Dreams and Reality
Posted: Jan 18, 2023
Category: Promotion
record labels social media diy promotion marketing indie artists budget musik and film radio airplay invest teamwork
**Guest post written by Lacie Blue, director of artist relations at Musik and Film Promotions.
"Ah-Nashville! The land where dreams become… a reality?
It’s been said that 100 people move in and out of Nashville on a daily basis. I would bet 50% of them are artists while the other 50% are in the medical field, real estate, and technology. With this being said, there are a lot of incredibly talented folks here. If you don’t believe me-go downtown, go to a hotel, go to Printers Alley. You will hear, see, and meet some of the most talented, not-so-famous songwriters, instrumentalist, and vocalists. You might get lucky and brush shoulders with Keith Urban or Kelsea Ballerini…but that’s rare. On occasion, a famous session player will be up on that Tootsies stage playing his or her heart out…but you’d never know it.
Nashville used to be the land where dreams came true for musicians. Superstar makers would walk into a bar and swoop up the “next big thing”—pretty soon you had Garth Brooks.
Perhaps it still happens…once in a blue moon.
Once upon a time, musicians and songwriters created music to create. They performed because it was in their blood to perform. They didn’t care if they fit into a genre. They wanted to connect to people on a higher level through music.
+How Your Music Can Get Discovered by New Fans
Gone are those days. (But not the musicians…)
You still have the incredible talent out here…it seeps through the beer stained floors and walls of every dive bar in town. It makes it’s way through winery’s and hotels. Lives in shabby apartments or renovated busses… perhaps a home shared with others.
Talent is everywhere but nowhere at the same time.
Everybody’s somebody and no one cares…unless you have millions of social media followers and $$$$$.
Money makes the world go round, especially for musicians.
The sooner indie artists understand that they are a business, the better.
For the love of all that’s good, Dolly Parton and Willie Nelson—Stop performing music for FREE!!
You—the artist—are a business!
In order to get your music heard—you must have airplay!
+Why indies should still care about radio
You must perform.
You must be phenomenal.
You must promote yourself!
The major label machine won’t pick you out of the crowd, swoop you up, and make you into a superstar.
You must be smart and savvy with marketing and promotion before any label decides to work with you...and then continue being smart and savvy.
The music industry changes constantly and fast! Learn to create trends. Don’t follow them. Get ahead of the game.
The sooner you, as the indie artist, learns the name of the game-the better off you will be.
It isn’t all about social media…but it is.
It isn’t all about talent…but it is.
It isn’t all about money…but it is.
It is all about the for mentioned items, marketing, and promoting your music and brand.
Like I’ve said before—What you start, you must finish.
Do you want to have a hit record?
Do you want to get your music heard?
No one is going to make you a superstar anymore but YOU!
With this much power, comes great responsibility. Learn, grow, take lessons, jam, find a team that believes in you and your music.
Where major labels are phenomenal-it isn’t realistic in todays world of music…unless you have $500k to hand over with millions of followers.
If you want to succeed-learn the game.
If you want to succeed-promote your music and get the airplay your music deserves.
I’ll sum it up for you.
Nothing is for free along the way.
Marketing and promotion costs money.
Making music costs money.
Touring costs money.
You see why the major labels don’t want to put a lot into an artist that won’t give them $$$$ and followers from the get-go?
For now, stay indie and stay true to yourself. Understand that it will cost a lot of things… money, perhaps your family and friends, and your social life… but how badly do you want this career?
The one sure thing in music is listeners. Millions of people listen to the radio, streaming services, and internet radio everyday. Find a team that works for you and your music and promote the daylights out of it. I promise you, the little money you spend on promotion will thrust you and your music forward far more than signing that 10-year deal with a major label and throwing $500k their way at the very beginning.
I’m a walking-talking billboard for Musik and Film. My music wasn’t going anywhere until I found them. Now I have 4 #1 hit songs and working on my personal EP. I couldn’t be more thrilled with where I’m going in my career.
When you work with people who care about you and your music-it makes a difference. Find that team that works for you.
You have the power!"
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+Top 3 Types of Music Teams to Grow Your Business
+How to build a team of experts to support your DIY music career
+How To Survive the Winter Slowdown of the Music Industry