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IOTM Blog

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What is an EPK? And why do you need one?

Posted: May 9, 2023

Category: Online Presence

show booking booking agents record labels managers radio promotion fan engagement online presence epk bandzoogle resume press advance the show

**Guest post written by Melanie Kealey of Bandzoogle.

 

BZ EPK - What Why How


"As a musician, you need tools for promotion. An EPK is your online resume and musical business card, making it easy for industry professionals to discover who you are. Included in an EPK are assets to help industry easily understand and promote a band’s music. You’ve likely heard that every artist should have an EPK - let’s look at the reasons you might need one."

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Getting your music covered: how to email press

Posted: May 2, 2023

Category: Promotion

music business blogs cold pitching publicist press have a story research email

**Guest post written by Michelle Kicherer (@MichelleKicherer), writer for the San Francisco Chronicle, Willamette Week and others, instructor, and artist advocate.

 

Michelle Kicherer 2


There are a lot of things that can prevent getting your music into journalists’ and labels’ ears. The goal is to make it as easy as possible for press, labels and the public to listen to your music. The best way to do that is to have everything really easily accessible in your email pitch, your website and your social media.

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There's Hope in Blockchain Technology

Posted: Apr 25, 2023

Category: Technology

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**Guest post by StarFarm, Streaming That Makes Sense for the Artist.

 

StarFarm Blog


"If there’s one thing that has been a constant in the music industry, it’s change. From the initial format, the 78 RPM record, which was created in the early 1900’s to today’s streaming platforms, the music business has undergone radical changes that have presented both new opportunities as well as challenges. Today’s music environment is no different and if anything, the challenges have never been greater for musicians. To better understand, a brief history of music distribution may be helpful."

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Planning Your Music Career: 3 Steps to Unlock Your Unique Recipe for Success

Posted: Apr 19, 2023

Category: The Musician Business

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**Guest post by Musician Indie Coalition, Business-Based Artist Development Experts who help DIY Musicians develop, launch and scale their music careers.

 

MIC Blog 1


"When it comes to pursuing a music career, we’ve all been brought up to believe that becoming a professional artist or band is just one lucky encounter or chance meeting away – that if an artist focuses all their efforts and resources on creating great music, they just need to get it in front of the right industry professional and they’ll get signed to a record label. From there, a manager or label rep will take care of the business side of their career and the artist can go on doing what they know and love: writing and recording music, playing shows and interacting with fans. This is what we call ‘The Getting Discovered Mindset’ and it is all too pervasive among aspiring artists...I’m here to tell you this is NOT the correct way to approach your music career."

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How to Promote Your Music in 2023

Posted: Apr 11, 2023

Category: Promotion

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**Guest post by One Submit, the smart way to promote music.

 

Promo Music 2023 One Submit


"Now is truly the best time to be an independent artist. Thanks to the internet, everything is feasible and accessible. Regardless of whether you are just starting out in music or are already an established professional, spreading music around the world has become easier than before. As an artist you can promote your music independently and efficiently without needing to break the bank."

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Why Your Band Needs To Be Using Visuals in 2023

Posted: Apr 4, 2023

Category: Technology

live performances fan engagement gear music technology quicktime visibox

**Guest post written by Jeff Robbins, a long-time songwriter, producer, and musician who fronted the band Orbit and toured with Lollapalooza back in the 90’s. He started Lullabot, a web development company whose client list includes NBC, The Grammys, MTV, Sony Music, and Tesla Motors. He is also the founder of Spaceage, the company behind Visibox.

 

Visibox 1


"Since the days of Pink Floyd’s animated concert visuals from “The Wall”, we’ve come to expect shows at our local arena or amphitheater to rattle our eyeballs as well as our ears...But most of us are still playing smaller theaters, clubs, and cafes. We don’t have a lighting person, much less someone to set up and run visuals while we perform. Maybe you’re a bedroom beat maker who performs with backing tracks. Maybe you’re an aspiring Taylor Swift. Or maybe you’ve got a Kiss cover band looking to add some fire-marshal-safe pyrotechnics to your show. It would take a lot of expensive production and equipment to elevate our performances, right? Wrong!"

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3 tips to describe your band or music project

Posted: Mar 28, 2023

Category: The Musician Business

influences concise know your audience music business keys to success cold pitching branding genre

**Guest post written by Just Rijna, a guitar player based in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. In addition to teaching private students, he is also the founder of a guitar educational site, www.stringkick.com.

 

String Kick - describe your band


If you make original music, you know how difficult this question is to answer ["So what kind of music do you make?"]. You’re right in the middle of the project and familiar with all the influences, contrasting genres, and subtleties that have made their way into the music. How do you summarize all that in a couple of sentences? What’s more, as musicians we have trained ears that simply hear different things than the average listener. This makes it even more tricky to communicate what your music is about. So in this article, I’ll share a few tips that will help you nail down your pitch.

