The Ultimate Guide For Marketing New Music 2023 Part 3: Strategic Planning
By Shawn Spence
Introduction
Welcome to the third part of our comprehensive guide on marketing new music! In this installment, we will dive into the crucial aspect of strategic planning. As an aspiring musician or a seasoned artist looking to expand your reach, having a well-thought-out marketing strategy is paramount to your success. This guide will equip you with the knowledge and tools to create an effective strategic plan that will elevate your music career to new heights.
The Ultimate Guide For Marketing New Music Part 3: Strategic Planning
Strategic planning is the cornerstone of any successful marketing campaign. It involves setting clear goals, identifying target audiences, and developing a roadmap to achieve desired outcomes. In the context of music marketing, strategic planning entails outlining your brand identity, defining your unique selling points, and formulating strategies to promote your music to the right audience at the right time. Let’s explore the key steps involved in creating a robust strategic plan for marketing your new music.
Step 1: Define Your Objectives
The first step in strategic planning for your music marketing campaign is to define your objectives. This crucial step sets the foundation for your entire strategy. Take a moment to reflect on what you want to achieve with your music. Are you aiming for increased streaming numbers, a larger fan base, or securing live performance opportunities? Clearly defining your goals will provide a sense of direction and focus as you proceed with your strategic planning.
When setting your objectives, it’s important to make them specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART). Instead of a vague goal like “I want more fans,” consider a specific objective such as “I want to increase my monthly Spotify listeners by 20% within the next six months.” This way, you have a clear target to work towards and can track your progress along the way.
Defining your objectives also involves understanding your priorities. You may have multiple goals, but it’s crucial to identify the most important ones that align with your long-term vision. For example, if your primary objective is to build a dedicated fan base, you may prioritize strategies that focus on fan engagement, community-building, and social media presence.
By establishing clear objectives, you give yourself something concrete to strive for and measure your success against. It will guide your decision-making process throughout your music marketing campaign and help you stay on track. Keep in mind that objectives can evolve over time, so it’s essential to regularly evaluate and adjust them as needed.
To effectively market your music, you need to identify and understand your target audience. Who are the people most likely to appreciate and connect with your music? Conduct thorough research to uncover demographic information, musical preferences, and online behaviors of your potential listeners. This knowledge will enable you to tailor your marketing efforts to resonate with your target audience.
Start by analyzing your existing fan base and identifying common characteristics among your most engaged and supportive fans. Look for patterns in demographics such as age, gender, location, and cultural background. Additionally, explore their musical preferences and the genres they enjoy. This information will help you craft marketing messages and content that specifically appeal to this audience.
Utilize online tools and platforms to gather data about your audience. Social media insights, website analytics, and streaming platforms provide valuable information about your listeners’ behaviors, engagement levels, and geographical distribution. This data will help you make informed decisions about the channels and strategies you should prioritize in your marketing efforts.
Furthermore, consider conducting surveys or engaging in direct conversations with your fans. This can provide valuable qualitative insights into their motivations, interests, and what they value most about your music. Use this information to refine your understanding of your target audience and adjust your marketing tactics accordingly.
Remember that your target audience might evolve over time. Stay proactive and regularly revisit your research to ensure your strategies stay aligned with the changing needs and preferences of your audience. The better you understand your target audience, the more effectively you can connect with them and build a loyal fan base.
Step 3: Craft Your Brand Identity
In the highly competitive music industry, having a strong brand identity is essential for standing out from the crowd. Take the time to define and craft your unique brand image, which encompasses your artist persona, visual aesthetics, and overall style. A well-developed brand identity creates a cohesive and memorable experience for your audience, making it easier for them to connect with you and differentiate you from other musicians.
Start by understanding your own values, vision, and musical identity. Consider what sets you apart from other artists and how you want to be perceived by your audience. This self-reflection will help you identify key elements that will form the foundation of your brand identity.
Develop a cohesive visual identity that aligns with your music and resonates with your target audience. This includes your logo, color palette, typography, and overall design aesthetic. Consistency in your visual branding across various platforms and channels helps create recognition and reinforces your brand image in the minds of your audience.
In addition to visuals, your brand identity should extend to your artist persona and the way you communicate with your audience. Define the tone and voice that best represents you and your music. Whether it’s friendly and approachable or edgy and rebellious, ensure that your communication style aligns with your brand identity.
Consistency is key when it comes to brand identity. Apply your brand elements consistently across all your marketing materials, including your website, social media profiles, album artwork, merchandise, and press releases. This consistent presentation will help create a strong and memorable impression on your audience.
Crafting a unique and authentic brand identity takes time and effort, but it’s a crucial investment in your long-term success as a musician. By establishing a strong brand presence, you make it easier for your target audience to identify and connect with you, building trust and loyalty in the process.
In today’s digital landscape, content is king. Developing a comprehensive content strategy is essential for capturing and maintaining your audience’s attention. By determining the types of content that align with your brand and resonate with your target audience, you can create a consistent and engaging experience that keeps your fans coming back for more.
Begin by identifying the types of content that best showcase your music and align with your brand identity. This can include music videos, behind-the-scenes footage, live performances, interviews, lyric videos, and creative visual content. Consider the preferences of your target audience and what they would find most appealing and engaging.
Create a content calendar to plan and organize your content release schedule. This will ensure a consistent flow of material and help you stay organized in your marketing efforts. The calendar should include important dates such as album releases, single drops, music video premieres, and upcoming shows or tours. Strategically plan your content releases to build anticipation and maintain a steady presence in the minds of your fans.
When developing your content, aim for high-quality and professional production. Invest in the necessary resources to ensure that your visuals, audio, and overall presentation are of the highest standard. Remember that your content reflects your brand, so it’s important to deliver a polished and captivating experience to your audience.
Engage with your fans through your content by encouraging interaction and conversation. Respond to comments and messages, ask for feedback, and involve your audience in your creative process. This fosters a sense of community and connection, making your fans feel valued and involved in your journey as an artist.
Don’t limit yourself to just one platform. Utilize various channels and mediums to reach a wider audience. Besides social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube, consider exploring podcast appearances, collaborations with popular influencers, and guest blogging opportunities. Each platform offers unique opportunities to connect with different segments of your audience.
Step 5: Leverage Social Media
In today’s digital age, social media platforms have become invaluable tools for musicians to promote their music and connect directly with fans. It’s essential to identify the platforms where your target audience is most active and establish a strong presence there. Here’s how you can leverage social media to maximize your music marketing efforts:
Choose the right platforms: Research and identify the social media platforms where your target audience is most likely to engage with music content. Platforms like Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, and YouTube are popular among music enthusiasts. Focus your efforts on the platforms that align with your audience demographics and preferences.
