Posted on December 7, 2022

CMA Rules In Favor Of Record Labels & Streaming Services

By Barbara Drews

UK Watchdog Shuts Down Allegations Once & For All!

Amid claims that big record labels and music streaming services such as Spotify hold excessive power in the industry, UK Watchdog, the British consumer investigative journalism program, launched an in-depth investigation into the music streaming market to determine whether the claims were true. But it turns out that the system, in large part, is surprisingly fair both to listeners and musicians. 

Before initiating their research, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) had announced that their main focus will be:

“To assess whether any lack of competition between music companies could affect the musicians, singers, and songwriters whose interests are intertwined with those of music lovers.”

Chief Executive of CMA, Andrea Coscelli said that

“As we examine this complex market, our thinking and conclusions will be guided by the evidence we receive. If the CMA finds problems, it will consider what action may be necessary.”

Looking into the streaming industry from a creator-to-consumer perspective, CMA promised to see:

"Whether innovation is being stifled and if firms hold excessive power.”  

Well, now that the results are in, many artists will be disappointed to find out that there is no power exploitation and the influence of record labels and music streaming services on the market cannot be regulated. The UK's competition watchdog claims that no real harm can be directly correlated, despite the appeal of some industry professionals.

In the final issued report, CMA explained,

"We have found that it is unlikely that the outcomes that concern many stakeholders are primarily driven by competition. Consequently, it is unlikely that a competition intervention would improve outcomes overall, and release more money in the system to pay creators more."

Despite The Apparent Challenges, The Final Verdict Is As Follows:

• Streaming services have benefited music fans who have free access to songs and are paying less for Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon.
• Industry giants (Universal, Warner, and Song) that control most of the market share aren’t “likely to be making significant excess profits that could be shared with creators.”
• Despite the increase of Royalty rates in deals, many musicians still struggle to make an income from streaming services.

According to CMA interim chief executive, Sarah Cardell,

“Streaming has transformed how music fans access vast catalogs of music, providing a valuable platform for artists to reach new listeners quickly, and at a price for consumers that has declined in real terms over the years.”

“We heard from many artists and songwriters across the UK about how they struggle to make a decent living from these services. These are understandable concerns, but our findings show that these are not the result of ineffective competition. Intervention by the CMA would not release more money into the system that would help artists or songwriters.”

To read more stories like this go to  MPT Blog. You can also follow MusicPromoToday for more news about the music industry.

Posted on December 5, 2022

Atlantic Records Denies Using Bots For Any Of Its Artists

By Yvonne Martin

Atlantic Records’ recent bot scandal has opened a new window of speculation about record labels and their artists.

Are The Engagement And Streaming Numbers Real? 

Many in the music industry are being accused of adopting cunning techniques like album stuffing, playlist stuffing, streaming farms, and streaming data inflation, to name a few. Large recording companies and even major artists are being blamed for manipulating stream counts, number of views, chart positioning, and so on. They do this to increase market share, earn royalty payments, and for many other illicit reasons.

Since the good old days, labels have been known for paying radio stations and DJs to constantly play their artists’ songs on the radio, making them popular. This type of undercover agreement and secret payment is called payola. Today, the same concept is being applied to streaming services, except this time they are buying fake streams.

Apparently, labels use streaming farms to help artificially increase streams, creating “Hits” and therefore earning more money. How do they work? The tech “mimics fans listening to the same song hundreds of times at a specific period of time.”

In addition to getting a song to reach the top of the charts, streaming farms can also make labels more money from royalties. The rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer all over again. As big recording companies and popular stars get even more popular, independent labels and artists receive a bigger blow.

The latest of the labels being accused of such behavior is Atlantic Records. The American recording company has had a difficult past couple of days after the news of bot usage broke on the internet. It is being blamed for increasing the number of views on many of its artists’ videos, particularly rapper and singer-songwriter Don Toliver’s “Do It Right.” 

What Did Atlantic Records Reply?

The company replied to the accusations by saying, "Atlantic Records has never used bots for any of our artists." A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie, 100 gecs, Charlie Puth, Coldplay, Kodak Black, YoungBoy Never Broke Again, Weezer, and among others are signed with Atlantic Records. The social media community is pointing fingers at a long list of artists, although it’s unclear whether they are involved in the alleged claims. 

Along with Toliver, Lil Uzi Vert, and Roddy Ricch, are also being speculated. Toliver’s rep released a statement saying, “While we conduct our own investigation into the allegations, we urge Atlantic Records to do the same—to protect the integrity of not only their roster of artists but their reporting metrics.”

The fact is, it’s really difficult to run a fair system. Bots have become part of the normal way of conduct and to make them disappear altogether is close to impossible. The only way to go is to trust that record labels, managers, and artists will rely on authentic and real engagement rather than bots.

