Getting your music out there.

Gift ideas for musicians

2011-12-05T08:33:00.002+08:00

I just finished putting together a lens on gifts for musicians

. Drop by and post a comment and make a suggestion for any other gift ideas you think could be added to the list.

Audio Software Tutorials For Mac Users.

2011-10-22T20:13:00.004+08:00

For mac users wanting to develop their recording skills macProVideo.com is an online education community featuring Tutorial-Videos & Training for popular Audio & Video Applications including Logic Studio, Cubase 6, Ableton, Reason, Pro Tools, Garage Band and more. They also offer some in depth training on how to record your masterpiece to get the best results.

Take your royalty checks, SoundExchange begs

2011-07-09T20:24:00.003+08:00

Take your royalty checks, SoundExchange begs
If you are getting online radio airplay for your music there is a very good chance you could be leaving royalty money on the table. Here's how to get it. (and no, it's not a scam).
I discovered this absolute gem in David Nevue's book mentioned in the previous post which is a must read for anyone serious about promoting their music.

How to promote your music successfully on the internet is updated and full of goodies.

2011-02-09T20:50:00.004+08:00

It's been a while since I posted but I wanted to let everyone know that David Nevue's Best Seller "How To Promote Your Music Successfully on The Internet" has been updated and is packed with gems. I just downloaded the latest edition today and it's good to see that after 3 years (when I originally purchased the book) that the content is right up to date and well worth the read.
If you have not heard of David's book you can check it out here.
In this book you will learn the promotion methods this musician uses to bring in over $5000 a month from the Internet. You can discover how to get radio play, grow a fan base, create a distribution channel and manufacture and sell CDs all online. Imagine how many CDs you’d sell if thousands of people heard your music every single day? You could use the Internet to sell 100, 200 or even more CDs every single month. (Yes, this is possible!) David has accomplished this and more, and in this 2011 edition of his book, he details step-by-step how he finally said good-bye to his day job and starting spending more time on his music.
Go and grab a copy and kick off your music career today.

The Gibson Learn & Master Guitar iPhone is Out...And it is HOT!

2010-03-04T18:00:00.003+08:00

"Gibson has partnered with Legacy Learning Systems, producers of the Learn & Master Guitar course, the most comprehensive guitar instructional series on the market, to provide you with a must-have application for any guitar player. This application provides you with essential tools to help you become a better guitar player as well as free full length lessons from the award winning Learn & Master Guitar course that will take you from beginner or intermediate to advanced."

FEATURES OF THE APP: (Did I mention it's FREE).

A professional quality Chromatic Tuner that will allow you to tune any instrument using the iPhone microphone (or iPod Touch with microphone attachment)
- Alternate Tuning settings so you can quickly and easily tune your guitar to various alternate tunings, including Open G, Low C, Drop D, Eb and others.
- A Standard Mode Tuner that allows you to tune each string to a sample tone
- An accurate Metronome with multiple time signatures, visual and audio options, and a set-your-own tempo tap pad
- A Chord Library with a sample of the essential chords for every player beginner to advanced
- Free Videos Lessons - Watch full length lessons from the Award Winning Learn & Master Guitar course. Watch as instructor Steve Krenz gets you started on your way to mastering the guitar.
Download The APP Here.

Affordable web hosting and design for musicians, bands and solo artists.

2010-02-23T12:23:00.003+08:00

Speeding Pullet Hosting (and more) is a business I have been working on with newbies in mind. After my own experience of starting from scratch learning all about hosting, web design and so on for my own music, I thought why not offer a service that caters for others who are completely new to getting their music online? The journey was not without it's challenges, however I have now put together a service that will take the stress out of website hosting (and at the same time make the whole experience an enjoyable one). Speeding Pullet hosting is an affordable service that will benefit many newcomers wanting to get their personal solo artist or band website up and running with a minimum of fuss.

New website suggestions

2009-08-23T14:37:00.004+08:00

Hi everyone,
It's been a very busy few weeks with not a huge amount of time to post on this blog.
Joined Twitter which is a great tool to help get the word out - for your music or otherwise.
What I'm currently working on is my new website www.CreateAndRecordMusic.com adding videos, articles etc to make it a helpful resource for beginning musicians.
Can you help me?
I'm sending out a request to readers everywhere to do a couple of things:
1) visit my site and give me feedback (via the contact form there) on how the site has been helpful and what I can add to it to help visitors like you in their musical journey.
2) Spread the word: there is now a bookmarking and sharing button on the first page where you can Digg, Twitter, blog etc my site. This would be most helpful.
Have a great day.
Mark.

New recording music website for beginners up and running.

