Getting Started with Your Press Kit

Top 2. May 29, 2001 2:53 PM

» ronnie_b - Re: TUNED IN

In response to message posted by DeanaLee:

As an artist there are tons of ways to promote yourself on-line too. Song-swapping tehcnology is abound you can search the web to find stuff like this. MP3.com allows you to put your songs on-line and is a great way to include a link on your press-kit info if that's the way you want to go. A friend of mine got tons of airplay just by sending her CD to some nation-wide radio stations. She's also getting in on the Flipr.com which is easy and also looks promising for artists.

-- posted by ronnie_b

Top 3. May 30, 2001 6:58 AM

» AnneWatkins - Excellent advice!

I was a publicist for a record label for several years and during that time I had to create and send out tons of these media/press/publicity kits! I'm still heavily involved in the music industry, as my husband is a full time professional musician. I'm looking forward to more quality articles like this one. Thanks!

Welcome to the Suite!

Anne

-- posted by AnneWatkins

Top 4. Jun 6, 2001 12:59 PM

» Star85girl - My own music site

Please go see playstringinstruments.com! I am attempting to learn to promote it...great article, too! Helpful to me.

-- posted by Star85girl

Top 5. Jun 11, 2001 3:29 AM

» sfarault - Promotions

Hi,

Those are some good basics to remember - I'm happy to see the subject here at Suite101.

As an American singer and songwriter living in France, I've encountered other problems promoting my music, often linked to different preferences in this country compared to the US or the United Kingdom as well as the fact that I am so far away from home.

Many musicians I've met here prefer to work elsewhere (this includes French musicians too)and I have been advised to target England and the US with my music.

Although I had always performed original music in the states (aside from hotel lounge Jazz gigs), here in France I have had better luck with "variety": that is, Disco hits from the 70s, R&B and Pop - all covers, and usually in the form of a "playback".

I am still a US citizen and would love to come back to the States to play live. Do you have any ideas on publicity and promotion from abroad?

Sara

-- posted by sfarault

Top 6. Jun 12, 2001 10:51 AM

» wbeck - Re: Promotions

In response to message posted by sfarault:

That sounds like an excellent idea for an article - promoting from abroad. I'll keep this rather short since there are so many ways to promote music internationally.

Actually most artists that I have worked with are looking for exposure in other countries than the US. In this situation, I've found that the Internet is definitely a great starting place. I tend to target web sites and publications that focus on the international market. Well-known sites such as MP3.com, Rolling Stone, etc. are great places for MP3 uploads.

You can also search for magazines that are distributed either in the country or region that you intend to target or appeal to your typical fan. For the US, I like to advertise in the local music monthly magazines and newspapers when a band I am promoting is playing in the area. These tend to be much more cost effective than the big city papers.

Specialty magazines and web sites are also great. For example, I'm currently working with a guitarist. There are any number of e-zines, magazines and web sites devoted to just guitarists. They can be great for promotion since they are already targeted to a specific musical fan base.

Also, if you have a CD, check for smaller distributors that service the area. It is often difficult to interest big distributors in a new act that is not backed by a label but smaller distributors are more willing to take a chance.

The Internet is also great for contacting other musicians that are playing various genres of music. Check out some chat rooms or discussion boards on sites dedicated to musicians. I find that most musicians are very willing to talk about their experiences with clubs, agents or even fans.

Good Luck,
WB

-- posted by wbeck

Top 7. Aug 23, 2002 6:41 AM

» kham - promoting musicians

I just finished a web site for Scott Brookman. He has free MP3s and a web board. What else can we do to get some publicity for the site?
http://www.scottbrookman.com

-- posted by kham

Top 8. Aug 27, 2002 8:57 AM

» wbeck - Re: promoting musicians

In response to message posted by kham:

Well a web site and MP3s are just the start. First ask yourself, what is this artist's target market and how is this artist going to promote him/herself? These are crucial questions. If the performer is a live performer they need to start building their local following. You can check out my article on that. If the artist is selling their CD or promos only on the Internet then they have their work cut out for them. They need to build traffic for their site by getting indexed in search engines (check out any articles about search engine do's and don'ts), getting reviews in e-zines, getting links in every music site that caters to their target audience. They need to start putting together a mailing/e-mailing list for announcements and newsletters. Are they selling their CD on the 'Net, check out the CD e-tailers that will do so on commission and make sure you link that site to where their CD is sold. There are a lot of tips in my articles about doing each of these, but the most important thing they can do is "do something every day to promote themselves" - whether it be researching search engines, calling local rags about gigs, chatting with other musicians about promotion ideas that work.

-- posted by wbeck