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| 5 Publicity Tips Every Unsigned Artistes Should Follow |
Yesterday, I published an article about artistes making sure to get a
PR (Public relations) team in their fold and even listed out the many benefits they stand to gain from doing this.
Not long after this post was published, I began receiving so
many messages from upcoming acts asking for ways they can still manage
to get their music heard without having to employ a PR Team just yet
(For obvious reasons).
Most acts in the upper echelon of the industry have little or no time
whatsoever to listen to a newbie in the game, the music business is
what I like to call a private club, you are either in or out.
Having to use the ‘Black Art’ of the music industry is no easy task,
but again, the key word is try, try, try, until someone listens.(Of
course, your work has to be good).
Here are 5 PR tips every unsigned/upcoming acts can use to promote their brand/sound.
- EPK (Electronic press kit): This is highly important as it contains your contact info, HD
photos of yourself, your music and every other information you need to
introduce your person to anyone willing to finally give you a chance to.
This kind of kit can be in CD (Which is somewhat not commonly used
anymore), could be in form of your website, e.t.c. Now most EPK’s
get trashed, but to make your own stand out, ensure you go straight to
the point, No one wants to listen to the oooo la las in a song for 5
minutes before finally getting to the hook. (I mean can we have the song
already?!!!!)
- Social Networking Sites: You use twitter, Facebook
and every other social media site out there already for pleasure, why
not use it for business too. Upload your songs on YouTube, Instagram,
Twitter e.t.c, its by fa the cheapest way to reach millions of people
with no fee involved. Ensure to keep your friends and followers on these
platforms updated of any new information about you or your sound.
- Start Small: Contact that local DJ’s in your area
and have him play your song whenever he needs to go entertain at a
party. Try and increase the number of DJ’s you hand your CDs to, this
way, you cover more grounds with your music. Also, get in touch with
music writers and bloggers, contact them and have them take a listen and
even review your songs if need be.This way, you have something to add
to your press kit.
- Get Radio play: Personally, I feel upcoming acts
should strive to get radio play before fighting for a spot on music
blogs, here is why. When your song, which of course must be good, enjoys
radio play, maybe once or even twice, people, will want to know who
sang the song, questions will begin to be asked and that way you are
gradually on your way to getting the publicity your sound deserves. Now,
I know, it could be difficult getting airplay on major radio stations,
why not start small, visit local and small radio stations, University
radio stations, have them play your song on air, after all, the youths
are like 80% your target audience.
- Contact Music Blogs: Yes, your song is enjoying
radio play, people are jamming and falling in love with it and they need
a platform to download, then send an email to music blogs requesting
that your song be posted on their sites. Yes, I know, so many of you
will say, ‘We send thousands of mails everyday, but you guys do not
reply or post.’ It’s simple, if your song is good, your artwork is
fantastic and your fans bombard the comment section and email (Don’t do
this though) asking that we have the song uploaded, then absolutely
nothing will stop your song from being posted on the site. Another
point, if your song is that good, trust me, you will have no need
contacting music blogs to have it posted on their website, they will go
out of there way to have it on the site.
