Marketing Plan

Below you will find a brief marketing plan devised for record labels who release consistently. This has been written based on the experience of our President and CEO with the plan proving to be successful for labels that have followed it. As with business plans, this marketing plan will evolve to show more detail and tools to better help you and your brand grow and your strategies can certainly be applied to better help your brand. Before we begin, do keep these two points in mind.

1. Suggestions On How To Release:
Many labels around the world believe that volume is the way to go. Some prefer to release only a little bit here and there. First, we do believe that you should focus on quality over quantity but still be consistent (sounds contradicting but really, it’s not). If you are a former label that used to release vinyl, you remember the cost and time that it took to promote releases. We recommend that as a label, you release at least 2-3 EP’s monthly of 2-5 tracks (singles are good as well however, are very easily lost after a day or two of being released unless there is a name of Deadmau5, Tiesto, etc… attached). Of course, keeping quality in mind at all times. If you stop releasing music consistently then your material may be lost in the very overcrowded shuffle.

2. Have a presence (Web, Social Networks)
It’s QUITE important that as a record label, you are registered on social networks such as Soundcloud, Facebook, and Twitter. (There are others of course, but we recommend those three). Having a website is just as important but sticking to a simple page that is informational and links individuals to the various Social Networks is a good idea to start out. As your record label grows, then you can expand on your website and use various other methods to grow the brand.

This plan is written with the basis that you already have your record label started, and are about to release a brand new release. In addition, all of these are suggestions given to you based on our previous experiences and conversations with record labels. The Music Industry being so over crowded makes it very difficult for music to sell but it doesn’t hurt to try some of this! With that said, let’s go!

I. Pre-Release Steps

So, you have your music, your cover art, and the release ready to go and perhaps submitted to us, what do you do now? Do you wait for it to be live? Do you just sit back and expect sales to come? We don’t think you should!

Create a promo email for blogs to repost
Online blogs have grown tremendously over the years. By clicking here, you will see a list of many blogs we have had communications with. A great idea for a record label that wants to promote a release is to prepare an email that includes the cover of the release, a bio of the release, bio of the artist and remixers (if there are remixers), a Soundcloud player for them to repost, and lastly (and most importantly), a free track or DJ Mix. We recommend that you deliver this, especially a free track or DJ Mix because many blogs cater to individuals that do not want to purchase material, simply listen to it. By appealing to those that just want free music, the name of your label, release, and artists will be engrained in their minds and possibly in the future, they will purchase the release or another release. (Sometimes, you have to give a little to get a little).

View our Marketing Services
No, we aren’t forcing you to use our services and we certainly don’t believe they are the best out there HOWEVER, we have seen some pretty solid results from record labels and artists that have tried our services, and adding them to your marketing strategy is something that may greatly benefit. To learn more about our services, click here

Prepare and Send Newsletters
If you do not have a newsletter system, this isn’t a bad idea to add to your existing website. (Visit www.cutandpastescripts.com for a free system!) Newsletters are a great way to get in touch with loyal fans. If they signed up with you, then we can safely say they are interested in receiving updates on your label, releases, and artists so, go forth and connect with your fan base! Additionally, if you have another way of collecting email addresses from fans directly, you can add to an Outlook database.

Get Support From Others
Send your release to DJs that are fairly well known that play the genre or genres that the release happens to fit into. Of course, this is easier said then done but you can message individuals via Soundcloud and possibly through their respective websites. These are the folks that will tell you honest and up front opinions of what they think of the release and chances are, if he or she likes it enough, they will play it. If you do receive feedback, then you can include it in our Featured Release Request form that is available in the Content Portal that our clients use to send in their releases!

Promo Submissions
We have agreements with ZipDJ, PromoOnly, and Shazam. Each of these brands can get the word out on your release to many different types of consumers and individuals. The fee to deliver to all is $20 due to bandwith costs and hosting however, it doesn’t hurt to spend a little to make a little back!

Internet Radio / Radio Stations
If you are a DJ or know DJs that spin on internet radio or radio stations, go forth and send them the release. If they like it, of course, they will play it and plug the release and where to find it when it is released. This is good before and after the release has been released.

Get Your Artists Involved
If you are releasing their music, ask them to also do these steps above and possibly recommend some other additional ideas! The more help you receive, the better the results for you and them. In addition, some artists may know individuals or ideas that you have not thought about before and possibly not listed in this area.