Build a strong profile: Create an attractive and professional profile on each platform you choose. Use high-quality visuals, such as professional photos and album artwork, that reflect your brand identity. Craft a compelling bio that succinctly describes your music and showcases your unique selling points.
Engage with your followers: Social media is all about building relationships and engaging with your fans. Respond to comments, messages, and mentions promptly. Show genuine interest in your audience by liking and commenting on their posts. Encourage conversation and create a sense of community around your music.
Share updates and behind-the-scenes content: Regularly update your social media profiles with engaging content. Share snippets of new music, behind-the-scenes footage from recording sessions or rehearsals, and sneak peeks of upcoming projects. This not only keeps your fans excited but also gives them a sense of being part of your journey.
Use relevant hashtags: Hashtags are powerful tools to expand your reach on social media. Research and use popular and relevant hashtags in your posts to increase discoverability. Hashtags specific to your genre, location, or popular music trends can help you reach a broader audience.
Collaborate with influencers: Identify influencers or content creators who align with your music style and target audience. Collaborate with them by featuring your music in their content or creating joint projects. Influencer collaborations can expose your music to new audiences and give you credibility within the industry.
Remember, social media success doesn’t happen overnight. Consistency, authenticity, and genuine interaction are key to building a loyal following and expanding your reach.
Step 6: Collaborate and Network
Collaborating with other musicians, industry professionals, and influencers is a powerful strategy to amplify your reach and introduce your music to new audiences. Networking within the music industry can open doors and create valuable connections that propel your music career forward. Here’s how you can effectively collaborate and network:
Seek collaboration opportunities: Actively seek opportunities to collaborate with other musicians, both within and outside your genre. Collaborative projects can take the form of joint tracks, remixes, or even live performances. By joining forces, you can tap into each other’s fan bases and expose your music to a wider audience.
Perform at events: Seek opportunities to perform at live events, music festivals, or showcases. Sharing the stage with other talented artists not only expands your exposure but also allows you to connect with industry professionals and potential collaborators.
Feature on podcasts and blogs: Reach out to podcast hosts and music bloggers who cover your genre. Offer to be a guest on their shows or contribute guest articles. These platforms provide a dedicated audience interested in music and can help you gain visibility and credibility in the industry.
Attend industry events: Actively participate in industry events, conferences, and workshops. These gatherings offer opportunities to connect with industry professionals, record label representatives, and other musicians. Be prepared to network, exchange contact information, and showcase your music and brand to influential individuals.
Join online communities: Engage in online communities and forums dedicated to music and
musicians. Participate in discussions, share your knowledge, and offer support to fellow artists. Online communities provide a platform for networking, collaboration opportunities, and sharing valuable insights with like-minded individuals.
Build relationships: Networking is about building genuine relationships with others in the music industry. Take the time to connect with industry professionals, musicians, producers, and influencers on social media platforms. Engage with their content, offer support, and show interest in their work. Building strong relationships can lead to future collaborations, recommendations, and valuable guidance.
Attend music conferences and workshops: Music conferences and workshops provide excellent networking opportunities. Attend industry events where you can meet professionals from record labels, talent agencies, and other sectors of the music industry. Be proactive in introducing yourself, exchanging business cards, and following up with potential contacts after the event.
Stay active in online music communities: Join online music platforms, forums, and groups where musicians and industry professionals gather. Contribute valuable insights, share your music, and participate in discussions. Engaging in these communities can help you establish your presence, gain feedback on your work, and connect with potential collaborators.
Remember, networking is not just about what others can do for you, but also what you can offer in return. Be supportive, genuine, and approachable in your interactions. Building a strong network takes time and effort, but it can be incredibly rewarding for your music career.
FAQs About Marketing New Music
1. How can I promote my music on a limited budget?
Promoting your music on a limited budget is challenging but not impossible. Leverage the power of social media platforms, engage with your audience, and share your music in relevant online communities. Collaborate with other artists and explore low-cost marketing strategies such as targeted email campaigns or grassroots promotion.
2. How important is it to have a website as a musicians?
Having a website as a musician is highly important. It serves as your centralized online hub where fans can learn more about you, access your music, and stay updated on your latest releases and performances. A website also provides a professional image and establishes credibility in the industry. Utilize your website to showcase your music, share your story, and provide a platform for fans to engage with you directly.
3. Is it necessary to hire a music marketing agency?
Hiring a music marketing agency can be beneficial, especially if you have limited knowledge or resources in the field. A professional agency can provide expertise, industry connections, and targeted strategies to maximize your music’s exposure. However, if you have the time, dedication, and willingness to learn, you can also tackle music marketing independently by following comprehensive guides like this one.
4. How can I leverage music streaming platforms for promotion?
Music streaming platforms have revolutionized the way we consume music. To leverage these platforms for promotion, focus on optimizing your profiles on platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, and SoundCloud. Utilize playlists, engage with your listeners, and encourage them to follow and share your music. Collaborate with curators and seek placement on popular playlists to expand your reach and gain new fans.
5. What role does email marketing play in music promotion?
Email marketing remains a powerful tool in the music industry. Building an email list allows you to directly communicate with your most dedicated fans. Send regular newsletters with updates on new releases, upcoming shows, exclusive content, and behind-the-scenes insights. Personalize your emails to make your subscribers feel valued and create a sense of exclusivity.
6. How can I measure the success of my music marketing efforts?
Measuring the success of your music marketing efforts is essential to refine your strategies and ensure you’re on the right track. Monitor key metrics such as streaming numbers, social media engagement, website traffic, and ticket sales for live performances. Use analytics tools provided by various platforms to gain insights into your audience demographics, geographical reach, and engagement levels.
Conclusion
Strategic planning is a fundamental aspect of effectively marketing new music. By following the steps outlined in this ultimate guide, you can create a robust strategic plan to promote your music to the right audience and achieve your goals. Remember to define your objectives, identify your target audience, craft your brand identity, develop a content strategy, leverage social media, and collaborate with others in the industry. With dedication, perseverance, and a solid strategic plan, you can make significant strides in your music career.
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Posted on May 23, 2023
The Ultimate Guide For Marketing New Music 2023 Edition Part 2: Timeline
By Barbara Drews
Outline
Introduction
Briefly introduce the concept of marketing new music.
Pre-release Phase
Building anticipation
Social media promotion
Collaborations and features
Teasers and sneak peeks
Release Phase
Choosing the right release date
Distributing the music
Creating engaging visuals
Implementing an effective marketing campaign
Post-release Phase
Leveraging streaming platforms
Engaging with fans and followers
Planning live performances and tours
Analyzing and adjusting marketing strategies
Conclusion
FAQs
The Ultimate Guide for Marketing New Music 2023 Part 2: Timeline
Note: Before we dive into the timeline, make sure you’ve read Part 1 of “The Ultimate Guide for Marketing New Music,” where we discussed the foundational steps of creating a solid marketing plan for your music.