Connect with MusicPromoToday and find out all the insider information about the music industry. Check the MPT Agency Blog for more interesting news.

Posted on November 18, 2022

The Best Way To Grow Your Spotify Via Facebook Ads

By Yvonne Martin

Many people who have never used Facebook ads shudder at the thought because they believe it to be an outdated platform for boomers. However, you can grow your Spotify via Facebook Ads! How? Well, Facebook has more than 2 billion monthly users, and utilizing Facebook ads means running ads on:

• Facebook
• Instagram
• Even Messenger!

Thus, Ads will appear on Facebook:

• News articles
• Marketplace items
• Feeds
• Stories
• Websites
• Applications

Do’s & Don’ts

This sort of campaign's fundamental premise is that you can use a conversion target that utilizes the advantage of the Facebook Pixel. 

Do’s:

Use conversions to:

• Exclude bots
  • Create retargeting audiences
• Utilize a Facebook Business Manager account and a verified domain to track the conversions.

Don’ts:

• Do not launch a traffic campaign and direct people to Spotify. 

Evidently, due to the lack of tracking, you can wind up with a lot of pointless bot clicks that result in no Spotify streams. 

As a result, this will allow you to run ads for other objectives to those who converted in the past. Consequently, we require a website on which we can set up our pixel code and launch "events" whenever a user clicks the Spotify button on the landing page.

Deep Dive Into Campaign Structures And Ads

What Is A Facebook Campaign? How Can You Use A Facebook Campaign To Grow Your Spotify Via Facebook Ads?

A Facebook campaign has three levels:

• The campaign → Establish your campaign's goal, start, and finish dates.
• The ad set →  Specify your target audience, market interest, and origin of your audience.
• The ad →  Select which Facebook and Instagram page the ad appears on.

Myth: Facebook Ads do Not Provide A Return On Investment For Spotify

The truth is that a typical return on investment will not ever be as high as $3 in Spotify royalties for every $1 spent on Facebook ads.

Undeniably, you can observe a rise in your:

• Following, a new fanbase
• Trustworthiness due to successful releases
• The number of data sources for future marketing campaigns

Certainly, the majority of independent musicians will make a modest living by:

• Gradually expanding their back catalog of songs
• Increasing the number of streams they receive through algorithmic or editorial playlists

Why Are Facebook Ads So Great? The Reason To Grow Your Spotify Via Facebook Ads.

Facebook offers:

• Comprehensive targeting choices
• Flexible budgeting
• An algorithm that can be self-optimized to get the best results at the lowest cost

Let us examine the advantages of Facebook advertisements in further detail:

1. In-depth targeting choices are available
2. Basic demographic choices are available for a very broad range of interests, including brands, genres, performers, goods, and more
3. The ads can be "scaled," and you can manage your spending; the more you spend, the better the results you receive, but you can still spend as little as $1 per day.
4. With Facebook's learning algorithm, you can receive the most results for the least amount of money.
5. People that interact with you can be added to "Custom Audiences" so that you can display your ads later on for less money than it cost to first reach them.
6. There are also "Lookalike Audiences" which are “Custom Audiences” that contain 1+ million or more people that are similar to your fans.

Thus, you are able to…

Apply The Following Strategies To Grow Your Spotify Via Facebook Ads

• Direct listeners who are specifically interested in your Spotify profile
• Utilize Facebook's tools and algorithm to get more of those fans at a lower cost
• Boost your chances of fooling the Spotify algorithm into giving you free access to even more of your followers

Strategies To Grow Your Spotify Via Facebook Ads

Every time you put out a new song, you have the opportunity to:

• Pitch it to the Spotify editors
• Have it added to the Release Radar playlist of your listeners
• Have it included in the Release Radar playlist of Spotify users who have similar listening habits to yours

Release one song each month, this way you will increase the:

• Amount of pitches you obtain
• Length of time your song is on Release Radar
• Monthly growth of your stream and followers

Final Thoughts

Do not anticipate a return on your initial investment from your first campaign. However, fans who follow your profile will be informed of any upcoming releases, which might expand your fan base and increase the number of plays you receive. 

Keep in mind that it is not a race, it is a marathon!

For further information, keep an eye on our blog and Instagram to make the procedure as simple as possible.

Posted on November 17, 2022

AI Music Generators: Threat To The Music Industry

By Barbara Drews

AI music generators that can instantly produce brand-new music songs are beginning to threaten the livelihoods of musicians. As a result, lobbyist groups appear to be competing for a dominant role in the content generation sector, which has them quite worried.

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Music-generating app Mubert AI which can convert limited text inputs into a plausible-sounding composition:

"We've made it easier than ever for content creators of all kinds to license custom, high-quality, royalty-free music. From streamers to filmmakers to app builders."