2009-07-11T20:38:00.005+08:00

After fighting the flu for a few days, learning new software and general flat out work it is finally up - the revamped site for www.CreateAndRecordMusic.com. More work to do in the future with adding articles and other goodies but the basics are there and it is a major improvement from the last site.
Next step is something really special which I'm currently building at present and will compliment what we have.
I'll make another post as I get closer to launch.
Have a great week.
Mark.

Some inspiration from Britain's Got Talent 2009.

2009-05-31T13:26:00.008+08:00

I thought I'd post this video from the final of "Britain's Got Talent" which I found inspiring and encouraging too.
Talent shows are a great way to get exposure, learn a little of how the entertainment industry works and to get some critique.
This musician (Julian Smith) made it to 3rd place in the finals - not bad considering the other contestants were in different fields (dance and vocalist).
His playing was excellent and there was feeling in his performance.
Well Done Julian.

An easier way to master riffs

2009-04-29T17:49:00.002+08:00

Riffmaster Pro is a really nice piece of software that helps you to master those difficult riffs and solos.
It does this by slowing down the music without affecting pitch.
(Or you can adjust the pitch on it's own without changing the track speed).
You can easily import tracks you want to learn, tweak them to how you want and loop selections so you can then play along. Learn the whole riff or just a part and put it all together at your own pace.
Visit the Riffmaster Pro website

Christian Rap Beats and Gospel Rap Beats for download.

2009-01-18T14:55:00.006+09:00

New to the web is a site that offers Christian rap and gospel beats for use by unsigned independent artists at a very affordable price.
The Incredibeats have put together some interesting grooves which may be just what an artist needs for that touch of inspiration.
While I personally am not a big fan of rap, some of the tracks where quite good and fine for demo use or a live show. A great alternative if you are a budding christian artist and need some help getting started.

Visit the site.

Learning the piano and keyboard made easy.

2008-09-28T09:49:00.011+08:00

Several months ago I was discussing music with a work colleague and how we wanted to develop our musical skills (and the huge number of tutorials and courses out there that you can purchase and how they vary in quality).
Colin was keen on the keyboard and I mentioned to him the frustration I had in trying to find a decent set of beginner piano lessons aimed more towards adults that would help me to get a handle on playing for myself.
He told me about a great set of tutorials from Pianoforall that he found useful and he showed me a few of the lessons.
I purchased the series for myself and took it for a test drive and was pleasantly surprised.

Basically what you get for your money is a series of 10 PDF ebooks embedded with 500 Audio clips and 200 Videos that explain everything in an easy to understand format.
The books take you from the basics through to more advanced playing in a series of steps so you don't get lost (and you don't play boring material!).
The author, Robin Hall has really put a great deal of thought into this program and it shows.
Currently for a limited time Robin is offering his course for half price ($39.95) so it would be worth grabbing a copy either for yourself or as a gift for a friend.

Visit www.pianoforall.com

A greatl site for finding Live acts for hire.

2008-07-22T18:08:00.009+08:00

Are you looking for live entertainers and performers to add to your next gig, wedding, party or corporate event?
www.talentainer.com could be just the ticket (no pun intended).
This is a video driven site - a performer's video directory if you like where you can go to see video footage of the various acts before making the decision to hire them.

I loved watching many of the acts here (some were absolutely brilliant) and how the you could preview live performances before hiring them through the site.
There was everything here from comedy to juggling to live bands and magicians - a real mix of talent (better than Youtube I think because it is specifically designed to make it easy to find the acts you are searching for - and no annoying ads plus the postings are by professionals who are in the entertainment frame of mind).

This is good news for people looking for quality performers - without any flops.

Here is a must see - would be great for any event I think Ventriloquist kjthebirdman on Talentainer.com

As a sideline it's also great for quality acts wanting to promote themselves to a wider audience.
Looks like a win win situation all round.
Check out the videos at Talentainer.com

Ps: Looking for a comedian? Check out Frankie - (very funny) and the other great acts.

What do you have to do to get a record deal?

2008-04-12T09:53:00.003+08:00

Brett Manning is a professional singing coach who works with both novices and major label artists. Below is his advice on what you need to do to become record deal material.

Building a Successful Sound
-by Brett Manning

Three years ago, I signed a distribution deal with Media Products in Barcelona, Spain, for the translating and marketing of the Singing Success Program, thanks to a man named Paul Zamek. Paul is responsible for the overseas licensing of many major American recording artists. (His largest client, Kenny Rogers, has sold over 100 million albums worldwide!) I met Paul on a flight to Club Med, and he became intrigued with my approach to teaching the human voice. He wanted to know how I'd advise an amateur singer looking to become a commercial success.