Shoot a Music Video
While it is not that easy and can be costly, a music video promoting a single is never a bad idea. Placing the video live on YouTube and Vimeo also gives Blogs and other websites the ability to repost your video in hopes of attracting new individuals to purchase your material.

II. MARKETING WHEN RELEASE IS LIVE!

Now that you have done all you can to market the release before its date, it is now time to focus on promotions after the release is live. It isn’t easy at times to do what has been written above or even below but if you at least have tried your hardest, then you should begin to see sales and exposure from your release.

Continue the above
Just because you did it before, doesn’t mean you can’t continue. Follow up with Blogs that helped you promote the material, re-email DJs or individuals for the purpose of marketing the material, and continue discussions with other artists to follow up the release with another release.

DJ Charts & More
Beatport, Trackitdown, JunoDownload, and other retailers offer the ability for DJs to create charts. Some customers purchase releases based on what is charted by DJs (and by DJs, we mean all DJs). If you’d like DJ Chart templates, please contact our marketing department.

Facebook / Twitter
Get on the horn with all of your networks and let your followers know that your release is now live! Each artist can also follow this trend as well and it will not only help to give the release exposure but their fans may become your fans as well!

Adding Widgets
Some retailers do have free music widgets that you can add to your websites or blog posts. Beatport, TrackItDown, iTunes, and many more offer widgets that you can add on! If you are having issues setting any of these up, please feel free to contact us.

Magazine / Online Advertising
This avenue, while costly, is helpful. When your release is live, contact big magazine publications such as (URB.com, MixMag, etc..) and consider advertising on their online portals and/or print publications. This is not a mandatory avenue and while the cost is more than likely high, it does increase exposure and adds credibility to the brand to many of the followers of the magazines.

III. GETTING INTEREST OF THE LABEL AND NEW TALENT!

A good label has a solid A&R department setup to determine which songs and releases are worth while to the label. While the word “department” is daunting, a simple method of establishing quality control is the basis for a solid A&R of the label. (In other words, don’t just release anything, really believe and focus on songs that will work for the masses.) Additionally, it is important for the label to state their vision and plan to artists interested in releasing music via the label. (Do not just shun people away because you do not like their music. Be constructive to artists and communicate what you do not like so an artist can learn and deliver quality content to you in the future.) In addition to A&R, a good label has a consistent release scheduled as well as a marketing plan in place for promoting releases.

Spread the word
While there are now thousands of digital labels out there, the mainstream media and pop culture has yet to catch on to the massive wave of digital labels out there. It is great to get the word out to news publications, DJs, and fans that you are out there and people can purchase your music online because the idea is still very fresh in the minds of many. Let the world know you are out there! Simple messages and emails to folks that you feel will take interest greatly helps!

Search for Quality Material
There are millions of artists on Soundcloud, and other social networking websites. Look through the ones that you feel have quality content, artist information, and perhaps an established fan base. When finding an artist, make contact and state a bit about your label (Label Bio, Releases, Where label is purchased, etc.). When telling them this, state that you are interested in releasing their content and begin the process to sign the quality artist and music to your label. Most times, artists will be very interested and will love that you are showing interest in them and their music.

Set a release schedule
Once you have signed new talent, begin to organize releases and marketing based on this plan and/or a similar plan you have devised. When releasing music from an artist, make them feel it’s going to be a long-term relationship not just a “one off”. If they release one track to you and then disappear then you need to consider having artists that will have more to bring to the table so you can have consistent releases in the market.

Exploring Additional Opportunities
There are hundreds of thousands of different articles, suggestions, and opportunities for record labels. You are free to pursue those options and we are here to assist, free of charge, with telling you what may or may not work.

IV. CONCLUSION

We hope you find this basic Marketing Strategy as effective for you, your artists, and record label. We hope you consider these ideas however, are always open for suggestions to make this plan better. Additionally, we understand that some labels that may read this do not cater to Electronic Dance music. We still believe some of these activities can be applied for other genres and will assist you if your focus is with other genres. We wish you the best of luck and thank you for taking the time to read and implement this plan into your operations.

Troubleshooting Getting Gigs

I have been on both sides of the booking process in my career, working as a musician, band leader, artist, booking agent, artist manager and state fair entertainment director. What I’ve realized is that there are a large number of vital factors that go into matching an act with a venue. I have also realized that many artists never do their homework when it comes to pursuing booking agents or venues.

