Whether You Know It or Not You’re Marketing Your Music

(Source for pic: rounds.com)

I recently read an article about marketing being part of everything you do that inspired this post to maybe give you an example of why this statement is absolutely true.

Prior to the political season I started following a local band, which shall remain nameless, I’m not here to point fingers but to show you the effects something as simple as a Facebook post can make.

Initially I had heard this band after going to a random show for cheap. They sounded pretty good for young band so I liked their page on Facebook and soon got a request from their front man on Facebook. (Ok, I know how this sounds but this story is not going anywhere creepy, I promise) Eventually, I bought their EP on Amazon as well which was well promoted on their page. A couple listens and I was convinced I found a good band to follow and stick with to see what they might do next.

Unfortunately what did happen next wasn’t what I quite expected. Once the political season rolled around and all the political posts started rolling out on Facebook, it was very clear who this band sided with. Now, I’m completely for anyone who wants to speak their mind on their own pages, it’s their right to do so. In fact, in music, some of the greatest music ever written is politically driven BUT it is most often expressed in good taste. The posts I was reading on the band’s page and on the front man’s page weren’t posts that should have ever been posted online anywhere. They were insulting and to put it in a few words were written in poor taste.

It is true that they probably aren’t the only band that expressed themselves in this manner but the content just got worse and worse to the point where it just made being on the band’s Facebook page uncomfortable for me and I’m sure many other people. I tolerated the content through the political season hoping it would at least get back to the music at some point but that didn’t seem to be the case. I severed connection with the band’s page and the front man’s page on Facebook and to this day I can’t hear that EP I downloaded without thinking of that Facebook page.

I don’t know what that band is up to today or if they are even still around but I remember the moment I decided to follow the band as well as comments that pushed me to want to forget the band.

EVERYTHING you do is marketing.

Related Reading: THIS is the post that inspired the one you’re reading now.

If anyone has any similar examples, good or bad,  I’d love to read them in the comments.

-@AliciaMachuca0

Advice: Step #2 to Building a Marketing Plan: Get Your Music Right with Jack Hedges

Source: RenmanMB.com

Ok because I can’t help myself, here is part 2 of my favorite interview.

What I want to mention here is picking the singles. As these two pros mention, the decision on who picks the singles varies depending on what your situation is as an artist. As a music fan, I want to say be careful with keeping the selection of a single in your head when your writing music. There are often bands that get one really great song recorded, they choose that for the single and the rest of the album isn’t very great.

Of course, I’m just a music fan and a student of the industry at this point…just my opinion.

Anyone have any other thoughts about Step 2?

-@AliciaMachuca0

Infographic: State of the Music Licensing Industry 2013

source: musiclicensingdirectory.com

I typically don’t see too many inforgraphics for the music licensing industry and don’t really know anyone who regularly reads up on the subject either, so I thought it might be interesting to share.

– @AliciaMachuca0

Advice: Step #1 to Build your Marketing Plan: Outline your Plan with Jack Hedges

via Renman MB

The marketing nerd in me is so happy with this video! My favorite part is the first 2 parts of the plan having great music to promote and making touring a top priority, it truly is the best marketing tool. Here’s a link to the presentation slides also provided by Renman Music and Business: here

Also have to mention a quote that comes at the end of this video…

Jack: The way grew up consuming music is I would go see bands and get blown away by the show and take the record home and listen to it and relive that show over and over and over again in my head and so that they way I’ve sort of always approached this.

Exactly! You can’t not approach music marketing as a fan. This is what I’ve been doing as a person trying to get my foot in the door in the music business.

My favorite set of videos by far on the subject of music marketing!

– @AliciaMachuca0

Infographic: Introducing #Vine (Basically Everything You Want to Know About Vine)

source: careworkstech.com

This is a really awesome tool to use in the music biz. So many artists have jumped on this already, it’s just a fun way to communicate anything with your fans.

Here’s a link to another article to show you how the musicians are using the app via Hypebot titled Top 10 Ways Musicians Are Using Vine

Anyone have any favorite Vine videos already?

– @AliciaMachuca0

Sometimes eCards Speak the Truth

via someecards.com

Nothing like being at the barrier in front of your favorite band!
–@AliciaMachuca0

Advice: “Getting Started in the Concert Business” Dan Steinberg

via Renman Music and Business

Don’t want to over share Renman MB’s stuff but I had to this time. Dan Steinberg not only got his start in Colorado but he also attended my University. Also he knows his stuff!
–@AliciaMachuca0

Infographic Fun: “Music Makes You Smarter”

Source: Dailyinfographic.com

Us rock music listeners can’t catch a break! I always study with rock music and I’m doing pretty well 🙂 –@AliciaMachuca0

Infographic Fun: “The lofty mind of the music elitist”

source: Sonos blog

Ah, who hasn’t run into a “music-elitist” these days. –@AliciaMachuca

Marketing Isn’t Everything

Taken by Alicia Machuca on March 4th, 2007 -The Black Parade Tour

Late last month my favorite band ended, My Chemical Romance. What made this band amazing and what made this band huge was far beyond what any marketing can do. It was their honesty, their artistry and their live show that the fans connected with.

Now, as a long time diehard fan of the band, I can practically see all the eye rolls most people would sport at this point but hear me out because there is truth in my biased opinions of this band. 🙂

MCR was not a product of any YouTube sensation, Twitter wasn’t really around when they started in 2001/2002, Facebook was far from 1 billion users and MTV wasn’t jumping at the chance to play them on TV (yet). This band got big on touring, on getting people to talk about their shows, good old-fashioned word-of-mouth and hard work. Why did it work? Because they had a good product and not only that but they had a purpose in their music that was apparent, intense and unavoidable. If you attended any MCR show, there was always such a high intensity that blew your mind. MCR shows were events and the fans came prepared as you can see in my photo above.

My Chemical Romance simply worked hard on every aspect of their art and marketing was just a formality. When they did start using marketing channels they used them as an extension of their art, from tour posters to t-shirts it didn’t matter, it was just an extension of the MCR experience.

My Point:

I’m not saying marketing isn’t important or that it’s irrelevant but I am saying remember it is only a tool, not the product. There are some D.I.Y artists that think that marketing is the problem or the reason that success isn’t happening, it’s not. Focus on your art, focus on your craft and if it’s good you’ll find your way. If it’s REALLY good you’ll get your fans and your music will hang around long after you’re done, much like MCR’s music will for me and the rest of the MCRmy.

R.I.P. My Chemical Romance.

…and while we’re on the topic here is an article written by Andy Greenwald that does this band justice

–@AliciaMachuca0