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Setting up your own business is hard enough especially when it’s in the music industry. There’s so much to consider from your accounting needs, to your marketing plan, not to mention the manufacturing and selling of the product or service you’re offering.
This is challenging enough in the regular business world but when you’re a creative person trying to market your music, this can be made ten times harder. In this short guide we take a look at what it takes to start off in the music industry, if you’re not lucky enough to win a TV talent show.
The Demo
You’ve got the talent, the voice and the songs but have you got something that showcases all three? If you’re going to invest in one thing, it’s your demo. Don’t even think about producing this yourself, unless you’re very talented in music production. Instead get something down that’s professionally recorded and edited. Then it’s time to do your research.
Sure, you could send it in to “whom it may concern” at a record label but that’s not going to get you through the door. Get hold of actual names in the A&R departments, email sound clips and send over copies of your demo. Give them a day and then start following up those mails with calls and follow-up emails. Be polite and courteous but make sure your stuff gets listened to.
The Marketing
You were probably on YouTube before you were in the recording studio. Keep your channel up to date, keep promoting and reaching out to fans. Start building a following that’s going to get a promoter or label interested. Start doing some impromptu gigs that get you noticed and reach larger and larger audiences, soundcloud promotion can help you with this.
Use other social media packages to help but always send your fans back to where they can see and hear you making your music online.
The Gigs
Just start somewhere. It might not be a stadium but start gigging at your local pub or club and you’ll begin to get a name for yourself. Invite producers, fellow musicians and influencers down to hear you and get your name around by word-of-mouth.
The key is perseverance. If you’re unlikely to get on to a talent show or to win a TV competition, then the hard work is going to have to come from you.
The Brand
You need to stand out in a sea of talent that already exists out there. The best way to do that is to show the industry how unique your music and your brand is and how marketable you are. Selling yourself as a marketing concern might not be the romantic image you had when you got into the music business but it’s how you’re going to break through to commercial success. Consider yourself as a product, how easy is it to sell your music and your unique style?
Hard work, savvy marketing and your raw talent – you’re on your way to music superstardom, don’t give up.