Are you getting as many gigs as you want? Are they in the venues you really want to play in? Are you knocking on doors only to get repeatedly rejected? Are there one or more clubs that you are just dying to play but can’t seem to break in to? If you feel like you’ve hit a brick wall and can’t break out of the level you’re currently at, this checklist might help you discover why:

1. Good Act: Are you competitively good enough to work consistently and to move up the ladder? Be honest with yourself. Do the vocalists sing on pitch and have good quality voices? Are the harmonies right and in tune? Are the musicians up to par, skill-wise? Are you rehearsed well enough? Is the band ultra tight? Do you work together flawlessly on stage? Is it obvious that everyone in the band gets along and is having fun on stage? Do you have good stage presence? You need to be better and tighter than your competition to get the gigs that you are both vying for.

2. Venue Choice: Are you targeting the right venues? You may be trying to get into venues that look for certain criteria that you don’t fit. For example, playing casino lounges requires a different approach, a different mindset and maybe a different style of music than playing fairs. Some clubs only book acts with a following. Some require that you only play covers, and others only original songs. Do your homework and make sure you’re a perfect match for the venues you’re pursuing.

3. Repertoire: Do you have a strong enough repertoire for the gigs you’re seeking? Is it versatile enough to play clubs with a changing clientele? Are there enough strong dance tunes to play a full night at a heavy good dance club? Can you play requests such as those you would get in a piano bar? Do you only play original music? Some venues prefer cover songs. What are you best at? Be sure that your repertoire will work perfectly in the venues you pursue. If not, either work on your repertoire or find gigs that are a better fit.

4. Talent: Are you more talented than the acts at your current venue level? Are you at the talent level the new gigs would require? Most higher-paying venues only hire acts with exceptionally strong vocals and/or great musicianship. Be sure that you have the very best band lineup you can find. And if you’re not as strong as you need to be on your instrument (or singing), take lessons until you are. In the meantime, let someone else cover that role. Leave your ego behind.

5. Audiences: Are you catering to your audiences? Many venues have a different audience from night to night. If you only play your pre-determined shows and leave no room for improvising your set list based on your audience, those venues may not be right for you.

6. Image: Is your image appropriate for the venue? You may match the type of music and skill level that a specific venue requires, but your image just doesn’t fit. For example, a club that hires southern rock may shy away from acts that look either too country or too rock!

7. Set List: Do you use a set list or do you just wing it? Again, each venue is different. Well planned out shows are usually more professional, especially in concert settings. Many concert acts have every word and song mapped out completely, but are smooth enough to make it look like it is spontaneous.

8. Pictures: Do you have really good pictures that show your personality? No pictures and bad pictures can turn any buyer off before they listen to one note of your music.

9. CD: Do you have a high quality CD? Do you have the absolute best songs you could find on it, or did you insist on writing everything yourself? Was it recorded professionally enough to get the gigs you’re seeking? This is one of the major measuring sticks that you will be judged with when a buyer can’t come to see you perform live. Let your music do the talking. You should never have to ‘explain yourself’ or make apologies for a poor presentation!

10. Live CD: Do you have a CD (demo CD or full length) that features you performing live? This can help you sell your act. Buyers know that with the right technology, anyone can sound good in the studio. Be sure to tailor your live CDs to the venues you’re approaching.

11.Live Video: Do you have a live video? Buyers love to see what you will look like and act like on stage. If you play various kinds of venues, have videos that show you at each. This goes back to matching the venues that you want to perform in. Your video of playing at a wedding might not sell you too well to a rock club owner, even though you can pull off both kinds of gigs effortlessly.

12. Pre-qualifying: Are you calling and introducing yourself to a buyer before you send your promotional materials? Most buyers prefer to get to know you personally first, if for no other reason than to gauge your professionalism. Plus, you may be knocking on doors that either have no openings or that really aren’t looking for your kind of act. It’s best to know up front before you waste time and money. It’s also good to have the buyer expect and look forward to getting your promo kit. This also gives you the chance to ask the buyer what format they want to receive your promotional materials in – EPK or physical press kit.

13. EPK: Do you have a great looking EPK (electronic press kit with photos, bio, set list, live recordings or video, studio recordings if you have them, press clippings, calendar, one-sheet)? Many venues get barraged with requests from acts who want to be booked there. Tech-savvy owners love it when they can see, hear, read about and evaluate the act right from their email. Many will never bother to open the package you spent a lot of money to put together and send. Make it as easy as possible for a venue owner to book you! And, be sure that the EPK is high quality and really sells you well. Anything less that top-notch will be immediately deleted!

