03/27/2013
10 Mistakes Artists Make
With so many people trying to get into the music industry, most artists get looked at as “just another person who wants to be a musician”. Very few people take artists seriously when they are coming up, but most of the time it's the artists' fault. If people don’t feel you are serious and investing in yourself, then they don’t want to invest their time and money supporting you. One thing I noticed about a lot of indie and upcoming artists is they make many of the same mistakes over and over. I’m going to point out a few of them below.
1) Mixtapes: I noticed a lot of artists will spend money on studio time, features and beats to record a mixtape but spend no money or very little money on getting the product (mixtape) out to the people. Marketing and promoting a product is just as important as the product itself. If you haven't established a strong buzz or following, I think it’s better to just push one song and spend money on marketing and promoting it, instead of doing a whole mixtape.
2) Videos: Many artists get a video made and just post it on Facebook and Twitter. It takes more than those two social networks for your video to getting a decent view count. You need presence on media and blog sites too. Closed-captioning and submitting your video in the proper format and specifications to networks like MTV, VH1, and BET via Digital Media Delivery System will aid in exposing your media globally as well. Also, I notice some artists have no description about the video or any type of contact info. How do you expect people to get in touch with you if they run across your video on YouTube?
3) Performance: Many artists perform at the same venues over and over which is filled with the majority of other artists. It’s only so far your buzz can grow from performing in the same areas, at the same venues. You should branch out to other cities and perform, meet and network with new faces every month.
4) Promoting On Social Media: I noticed a lot of artists sit on Facebook and Twitter and promote their music and shows to the majority of other artists. It’s true that you can turn another artists into a fan, but your main focus should be to get regular people (people who don’t make music) to become a fans.
5) Radio: I see this way too often. Artists trying to get their song on the radio and don’t even have the song registered with BDS or Mediabase and a performing rights organization like ASCAP, BMI or SESAC. Getting your music played on radio and not having your music properly registered is pointless. You have no way of proving to a label that you are getting radio spins.
6) Graphics: Many artists put out low-quality mixtape cover designs or flyers for their show performances. Your mixtape cover or flyer could be the deciding factor in whether or not someone takes the time to listen to or download your mixtape or show up at one of your shows.
7) Misuse of Social Media: This is a real BIG mistake that artists make. A lot of artists sit on Facebook and Twitter all day spamming people with your music links. Mentioning or posting links on random people’s Facebook wall who don’t know you is the quickest way to get you blocked or ignored. It’s best for artists to hold a short conversation with a person and ask them to check out your mixtape, video, or song. Try it. I promise you that you will get more people to listen to your music and give you feedback.
8) Contacting DJ’s: Many artists expect a DJ to play their music in the club, on the radio during their mixshow, or add it to one of their mixtapes when in fact, your music is not industry quality or your song is not club or radio material. That will mess up a DJ’s name if he plays your song and bore the crowd or audience. Make sure your song is professionally mixed and mastered.
9) Copyright and Publishing: Way too many indie/upcoming artists are uploading their music to the internet and sending it to A&R’s, DJ’s, or label reps, but don’t have their music copyrighted and published. That should be the first thing you do when you finish recording a song. People can steal your music if the proper paperwork has not been filed. And trust me when I say it has been done plenty of times.
10) Campaigning: Many artists don’t do a music campaign before AND after releasing a mixtape, video, or song. Announcing it via Twitter and Facebook isn’t enough. It’s only so many people you can actually reach out to doing only those two things. Contact media/blog sites and see how you can get your music submitted for posting consideration. Contact radio stations, whether internet, commercial, or college radio, and set up interviews before AND after you release a song or mixtape. Find out what events and showcases are going on in your state and contact the event planner to see if you can book a performance slot and make sure you bring CD's and merchandise to sell or pass out. Also, contact your local newspapers for press coverage. Contact attempts should be accompanied by a professional press kit by an agent authorized to represent you (i.e., manager and/or publicist).
Thank you for taking the time to read this. I hope post help you on your journey, if you are an, aspiring artist.
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