Naturally, computer-generated music has been around for a while, using different types of AI to produce outcomes that may sound both manmade and alien.

However, this new breed of music generators, pioneered by Mubert AI and Google's Audio LM, feels like a whole other animal. They are more like creative replacements for musicians themselves than they are like creative integrations for the music-making process, negating the need to pay for expensive royalties or labor-intensive labor completely.

The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) is concerned that AI-driven music generators may endanger both the financial security and legal rights of human musicians. The RIAA released a statement approving the usage of AI music generators in response to a request for feedback from the Office of the US Trade Representative.

Online services that use Artificial Intelligent to "extract, or rather, copy, the vocals, instrumentals, or some portion of the instrumentals (a music stem) from a sound recording" to "generate, master or remix a recording to be very similar to or almost as good as reference tracks by select, well-known sound recording artists" are infringing on its members' "rights by making unauthorized copies of our member's works," the RIAA stated in a new statement to the Office of the US Trade Representative.

The RIAA included a variety of services, from those that master songs in the manner of well-known musicians to those that isolate voices from backing recordings. The remark may indicate that AI music generators are the trade organization's next target because it has a lengthy history of litigating copyright infringement and combating music piracy, as Vice notes.

There isn't much legal precedence, therefore it's unclear if these AI-generated tunes genuinely violate the rights of musicians. It's an intriguing look into the near future that raises many concerns, such as whether these technologies are just democratizing access to potent art production tools or whether they are actually stealing from the original artists who served as their inspiration.

The production of synthetic content makes it simpler for many artists to keep up in this content-driven environment. But it's always worth considering what, if anything, is lost when we transition to a new, AI-driven world.

To find out what services can enhance your musical career, make sure you check our blog regularly and follow us on Instagram for more music marketing-related updates.

Posted on November 11, 2022

Are Apple Music’s Subscription Fees Rising For Good?

By John Reynolds

The recent price rise for Apple Music's subscription and a foreseeable price increase for Spotify would enhance music sales in the United States and throughout the world and have an influence on library values.

Increased rates for Apple Music and Spotify's individual plans can result in hundreds of millions of dollars more in subscription income each year in the United States.

What Is The Expected Revenue?

The expected incremental earnings from these pricing hikes for streaming services is around $650 million per year. That is predicated on a 7% increase in subscriber growth in 2023, no further churn, a whole year of price increases, and higher costs including both self-paid and promotional subscription plans.

Will Every Aspect Be Affected?

A tiny amount of churning is anticipated, though, and Spotify is not expected to increase its prices at the start of the new year. Not all subscription plans are liable to price increases, too. (For instance, Apple is not raising the cost of Apple Music Voice.) As a result, the actual impact is probably going to be less next year and during the years to come.

Let us Get Into Specifics

• Individual subscriptions for Apple Music now cost $10.99 per month instead of $9.99. 
• The cost of the family plan went up $2 from $14.99 to $16.99. 
• The price of Apple One, a package that includes services like Apple Music, Apple TV+
• Others increased by $2 for the solo plan and by $3 for the family (which includes Apple Arcade and iCloud+) and premier plans (which adds Apple News+ and Apple Fitness+).

How Will Apple Music’s Subscription Affect Spotify?

• In the United States, Spotify could follow with a $1 per individual membership price rise. 
• It is prohibited from raising the cost of the family plan by more than the $1 it added in April, to $15.99. 
• Student rates on Spotify are available for $4.99 per month. 
• Billboard anticipates that the reduced plans will remain unchanged for these intents.

How Will Apple Music’s Subscription Affect Musicians?

A price rise essentially results in a pay hike for creators and copyright owners. The same portion of streaming services' earnings would go to labels and publishers as royalties. 

Although some churn is likely, higher costs wouldn't affect listeners' habits, thus the arithmetic would be in favor of musicians and rights holders: a bigger royalty pool would be split by the same number of streams to determine the per-stream fee owing to each track.

Songs and recordings would also be worth more if the two biggest subscription services in the US charged higher charges. 

• A catalog's current royalty income will rise with increased prices
• Streaming growth has a positive correlation with greater catalog values. 

According to a recent study by Professor Larry Miller of New York University, streaming accounted for 62% of the typical multiple paid-for composition portfolios in 2021, Billboard reported this week.

While Spotify's CEO Daniel Ek claimed the firm will likely follow Apple Music's path when chatting to investors on Spotify's Oct. 25 earnings call, the company has not yet announced a general price rise on its individual and family plan subscriptions. 

Ek told investors that raising the price in the United States is "one of the things we would like to do" and that Spotify will speak with labels "in light of these recent events with our label partners."

Expect prices to rise as a matter of course. In May, Amazon Music Unlimited increased its pricing. In its biggest market, France, Deezer increased subscription rates in January. Rate increases are also scheduled for December in Germany and the United States. According to Deezer CEO Jeronimo Folgueira, the price hike by Apple Music "opens the door for further price increases down the line."