14. Press Kit: Do you have a great physical press kit (same as EPK but in hard copy)? Some venue owners are not tech-savvy at all, or just prefer to have something tangible to look at and hold. Many collect CDs, so always offer to send one to a venue owner, even if you sent an EPK.

15. Website: Do you have a great-looking, easy to find, easy to navigate website? This is a must for a lot of reasons, the least of which is that it is the best way to set yourself apart from the competition. MySpace, Facebook and ReverbNation pages are good to have, but they are very cookie cutter profiles. Plus, having a good looking website puts you far ahead of those artists who don’t. Be sure that you are easy to find (use your name as the domain name, or at the very least in it).

16. Personality: Do you have a pleasant and confident personality that shines both during your sales calls as well as on and off stage? No one wants to hire someone with a bad attitude, or who sounds depressing, or who sounds too overconfident and cocky. You also won’t get the gig, and definitely not a repeat gig, if you are not 100% professional in your demeanor at all times.

17. Phone Calls: Are you making the calls to get gigs, or waiting for the phone to ring. Booking your act is a sales job. It is a numbers game. Even if you have everything else in this article in place, you will still get a number of ‘no’s for every ‘yes’ you get. The good news is that the more calls you make, the better you should get at it!

18. Sales Skill: Are you a good salesperson? A good closer? You may be calling the right people but just not doing a good sales job. It never hurts for an artist to take a sales course!

19. Approach: Are you telling the buyer how you can help them? Every buyer has his or her own agenda when it comes to having entertainment. Restaurants may want you to make sure people stay and drink after eating. Bars may simply want to sell more drinks. Some venues need you to bring fans, while others already have patrons. In that case your job is to keep them there. Do some research to find out what is most important to the buyers you are approaching.

20. Networking: Are you meeting potential buyers through networking, either in person or online? There are talent buyer organizations that you can join. Business-related social networks like LinkedIn can connect you with venue owner/managers. Chances are there are venue owners who are members of your local chamber of commerce. There are conventions where you can meet the talent buyers for fairs, for colleges and virtually any other kind of venue. It is always a plus when you’ve built a rapport with someone before you ask them to hire you.

21. Publicity: Have you been getting good publicity? Doing radio interviews, getting your CDs reviewed, sending out press releases, insuring your gigs are in the local online event calendars, performing at charity events, and getting interviewed for a magazine are all examples of great press. Aggressively pursue opportunities for publicity. Being in the press keeps you in the forefronts of people’s minds. That way, when they are ready to hire someone, your name is at the top of their list. On the other hand, bad press can ruin your reputation, so avoid or manage it at all costs!

22. Reputation: Do you have a good reputation? Does everyone in your band have a good reputation? Your can often get gigs based on your reputation alone. You can also lose them if your reputation is less than stellar. The most important thing you should strive for is a good reputation as a well-rehearsed act that knows its job and does it well, with everyone involved in or with the act conducting himself with the utmost professionalism at all times. Keep in mind that if even one member of your band has a reputation for drinking too much, being rude or disrespectful, showing up late, fighting etc., it seriously affects the reputation of the entire act. Protect your reputation at all costs!

23. Track Record: Do you have a positive track record? Some venues only book acts with proven track records, and for various reasons. One might be that they don’t ant to deal with amateurs. Another reason might be that their audience expects a certain standard of quality. In these situations, getting past the gatekeepers may be next to impossible. Work your way up to them. Earn the right to perform at the venue.

24. Truth In Advertising: Is your live show as good as your EPK or physical press kit represents you to be? Can you duplicate your CD live? Are you over-inflating your abilities, experience, skills, repertoire etc? It is much better to say ‘no’ to a gig opportunity because you aren’t a good fit than to take a gig and then prove yourself a liar. If you misrepresent yourself in any way, a buyer will never give you a second chance. He or she will also warn other buyers that you’re not what you claim to be.

25. Professionalism: Are you professional in every way? Do you return phone calls in a timely manner, show up on time or early for gigs, dress appropriately at all times etc. It doesn’t matter how good the act is. If for any reason you are considered less than professional, you may lose the chance to get booked in less-forgiving environments.