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Musician's multiple streams of income. Top 10 ways to make money on your music

Posted: Mar 21, 2023

Category: The Musician Business

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**Guest post by Kristen Ford, Nashville based indie rock act with a passion for music business and a book on DIY touring in the works.

 

KF Mult Streams of Income


1. Live Performances 2. Online Sales/Consignment/Out the trunk sales 3. Sync/Licensing placements 4. Private Events/Colleges 5. Streaming income...

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Radio Truth

Posted: Mar 14, 2023

Category: Promotion

record labels promotion music business musik and film radio airplay charts grow your audience production

**Guest post written by Musik and Film Promotions.

 

Musik and Film Promo


"You read articles that give "the truth"-- that say Indie Artist can't get airplay, Right? -- WRONG! It's a BIG world out there! Musik Radio Promotions has charted artists in the top 10 in many charts around the world...Indie Artists are playing on thousands of stations - some on TENS of thousands. How, you ask?"

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Can Remote Music Collaboration Be The Key To Growing Your Audience?

Posted: Mar 7, 2023

Category: Technology

music business collaboration make money networking working remotely get creative create opportunities visibility boombox

**Guest post written by Ryan Donaldson of Boombox.io.

 

Boombox Remote Collab


"The ability to collaborate remotely has given musicians and music producers the freedom to create, share, and develop ideas as never before. By connecting with other creatives from different parts of the world, it is now possible to bring together a unique blend of sounds and styles that can result in something truly special...In this article, we want to explore how remote music collaboration can be the key to growing your audience and achieving success as a musician."

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Here's How To Put Your Music Into Spotify's Algorithmic Playlists

Posted: Feb 28, 2023

Category: Promotion

promotion spotify persistence be patient playlists playlisting quality one submit machine learning natural language processing retention rate collaborative filtering

**Guest post by One Submit, the ultimate music submission platform.

 

One Submit 2023


"Spotify's algorithmic playlists are an effective way to reach new listeners and get to know their music. These playlists are the Holy Grail for many artists, and can act as important milestones to get noticed on Spotify's editorial playlists. In short, Spotify's algorithmic playlists are designed to recommend music to listeners based on their individual tastes and preferences. This means that if an artist's song is included in an algorithm's playlist, it may be discovered by a large number of new listeners who have never heard of said artist....This can lead to increased exposure, more streams, and even mainstream success."

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How the Internet Has Revolutionized the Music Industry

Posted: Feb 21, 2023

Category: Technology

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**Guest post written by Jack Sutherland, 20 Year Web Development & Music Marketing Lead and Founder of Band Pioneer.

 

Internet & Music Industry


"The Internet has drastically transformed the music industry over the past 20 years. The tools we record it with, the strategies we use to promote it, and even the distribution of profit has all been revamped due to the Internet. And this transformation has opened up a lot of new opportunities for bands and solo artists to control their own destinies."

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6 creative ways to grow your fan subscriber community

Posted: Feb 14, 2023

Category: Fans

make money fan engagement fanbase live streaming merch community support bandzoogle content teach

**Guest post written by Caleb Murphy for Bandzoogle.com.

 

Grow Subscribers - BZ


"As an indie artist, you have several ways to make money from your music. And launching a fan subscriber community is one of those ways...To succeed at this, you need an established fanbase - people who regularly listen to your music, open your emails, and engage with your social media content. The trick is, getting those fans to subscribe and effectively become super fans. There are lots of ways to encourage more fans to subscribe, but below are six of the most creative perk ideas."

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Tips And Tricks For Selling Merch

Posted: Feb 7, 2023

Category: Merch

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**Guest post written by Jordan Gates, of Megaphone Agency and Indie Gigging.

 

Tips Tricks Selling Merch - Indie Gigging


"Merchandise sales make up a significant chunk of revenue for many artists. Concert goers are willing to spend money on all kinds of apparel and novelties as keepsakes to support their favorite artists. Simply put, if you’re a touring artist and you’re not selling merch, you should be! And if you are already selling merch, these tips and tricks will help you stay organized and sell more!"

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How To Determine Your Marketing Budget

Posted: Jan 31, 2023

Category: Marketing

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**Guest post originally featured in the Symphonic Distribution Blog.

 

Marketing Budget SD


"Effective marketing is a fundamental part of being an artist. Without it, you, your music, and your branding can only go so far. This is where spending the money for thoughtful and dependable marketing comes into play. But how do you know how much money is the right amount to help you achieve your goals? In this part of our marketing journey series, we’ll break down everything you need to know about building a successful marketing budget..."

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Creating Another Perspective: Giving Yourself Time to Craft Songs

Posted: Jan 24, 2023

Category: Songwriting

songwriting lyrics get creative comfort zone collaboration genre experiment

**Guest post written by Hovey Otis.

 

Hovey Otis


"When it comes to songwriting, having a unique and creative perspective can be the difference between a great song and an average one. But how can you look at the same lyrics in a different way and create something that stands out? Here are 3 tips to help you switch up your approach to songwriting and find new inspiration."

