Musicians need to get a grip and a dose of reality!

A few weeks ago, I got a very open and candid email in my ReverbNation box from a fellow artist and as I read I was like “yes, yes, yes”! I too am sick of the ‘like me or fan me and I’ll like you’ method of ‘promotion’. I honestly think this is a terrible way to get authentic fans. Plus, why are you asking other musicians to be fans? It’s akin to cannibalism! Go out...

20 Reasons Why Musicians Get Stuck at the Local or Regional Level

Written by Randi Reed Ever wonder why some talented local musicians never get that elusive record deal? Or why the careers of some signed artists or American Idols stall out just past the starting gate? It’s not just “bad luck.” Here are 20 common reasons why some artists never make it to the next level: 1. Poorly-defined goals. Even if they’re too modest to say so in public, successful artists have a...

5 Ways To Avoid Annoying Your Fans and Followers Online

Found this article over at the CDBaby Blog… good tips! Here are some ways you can avoid becoming the annoying guy on Twitter, or any of your other social networks: 1. Self-promotion has its place, but it’s got to be part of a larger whole. People who use Twitter only to hype themselves are going to find it does just the opposite if you misuse it. No one wants to follow you if all you do is link to your...

Un-Slimy Marketing

Written by M.C.A. Hogarth Now, we all know marketing we like. And we all know marketing we don’t. Our problem then, is figuring out what separates the “okay” marketing from the “hate them never want to hear from them again disgusting used-car-salesman ick” marketing so we can stay on the good side of the equation. As far as Marketer Jaguar is concerned, there are three stages of...

Too Sexy But Not Too Successful?

by Lang Bliss Remember when that song, “I’m too sexy for my shirt, too sexy for my shirt …” was huge? I was writing for BMG at the time and there were “encouragements” to write a hit like that. I was about ready to “ralph,” and it made me start thinking about what success really is. Well, I just got a dual question from an artist that reminded me of just that. They asked: “How do we expect to...

Movement: You Know You Should do Something, but What?

by Tom Jackson I was sitting at home one afternoon and the phone rang. It was a great vocal coach and good friend, Brett Manning. He said “I’ve got someone sitting here that you should talk to.” I said “Put her on.” She said, “Hi, this is Taylor.” “Taylor?” “Yeah, Brett tells me you’re the guy I’m looking for. For the last two years I’ve told my manager I want help on my show. They’ve...

The Lower Class Musician

by Kevin English Back in 1992, I told myself that I was going to make it in the music business no matter what. The thought of being a starving artist was romantic to me in many ways, because it looked glamorous on TV and the singer always seemed to get the girl in the end. But as I got older I started to feel like I was on a blind date. I was broke, sleeping on a twin box spring without a mattress, and spending what...

On the road doing live shows in 2010: Amanda Rheaume

On the road doing live shows in 2010: how to do it the right way, an artist’s perspective. Artist: Amanda Rheaume Note from the Editor: Many music business consultants are preaching that doing live shows is the only way to build a true fan base and though I hear them preaching, I don’t often see real world examples of artists who are making it work for them to a place where they are truly building a fan...