26. Pleasing Audiences: Are you great at pleasing the crowd? In most live situations, being great musicians or singers doesn’t guarantee that audiences will love you. You still need to read and cater to them. Without this ‘crowd pleasing’ factor, you will find it hard to land any of the better gigs.

27. Attitude: Are you really accommodating and easy to work with? Unless you are selling out stadiums, few venue owners will put up with a bad attitude or someone who is too demanding. They will avoid someone who is always complaining and someone who insists on being crude. If you are disrespectful to the management, employees or patrons in any way, you immediately cut your chances of moving up the ladder.

28. Fan Base: Do you have a sizable fan base in the geographic region that the venue is in that you can easily market to? Some venues do not have a loyal clientele of their own and so they depend on the act to be the draw. If you don’t have enough fan email addresses and social network connections, seek out venues that only need acts to entertain their regular customers. Tourist areas are great for this! In the meantime, return to regions that you’ve played in before and keep adding to your fanbase while moving up the venue ladder there.

29. Work Ethic: Are you an extra miler? In other words, are you willing to do whatever it takes (legally) to get the gig? Will you do more work than you are contracted to do if warranted, such as playing a little bit longer than your contract states? Do you work the crowd before, during and after your shows instead of hiding in the band room? Do you consistently deliver a better product than venues are paying for? If you are willing to go overboard to make the gig a huge success, the venue can’t help but want you back. In addition, word will spread to the bigger venues that you’re worth more than you get paid for!

30. Punctuality: Are you on time all of the time? During the booking process do you return phone calls or make call-backs in a timely manner? Do you show up for sound-check at the time the venue prefers, or at a time that is convenient for you? Are you on time for your performances? Do you start each set on time or try to stretch your breaks? If you are punctual, you are showing that you are both professional and respectful. Doing things ‘in your own good time’ will insure that you stay on the lowest rung of venues.

31. Pricing: Are you charging too much for what you have to offer? Many factors need to go into your pricing, including how in demand you are, how many fans you bring to the venue, how much your travel costs are etc. But at the same time, most venues have a price range that is comfortable for them in which they know they will make a profit. Do your homework and match the price you need to charge with what the venue can afford.

32. Pricing II: Are you charging too little for what you bring to the table? You may have a great act, be 100% professional and have a good following, but still be perceived as a match for the lesser-known venues because you charge too little. Again, do your homework and be sure that you are not underselling yourself. It can really hurt your image.

33. Sales Skills: Are you a good salesman/closer? Do you know how to close the deal on getting gigs or do you give up too easily? Do you sound like you are begging? You may consider taking a sales course. Or, I would seriously find someone who is experienced at sales to book you (or mentor you). Many gigs are lost because of the act’s inability to make the sale.

34. Differentiation: Are you standing out from competition in a good way? If you just get lost in the vast sea of similar acts there is no reason for you to be hired over someone else, or to be promoted to better venues. What are you doing that other similar acts are not that earns you the right to get the gig or move on to the next level? How are you unique?

35. CD Cover: Do you have an attractive CD cover? Does it match your act? First impressions are everything! A bad or unprofessional looking CD, or one that misrepresents your sound, can turn a buyer off before they hear one note. Yes, you can get free software and design a cover yourself. But when your CD is put next to one designed by an experienced graphic designer, it is easy to see which act is willing to invest in themselves.

36. References and Testimonials: Do you have good references from the venues you’ve performed in? Do you have them in writing? It is always good to ask for a letter of reference from people who have been extremely happy with your work. It is also great to get a testimonial quote (or extract one from their letter of reference) to use on your website and in your press kits. These go a long way, especially when you’re chasing gigs in areas where no one knows you.

37. Referrals: Venue owners/managers know other venue owners/managers. Have you asked for non-competing referrals? If someone is happy with your work, they will often be more than willing to help you out by putting you in touch with someone else who might want to hire you. And of course, a venue is much more likely to hire you if they get the recommendation from someone they know and trust.

38. Buzz: Have you created a buzz about your act? Are people talking positively about your shows, your music and you personally? Are you active on the appropriate social networks? Do you work to build fan relationships, not just amass ‘friends’? Are your website and social networks set up so that visitors can easily share your music, blogs etc? Are you getting airplay (traditional or Internet), especially in their geographic region? Many venue owners look online to see what people are saying about you. Fuel their interest by giving your fans reasons and opportunities to tell their friends about you.