First, train the voice as you would train your body. Understand that you have muscles that can be developed in the same way athletes train their muscles. Singing is fairly easy, with tiny muscles involved in coordinating the voice and subtle exercises required to develop their coordination. I have taught thousands of girls to sing as high as Mariah Carey and have safely developed a convincing commercial sound with even the most rigidly trained classical singers. Just remember that correct technique is necessary before moving toward a record deal, because you will need consistency and longevity if you really want to make it.

Second, develop your "style ear" and your vocal coordinations to sing the rapid licks, trills, and runs consistent with today's pop-singing styles. You must also develop your unique version of a commercial sound. A straight purist voice (one dominated by a heady/classical sound) has little chance of competing with Jewel, Christina, Mariah, or Celine.

Third, do your own thing after you've learned everyone else's tricks. You have to get as close as possible to your natural talking voice and make your singing more like speech on pitch. If you change your tone quality so that you are talking in one voice and singing in another, you've lost the very qualities that make your voice distinctive. You'll also have a harder time sustaining your vocal health.

When I first explained this ideology to Paul, he freaked out, then drew a big smiley face on a yellow legal pad and said, "Your voice is as distinctive as your face." How many times do you answer the phone and hear, "Hey girl," and know exactly who it is without hearing another word? We are sometimes still amazed at this, because most of us don't have voices as recognizable as Fran Drescher (The Nanny), Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jennifer Tilly, James Earl Jones, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, or the late sports announcer Howard Cosell. You don't need a "character" voice like these people to be distinctive; God already took care of that when he created the equivalent to a thumbprint in your voice. The U.S. government has spent millions of dollars to develop technology that can recognize a particular voice. The multiple frequencies produced by your unique voice are your ticket into the recording industry, and making the most of them is what I've spent the last 15 years of my life teaching people to do.
People e-mail me with career questions from all over the world, and many of them ask the same thing: What do I have to do to get a record deal?
Here's the answer you usually hear: "Headshot, bio, and demo." And yes, those items certainly have helped many people get started in the recording industry. Some have even added a video or showcase to the requirement, because singers also have to be performers. But other than preparing all of these self-promotions and throwing yourself into the brutally competitive music industry, what else can you do to increase your likelihood of landing that record deal you've dreamed about since you were barely old enough to sing "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star?" Here are three other important goals to reach for:

First, increase your vocal range. The greater your range, the more exciting and confident your singing will be. Find a coach who can teach you how to mix your chest voice (speaking voice) with your head voice (your softer, lighter, classical-sounding voice). This "mixed voice" is much thicker than pure head voice, but has more frequencies than a belted chest voice (which is also the leading cause of vocal nodules). The "mixed voice" has the best of both worlds, which is why so many top Grammy winners sing in this vocal register. You must learn the "mix" if you want a commercial sound, effortless vocalizing, and a healthy voice. (The Singing Success Program can help you with this.)

Second, find as many influences as possible. Influences are inescapable. The real question is, do you have enough of them to keep you from sounding exactly like your favorite artist? We don't need another Celine Dion. I have coached dozens of young women who can now sing almost exactly like Celine; but who wants a counterfeit when the real thing is already available? If you have enough diverse vocal influences, you will find a little piece of yourself in each one of them.

Third, make a decision to find your unique voice and spend the rest of your life devoted to developing it. Don't quit your day job until your career takes off, and your office gig can be replaced with a Broadway contract or record deal. But give every extra buck, hour, and emotion to this endeavor. You don't want to look back and say, "If only." You are unique and you have dreams. Dreams are visions wearing work clothes. The world advances, not through those who give up on their visions, but through those who stand until their labor and talent takes form.
So how about you?...
Are you ready to kick-start your musical career?
Check out our complete line of artist development packages.

Myspace in the music business and what it means for indie artists.

2008-04-11T19:23:00.000+08:00

I received this interesting take on moves by MySpace to get into the music business.
Thanks to Brian Austin Whitney from Just Plain Folks for allowing me to publish this article.

Written by Brian Austin Whitney
Visit the Website: www.jpfolks.com
Mail CD's @ 5327 Kit Drive, Indianapolis, IN 46237
Copyright 2008 Just Plain Folks Productions.
Just Plain Folks Member Population: 46,519
***************************************************
Just Plain Quotes:

"Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which
ones to keep." -Scott Adams

"There's no business like show business, but there are several
businesses like accounting." -David Letterman

"We believe that an artist, in order to be true to himself and his
work, must be a free man." -John F. Kennedy

"Freedom is a relative thing. It's often determined more by what you
allow yourself to do than what others allow." -Brian Austin Whitney

My Take:

As I was putting this newsletter together, a big announcement was made
about MySpace Music signing a deal with 3 of the 4 major labels (with
indications the 4th, EMI may follow suit soon). Ive heard all sorts
of excitement about this deal from our members. But I suggest using a
great deal of caution and some healthy skepticism as to whether this is
really a good turn of events or not.

