to know about your track first, then the buying public will find out about it easier."
Phyllisia Adjei
Project Manager
Soul2Streets
Labelling Your Music
It can come as quite a shock to most artists that they have to label their music and give it a name.
Many artists feel their music is different from anything else out there and so cannot be labelled but then...
- How are your supporters going to find it in the record shops?
- How will the deejays know that they should be playing your tracks?
- How will the journalists be able to write about you effectively?
- How will xyz records know that you are a potential new signing for their company?
Someone will label you whether you like it or not so it makes sense to be the one to choose the label.
Stick to the style of music that your tracks sound closest to.
If you're doing something different or groundbreaking, it will eventually get noticed but for now just keep it simple and link your music with an established sound that everyone is familiar with.
"If you have a Garage sound with Hip Hop speed, target both kinds of markets. Most of the time deejays and crowds will let you know which category your music is in by their reaction to the track."
Phyllisia Adjei
Project Manager
Soul2Streets
More... from How to...
Use mailing lists
http://www.bbc.co.uk/1xtra/1xmusic/promotion/mailingp01.shtml
Put together a press pack
http://www.bbc.co.uk/1xtra/1xmusic/promotion/packp01.shtml
Approach the media
http://www.bbc.co.uk/1xtra/1xmusic/promotion/mediap01.shtml
Use a street team
http://www.bbc.co.uk/1xtra/1xmusic/promotion/streetp01.shtml
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