39. Marketing: Do you market your shows or just leave that up to the venue? Venue owners love it when an act participates in the marketing. When talking with the buyer, be specific about what you can (and can’t) do from a marketing perspective. Tell them about your newsletter, local fan base, if you have a street team in their area, what you will do to get publicity, any airplay you are getting etc. Be sure to follow up on everything that you promise.

40. Demand: Have you created a demand for your act? Are people calling to book you, or are you having to chase down every gig? The more demand you create, the more choosy you can get when deciding which gigs to take and how much to charge. You create this demand by doing all of the things mentioned in this checklist!

I know this is a lot to review and put in place. But the truth is that other acts are following this track to a tee, and doing a great job at it. If you’re not right there with them, they will get the gig every time!

10 Tips to make your Facebook Music Page work better

We stumbled on this pretty helpful and entertaining piece that can help you make your Facebook Music page work to your advantage. It is written by Chris Rockett, who is a musician and music marketing consultant from London who uses Direct-to-Fan marketing tactics to help level the playing field between DIY musicians and major label artists.

To read the entire piece: Click Here

SoundCloud Tips: Marketing and Promotion

SoundCloud is an audio platform aimed towards audio creators helping to share their creations across the web. SoundCloud Tips is a series of informative posts with Symphonic Distribution for some quick tips of how you can make of SoundCloud as a label and for your artists. The third in this series is about how you can use SoundCloud to create awareness about an upcoming release, from press embedding your SoundCloud player, to creating content with fans, or the most effective way to give away a free track and premiere your album.

Press
If you are sending tracks out to press, rather than having parties host a track for fans to listen to why not let listeners stream the track immediately by offering an embed of the track, giving you further control of the tracks movement across the web. If you are sending to Hype Machine registered blogs we have a great Hype Machine integration too! Found a site which suits your artists audience? Why not offer an embed of an exclusive track with our secret widget. Find otu more about how you can send a track to press.

Premieres
Looking for a way to premiere your next release, setting up an exclusive with a media partner and the secret widget is one option but how about bringing the experience to your own site. Fans are looking for a very simple, aesthetically pleasing, premiere player that they can listen to from anywhere. Bands need a structure that maximizes both the viral reach and sale of the record. We think we’ve created a nice mix of both. It’s called Premiere, check out Beastie Boys using the app.

Social For Download
Giving away a free track is a useful tool to build awareness around a release and give something up front to fans. We have created a couple of platforms to allow you to turn this mechanic into a simple process with the audio at the forefront. One of our newest additions allows you to set this up in a couple of minutes for a fan to receive a download in return for a tweet, called Social Unlock. Just connect your SoundCloud account, pick your tracks and your ready to go!

The second option if you want to add further variants is our Social for Download app. The app automaically rolls together interactions from four of the biggest social networks (tweet on Twitter, share on Facebook, update on MySpace, & Digg… on Digg) and throws in Email capture for good measure to make the ultimate “social for download” campaign.

Contests
Remix competitions, Production contests, Songwriting or a Battle of the Bands, whatever it may be SoundCloud has the mechanics you need to get your next contest off the ground. We offer a variety of different options to running a contest, each with their own different benefits to suit your needs.

You can set up a group, embed your stems onto a landing page and include a dropbox widget linked to the group for submissions like this example from Two Door Cinema Club, or you could take it one step further and utilise our Remix App, which allows you to fully customize the whole experience and add all sorts of engaging social features like voting and sharing, check out this great example from Soulstice. Not only do we have a super effective platform for contests, we also have a huge community of audio creators who are looking to collaborate so why not engage with our users and create some awesome content. Find out more information on how you can set up a contest.

To keep up to date with SoundCloud follow us on Tumblr or check out the SoundCloud Blog.

DjShop.de Marketing

Want to market your material one of our most exciting partners? Read this below to see what you can do to elevate your sales on DJShop.de and its affiliate stores!

DJShop Mobile App
The DjShop Mobile App for iPhone®, iPad®, iPod Touch® and Android® is an ideal method to viewing content from www.djshop.de. Browse the DjShop directly on your mobile device, listen to music and add tracks and albums you like to your cart! This is a great way for record labels to promote their releases as many individuals use mobile devices more than computers! More info regarding the app is available here!

Widget / Player
Via http://www.djshop.de/player/, each record label and artist can create their own player to ingest into their newsletters, html pages, and much more!