The jist of the deal is that MySpace can't afford to pay the
licensing on major label content so they're going around that problem by
giving part ownership to each of the labels of a spin off from MySpace.
This new stand alone MySpace Music will offer free streaming music of
the entire major label catalogs in exchange for sharing the income from
advertising and subscription fees from a download program (which
hasnt yet been defined). In addition, it is offering the labels
participation in merchandise sales and ticket sales and any other commercial
exploitation of their catalog. This is very attractive to the labels of
course because right now they only make money from the recorded music.
But I donâ€™t view this as a good thing for artists, especially those
who make up 99.9% of the artists already on MySpace Music.

MySpace Music claims they have 5 million major label, independent and
unsigned artist pages on their site. (By the way, I am strongly
suspicious of that number, but I'll roll with it for now). I visited all 4
major label sites and counted up the rosters listed for each. The
number was under 1000 total. If their numbers are correct, that means that
the label artists make up less than 1/50th of 1% of the pages. The
other 4,999,000 are from the indie and grassroots music communities. So
while these negotiations are happening, I have to ask the obvious
question: Who is watching out for and representing all of us (our
grassroots/indie community), the 99.995% who collectively make MySpace Music what
it is? As far as I am aware, the answer is no one. That should be a
concern to any non-label artist on that site.

If the majors are going to be co-owners of the new site, what would
make any of us believe that they would treat the artists/writers not on
their labels fairly? After all, these are the same people who have thumbed
their nose at fair competition with schemes such as radio payola for
many years. The major label system has regularly shut indies/grassroots
artists out of significant radio play, off most shelves at record
stores, out of corporate controlled music venues and relegated to the
commercial music equivalent of the "back of the bus." These are going
to be the new owners/gatekeepers for MySpace Music? Really?

Now, perhaps utopia will prevail and the new company will find a fair
and transparent way to compensate all 5 million artists for the traffic
they bring to the site to increase ad revenue. Perhaps they'll pay
our folks the same rate per play that they'll pay the majors.
Miracles sometimes do happen. But without any representation behind the
scenes, thats a pretty big leap of faith to make. It's been stated that
the major labels will have representatives on the board of the new
company. Maybe we can hope for some board representation for the
indie/grassroots community as well. But none has been offered so far. In the
meantime, a site that was populated and made popular by the folks from
the grassroots/indie community first is now being assimilated by the
â€œBorg-Likeâ€ corporate major label system. Once again, the little guy
helps blaze the trail and the big guy swoops in and gets the money and
benefit.

This deal isn't happening in a vacuum. For the last 10 years the
indie and grassroots music community has found a way to survive and thrive
outside the label system. Expect those stodgy old labels to swoop in
on every other good idea and approach used by all of us. Weve
collectively led the way and now the modern day carpet baggers are coming.
This week I heard about a major label head who thought he'd come up
with an original, earth shaking idea that was going to change the entire
music industry as we know it. His idea? He wants to launch an all
digital label that will release music directly to the web for
download only. Somebody hasnt apparently told him that the idea was more
than 10 years old and has been happening all over the web in the indie
community and by countless start up companies for years.

Heres a link to our message board where we're discussing this and
where you can find multiple links with more information about this new
deal.http://www.jpfolks.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/ubb/showflat/Number/604077/page/1#Post604077

New website - how to create and record music at home.

2008-03-06T17:53:00.000+09:00

Just launched my new website.
www.createandrecordmusic.com
This is the resource site for anyone wanting to create, record and promote their music. From experienced musicians to absolute beginners there are articles, tips and links to help you get started in your musical journey. Always wanted to play the piano, guitar, bass, violin (or some other musical instrument) but did not know where to start? Dreamed of putting together your own songs and recording them on CD to give to family and friends -or maybe something bigger? - Perhaps your own personal recording studio and producing material that will get radio airplay or even a record deal? While I can�t promise the record deal or radio airplay (that�s up to you) this site will help you get kick-started in the first steps (or leaps) into the amazing world of music creation, home recording and promoting your music.

Music Producer Pro online video tutorial series gives aspiring musos a boost.

2008-02-08T19:19:00.000+09:00

I came across this site today and wished I had something like this when I first began producing music.
Music Producer Pro is an excellent online video tutorial program (the only one I know of) that teaches you how to produce music from your studio.
Lots of practical advice and demonstrations from a professional to get you up and running and producing your own material.