Final Thoughts

Numerous factors will influence just how much additional funds these price increases will bring in. In any scenario, musicians and owners of the associated rights can anticipate higher subscription payments through 2023.

To find out what services can enhance your musical career, make sure you check our blog regularly and follow us on Instagram for more music marketing-related updates.

Posted on November 8, 2022

Elon Musk Delays Twitter Paid Verification

By Shawn Spence

Elon Musk's intention to sell Twitter's blue tick paid verification badges has been postponed. As a result, delaying the microblogging platform's swift descent into hell slightly. 

You guessed it right. Musk is also blocking unnamed parody accounts, though…

According to The New York Times, Twitter's paid verification will now go live on Nov. 9, which is the day following the U.S. midterm elections. Prior to Nov. 7, when the update was supposed to go live. Nonetheless, Musk reportedly threatened to dismiss staff members who didn't reach the deadline.

The decision to postpone the implementation of paid verification was made as a result of staff and user concerns. They were worried about the possible disastrous effects Musk's plan will have on election integrity. 

Anyone with the capacity to pay verification status would be able to get a blue tick and use it to pose as a well-known individual. Moreover, this will enable them to send tweets that seem to come from news organizations or politicians. 

This also has the potential to destabilize the election and spread false information about the outcomes.

When Musk's reforms actually go live, there's a decent chance that Twitter will turn into a hazardous hub of misinformation. 

Some verified Twitter users have criticized Musk's verification modifications by exposing how the blue tick on Twitter will be misused and how simple it is to deceive people. 

Artist Mark Brooks published tweets from users who thought he was the renowned actor after briefly changing his account name and profile photo to resemble Harrison Ford.

It’s far easier to con people than it is to convince those same people that they’ve been conned.

Exhibit A: pic.twitter.com/eCe93LW1hw

— The artist formally known as Harrison Ford (@MarkBrooksArt) November 4, 2022

Twitter has suspended verified accounts belonging to comedian Kathy Griffin, actor Rich Sommer, and former NFL player Chris Kluwe. Users have also been banned for changing their display names and profile pictures to correspond with those of Tesla's real-life co-founder Elon Musk.

pic.twitter.com/z6oSHf7nwC

— Judd Legum (@JuddLegum) November 7, 2022

Musk stated in a tweet on Sunday that unless an account is blatantly labeled as a parody, Twitter will permanently suspend any accounts that mimic others. It's not clear if a disclaimer on the account's profile would do, or if this label must be in the account's name.

Going forward, any Twitter handles engaging in impersonation without clearly specifying “parody” will be permanently suspended

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 6, 2022

Due to the possibility that true identity verification will no longer be required in order to receive one of Twitter's blue ticks, it is also probable that Twitter will have difficulty telling the difference between a parody account and the real thing. 

This is risky whether you have a large profile or not because anyone with $8 and a grudge will possibly destroy your entire existence.

Prior to Musk's takeover, Twitter wasn't always a haven of virtue. But the amount it has dropped in less than a week is astonishing.

To find out what services can boost your musical career, make sure you check our blog regularly and follow us on Instagram for more music marketing-related updates.

Posted on November 7, 2022

YouTube Introduces Unique @handle Feature

By Yvonne Martin

The online video-sharing and SM platform launched the @handle feature to simplify people’s online interactions and help them connect with each other faster and easier. The new feature allows creators to promote their YouTube presence and drive traffic to their profiles.

YouTube explained in a statement:

“Handles are a new unique identifier (example @youtubecreators) & ALL YouTube channels will have one. Your unique @handle feature will help people find & interact with you & your YouTube channel. And because handles are unique (unlike channel names), it’s easy to confirm if you’re engaging with the right person or not.”

In the same way as its counterparts; Twitter, TikTok, and Instagram, the @handle feature will directly link people to the content you post and offer better branding opportunities by running as a unique channel URL. Until recently, custom channel URLs have only been available to Youtubers with 100 subscriptions and above. With this new addition, the app will make it accessible to all users no matter the number of subscribers.

@handle feature is also created to reduce copycat channels and stop scammers from replicating popular ones. With each channel having its own personal @handle feature, swindlers will have a hard time copying existing accounts. On a more fun note, the new feature will permit users to mention channels in comments, community posts, and video descriptions, “For example, creators can be shouted out in a mention in comments or tagged in the title of a recent collab, helping them increase visibility and reach with new audiences.”

Channel owners must take into account that they have till November 14th to choose their own handle, otherwise, YouTube will assign them automatically, “Over the next few weeks, we’ll slowly open access for all YouTube channels to choose a unique @handle feature. If you don’t choose one by November 14th, we will begin assigning handles automatically based on your channel name (which you can change!).”