Introduction
In today’s competitive music industry, it’s crucial for artists to have a well-planned marketing strategy to ensure their new music reaches a wider audience. This guide will walk you through a timeline to effectively market your new music, divided into three key phases: pre-release, release, and post-release.
Pre-release Phase
Building anticipation
Building anticipation is essential for a successful music release. Start by teasing your fans with sneak peeks and behind-the-scenes content on your social media platforms. Create intriguing visuals and engage with your audience to generate excitement.
Social media promotion
Utilize the power of social media platforms to create buzz around your upcoming release. Develop a content calendar that includes engaging posts, such as lyric snippets, album artwork reveals, and exclusive announcements. Collaborate with influencers and fellow artists to expand your reach.
Collaborations and features
Consider collaborating with other artists or featuring guest vocalists on your tracks. This can attract new listeners and help you tap into their existing fan bases, exposing your music to a wider audience. Collaborations also provide opportunities for cross-promotion and increased visibility.
Teasers and sneak peeks
Teasers and sneak peeks are effective marketing tools to generate excitement among your fans. Release short snippets of your upcoming songs, music videos, or interviews to build anticipation. Tease them with intriguing visuals and compelling captions to keep them hooked.
Selecting the right release date is crucial for maximizing your music’s impact. Consider factors such as holidays, major events, and the release schedules of other artists. Aim for a date that allows you to stand out and grab your audience’s attention without getting lost in the noise.
Distributing the music
Choose a reliable music distribution service to ensure your music is available on all major streaming platforms. Platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon Music are essential for reaching a global audience. Make sure your release is properly formatted, tagged, and optimized for searchability.
Creating engaging visuals
Visual content is a powerful tool for capturing your audience’s attention. Invest in high-quality music videos, lyric videos, or album cover art that resonates with your brand and complements your music. Engaging visuals can help your music stand out and leave a lasting impression.
Implementing an effective marketing campaign
Craft a comprehensive marketing campaign that includes online and offline promotion. Leverage social media ads, email newsletters, press releases, and targeted influencer partnerships to amplify your reach. Engage with your fans through contests, giveaways, and exclusive content to keep them engaged.
Post-release Phase
Leveraging streaming platforms
Streaming platforms play a crucial role in promoting and monetizing your music. Utilize playlists, pitch your music to curators, and encourage your fans to add your tracks to their own playlists. Collaborate
The best ways to promote and manage your music, you can check them out via the link ahead, one you can start right after this one is a guide on brand messaging.
Top 25 content types for marketing your music campaign
During the timeline of marketing new music, you will need various marketing materials to effectively promote and engage with your audience. Here is a list of 25 key marketing materials that are essential for a successful music marketing campaign:
Ultimate Guide On How To Market Your New Music
Promotion Ideas When You Are About To Market Your New Music
Not everything on this list will be possible to accomplish for all artists. So sit down with your team, inspire yourself from our blogs and get creative on delivery, and customization, and build something that fits with your brand!
During the timeline of marketing new music, you will need various marketing materials to effectively promote and engage with your audience. Here is a list of 25 key marketing materials that are essential for a successful music marketing campaign:
Social media posts
Album cover art
Music video
Teaser trailers
Lyric videos
Behind-the-scenes footage
Press release
Artist bio
Email newsletters
Promotional posters
Online banners and ads
Website or landing page
Merchandise (t-shirts, hats, etc.)
Album or single artwork for streaming platforms
Exclusive content for fans (such as bonus tracks or remixes)
Digital press kit
Online music streaming profiles (Spotify, Apple Music, etc.)
Collaboration announcements and visuals
Fan contests and giveaways
Targeted influencer partnerships
Radio and podcast interviews
Music reviews and testimonials
Live performance footage – Tour posters and flyers
Analytics and data reports to measure the success of your marketing efforts
These marketing materials will help you create a cohesive and engaging campaign, allowing you to connect with your audience and build anticipation for your new music release.
MPT Agency, is your partner in strategic releases
Any way you want to look at it, the most significant element of your plan will be how it is timed in the overall market it is performing. MPT Agency has the experience and network to make any campaign mobilize in full force. Knowing the whole picture and planning with every element at your disposal isn’t easy when you’re banging out 20 hours a week of studio time. Our experts can help you plan proper release times and make sure your content is being distributed from the right angle without resources going to waste.
We promise not to spam you. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Posted on October 12, 2022
The Ultimate Guide For Marketing New Music Part 2: Timeline
By Shawn Spence
Have you ever asked yourself how to market your new music? In this segment of the ultimate guide for music marketing, we will review the timeline for releasing a song as well as share some practical tips on content.
Once an artist has wrapped up the production phase of their new release, the first important decision at stake is to set a release date. This decision should take into account all delays and unforeseen situations often arising during production stages. By not risking any rushed date and having a comfortable timeline, the artist will be in a position where they will not fumble the release.
According to the stats at MPT Agency, Friday is the ideal day of the week to release music. Choosing Friday for release day will significantly increase an artist’s chance to place their new music on top playlists. The weekend is about to hit, DJs are lining up their gigs, and new music has a higher value when people are about to party.
Unless an artist chooses another day of the week for force majeure, be it an event anniversary, a partnership, or a marketing-driven purpose, releasing music on Friday is a no-brainer.
Once the date is set, artists have to plan their strategy 4 to 6 weeks ahead of the release date in order to implement all the steps that will contribute to deploying an impactful marketing strategy. A lot of the waiting game is based on the delivery funnel: distributors approving releases, giving DSPs time to receive requests. Even playlist editors need to have enough time to receive pitches and decide on playlist placement, this time frame is crucial for the full implementation of a professional marketing campaign.
Marketing Your New Music: Timeline
Now that your track is mastered, mixed, and ready for some fresh ears, the game comes down to content release and the mix of events that will make the track a success.
6 weeks before the release date
Find and secure a venue for a listening event or release show and promote the heck out of it
Have your social media marketing strategy ready or enlist the help of a music promotion company like MPT Agency to make the magic happen.
4 weeks before the release date
Make sure that all of your social media matches the visuals of your release, (share the pre-save / pre-sale link in bios, posts, and CRM).
Pitch the release on Spotify For Artists for better playlist results
3 weeks before the release date
Find a media partner (press/radio/YouTube) that will premiere your new song/album
Involve influencers, fans, friends, family, and colleagues to share
Add any new ‘spotlights’ that you have to your marketing driver form
2 weeks before the release date
Begin your pre-save / pre-sale campaign.
Keep sharing and posting (enlist the help of friends, fans, and of course paid influencers)
Market your new music as it progress’s step by step through each week, Rome was not built in a day! Each one of these content types can be found as individual blogs in our catalog, with more on the way every week.