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Dreams and Reality

Posted: Jan 18, 2023

Category: Promotion

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**Guest post written by Lacie Blue, director of artist relations at Musik and Film Promotions.

 

Dreams and Reality - Musik and Film


"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. Gone are those days. (But not the musicians…)"

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Social Media Image Sizes for 2023

Posted: Jan 10, 2023

Category: Social Media

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**Guest post originally featured in the Symphonic Distribution Blog.

 

Social Media Image Sizes


"If you’re an active social media user, then you don’t need to be told how important accurate image sizing is on socials. Social platforms change their preferred image sizing and formatting every year, so make sure to update yours accordingly! To help you out, here are the updated requirements for 2023..."

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6 Best Places For Submitting Your Indie Music (2023)

Posted: Jan 3, 2023

Category: Promotion

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**Guest post by One Submit, the ultimate music submission platform.

 

One Submit 2023


"If you're an independent artist and currently promoting your music by yourself without the help of a label, the process can be sometimes hard and take valuable time and effort. The purpose of this article is to give you some tips and links on how and where you can promote your music easily and efficiently."

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Indie Musicians: 5 Reasons Why AI Is Not a Threat

Posted: Dec 20, 2022

Category: Technology

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**Guest post written Ramiro from GearAficionado, an online music magazine.

 

AI Not a Threat


"If you are a human living on the planet Earth, it is inevitable that you have heard about how Artificial Intelligence is becoming every day more potent. Advancements that took us decades, now are deemed obsolete in a matter of months, if not weeks. One of the main concerns this brings along is that machines are starting to be way better than us for a lot of jobs. And indie musicians, particularly, are surely not out of the scope of automation."

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4 Reasons Why Local Clubs Are Closing

Posted: Dec 14, 2022

Category: Live Performance

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**Guest post written by Bobby Owsinski, originally featured in the Music 3.0 Blog.

 

4 Reasons Clubs Closing


"When I was a young musician, I lived in a time where there were so many clubs that you could play 7 nights a week in a different club every night if you wanted to, plus get paid for it. If you can believe it, you could actually make a pretty decent living as a musician just playing the venues in your local area. That helped bands get tighter, develop stage presence, gain experience working crowds, and grow to the next level. Those days are pretty much over though, and it appears to be getting worse as local clubs are closing at an alarming rate."

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How To Survive the Winter Slowdown of the Music Industry

Posted: Dec 7, 2022

Category: Tips & Tricks

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**Guest post originally featured in the Symphonic Distribution Blog.

 

Winter Slowdown Symph Dist


"Every year, from about mid-December on, the music industry becomes a ghost town. People start going on vacation, taking time-off, major label artist releases slow down big time, and for indie artists, it’s no man’s land. And while that, coupled with the frigid temperatures, might be enough to have you want to hunker down and avoid leaving the safety of your home for the next few months, this time of year is actually incredibly powerful for setting yourself up for success. You just have to know how to take advantage of it. Here’s how..."

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How To Be Your Own Music Publicist: Part 3

Posted: Nov 29, 2022

Category: Promotion

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**Guest post written by Cyber PR, originally featured on the Cyber PR Blog.

 

Be Own Pub 3 - Cyber PR
"The music publicity process for any band or artist – no matter how big or small – is very much the same. Of course, the size of the music blogs and other outlets in which you receive placements will vary dramatically. This is based on what style of music is hot at the moment, combined with many other factors including label, tour schedule, size of your online fan base, and the number of streams."

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How To Be Your Own Music Publicist: Part 2

Posted: Nov 23, 2022

Category: Promotion

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**Guest post written by Cyber PR, originally featured on the Cyber PR Blog.

 

Own Music Publicist 2 - Cyber PR
"Here, in How To Be Your Own Music Publicist Part 2, we will go through the 5 things that need to be addressed before you can start pitching to music blogs and publications. 1. Research Music Blogs 2. Prepare Your Target Lists 3. Get Your Email and Newsletters in Order 4. Determine Your Ideal Release Schedule 5. Prep Your Visual Assets and Social Media Posts"

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How To Be Your Own Music Publicist: Part 1

Posted: Nov 16, 2022

Category: Promotion

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**Guest post written by Cyber PR, originally featured on the Cyber PR Blog.

 

Be Own Publicist - Cyber PR
"The world of DIY music publicity can feel very overwhelming. Sadly, a lot of artists get bad advice when they are just starting out that the first thing they should do is go out and hire a music publicist. We don’t think this is the best advice at all as you may not be ready for a music publicist right off the bat. There are many things you should do first...Another thing to understand is, that when attempting to be your own music publicist you need to look beyond Pitchfork, Stereogum, and Rolling Stone. Being an indie music publicist involves understanding a complex ecosystem of music blogs, playlists, podcasts, social media influencers and traditional media – newspapers, magazines, television and radio. It is possible to do it yourself and this guide is here to help."

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