Just as YouTube wants to ensure the best service for its creators, MusicPromoToday also focuses on delivering all-around assistance to its clients. Providing aspiring and established artists with everything they need to further enhance their careers, MPT offers a wide range of services that help promote any musician’s online presence and digital footprint. 

If you’re interested in the latest music industry news and trends, go to MPT Blog and get ahold of the most recent developments. 

Watch the full guideline below:

Posted on October 28, 2022

2023 Ultimate Trends That Will Redefine The Music Industry

By Barbara Drews

The past couple of years have been hectic and all aspects of life have undergone a renaissance. The music industry is no different. There are many trends that will redefine the music industry in 2023! But first, let us take a look at how the industry has changed over the last few years.

The business has taken a new form with all the new:

• Emerging technologies
• Streaming platforms
• Artificial intelligence

Not only has the classic process model been reshaped, but people’s approaches toward music and songs have changed as well. 

Thus, with almost 20 billion global music sales in the past year, numbers and statistics show that music has become more international than ever!

There are no more limitations on:

• Genre
• Language
• Culture

It does not matter who is singing and in what tongue, people are ready to accept the song as long as it aligns with their momentary interests. 

What would have been impossible to achieve years ago seems to be possible in today’s music industry and the biggest proof is the rise of K-Pop and Reggaeton.

Let us go over existing trends that will continue to boom in 2023!

The #1 Trend That Will Redefine The Music Industry: TikTok

TikTok Will Rule Over The Digital World!

With more than a billion active users, TikTok’s rise in the cyber world is undeniable. The social media platform is constantly expanding and growing strong with its viral videos and songs. With its light, fun, and short content, TikTok has:

• Produced many new musicians
• Helped a lot of up-and-coming artists stand out in a pile of masses

Offering opportunities for a multitude of creators, TikTok has ranked as one of the top impactful music promotion platforms of 2022!

It does not seem to be slowing down anytime soon. The artist-generating medium will continue to grow in 2023. In fact, what we have witnessed in the last few years is only a demo of what is to come! More short-form content will be in demand in the future.

Multilingual Songs = Guaranteed Hits

Multilingual Songs Will Surely Redefine The Music Industry

Are multilingual songs the future of the music industry?

For years now, many international artists had to release songs in English to be able to hit the top global charts. But those days are over and the language the musicians sing in has become increasingly irrelevant.

With K-pop artists like BTS and Blackpink breaking records and selling their albums all over the world, more and more professionals have come to terms with the fact that the rules have changed and it is the era of foreign language music. 

Musicians do not have to sing in English to become successful, especially in this golden age where streaming platforms have taken over the music industry. Spanish, Korean, bilingual, and multilingual songs will increase in popularity and earn labels their biggest numbers!

Sync Licensing And Publishing Are Trends That Will Redefine The Music Industry

The music business prospers more when it is associated with other mediums. It has always been the case, you hear a song from your favorite movie and you start loving it more because of its positive relationship with a specific scene or a character.

The best platforms to get your music noticed are:

• Television
• Video streaming services
• Electronic games
• Advertisements
• Films
• Cinema

The best way to connect your art to these platforms is to make licensable music, therefore publishing and linking your music to various forms of media will guarantee increased exposure.

Multi-Genre And Hybrid Tracks

These Two Are Trends That Will Undoubtedly Redefine The Music Industry!

Nobody listens to only one type of music these days. If you check most people’s playlists, the tracks are a mix of multiple styles.

And that is rather normal behavior since good music transcends:

• Space
• Time
• Genre

The genres of newly released songs are overlapping, allowing producers and musicians to create music without being constrained by a particular musical style. There are many debates that argue that genre will not matter anymore...

Mood-driven playlists are becoming more popular than simply listening to one specific genre. During a study session, for example, listeners will more likely choose a style that will help them concentrate, like EDM. When exercising, on the other hand, you need a more energetic song to get yourself pumped, and so on...

Final Thoughts

So, What Does The Future Hold Concerning Trends That Will Redefine The Music Industry?

In conclusion, the atypical model is constantly changing and evolving. In the future, the music industry will shift more toward diversified content. This is good news for new emerging musicians and independent artists who will have better opportunities to get their songs heard.

If you are also an aspiring artist and want to expand your music career, connect with MusicPromoToday to stay up-to-date with the latest industry trends and developments. Invest in your professional growth and visit the MPT Agency Blog to find out more about the secrets of the industry and how you can move forward in your musical journey.

Posted on October 17, 2022

The Best Way To Get Your Music On Digital Radio

By Shawn Spence

Have you ever asked yourself how to get your music heard on digital radio?

Radio marketing aka 'radio plug-ins' is one of the oldest and strongest mediums of music discovery for artists. Today an artist can leverage their popularity on digital radio to climb the promo ladder.