Week of release
Premiere the release (with the help of a media partner)
Throw a listening party/release show with the same crowd of peeps and now their friends
Release date
Share across ALL your social media pages, and make sure to always have a “call to action” for fans to stream/download.
Always share any kind of support you receive, tagging and thanking anyone who has supported/featured the release.
Re-post fan shares to maximize the impact, and to create a closer bond between you and the fans.
Post-release strategy about how to market your new music
Run your call to action and user-generated content campaigns with an incentive for fans who opt-in
Continue posting, and sharing, and always include a call to action, tag those who support/feature your work for that extra props to the people.
The timeline for a release is quite straightforward. Your release and public relations need to be in line with how the market conducts itself in order for the scenario to be ideal. Once you have your hours and dates prepared the rest becomes a question of creative content creation. The timing is important because the industry works like clockwork, and you need to fit into others’ schedules to advance.
When working with MPT Agency, your release is done with this type of timeline in mind. As your song progresses it gathers more and more traction from fans with its press cycle. The press cycle in turn pushes fan engagements, and finally, your track grows from views to the charts. Since our team takes care of the full 360, your content is optimized too.
There are quite a few blogs on our site that talk about the best ways to promote and manage your music, you can check them out via the link ahead, one you can start right after this one is a guide on brand messaging.
Some bonus content about content, inspire yourself, and climb that ladder!
Ultimate Guide On How To Market Your New Music
Key Content Types For Fresh Releases
Marketing Drivers On How To Market Your New Music
In order to stand out from the crowd and get featured, you should emphasize the quality of the content in your release. Here’s a spotlight on some of the key marketing materials to use:
Tour dates, festival appearances, notable opening acts and “shared stage with”, etc.
Charts (including iTunes, Billboard, and others)
Planned advertising for the new release
Booking agent, TV/film appearances, artist management, etc.
Ultimate Guide On How To Market Your New Music
Promotion Ideas When You Are About To Market Your New Music
Not everything on this list will be possible to accomplish for all artists. So sit down with your team, inspire yourself from our blogs and get creative on delivery, and customization, and build something that fits with your brand!
Pre-save/Pre-sale campaign
Countdown to release on social media
CTA (pre-save, download, view) to fans
Set up targeted digital advertising campaigns on social platforms
Boost posts that include the pre-save/stream link
Incentives like merchandise, autographed items, exclusive tracks, VIP meet, and greets
Partner with distributors
Create artist playlists on Spotify and other streaming platforms
Place the new releases at the very top
Invite other artists, friends, and influencers to share the release on their socials (do the same for them)
Be sure all DSP and social profiles are up-to-date, verified when possible, and consistent.
Keep all tour dates fresh and allow direct messaging on Bandsintown
MPT Agency, is your partner in strategic timing.
Any way you want to look at it, the most significant element of your plan will be how it is timed in the overall market it is performing. MPT Agency has the experience and network to make any campaign mobilize in full force. Knowing the whole picture and planning with every element at your disposal isn’t easy when you’re banging out 20 hours a week of studio time. Our experts can help you plan proper release times and make sure your content is being distributed from the right angle without resources going to waste. Let’s take your career to the next level!
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Posted on September 23, 2022
The Ultimate Guide For Marketing New Music Part 3: Strategic Planning
By Yvonne Martin
Have you ever asked yourself how to plan your music career? What are the steps that go into the magic of becoming an artist?
A Musician in today’s industry must use a patient mind, goal-setting perspectives, action-planning, and a deep self-awareness to successfully navigate and manage their career. Believe it or not, this wonderful set of emotionally intelligent aptitudes culminate in a single tangible, well, digital, document.
Inside a musician’s toolkit must always be a strategic plan. It’s much like a business plan but without an investor angle. Strategic plans outline a career’s key components and by tracing connections between your environment and your objectives, allow you to evaluate, target, and follow through with both macro and micro plans.
Throughout our experiences, MPT has seen many different career types and musical successes. The strategic plan is unique to each artist but starts with a single set of questions and considerations. In this article, we will discuss how to put together a strategic plan for your musical career.
Reasons To Treat Your Music Like A Real Business
Right about now, you might be wondering, “Is strategic planning really that important, how should I plan my music career, inst everything is random?”
To start with, no, nothing is random, everything in the industry is a story inside of someone else’s story. So start first by evaluating where you fit in as a musician in your genre’s market. Take a time to think back on the past year.
Did you get that album or single released?
If so, did it get released on schedule?
Did you accomplish more than half of what you wished to do?
Have you achieved any of the significant milestones available in your market?
We frequently make decisions based on our feelings. After all, why not, songs are created out of the passion that seeps through to a creative medium. However, if you always wait for those ideal circumstances, you may anticipate away your potential as a musician. Even though we don’t often associate money with music, you do need to be able to support yourself by doing what you do best, and income generation is formulaic rather than creative.
Staying focused on those particular goals will be made easier by taking the time to plan strategically.
Plan my Music Career
Strategic Planning
Focus & Direction
Structure, aim, and follow-through on the part of musicians are more crucial than ever in 2022. Having a career plan can help you through the many setbacks and uncertainties the music industry is guaranteed to throw your way while also demonstrating your commitment to others. Picking an industry direction like recording artist rather than orchestra member, for example, is a macro decision you need to make early. Once chosen, focus your energy on those operations and nothing else.
Focusing on a formula, regime, or schedule is key no matter the direction you choose to take as each of them gives you reliability in the habit. From there you can build each individual component of your business, from marketing, finance, sales, and of course studio time.
Short-Term & Long-Term Goals
Planning will always save you time and stress in the music industry, whether it’s for a specific project like an album or a broad objective involving your entire career. Without time-based goals that have a start, due, and end date, you’ll have to spend a lot of time and money putting out fires, making last-minute modifications, and managing the paperwork.
Short-term goals are achievable on a 90-day stretch. They need to be quickly actionable, not be resource exhaustive and are either a singular instance with high value or a segment of a long-term sequence. this can be anything from a production cycle, to a song release or launch campaign.
Long-term goals are essentially anything that will span over a 12-month period. Strategic outlooks for 12 months, should be divided into segments and include, you guessed it, short-term goals. Year-long goal setting can have high-tension times as well as “detente” where an artist can comfortable and creative. Think of an album creation or concert tour.
The three words to remember when building these goals are: Concise, Realistic, Achievable
Building Raw Excitement For Your Fan Base
Finding out exactly who your fans are and what drives them is made easier by target profiling in music. Although you may have a core audience of devoted listeners your fan base must grow at a steady pace. The super fans need to be energized so they can help you expand your reach to new listeners.
With excitement, enthusiasm, and energy, your fan base needs more than a monthly drop to keep them attached to the brand. Your personality, content & personal interaction have to keep people hooked, and planning this out with a creative twist is a very significant step.