Create a Label / Artist Page
Through DjShop’s “Toolbox” you can create an artist page, label page, and much more! Simply follow the on screen instructions and you’ll be set to go! The “Toolbox” is found by clicking on a release, label, and/or artist page. (See below for screenshot).

Direct Links:
The website allows you get direct links to label or artist pages, releases, and much more. Every time you click on any portion (release, label, etc..) then you get a URL on your browser that can be placed on emails, HTML pages, and Social Networks! (Available via the toolbox)

Social Network Promotion:
Artist and labels can share tracks, releases, label or artist pages with just one click to Youtube, Facebook, Twitter, and/or MySpace. (Also available via the toolbox!)

Ways to Partner

5 Ways to Collaborate (or Partner) with Other Bands

The music industry is one giant community. Take away the corporate jungle, and you get a group of artists who enjoy making music and love to share it. Collaborating with other artists is a great way for both of you to tap into each other’s fan bases and learn about other musical styles.

1. Remixes

While admittedly there are some terrible remixes out there, it’s another way of getting your song heard in a different atmosphere. Team up with an electronic musician and see what comes out of it. Your song may end up funkier and maybe unrecognizable but people will be hearing it at clubs and parties, and as long as your name or band is listed as the original recording artist you’re set.

Sending your music to another artist to remix is another possibility. Perhaps they have an idea for your sound that you’d never thought of. The possible outcome of a better track is a great reason to share your music. Hopefully the artist knows what they’re doing.

2. Jam Sessions

Getting together for a good old jam session can be an energizing experience that will bring life back into your music and inspire new sound and progressive songwriting. Make new songs together or rework old ones to develop a new sound for them. You’ll likely learn a thing or two from each other, another building block to becoming a well rounded musician.

3. Music Festivals or Live Events

Live events offer a great stage for you and another band to jam or play songs together. While rehearsal is recommended, an encore provides good space for spontaneous collaboration. If you know each other’s songs this will be a lot easier and sound better.

Music festivals are great places to come across other musicians and bands you’d be interested in working with in the future. Make a lot of friends and be open to new ideas. Consider partnering with another band if you’re a solo artist for a music festival, to be able to player a fuller, more complex sound.

4. Charity Events

While this also falls under live events, many great artists have collaborated for charity events and benefits like Live 8. Not only is your partnership helping raise money for a great cause, but it leaves artists who value the same things open to working with each other.

5. Cover Songs

By sharing music with other artists and producing good covers of their songs you’re both paying homage and reaching out to a wider fan base. If another band produces a cover of one of your songs and it becomes a hit—you’ll find that fans will start searching out the original or recognizing that song as yours.

Collaborating and partnering with other bands helps not only strengthen your musical chops by giving you opportunities to learn new techniques, sounds and songs, but it’s also great for your creative process. Always be open to new ideas, styles and genres and your music will feel timeless and progressive.

Add your tips below…

More details click here.

Conquer Writer’s Block

We’ve all been there at one time or another, with a pen in hand, guitar on our lap and a completely blank mind. Writer’s block can be seriously frustrating, but tapping into inspiration can help lead you out of this dark hole.

Inspiration comes from within and can be as random as something you see in a magazine ad, or as traumatic as a death in the family. Whatever it is, it breaks down the dam of sensibility and streams you through a completely creative space where nothing is beyond limits. There are things to get this process moving along quicker, which is good news for you and your wallet.

1. Change Your Routine
Sometimes we get into the hang of following a strict routine, and life seems to hit a flat line. Try changing your routine, whether it’s going to bed later and sleeping in an extra hour, going to the gym in the morning or going out for coffee after work instead of heading straight home. You may notice something off your beaten path that stirs that instinct to write.

2. Go Outside
Many artists quote the great outdoors as being a source of inspiration. Go to the beach and watch the waves roll in, take the family for a hike in the woods, go mountain biking, for a jog or sit with a glass of wine on the patio and watch the sunset. You may feel a connection with your surroundings that will emit feelings perfect for words.

3. Read
Reading new material helps build new ideas. Read that novel you’ve been meaning to pick up, grab a morning newspaper or have a look through the latest copy of your favorite magazine. It’s better than television because you can stop and reread something if it perks your interest. You’ll come across new ideas, life situations, world events and even other inspirational quotations, or prose that will set you in a new direction.

4. Try Something New
While this doesn’t necessarily mean to dabble in psychedelics, change is a good thing for songwriters. Many of the great songwriters like Bob Dylan and Neil Young went through countless transformations which inspired new music for them. Try sky diving, cooking or even a new instrument. Change stimulates us and gets us excited about life.