Visit the Music Producer Pro website.

Fifteen minutes of fame (and how to get more).

2008-01-22T17:36:00.000+09:00

It has been said that everyone gets their 15 minutes of fame, but what if you want more?
Watch the recently broadcast Australian current affairs programme story and discover how some are using affordable technology to capitalize on their interests and skills while businesses are finding new ways to save time and increase their earning power.
High profile musicians such as Eagles rocker Joe Walsh are also broadcasting their shows live and expanding their fan base while regular guys and gals are getting a shot at fame on Helloworld TV.
See how one Australian company slashed their video conferencing costs by 90 percent without sacrificing quality.
One lady changed her home kitchen into a TV station and broadcasts her cooking shows live for just cents a day.
And watch how a couple were able to share their wedding event as it happened to family members living overseas.

Start your own online TV station with Helloworld.

TV and film placements-sound quality.

2008-01-19T19:01:00.001+09:00

Is Your Sound Quality Good Enough For Film & TV Placements?

By Michael Laskow

You might be missing some great opportunities because you think your recordings/demos aren't good enough.

Many people think that "Master Quality" requires a professional studio with 24 or more "digital" tracks, and the final mix has been "mastered".

TRUE if you were making a record for a major label, it's NOT true for what Film and TV people need. They simply need a good, clean recording. You DO NOT need to go to a pro studio, have a live string section, tons of bells and whistles, or a mastering session for your songs.

The majority of songs that are placed in film and TV projects through TAXI have been recorded in home studios on 8-tracks some even on 4 tracks!

Here are some examples!

BZ Lewis Builds Lucrative TV and Film Career From 8 Track Home Demo

"Armed with nothing more than a computer, some software with a computer I/O and a nice mic, there's no reason not to get a good sounding mix." says BZ Lewis.

It all started back in 1997 when "Wide Open" (a song by his band, Sugar Danks) began to get placed in films and TV. A simple but well-recorded demo, 'Wide Open' was done with 8 tracks on a 75 MHz computer — 6 years ago when computer recording was still in its infancy.

"Even though my setup was very simple," say B.Z., "I was able to get a great song and a great recording out of it. As I listen back to the song I realize how much I've grown as an engineer, but I think the mix still holds up today. That song has been in more than 10 films and platinum selling video game titles, and it was the song that launched my career."

His music has now been placed on all the major networks, platinum selling video game titles, 15 independent films, regional and local ad campaigns — all from contacts made through TAXI. In fact, B.Z. Lewis has used the benefits of his TAXI membership to build a lucrative career.

4-Track Demos Score TAXI Member Two "Holds" by Diamond Rio

Think you need to have elaborate demos and state-of-the-art equipment to compete in today's music business? TAXI member Elliott Park proves the time-honored adage that 'it's all about the song' by getting two of his home-recorded, 4-track demos on "hold" for superstar country act Diamond Rio.

We asked Elliott (from his home in the tiny town of Baird, TX — population 1623) to shed some light on his approach to writing and recording.

"I use a Technics Digital Piano hooked up to a Boss 4-track Digital Recorder. I usually do my own vocals, including harmony. When I need a female vocalist I have a couple of very talented friends who help me out."

"I don't really have an acoustically controlled environment. I mean, I've seriously had to redo vocal takes because my dogs started barking at a skunk outside. But a good mic and a little reverb added (on my 4-track) makes a good demo. I never worry about padded walls and all that — a room with a carpet works fine for me. The main thing is the song."

Electronica Duo PB&J Get Dozens of Film and TV Placements With Home Demos

As we often discover, PB&J's professional-caliber recordings were done at home. When asked what they use to record their material, James and Phil succinctly say: 'Sonic Foundry and a computer.' It doesn't get a lot more simple than that, does it?

"We have charted in the top 40 in over 20 countries in Dance/Electronica via Internet Radio, and have licensed more than 60 tracks for use in MTV's 'The Real World' television series."

"TAXI works. Plain and simple," asserts four-year member TAXI Phil Francis, when asked to describe his TAXI experience.

"I know — because since 1999, my partner James Kernick and I have had numerous deals and placements, including 5 independent films, a 20-song publishing deal, placements on E! Entertainment's Style, a featured minute-long usage on 'Malcolm In The Middle,' and a national Verizon commercial — among other things."

"All of these accomplishments came about as a direct or indirect result of our relationship with TAXI."

Trying to get your Song Demos to major artists? Or your band's Demo Tape/CD, to a Record Label? Then check out TAXI The World's Leading Independent A&R Company.