To excite your audience always imagine that they are looking to you for trustworthy entertainment. Every fan may serve as the cornerstone of something substantial and significant in the long term.
Organize and Normalize Routine
You’re going to need a plan to “make it” happen whether your goal is to sign a deal with the label of your dreams or to make a livelihood from music placement. You will be confronted with your own limitations, and even though the MPT Agency attitude is all about going above and beyond, you need to organize yourself around tasks you can complete. Don’t overburden yourself or you can face deadlock in your tracks.
It is always better to progress one step at a time than to leap into a pit.
Planning makes you confront difficult questions about your work goals, both major and minor and helps you establish useful habits that become like clockwork. Things like checking emails, consistently posting, and having strict studio times are all about normalizing successful habits. The smallest things, when combined can amount to great things.
Advantage In The Industry
Strategic planning distinguishes devoted artists from amateurs. Excluding music quality, the difference in success between artists is often limited to their ability to follow a plan. If the musician is working in a jumble of chaos, they won’t be able to manifest the type of performances they need to stand out.
Your chances of identifying actual momentum in the industry will increase with the quality and specificity of your career strategy. The overall flow of markets, fans, trends, and sounds is a segment that you cannot control as an artist. Therefore, you’re objectives revolve around working with and through these elements to get to the next level.
MPT Agency, Your Strategic Partner in Music Marketing
Though many musicians have ambitious goals for their work, in theory, those who actually put in the effort to prepare well stand the best chance of succeeding professionally. At MPT Agency, there is a rich culture of nurturing this habit in our artist roster and guiding them through the pitfalls and difficulties of their promotional outlet. Strategic planning is a long process and is not something that is built overnight. Your promo campaign will require you to answer a long list of questions that will help you every step of the way.
MPT Agency will help you to prepare well and stand the best chance of succeeding professionally in today’s music biz. To find out what other services can enhance your musical career, make sure you check our blog regularly and follow us on Instagram for more music marketing-related updates.
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Posted on September 20, 2022
The Ultimate Guide For Marketing New Music Part 1: Press Kit
By Shawn Spence
EPK: Electronic Press Kit
The music industry is saturated with artist competition. If you don’t go about it the right way, getting the interest of record companies, agencies, promoters, venues, and other media sources may be next to impossible. What you need is an electronic press kit, and this press kit guide to help you get there.
This guide presents expert tips on how to put together a compelling electronic press kit also known as an ‘EPK’.
What Is An EPK and Why Follow A Press Kit Guide?
An EPK, or an Electronic Press Kit, serves as a professional music CV. It is your online media and music marketing portfolio, with easy access to your most important data.
An EPK functions as a one-stop shop where potential employers can get all the information they want without having to search or inquire. It should include specialized details and materials for event planners, promoters, journalists, bloggers, and other business professionals—materials that you would not want the general public to view or have access to.
Why Do You Need An EPK?
You’ll place yourself in the best possible position to pitch your tracks, gain press attention, secure gigs, and perhaps even draw the attention of a manager or label executive with a solid EPK.
9 Important Things To Include In Your EPK According To The Press Kit Guide
Your artistic identity should be reflected in your music EPK’s style and the content you select. Keep in mind that people who visit the page for your press kit are frequently managers, venues, music critics, or promoters.
You’ll want to say as much essential information as you can in a clear, coherent manner.
Biography
When composing a musician bio for this part of your press kit, remember your objective. Talk about your music particularly rather than the highlights of your live performances.
The first paragraph should include a quick overview of your professional background.
The second paragraph should focus on any new music. Discuss your style and the sources of inspiration for the piece while including any other information you feel is important. Awards for songwriting, prior success, or a strong Spotify stream count might all be used.
Links To Your Best Music
To enable rapid and simple listening to your music without the need to first download it, it is recommended to include links from streaming services in the form of a music player in today’s streaming environment.
Make sure the first few tracks in your music EPK are among your finest when deciding which songs to add.
High-Quality Music Videos
Pick one or two videos that are essential to your new music (the official video for your single, a live version, or a music video containing scenes from the recording of your album) and add them to your page. You don’t want to overcrowd the page with videos.
Social Media Links
It’s a wise idea to connect to your website and social media accounts since it will provide the media access to more details and give them a sense of your online impact and audience. Your chances of getting a booking might increase if you have a large social media following and active followers.
High-Quality Images
Utilize images from a reputable photoshoot. Consider booking a photoshoot if you haven’t already. It will benefit your brand awareness.
Additionally, a few pictures from your gigs would be fantastic. More so if they accurately reflect the “mood” of your music and performing style.
We advise having both horizontal and vertical images. Giving your promoters alternatives will be helpful if they require a picture to suit a particularly specific arrangement on their poster, article, or website.
Include your album cover art and logo as well, if available.
Reviews, Interviews, And Press Features
These are things that you want to highlight to let the people know that your music has already been covered and praised in the media.
Performance Calendar
Make sure you’re presenting an updated calendar with essential show details. They’ll aid the promotion in understanding your work hours. Booking agents can more easily work with your existing schedule by knowing about upcoming concerts, tours, or performances.
You never know who could attend your upcoming performance and alter your musical career!
Identify your musical high points and make sure they are all included in your electronic press kit. A wonderful technique to give additional context regarding the buzz surrounding you as an artist is to include some of your noteworthy career milestones in music.
Have you ever toured with any well-known artists?
Any live performances at any renowned locations or festivals?
Received any honorable awards?
Have your Spotify streaming stats reached any milestones?
Featured on any significant radio stations?
Contact Info
Allow them a simple way to get in touch with you, such as an email address or a contact form. Provide your own email address if you are self-managed or your team member’s job titles and contact details if applicable.
Keep all of your contact details in one place in your EPK, and let visitors know about any special choices available. For instance, tell them who to contact if they want a full copy of your record.
Best Practices While Creating An EPK
Each day, talent buyers and promoters evaluate hundreds of potential acts. Presenting yourself clearly and professionally is crucial. Think about the following best practices while preparing your press kit:
Keep your EPK concise and easy to understand.
Include your most outstanding work and valuable info.
Update your EPK frequently.
Ensure your EPK appropriately portrays your brand.
Make a unique EPK stand out from the crowd.
When attaching files to emails, be cautious to take into account their size.
Avoid sending .zip files and other compressed file attachments with emails.
Bring a printed copy of your EPK to events.
How To Create An EPK?
After gathering all of your resources, you should concentrate on layout and design. The design will play just as much of a role in your EPK’s ability to convey a clear and concise narrative regarding who you are as an artist as will each piece of material.
Try to give the website a uniform appearance by using a simple font and leaving adequate space between each piece. Make sure the information and graphics are organized so they are simple to scan.