Times may be changing and new streaming services are emerging, but radio remains a strong promotional tool that addresses the niche markets as well as the mainstream audience demographic. But if you hit big on digital radio, and your track begins to trend the shares will be international & potentially unstoppable.

For independent artists, digital radio is a great way of getting their music heard without expensive ads. 

After a quick evaluation of your promo war chest, you may want to consider investing in internet / digital radio spots and ads. Promotion can run a pretty penny. Should you be able to convert that directly into dollars is usually the compromise you make for your song having the chance to go public. Having your music extended to radio is a defining milestone for any musician on their path to success.

There’s a huge difference between major radio stations and digital radio stations.

The digital radio ecosystem is focused on building niche, loyal fan bases. The bigger stations are more interested in short-term profits and pushing albums as they are accountable to advertisers for their funding. 

The most accessible radio outlets for independent and DIY musicians include college/university, non-commercial/community, and online/web radio. These are inexpensive outlets that allow for huge reach potentials and have powerful loyal fans that back them up.

Many of these non-classical radio programs have passionate curators eager to meet new artists and present their work to their attentive and encouraging listeners.

Colleges Are On Digital Radio Too

The first thing you need to do is get acquainted with your target audience and decide accordingly which college station suits your music best.

Your presence on their station will give you a heads-up on the region and will insight into traffic to your channels. The purpose isn’t just to sell albums or merchandise. It is to invite fans to attend performances or share exclusive info about your songs with a community.

Keep in mind that college radio stations are always looking for new content that is local and interactive. In addition to this drive, they often work with volunteer staff that are engaged more than just "at work". In their stead, artists are looking for ways to increase exposure and reach, so it's a win-win situation with a community vibe.

Pitch Perfectly to Get On Digital Radio

Second, musicians need to identify who is on the digital frontier and how they can collaborate together.

Indie artists must research and find DJs that would care about the music they make. Getting to know the DJs by researching their online profiles will help you connect with them faster. Besides, it's always preferable to get a hold of them via social media so it can feel more familiar.

From there, it is all about the proper pitch that explains your motivations, your vision, and your immediate want. Moreover, once targets are acquired, every indie artist must have a full press kit ready. Compile a portfolio of their work, and biography and give an overview of their musical audience and style.

The press kit should include:

1. A brief bio
2. Album name, Discography
3. Awards, Milestones
4. Tour dates
5. References
6. Website
7. Social media/ streaming profile links
8. Contact information: managers, agents, media rep, etc

Online radio is a powerful medium to use for independent musicians, and here's why

1. You can store and distribute your recording across various digital platforms.
2. Compared to traditional radio, online radio offers a lower entry barrier.
3. A multi-tiered event that features both music and an interview are simpler to put up.
4. Listeners to online radio are frequently very devoted to the station and more likely to visit artist portals.
5. It is simple to share on social media.
6. Without using a radio producer, you can effortlessly reach out to foreign audiences.
7. Finally, contacting the station again after submitting your portfolio is crucial.

Contact them by phone or email and inquire if there is any other information you can give them. It's an easy follow-up that can mean closing the deal.

Are you interested in being broadcast globally? MPT Agency has worked to get countless artists' radio interviews, playlist positions, morning show entries even shout-out sponsorships. If you have an objective or dream to be heard on the radio, make sure you check out our radio plugging service.

To find out what other services can further improve your radio airplay performance. Head to our blog regularly and follow us on Instagram for all your DIY marketing content. We look forward to hearing from you!

Posted on October 14, 2022

How To Get The Best Music Blogs Talking About You

By John Reynolds

The promotion for any artist musician always starts with their appearance on music blogs

The music industry is saturated with independent artists competing to come out on top of the news list. What every musician needs are a submission strategy that brings them ahead of the curve to stand out in comparison to the rest. With the proper storytelling and a strong agency by your side, you can get any music blog to write about your art.

Be it Groover music, Spotify promotions, or music NFTs, the written medium of music blogs is what differentiates the "must hear" from the “let's give it a chance”.

Step 1: Analyze the Terrain

You should start by looking at the top music blogs currently operating online. Find the ones that have your sound, and that you can pierce at your level in the game. There is no point to reach out to Rolling Stone if with 35 followers, even if the music is perfect, your visibility as an artist matters when approaching the press and media.

If you find a blog that is unrelated to your style, you should still look if they have anything in common. There may be a spot for your sound and level that is not on page 1. The objective is to discover how that blog is inspired by artists, and establish a commonality between you and contributors.

Step 2: Get your article written by a professional

Music blogs usually have a distinct style that is somewhere between promotional and storytelling. As an artist, it is important to have your work written by a professional who will use the keywords that matter most. At MPT Agency, we have an entire department dedicated to just this, where you can tell your story the way you know it. Our professionals will pick it up and create a proper narrative that will fit with the targeted blogs that will ultimately post it.