Michelle Williams of Destiny's Child embraces new technology to connect with her fans.

2007-10-26T17:44:00.000+08:00

Michelle Williams and other artists are embracing the streaming media revolution, using the Helloworld Studio to connect with fans, friends and family in a more personal and intimate way.
This is also giving them better control over their own material and privacy.
Features in the Helloworld studio include video email, podcasting and the ability to broadcast shows live online to anyone anywhere in the world.

Don't be a mosquito.

2007-10-20T17:27:00.000+08:00

When you see a room full of people, make sure you are not thinking like a mosquito, looking at them as something to suck dry, to get what you want and move on.

It's important to meet people, but more important to really get to know them. Ask questions. Listen. Make a point of discovering what you can do for them.

The best opportunities will come from real friends, not “contacts”. Be a good friend. Relax. Don't be a mosquito.

Many thanks to CDbaby for this article.

WAMi SUBMISSIONS DEADLINE EXTENSION - MONDAY OCTOBER 15, 2007.

2007-10-09T17:22:00.000+08:00

Thought I'd post some recent news for Western Australian artists below.

You now have until next Monday October 15 to to submit entries for the opportunity to take part in the 2008 WAMi Festival by performing in the live music showcases and lending your tracks to the promotional Kiss My WAMi CD/DVD compilation.

In 2008, the WAMi Festival will run from February 15 - 24 (metro) and throughout March regionally. The WAMis are set to feature performances from over 70 acts during the showcases and WAMi special events, such as the WAMi Awards night and the Saturday Spectacular!

If the WAMi Festival is something your act wants to be apart of, you can apply online, via the Sonicbids website http://www.sonicbids.com/wami08 or the old fashion way, downloading a form and reading the selection requirements at http://wam.asn.au.

WA artists can't afford to miss out on this opportunity!

The WAMi Festival application deadline has been extended to Monday October 15, check out http://wam.asn.au for an info kit or call 9227 7962 (regional WA 1800 007 962).

Ian Dicko (Australian Idol) says it again on Nova.

2007-10-08T17:28:00.000+08:00

Sometimes I just don't get this.
While I understand and work in the music industry there are moments that make me want to tell producers and the like to grow up and get over their issues.
Today was that kind of day.
Early afternoon Perth with Nova969 playing in the background at work and the conversation turns to the current leading contestants of Australian Idol.
Ian Dickson (Dicko to us Aussies) mentions that the top four in the group are from Hillsongs Church in Sydney and expresses his dislike of this and that we should not have too many christians in the top.
The suggestion is made they are sponsored by Hillsongs and that maybe they should sing a few songs about the devil in order to make it a level playing field.
(I thought this was a garbage comment and completely irresponsible).
(Note a previous winner also from Hillsongs was Guy Sebastian - a great guy who deserved to win).
The hosts then conduct a phone in and callers suggest songs such as "Highway to hell" as next possible songs the contestants should sing.
Clearly our singers are there because they have a gift and genuine ability to sing - and excellent attitudes (This is obvious) and they deserve the votes they receive. True talent is recognized universally.

This makes me seriously question the reasoning or maybe integrity is a better word for those in the music industry who focus more on compromise than true artistry (and their issues with anything that challenges their own belief system).

As for the contestants and Hillsongs as a whole I'm right behind them - and all other artists who won't be owned by a record label - stick with your integrity and continue to do what is right.

Ok guys I'm done .

Logjam over Internet radio royalties could be ending soon

2007-10-01T15:17:00.000+08:00

Thought this was an interesting article about the state of internet radio.

Be Seen AS WELL AS Heard!

2007-09-01T14:18:00.000+08:00

Putting video footage of yourself on the internet has become a thankfully easy task, and adding video to your website is an excellent way to make it stand out in a crowd. Here are some suggestions to make your video presence great:

Professional Music Videos: if you've spent time, energy, and money producing video, this is an excellent opportunity to show it off, and to represent your visual character as well as your sound.

Live Shows: having footage of your live performance is an excellent way to demonstrate your prowess in front of an audience. Try to make sure that the sound quality is as good as it can possibly be. In the same way that you want your audio to show you at your best, the same applies to video.

Montages: some artists are performers, teachers, studio musicians, composers, and more. Video is a good medium for quickly showing you in all your different roles, especially if you are promoting yourself as a multi-faceted artist.

SPOTLIGHT YOUR MUSIC ON THE MUSE'S MUSE!

2007-08-11T10:49:00.000+08:00

SPOTLIGHT YOUR MUSIC ON THE MUSE'S MUSE!