There are several services available that will host your EPK, but bear in mind that you’ll be constrained by the templates they offer. We advise creating an EPK page directly on your website to give you the greatest control over how you come across.
Final Thoughts
Your EPK can indeed be your sole chance to make a good first impression, depending on the circumstances. Because of this, it’s worthwhile to invest the time upfront to create something you’ll be glad to share that portrays you in the best light possible.
You may make a strong impression as a professional musician who takes pride in work by having an up-to-date, high-quality EPK.
It is worthwhile to invest the time upfront to create something you’ll be glad to share that portrays you in the best light possible. MPT Agency will guide you to the creation of your EPK which will make a good first impression in the music industry. To find out what other services can enhance your musical career, make sure you check ourblog regularly and follow us on Instagram for more music marketing-related updates.
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Posted on September 16, 2022
Why Album Artwork Is So Important When Releasing New Music?
By Shawn Spence
In today’s competitive music industry, it’s critical to grasp the ins and outs of how to distribute your music to the audience. When executed properly, publishing a single or an album may be a difficult but rewarding process.
Before releasing your single or album, you must have a well-planned strategy and timeframe in place. One of the first things you’ll need to consider is the album cover image.
Because it will be released alongside your music, your artwork must be completed as soon as possible.
How Can You Create Your Next Album Cover?
Hire A Professional Photographer
You may hire a photographer to take expert images of the band or hire a local artist to create something special. There are many more photographers than there used to be because of the growth of “prosumer” photographic equipment.
For photographers, however, there is no formal accreditation or licensing procedure, so anybody may make this claim. That implies that before paying someone to take your photos, you should conduct some investigation. You might start by asking your friends in the scene who have outstanding band shots who they worked with.
Online Image Editing Software
Use online image editing and design software to produce your artwork for a quick and low-cost solution.
Canva offers a variety of themes for album artwork and is incredibly user-friendly. In order to use royalty-free photos in your artwork, you can also find them on free websites like Pexels and Pixabay.
You might include lovely graphics to make something distinctive and eye-catching.
Go To Your Fans For Support
Organizing a contest among your followers and inviting them to submit artwork for the release may also be an option. A reward including merch and music could be given to the artist who created the winning piece of art. In addition, when you release your song, they would become very well known.
Why Is An Album Cover Art So Important?
It’s important to create engaging record cover graphics.
It serves as its visual entrance to your art.
First impressions; It catches the eye, especially on digital music streaming services.
Potential fans are more inclined to listen to your music.
Music promotion and music marketing.
Builds your brand and niche.
Album Cover Guidelines
To achieve the standards of the majority of significant music retailers and streaming services, your album cover art should adhere to these guidelines.
Any cover art that doesn’t adhere to these rules will frequently be rejected by music distributors.
Additionally, these best practices provide advice on how to design outstanding album covers.
A size of at least 3000 × 3000 pixels
72 dpi as the minimum resolution
JPEG file format
For optimum quality, use RGB color mode.
Images must not be pixelated, fuzzy, out of alignment, or have any other quality problems.
Include only the release title and the artist’s name in the text.
Your release information and metadata must exactly match the copy.
Never include wording that specifies a time frame, such as “Exclusive,” “Limited Edition,” “New Release,” or the release date. Keep the cover art memorable.
Cover art cannot include any references to record labels, websites, digital service providers, or other companies in the form of logos, URLs, or other graphics.
Do not include any contact details, such as email addresses, social network icons, URLs, or email addresses.
Don’t mention prices anywhere in your text. For instance, “Low Price,” “Available for $1.99,” or “For Promo Use.”
Improper pictures are not permitted in the cover art.
Avoid ISRCs and UPC barcodes. They will be offered by the music shop or distribution provider. Additionally, those codes could alter if you re-release.
Cover art cannot be deceptive. Using an artist’s name who is not included in the release, for instance.
Last Words Of Advice About Album Artwork
The first idea isn’t always the best idea.
The most significant component of developing your album artwork? Even if it seems cheesy, try to have fun! Experiment.
You’d be amazed where your imagination may lead you if you tried to harness the type of creativity that made us like drawing and painting so much as children.
We constantly keep one step ahead of the curve and have a solid grasp of branding. We take great pleasure in the work we do and always treat your projects seriously. MPT Agency can create expert album artworks that are compatible with the most popular platforms for display advertising campaigns and cleverly attract new listeners to your tunes. To find out what other services can boost your musical career, make sure you check our blog regularly and follow us on Instagram for more music marketing-related updates.
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Posted on September 8, 2022
The Ultimate Step By Step Guide To Streaming Platforms For Musicians
By Barbara Drews
How does one define the ultimate step-by-step guide to streaming?
Streaming services like Spotify, Apple Music, Deezer, Pandora, Tidal, YouTube Music, and Amazon Music are well-known for paying artists when their music is played. But most of us are unaware of the technicalities behind how those payments really operate, which can occasionally result in misunderstandings.
For the same amount of streams, not all artists will necessarily be paid equally.
Let’s get started by analyzing the key concepts that govern how music artists get compensated through music streaming.
Let’s get right into it!
How To Choose The Best Streaming Platform?
You should choose the music streaming services that will provide you with the ideal listening experience. selecting one that offers you music in a method that enables you to have a special satisfaction.
We have tried to simplify the decision-making process when selecting the top music makers app online in our assessment of the finest streaming services for artists. Using these five standards, we came up with five streaming services for musicians:
Pricing and Subscription Plans
One facet of the business is that most streaming services for artists use a freemium business model. While the essential streaming functions are available without charge, a membership is required to access the premium plans subsequently.
You’ll see that regardless of your choice, you can still take use of the essential elements that guarantee a fantastic streaming experience. When you subscribe to the premium plan, you’ll appreciate the basic plan so much that you’ll want more.
User Experience
Pricing is vital, but usability is as critical. Who wouldn’t want to use a stylish, appealing app to listen to music or podcasts? We need to give users more consideration and importance than mere appearances.
You shouldn’t have any trouble finding your way around despite the fact that it’s a music library. Whatever music streaming service you use, it must provide library sorting options, a navigation bar, a search bar, etc.
Music Discovery
Your musical tastes should be expanded by the distinctiveness that streaming services for musicians provide.
Expert music curators are also engaged, even if the online music makers’ app uses computer algorithms to customize this music to your tastes. In the end, a combination of human judgment and computer algorithms leads to the musical output you’ll like.
Content Library And Variety
Nowadays, streaming services for musicians provide more than simply music. They are growing their selection of audiobooks, podcasts, live radio broadcasts, live streaming, ASMR, and other content.
Streaming applications are well worth the money you spend on a subscription when they provide this diversity. On the app, there’s always something to keep you interested.
That’s not even mentioning the expanding music repertoire on streaming services. The features available on these platforms are inconceivably endless.