5. People Watch
This might sound odd, but people are so interesting, especially if you live in a big city. Spend some time at your favorite café, drink coffee and watch the people go by. You’ll notice comments and judgments float up through your mind about these people, or one particular person that interests you—characters in a story. Make up a theme song in your head for them, and go from there. Learning to be observational will take you a long way in songwriting.

6. Listen to Music
Pull out that old Led Zeppelin record you haven’t listened to in years and throw it on. Try listening to new music, or revisiting songs that touched you emotionally. Pick the songs apart like a critic or just lay out on the sofa with your eyes closed and enjoy it. This is similar to reading in that music offers new ideas and sounds which tap into our creative brain.

7. Go on Vacation
Take a break from songwriting and jump on a plane somewhere. The more exotic and unfamiliar the better, though going camping for the weekend free of electronics is also a good option. Explore, meet new people, learn new cultures or languages and try new things. Keep it relaxing, stress doesn’t write good songs.

8. Head Out for a Night on the Town
This doesn’t necessarily mean get smashed and hit every downtown bar you can find. Go out and catch a live show, no matter how significant the band, DJ or solo artist is. Being in a crowd of people all enjoying the same thing is a riot, and can inspire some good feelings and great lyrics. It may get you excited about writing again.

9. Explore Your Inner Workings
A lot of classic songs are emotionally charged. While this comes a lot from the performers themselves, the lyrics explaining these feelings are essential. Tap into your emotions, or significant events in your life. This can be something happy like your wedding day, or sad like the day your old dog passed away. While it can cause a bit of a rollercoaster effect you’ll find some organic thoughts will spring forth. Just remember to come back to normal afterwards.

10. Forget Reason
Try laying on your back or some other relaxed position, guitar in hand or fingers on the keys and completely forget about everything you know about music. Put away all the theory, chords, and notes and just close your eyes and see where your fingers land. This could end up in just a lot of noise, but you may find a new melody or riff by accident. This meditational practice is worth a try.

Effortless Marketing

When it comes to band promotion, we love facts. So we’re going to give you some cold hard facts on how a band, the Brobdingnagian Bards, has quadrupled visits to their website with minimal effort.

About a month ago, the band began running The Great Celtic Music Giveaway from their website. And during that time they have doubled unique visits to their homepage.

In case you don’t know what a “unique visit” is. It is a more accurate reflection of how many people are visiting you. Whereas one “hit” means you had one visit, plus, one download for every image on your site, a “unique visit” is one person visiting that particular page.

We don’t have the count for unique visits to their contest page, but that’s okay, because they are getting hundreds of unique visits to their homepage, meaning…people are looking around. And with 3-5 new signups per day, that’s 150 new people per month who are interested in their style of music.

Sure, it’s nothing compared to them millions visiting Yahoo, but the Celtic music scene is small and tight. The band is making themselves known to a growing number of people. Considering they’ve only promoted the contest in a newsletter and in About.com, we think it is one heck of a start.

So is this something you should consider? Sure. Give it a try. Keep it small to start if you need to. One CD. But promote it BIG!

THE GREAT (your style of music) GIVEAWAY.

Promote it online. To YOUR audience. That is the key. Don’t try to promote it the musician crowd, but the music-lover crowd. People love to win things for free, and you too could pull in hundreds of new fans with minimal effort.

Store Comparisons

FATdrop makes promotion easy for labels, PR companies and musicians by providing them with a tool that enables the easy creation, sending and analysis of their own digital promotional campaigns. In addition to their promo system, they operate a pretty helpful blog. In this article they offer up several comparisons of retail stores. Perhaps this is what some of the customers are thinking? Click here to read!

PR Agencies

Public relation agencies are very helpful to a label or artist. Each of these agencies below constantly delivers news and headlines to Noiseporn.com and thousands of other online websites, blogs, and more. We recommend you consider checking these out to better promote your release. Let them know Symphonic Distribution sent you and you should get a better rate than most!

* It’s A Promo Thing
* Push Promotion
* 730Promo
* Cornerstone Promotion
* Cypher PR
* Get In PR
* Giant Noise
* Infamous PR
* It’s A Promo Thing
* Low Life, Inc
* Macked PR
* Punk Da Funk
* Rebel Butterfly
* Rising Digital
* Toast Press
* The Zeitgeist Agency