The Muse's Muse Songwriting Resource (online since 1995) now has
a section of Artist Spotlights at

http://www.musesmuse.com/artistspotlights.html

where musicians and songwriters of all genres can strut their
stuff. Newly spotlighted artists are also mentioned in a monthly
newsletter, currently going out to 12,500 subscribers around the
world. Check out http://www.musesmuse.com/spotlightinfo.html for
more details!

New Music competitions for Indie Artists

2007-07-25T20:05:00.000+08:00

INTERNATIONAL ACOUSTIC MUSIC AWARDS ACCEPTING ENTRIES

The 4th Annual IAMA (International Acoustic Music Awards) is now
accepting entries. IAMA promotes excellence in Acoustic Music
Performance and Artistry. Acoustic artists in various genres can
gain exciting radio and web exposure through this competition.
Unlike other music industry competitions, IAMA focuses on
developing new markets for Acoustic artists, labels and musicians
with or without CD releases. All entries must be postmarked by
November 9 or earlier.

http://www.inacoustic.com/

NASHVILLE CVB LAUNCHES SONGWRITING COMPETITION

The Nashville Convention & Visitors Bureau (NCVB) is launching
the "Music City Songwriting Competition". The winning songwriter
will perform their song on "Music City Connection: Heroes Behind
the Hits," a monthly radio show broadcast on XM Satellite Radio,
have their song published by The Music Group International, and
have a recording of their song produced by renowned Nashville
producer and Universal Records South President, Mark Wright.
Submission deadline: August 31.

http://www.visitmusiccity.com/songwriting

How to get more traffic to your music site.

2007-06-16T11:14:00.000+08:00

This is another excellent site I discovered recently.
It's called Squidoo

Drop by and have a look, read up on the blurb and create a "lens" for your music.

Oh yes, did I mention it's free?

DCbaby launches new DIY music promotion podcast.

2007-06-04T09:44:00.000+08:00

I've always been a big fan of CDbaby.
Here's their latest news:

Calling all artists! The folks at CD BABY have done it again, offering another fun and innovative tool for learning and finding success as a musician. Horah! It's a FREE bimonthly internet broadcast (known as a podcast) of interviews with musicians, Lawyers, promoters, business owners, as well as many others. All from the perspective of the do-it-yourself musician!
Drop by the podcast site here.

Bono honored

2007-05-30T18:21:00.000+08:00

Crusading U2 rocker Bono has been named the recipient of this year's Liberty Medal for helping bring public attention to humanitarian and economic issues in Africa.
The annual award, decided by America's non-profit National Constitution Center, rewards an individual or organisation that has "demonstrated leadership and vision in the pursuit of liberty of conscience or freedom from oppression, ignorance or deprivation."

Bono will receive his medal alongside the charitable project he co-founded - DATA (Debt, AIDS, Trade, Africa). The award ceremony will take place in September.

IT’S WAM SONG OF THE YEAR TIME!

2007-05-25T19:27:00.000+08:00

Received this in my WAM newsletter email recently - (this competition is for Western Australian artists only - sorry guys).
I'm planning to enter a few instrumental tracks this year.
Here's the details:

Amateur or professional songwriters who want to take their career to the next level are urged to enter the WAM Song of the Year 2007, with over $30,000 in prizes to be won including the Grand Prize - a 3 day recording session supplied by James Hewgill Music, a full page advert and feature article in Groove magazine and the pressing of 500 cd’s by Diskbank.

SOTY entrants can enter their original songs into the categories of Pop, Jazz, Country, Rock, Heavy Rock/Metal, Urban, World & Folk, Blues & Roots, Electronic/Dance, Mixed Bag, Love, Gospel, Professional and School Aged categories. Prizes for the Indigenous and Regional Song of the Year are drawn from entrants in every category.
No one misses out in 2007 because this year WAM Song of the Year introduces a Professional category where published Western Australian based songwriters are given the chance to enter their works.

You never know where WAM Song of the Year will take the song writers and their songs. 2006 Song of the Year Grand Prize Winner, Erik Hecht, has already gone on to sign a record deal, secure some fantastic touring opportunities for his band Institut Polaire and be unearthed by triple j. Blues and Roots Category winner, Abbe May, has had a stellar year of performance and recording opportunities following her win in 2006.

WAM Song of the Year is a perfect opportunity for entrants to gain industry recognition and great prizes. To be eligible to enter entrants must live in Western Australia. For the first time in SOTY history, participants can enter their songs in the WAM Song of the Year contest online, making entering cheaper and easier.