Streaming Quality
This often depends on the subscription plan you are on. Free and premium plans differ from one another. Free plans might not go above 128 kbps, but expensive plans might go up to 320 kbps, and HD plans can give up to 9,216 kbps.
The audio quality improves with greater bitrates.
What Music Streaming Services Pay Artists
There are currently several streaming services that provide unrestricted access to a wide variety of musical genres. Even if the quality of these streaming services for artists varies, these are excellent times for fans of music since there is tremendous competition.
In order to provide all the aspiring artists out there who want to make money from their skills some much-needed clarity, today we’re diving into the complex topic of revenue per stream.
One of the first players, Tidal actually ruled it like a king.
On Tidal, there is a growing collection of tracks and music videos that will keep you fascinated and entertained. There is a 30-day trial period available if you’re not sure if Tidal can satisfy your music needs.
Depending on what you need, there are four different audio quality levels available, ranging from 96 to 9,214 kbps.
We may also conclude that Tidal has a simple, effective design that makes it easy for you to navigate the app.
With special music-finding tools, a huge content collection, and top-notch audio quality, Disctopia is targeted toward independent music and podcasts. There are roughly five plans: the Agency plan, Free, Basic, Creative, and Creative+.
Along with its expanding music collection, Disctopia is quickly establishing itself as a podcasters’ haven.
Let’s now discuss Disctopia’s slick, lag-free, and vibrant user interface. Even while you’ll adore the UI as it is now, there are constant upgrades being made to the bells and whistles.
The purpose of this content is to provide you with more alternatives when it comes to music streaming services. Twitch, a website that allows artists to stream live, is added to the discussion.
As an artist, Twitch enables you to stream live and directly to your audience. No other network lets you develop a personal relationship with your audience the way Twitch does. Your streams may be self-scheduled whenever it’s convenient for you.
In essence, Twitch is a streaming platform that gives you the opportunity to develop into the artist you’ve always wanted to be.
How Much Do Music Streaming Platforms Pay per Stream?
There are thousands of music streaming services available, from industry heavyweights like Spotify to specialized offerings like Tidal. Because each platform has a different price structure, selling proposition, and user base, the amount of money artists make from each stream varies.
The amount of compensation that streaming services provide to the artists they feature will be covered in this section.
Apple Music
With over 72 million active users in 2020, Apple Music will trail only Spotify as the second-most popular music streaming service in the United States. The business has made it known that its typical compensation per stream is $0.01 in public.
The artists’ pockets do not, however, instantly get that one cent. Like other significant streaming services, Apple Music uses a pro-rated approach that gives music companies a random 52% of the platform’s ad income.
Deezer
By no means the most well-known music streaming service, Deezer boasts more than 14 million monthly users, with half of them paying members.
The business said that its “Pay who you play” user-centric payment system aims to properly compensate artists. As a result, if a subscriber pays and only listens to one artist each month, their whole membership price will be given to that artist (with a minor platform fee reduction).
However, depending on who you talk to, Deezer’s per-stream compensation fluctuates greatly. T-Pain, for instance, previously stated that Deezer pays about $0.0064 for each stream, although other musicians might receive as little as $0.0011.
Once more, this is dependent on a variety of variables, including location & subscription.
Spotify
Spotify, the most popular music streaming service with over 200 million active users per month, has a rather negative reputation for paying out artists.
Artists can make as low as $0.0033 per stream, according to a 2020 Business Insider report, however, the firm has not yet disclosed specifics regarding its payment structure.
Furthermore, not even all of it gets to go to the artists. Only around 70% of the overall earnings get to the artist directly. The remaining 30% is absorbed by the platform itself.
Now that you’ve learned how much each streaming platform pays its artists, you should be able to pick one that’s in your favor!
At MPT Agency, we will help you get your music heard! We will assist you in building your fanbase via the best music streaming services and guide you in choosing one that is the most efficient for your campaign. To find out what other services can improve your musical career, make sure you check our blog regularly and follow us on Instagram for more music marketing-related updates.
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Posted on September 7, 2022
Everything You Need To Know About Music Licensing
By Shawn Spence
Music licensing is one of the main sources of income for musicians. The process of licensing music may be challenging and ambiguous, and most musicians struggle to succeed in this sector of the music business without some assistance.
Lucky for you, we’re here to address any misunderstandings you might have regarding the entire procedure. Let’s get going!
People no longer purchase albums. As previously mentioned, the income of artists has changed as a result of digital music distribution. And being successful in the music industry requires more than just clever distribution, gigging, and promotion.
The most advantageous income streams for musicians wanting to make a living off of their music are no longer the traditional ones from the past (such as physical album sales).
But the music business continues to be worth billions of dollars. What is the source of all those earnings?
In such cases, you should infuse two short phrases into your memory forever if you’re asking the same question.
Music Publishing
Music Licensing
Seems simple right? Hang on.
The licensing and publishing processes are intricate and have many turns, bends, and dips.
Music Licensing
Through a contract known as a music license, copyrighted music can be used for commercial purposes. Copyright owners of songs are promised compensation through music licensing agreements when their music is used in things like:
Films & Movies
TV shows
Video games
Advertisements
These licenses can occasionally be granted for a certain time, such as a few months around the holidays, while other times they can be purchased altogether from the copyright owner or issued perpetually.
Why Do Licenses Matter?
From a broad perspective, all kinds of music licenses signify authorized usage of a song for a certain undertaking.
The buyer may use the music exactly as specified in the documentation with the right license. The user is unlawfully using an original work by an artist if they use it without permission or the proper authorization, and they risk legal action or lawsuit.
Understanding music licensing is crucial for both the artist’s and the user’s protection.
What’s The Difference Between A Music License And A Copyright?
A music license is a “lending license” that allows other people to use your track for a specific amount of time in exchange for a charge. Contrarily, copyrights apply to the song’s actual lyrics and recording.
So, even if you can “lend” the music through licensing, the copyright owner retains ownership of the song’s intellectual property.
What About Music Publishing?
The administration of copyrighted music that is utilized commercially is known as music publishing. A publisher is in charge of identifying licensing possibilities, collecting royalties, and allowing the public to listen to music created by the artists they represent.
Some artists handle their own publishing. It is possible in some situations, but to make it truly function, it is essentially a full-time job. The benefit of representing your own music for publishing is that you keep all of the royalties, placements, and sync fees that your song earns.
Types Of Music Licensing
In general, there are six types of licenses that someone can use for various purposes.
Synchronization License (or Sync License)
This is tailored for usage with visual media, such as TV shows, movies, advertisements, news segments, video games, and more, and is sometimes referred to as a sync license. How a song will be utilized, where it will be played, how much publicity it will receive, its experience and any additional royalty rates can all affect the licensing charge.