Not all musicians have this ability. When you calculate the time it will take someone to get it right, target blogs, pitch, converse, and place the article, you will quickly realize that it is well worth the money. Gig marketplaces do give some leeway for artists to find cost-effective solutions. however, these options are often only a partial solution. Sometimes it's only the article, that you still need to fix, and sometimes it's just the placement.

The Bottom-Up Strategy For Blogs

The most important thing to consider is that blogs work in waves of popularity. As one news asset hits the web, its viewership will compound depending on how it is advertised and shared. 

With big headlines driving traffic to key websites, a blog's topic will scale to larger and larger outlets, especially if the news has a controversial, unique, or novel theme to it. 

To properly push a piggyback effect as an independent artist, your team needs to first target the outlets they want to build upon. From there, identify the lowest-hanging fruits, the ones that will accept your story as a submission or even as a paid contribution. 

Once the blog has a home, start sending the link out to similar but higher-ranked blogs. Make sure the headline is appealing, and don't be afraid to tweak or modify the article to fit the crowd you want it to be a part of. 

Advertising dollars are going to be a part of this strategy, so once your Spotify promotion is active for the song, and you have a blog that is fluttering the web, you need to properly plan its appearance on major platforms with a strong headline that is click-friendly and enticing for viewers. 

Choosing The Correct Blog in the Music Industry

Online blogs come in 3 tiers of popularity.

The bottom tier will garner up to 1000 views per week and be accessible to most writing styles and artists. It is usually a great place to start especially as an independent artist who has yet to have any press at all. Bottom-tier blogs play their role in the larger scheme of things and serve mainly as an entry place for artists to distribute across their networks. The majority of viewers on these blogs enter the site using a third-party website that is publicizing the article, rather than recurring readers or subscribers. 

Second-tier blogging websites generate up to 5000 viewers per week. These are websites that usually have a direct link to the music industry. They usually have contributors that are artist musicians themselves, managing their personal Spotify ads, or working through Groover music to spread the work of independent artists. The secondary tier also includes a strong following via a subscription system or newsletter campaign that hooks readers in, and constantly shares the blog content. 

Top-tier blogs are more often than not bought by a larger media company and act as their niche topic distributor. For over 20 years, large media corporations have been acquiring smaller blogs with active fan bases so that they can tap into the viral fans these blogs often generate. Whether the blog generates 100k  views a week or not, is secondary to how the blog uses this fan base to its advantage and creates a real network of viewers and contributors. 

Submitting to music blogs

Once you pick who is in line to receive your content a proper submission will be required to advance your content. 

Have a compelling subject title that makes the receiver want to open your message. Take into account that they are receiving thousands of requests per day and your message needs to stand out. 

Using services like Groover music is not a bad idea, however, there is no guarantee that your message will be going through. In its stead Submit Hub with paid submissions, offers a slightly higher probability of opened emails but there is no better than the manual process and a carefully crafted email. MPT Agency has been doing this for years FYI, independent artists should surround themselves with professionals or be patient and tactical in their deliberations.

Demonstrating your expertise through music blogs

The first thing your blog will do is highlight your talent as a musician. Professional musicians can describe the instruments they use, the peculiarities of their genre, their creative process, and why some artists are popular and others are not. This industry outlook is vital to your credibility and makes for solid content that can reinforce your music premiere.

Get the word out there, the press is waiting, the media is wanting

You might be pleasantly surprised to learn how simple it will be for you to contact local and less well-known artists for podcast interviews, live interviews, free concert tickets, free music, free merchandise, and even free press releases that can be included in your blog content if your blog features them. Major music companies, music festivals, and events will all start to offer you the same as you acquire popularity.

You won't need to look as hard for advertising and ways to monetize your blog as your popularity increases since chances will start coming to you.

Did you enjoy learning about music blogs about your art? Make sure you check our blog regularly and follow us on Instagram for more music marketing-related updates.

Posted on October 11, 2022

How Content Syndication Works And Why You Need It

By Yvonne Martin

There are 3 types of content syndication work for independent artists, that an artist can utilize to maximize their reach. 

Content Syndication Work for Independent Artists

Content syndication is primarily used through a web-based platform and exists on both big and small websites. The purpose is to spread the news as far wide reach as possible to attract larger media outlets to your cause.

In the digital world, there are a lot of blog conglomerates that survive uniquely via their syndication contracts and generate thousands of articles per day. Furthermore, they are an integral part of the ecosystem due to their hold on the market's viewership. Be it legacy institutions or new algorithmic players, syndicating content allows an independent artist to reach pretty far at a fair budget. However, be wary, as not all syndicates will be sending it to targeted groups that represent your audience.