**SPECIAL MEMBERSHIP DEAL ONLY AVAILABLE DURING WAM SONG OF THE YEAR**
If you buy a WAM membership or re-new an existing membership during WAM Song of the Year you will receive a FREE 12 month subscription to Sonicbids. This HOT deal applies to individual, concession and band memberships.

For full competition and entry details and a complete list of prizes go to http://www.wam.asn.au/ Entries close on 10 August 2007.

The life of succesful Indie musicians.

2007-05-16T19:13:00.000+08:00

I don't know if you saw the New York Times article recently about
the life of successful independent musicians in 2007, but it is well worth taking some time to read as it probably applies to your music career, too.

Here's the link to the full article

Show the world your talent competition.

2007-05-13T14:38:00.000+08:00

Helloworld announces a new competition for May (they run a contest each month).
This time it's a talent contest with $500 US offered as a prize to the winning entry.
This is an excellent opportunity to not only be in the running for a good wad of cash, but also a brilliant way to get some great exposure.
Contest is open to Helloworld members only, however joining is easy and only takes a few minutes.
To find out more visit the link here and then click on the watch TV button which will take you to the channels page where you can find out more.

Outrageous Music Marketing Ideas.

2007-05-10T20:26:00.000+08:00

by Bob Baker

I'm not sure exactly what triggered it, but recently my mind started popping with creative, off-the-wall ways to promote your music. So I jotted down some notes and am sharing them with you in this article.

I'll let you determine whether these are truly "outrageous" ideas. But one thing is for sure: They certainly aren't the traditional things that most musicians think about when they do marketing.

Ready? Here we go ...

Outrageous Music Marketing Idea #1
Turn Yourself Into a Happy Meal

I definitely advocate that indie musicians *not* try to emulate the same tactics as the major labels. However, there are times when you can take one of their ideas (or an idea from a related entertainment industry) and give it a small-scale spin.

You know how the major film studios promote their new animated features by tying into fast food chain kid meals, such as the McDonald's Happy Meal. Most likely, you won't be able to land a nationwide Happy Meal deal. But you might be able to do something cool with a local deli or restaurant.

I know a couple of radio disc jockeys in my town who have sandwiches or special meals named after them at certain eateries. Why couldn't you do that? Especially if you perform regularly at a particular coffee shop, bar or restaurant.

For example, if your band is called Sweet Potato Sunrise, approach a manager with the idea of offering a Sweet Potato Sunrise omelette, or a Sweet Potato Sunrise latte, or a Sweet Potato Sunrise daiquiri?

You get the idea. The special name would get you exposure at the establishment whenever it's open (hopefully, you're item will be listed on the menu). Plus, you can use the unique promotional angle to get mentions in the local press.

Outrageous Music Marketing Idea #2
Become an Instant Cult Classic

The success of the quirky film Napoleon Dynamite has me thinking. The movie itself is still growing on me, but I'm fascinated by the buzz it has among people who really connect with it. Most of my friends who rave about it have seen it numerous times and claim that the more they see it, the more they appreciate and enjoy it.

What a nice position for a filmmaker to be in. Admittedly, a lot of people don't like the movie and its flat characters at all. But those who do appreciate the film like it a lot -- and preach about it to their friends, memorize lines, encourage theatres to have midnight showings, etc.

How can you tap into that? It's hard to manufacture cult status, but here's an idea: What if your music CD came with an accompanying trivia game? And what if the game tied directly into the theme, style and lyrics of your music? The game instructions could be included in the CD sleeve or delivered separately to everyone who bought one. Or, to make a greater impact with the trivia game idea, you could package the CD in a DVD case or even a small retail box.

To make this work, you'd have to come up with a cool, interactive game idea and have a CD filled with interesting, funny or insightful lyrics and music. But if you can get people examining the nuances of your material and sharing notes with other people who are memorizing your stuff, you might have some powerful buzz going for you.

Check out my blog at MusicPromotionBlog.com for more outrageous ideas. But hopefully, these will get your wheels turning in the meantime.

Bob Baker is the author of "Guerrilla Music Marketing Handbook," "Unleash the Artist Within" and "Branding Yourself Online." He also publishes TheBuzzFactor.com, a web site and e-zine that deliver marketing tips, self-promotion ideas and other empowering messages to music people of all kinds. Get your FREE subscription to Bob's e-zine by visiting http://TheBuzzFactor.com today.

Celebration - We have passed the 100 post mark.

2007-05-06T15:51:00.000+08:00

Thought this was cause for celebration.
Getting Your Music Out There has passed the 100 posts mark.
It's a great feeling to see the popularity of this blog also growing.
A big "thank you" to all who have visited.

Is your sound quality good enough for film and TV placements?

2007-04-25T14:24:00.000+08:00