Mechanical License
This type of license is used to create tangible copies of songs, most frequently on CDs or soundtracks. Usually only applicable to the music itself, not to any accompanying visuals.
Public Performance License
This kind of license is quite broad and covers radio, websites, shops, dining establishments, concert halls, nightclubs, and other public areas.
Master Recording License
The receiver of a master recording license, also known as a master usage license or master license, is permitted to utilize all or some portions of the original sound recording for their purposes.
Print License
Mostly applied to the reproduction of sheet music or lyrics for karaoke, merchandising, marketing materials, and many more.
Blanket License
This license enables customers to access a selection of songs or the whole collection for a set annual charge, which might be useful for locations that only need background music, such as a cafe or a shopping mall.
Do You “Lose” the Rights to Your Music After It’s Licensed?
NO! If you’re an independent artist, you retain ownership of your original music’s property rights.
Think of licensed music as “lending” your original song to the public for a set period of time or particular media use, but you never actually sign over your songwriting credit. That is a topic to be covered in contracts with labels, which is the subject of a future blog article in its own right.
More advice on preventing the loss of your music’s rights can be found in the video below.
TAXI is the best in many areas, no wonder they’re on top of the game.
They will assist you in getting your music into the hands of both big and independent record companies, TV and film producers, production music libraries, publishers, advertisements, and many other places.
A fantastic website with well-known clientele like Adidas, Adobe, and Microsoft. They have a collection of tunes from rigorously independent bands, artists, and record companies. They don’t want anyone to submit songs to their site, though. Their expectations are high. But this also implies that there is a strong probability you will be able to benefit from your presence if your music is selected. So if you can get on Marmoset, it is worth it.
Artists can sign exclusive contracts with Jingle Punks. They demand that every piece of music be entirely created, mixed, and mastered. Cover songs, demos, and unfinished compositions are not accepted. In addition, you are only able to share links to your tunes that are hosted on your website, SoundCloud, or Bandcamp. If you have the chance to deal with Jingle Punks, it is worth it because they have a large clientele, much like many other licensing companies on this list.
Audio Network has a catalog of over 100,000 carefully curated tracks, representing over 750 artists, producers, and composers.
Your strategy needs to adapt as the music biz does. The traditional methods of being compensated for your music are no longer as common as in the old days.
The future is friendly. But only if you’re smart with your music.
MPT Agency’s Final Thoughts About Music Licensing
The traditional methods of being compensated for your music are no longer as common as in the old days MPT Agency will work with you closely to enhance your strategies and adapt them as the music biz does. To find out what other services can strengthen your musical career, make sure you check our blog regularly and follow us on Instagram for more music marketing-related updates.
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Posted on August 25, 2022
The First Chart-Eligible NFT Album in the World is Being Released by Muse
By Shawn Spence
Napster and Limewire weren’t the first, as it turned out. In the last 20 years, the music business has experienced enormous change, yet it still exists today as a mostly digital one. Since Warner Records U.K. and the music NFT marketplace, Serenade have joined, it is possible that this trend will spread.
They have together introduced a brand-new music format called Digital Pressing.
This will be the first of its kind – chart-eligible music NFT specifically targeted the most devoted of fans.
The goal of the new chart-eligible music format known as “Digital Pressing” is to provide typical digital download convenience with all the benefits of a physical release to music enthusiasts worldwide.
And it follows Billboard’s process for building music rankings that faithfully reflect the mood, which included incorporating digital downloads and streaming.
A new format for music
According to a press statement by Serenade founder Max Shand, this new music style may have an influence that “Digital Pressings will be a game changer on the global stage,” expressing that this new format allows artists to “offer their international audiences something truly unique and engaging,” Shand said.
1/ Today we announced Serenade’s newest offering, the Digital Pressing. I thought I’d share what a Digital Pressing is, and our vision for its future 🧵
In a Twitter thread, Shand elaborated on his goals for the Digital Pressing format and described it as a way to further decentralize the idea of the album release cycle for musicians all across the world.
Digital Pressings are promoted as giving musicians the chance to package their work in a way that is comparable to how they would do it through a traditional vinyl release but without any of the drawbacks.
In addition to boasting a two-week lead time rather than the six to nine months needed for a vinyl release, Digital Pressings may also be far more ecologically friendly. “one average 12[-inch] vinyl has the equivalent carbon footprint of 197,100 Digital Pressings.”
The English rock band Muse is leading the way in the introduction of this format and is slated to do so on August 26 with the release of their ninth studio album, Will of the People.
For lifelong Muse fans, this decision may draw an interesting comparison to Radiohead, a fellow English rock band that famously defied tradition by releasing the eagerly anticipated 2007 album In Rainbows as a “pay what you want” digital download.
For the purposes of the charts, each digital pressing of Will of the People and any following albums issued in this format will be equivalent to one physical album sale. Sales information for this trial launch will appear on music charts in the Australian and United Kingdom music marketplaces.
Make sure you check our blog regularly and follow us on Instagram for more NFT and music marketing-related updates.
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Posted on May 30, 2022
10 Things You Should Do As Soon As You Sign Up for Music Distribution
By Yvonne Martin
You don’t want your new single to only be available on Spotify and Apple Music when you release it. You want people to care. Every new release should be a stepping stone in your career, allowing you to reach more audiences and earn more royalties.
It’s time to advertise and market your new tunes!
Claim Your Artist Profile On Streaming Platforms
You’ll want to claim and personalize your accounts to create the greatest first impression possible.
Get Your Spotify Release Radar Placement
This will allow you to add extra music information like genre, mood, and “sounds-like” artists, increasing the likelihood of your music being suggested to the proper listeners.
Upload A Spotify Canvas Before The Release
Canvases have been shown to enhance all types of streaming engagement metrics since we’re driven to graphics.
Market Your Music With Show.co
This will result in growing your Spotify following, drive streams and saves on Spotify, grow your email list, boost YouTube video views, run fan contests, and much more.
Enter Your Lyrics With MusixMatch
Make sure you’re authenticated on MusixMatch, then post your lyrics and sync your words with the audio when your music is ready.
Professionalize Your Music Publishing Rights
You hold the music publishing rights to your songs if you compose original music. A publishing administrator will assist you to put those rights to work.
Monetize Your Music Across Social Media Platforms
By doing so, you’ll get paid for the use of your song in videos on those sites, even if they were made or posted by others.
Register With SoundExchange
If your music is played on the internet or satellite radio, you are due extra digital performance royalties. SoundExchange will collect the funds and distribute them to musicians and performers.
Refresh Your Web Presence
Update your online presence with new music announcements, new photos, videos, updated bios, and many more.
Plan To Promote
Prepare as much as you can, as early as you can.
There’s a lot to accomplish in order to get the most out of your upcoming release. However, if your music hours are limited, these items should offer you a clearer notion of what to focus on.
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