Media Syndication

Media syndication is the process of making stories available to multiple news outlets by subscription. Those outlets or journalist groups will

The Associated Press, Reuters, Bloomberg, Tribune Services, and King Features are all examples of news and feature syndicates that aggregate news articles from other sources and publish them to their viewers. 

As a strategy, this form of distribution is interesting for artists as their stories can be shared across multiple websites simultaneously. Depending on the quality of the channels this pricing can vary anywhere between 100$ - 10,000$. 

Besides, depending on the niche community you are going to be targeting, you can swap titles to address specific packages of websites that cater to a different crowd than your main target audience.

Broadcast Syndication: 

First, Broadcast syndication is the practice of leasing the right to broadcasting television shows, and radio programs, to multiple television stations and radio stations, without going through a broadcast network.

Second, It is common in the United States where broadcast programming is scheduled by television networks with local independent affiliates to have groups that circumvent the commercial trend.

Finally, syndication is less widespread in the rest of the world. As most countries have centralized networks or television stations without local affiliates.

Shows syndicated internationally:

Although this is less common, as an artist, your content will be distributed evenly across the market but have to fit inside the conglomerate's thematic principles. This becomes more difficult for indie artists but not impossible. Should you have the right agency by your side, sync and licensing contracts can help you reach groups of media that would otherwise be outside of your reach.

The 3 most common types of syndication are:

1. First-run syndication: programming that is broadcast for the first time as a syndicated show and is made specifically to sell directly into syndication.
2. Off-network syndication, is the licensing of a program that was originally run on network TV or in some cases, first-run syndication.
3. Public broadcasting syndication.

Companies that do content syndication work for independent artists within their properties include:

1. USA Today and Gannett
2. The Sydney Morning Herald and Nine Publishing
3. Medium.com

Sites that serve content through content syndication work for independent artists:

1. Huffington Post
2. Forbes
3. Seeking Alpha

A Quick Strategy list of Content syndication  

How can MPT Agency help you with content syndication work for independent artists?

To properly incorporate syndication in your campaign, be with a professional team. Again, they need to have gathered your key target audiences and assessed the proper direction your campaign is to take. Not to mention the team needs to know how to trace and track the results. Without a team or virtual support, it is difficult to adapt your reach campaign.

MPT Agency has been building ties with writers, journalists, blogs, and a wide variety of industry professionals in the press for 15 years. As an artist, we help you navigate the industry and target the market for these types of groupings and media circles so that the press you release can be maximized.

Following on our other blogs, we definitely think that you should take a look at our articles about "Digital Blogs", this will help you understand the landscape better. Give us a quick Follow on Instagram for more music marketing-related updates.

Posted on September 5, 2022

Steve Aoki and Seth Green’s Animated NFT TV Series Empowers Fans

By John Reynolds

In partnership with Seth Green, GRAMMY-nominated music producer Steve Aoki has unveiled the first community-driven animated NFT TV series. This project is the next chapter in the life of his NFT mascot, Character X. Furthermore, it is creating waves by offering community-driven on-chain storytelling.

The Animated NFT TV Series by Steve Aoki and Seth Green

Replicant X is the newest installment in the narrative of Steve Aoki's mascot Character X. It is a follow-up to Aoki's 2021 stop-motion NFT project, "Dominion X," which sold out in less than seven seconds. 

This latest incarnation distinguishes out from the pack owing to its high level of interactivity. In fact, as the tale progresses, members of the community have the ability to shape the character's path.

This Replicant X coin will be used to support the first episodes of the animated NFT TV show "Dominion X." The series is based on Aoki's Character X, who initially featured in his debut NFT drop "Dream Catcher" and is now the DJ's personal mascot. It is directed by Eric Towner and produced by Stoopid Buddy Stoodios. 

The prototype initiative, which debuted on Nifty Gateway in 2021, presented a new method of connecting with media.

Replicant X Minting Specifications

In terms of aesthetics, the Replicant X collection is likewise distinctive. It features bright graphics created by Seth Green's Stoopid Buddy Stoodios, with each character hand-picked by Steve Aoki himself.

On September 7, 2022, an Allowlist Mint will take hold. Previous Aoki and Seth Green NFT holders, including A0K1VERSE Passport, Stoopid Monkey, Pizza Bot, Dominion X, and Dream Catcher NFTs featuring Character X, will be able to participate. 

On the Ethereum blockchain, the public mint is scheduled for September 8. On September 9, certain A0K1VERSE Passport holders may expect a complimentary airdrop.

Replicant X will continue to grow on Steve Aoki's A0K1VERSE web3 world. Aoki is taking fan involvement to the next level by giving them the opportunity to help develop an animated series.

Make sure you check our blog regularly and follow us on Instagram for more NFT and music marketing-related updates.