Ustream your heart out!

If you are not the type of person who likes to write everyday, but wants a cool way to directly connect to you fan base, try ustream.

Ustream allows you to:
- live feed with a webcam so your fans can interact with you live
- pre recorded videos can be loaded
- you can chat with your viewers while they are watching you live or prerecorded.

Think it like yourbandTV. Ideal ways to use it as a band:
- Live feeds of you working on a record or practicing for a show
- Monthly live q&a session where you interact with your fans
- Live feeds of concerts or parties (if you’re a DJ this is a must)
- Offer rare acoustic sets that are streamed lived from your studio

A lot of musicians are already using ustream – diddy, trey songs, jonas brothers, snoop dog. If they are using it, so should you!

Music Industry Tip #7

Throw a listen/review party. Seems old school right?

Update the plan by ditching the usual locations like music stores, lounges and nightclubs.

Try contacting local coffee shops, smaller book stores, art galleries, and cool clothing stores that are willing to support local music.

Offer a Q&A session and discounted merchandise. Make sure to establish a good relationship with the venue – getting on good terms with them paves the way for meeting other networking sources like other owners.

Promotion/Marketing/Network opportunity all in one! Its all about multi-tasking!

5 Musician Social Network Sites You Need to be on!

If you are in a band, these are absolute must use sites for the promotion process. You should have accounts on as many as possible, but these are five that I don’t see disappearing any time soon.

1.MySpace

This is just common sense. If your not on Myspace, then I dunno what to say to you without  insulting you.

2. ReverbNation

Being on this site is JUST AS IMPORTANT as being on MySpace. Their site is chocked full of features to managed your band and fan base with widgets galore to post on your website, blog, and more.

 

 

3.Last.fm

This is a great site to get new fans. With its radio player and eager audience who is actively seeking new and exciting music, make sure you have a profile and music updated on this site.

 

4. ilike

A partner of MySpace, One universal dashboard lets you manage your Page on Facebook, iLike, iTunes, and more... reaching over 50 million music fans and 500,000 more every week.

 

5. MOG

Where imeem (RIP) left off in the quest to create the perfect destination for music lovers to learn about and discover music. Same as ilike, great to have a profile on here for new fans to find you.

MySpace Music Now Working With Audio Ads

Musicians be aware -


If losing your imeem playlist wasn't bad enough, myspace has started playing 30-second ads that started appearing last week when users listen to songs on artist profiles, album pages, playlists and pop-out players.

The ads are impossible to avoid, but the audio ads are timed. Users can listen to up to 100 songs on a playlist or to a full album with just a single interruption after the first song so maybe it isn't that bad.

As much as I hate myspace, musicians still need to be a part of it and its a major part of how you need to network online. You can't stop the ads from showing up, but make sure your music is organized properly so that when they do visit your page, your playlist and albums are organized for a easier user experience.

Think of it this way - ads are like the crazy ex who keeps showing up at your live events, you can't stop them from showing up... but you can make sure security knows so they don't bum rush the stage...

Music Industry Tip #6

When getting email addresses to from your fans, try to get more information like birthdays, other favorite artist. It helps with other marketing campaigns.

Getting things like that will allow you more personal marketing campaigns to reach them like sending birthday ecards to your fans that could showcase you singing happy birthday, or a special release of a song not out yet on your website. Even just a simple ecard with no music will connect with your fans. Either way – finding more ways to connect with your fan base on a more personal level helps create a stronger connection and in return- more loyal fans.

Music Industry Tip #5

Many musicians and serious music fans often scope out music forums and message boards. From allhiphop.com to okayplayer.com, there are message boards, blogs, and forum  that target your music segment.

Tip – post OFTEN on boards that are suited to your sound and fanbase to build your brand online and connect with fans ( and other music professionals)

ALWAYS include your signature that includes your band name, URL and if possible, a cool picture or banner of your group/bandname.

Music Industry Tip #4

Develop yourself as a complete brand.

I’ll say it again – Brand yourself!

Record labels aren’t spending the money on mareting and artist development like they used to when they were controlling the market.


Record labels are now signing artist who already have a following – They can’t take the risk of someone who isn’t established.

NEVER rely on a record label to sign you. There are a lot of options to market and promote your music.
I will ALWAYS remind you that this is a business and your music is your product. Take time to build your image and the image of your music.

5 Cool Business Card Designs

As stated in a earlier blog, Business are a must in your musician marketing tool. Cheap to print and easy to carry on you – they can be used for a variety of purposes.

Here are some ideas to get your mind going on your next business card project:

Music Industry Tip #3

Most musicians usually armed themselves with flyers to hand out to other musicians or potential fans.

People generally keep business cards, while they rarely keep flyers.

When I get a flyer, the awkward size usually lands in the abyss that is the bottom of my car.

When I get a business card it usually gets put in my pocket, purse or wallet. Chances are I will most likely check it out or see it again in my purse/wallet/pocket and check it out then.

All musicians should use business cards as a marketing tool because:
- cheaper than a flyer to print (even if you want color on both sides)
- can be use for variety of purposes
- they will check our your music/site more than with a flyer

Just because your a musician – doesn’t meant you don’t need a business card. When talking to anyone, hand one out.

New Album? Use business cards to hand out promoting a new album. Make sure the front side is AWESOME and offer a free download of the single and a url to visit in order to download for free. From album releases to concerts, handing out business cards are more cost effective and easier to keep on you at all times so you are marketing everywhere from the pool hall to cafes, grocery stores and everywhere in between.

20 Music Logo Designs That Work

“Music is God’s gift to man, the only art of Heaven given to earth, the only art of earth we take to Heaven.”

- Walter Savage Landor
Music production companies  have a hard time when designing a logo that needs to stand among the crowded music industry. As a designer within this industry, one understands the challenges. But like a artist creates a song, through creativity and a love and respect for what you do, good designers often end with a truly amazing logo design that will establish your business in the music industry.
I have pulled a list of over 20 music logo design that I feel work and can provide some insight and direction when coming up with your own logo for your business if your are music professional.
Some are designed by myself and marked with a *. ( Of course I would toot my own horn!)