Music Promotion for Independent Musicians

Music Publishing Made Easy: the In-Depth CD Baby Pro Interview

By Chris Robley

May 8, 2013{ No Comments }

Music publishing and CD Baby Pro: an interview with Justin Kalifowitz of SongTrust

Music publishing is arguably the most confusing — and important — aspect of the music business. In episode #121 of the DIY Musician Podcast (that’s right, we’re finally back in the swing of things), CD Baby’s Kevin Breuner talks with Justin Kalifowitz of SongTrust, experts in the world of independent music publishing.

Some of the topics they discuss include:

* What kinds of royalties are you owed as a songwriter?

* Which royalties do performing rights organizations like ASCAP and BMI collect for you? What WON’T they do for you?

Read more »

Record Clubs are Back : The Lesson for Indie Artists

By Chris Robley

May 24, 2013{ No Comments }

tumblr m5xypjobXP1qek7uko1 1280 253x300 Record Clubs are Back : The Lesson for Indie Artists Remember back in the day when you could sign up with Columbia House, get 8 CDs mailed to you for a penny, cancel your membership because you were underage, and then repeat the process 6 months later?

Yeah. That was fun. (And highly unethical, huh?)

Well, here are two modern-day record clubs that are worth checking out:

1. Feedbands — offers members “a killer new vinyl record delivered to your door” every single month. They keep the band’s identity secret until you receive the record, as to to not prejudice your listening experience with any hype.

2. Soundsupply — offers members “awesomely curated digital drops of your new favorites bands.” You can get a 10-album bundle for only $15. Each bundle is only available for 10 days.

I’m sure there are a bunch more of these kinds of services out there, so let us know of the good ones and the stinkers in the comments section below.

Mixtapes, playlists, and your own subscription service

The takeaway here is that people love to discover new music according to Read more »

Enter The Independent Musician Sweepstakes – Over $15,000 in prizes

By Chris Robley

May 23, 2013{ No Comments }

The greatest collection of Recording Software & Equipment we’ve ever assembled. And it could be yours.

Attention all you independent musicians out there. We’re giving away one heck of a prize package and you could be the lucky winner. We’re giving away everything you need to record and produce a new album, from computers and production and mastering software to pre-amps and mics, to auto-tune and sound proofing. It’s all here and it all could be yours.

Prize list: Read more »

Music Management Uncovered: an Interview with Steve Rennie

By Chris Robley

May 22, 2013{ No Comments }

Ever wondered what the world of music management is like?

In his time as a manager, concert promoter, and record exec, Steve Rennie has worked with Incubus, Korn, Rage Against the Machine, Ozzy Osbourne, Celine Dion, Primal Scream, The The, Ned’s Atomic Dustbin, and manymore.

In episode #122 of CD Baby’s DIY Musician Podcast, Kevin Breuner talks with Steve Rennie about his experience in artist management, taking artists all the way from the signing of the contract to multi-platunum status. What lessons are there for independent artists looking to make an entrance into the major label system? And which of Steve’s insights apply to artists that want to stay independent?

For answers to these questions and more, listen to episode #122 of The DIY Musician Podcast with Steve Rennie or download it from iTunes. Read more »

Are You Getting Paid Everything You’re Owed from Spotify?

By Chris Robley

May 21, 2013{ 2 Comments }

Have you collected all the royalties you’re owed from streaming services like Spotify and Rdio?

If you don’t have a publishing administrator working on your behalf, the answer is probably NO. But I should make it clear upfront that this isn’t Spotify’s fault. It’s not like they’re holding out on you! It’s just one of those crazy things about how the world of music publishing works (or doesn’t) for indie artists. But don’t despair — CD Baby Pro offers a simple solution to this problem! (More on that later).

So which monies have you been missing out on? Read on to find out…

Four ways you can make money through Spotify

1. The regular ‘ole payment for the stream —

Some folks call this a “master use royalty;” others call it the “artist royalty;” technically, it’s a payment for streaming your licensed sound recording. Read more »

Developing a Live Fanbase with Better Song Intros

By Guest

May 20, 2013{ No Comments }

How to court your concert audience with more creative song intros

Do you want to develop a fan base from stage or not? It begins with the introductions to your songs. (And I’m not talking about speaking to your audience!).

I always say there’s a difference between what you perform live and what you record.

For instance, song introductions on your recording need to be short and sweet. You’ve got to get to the meat of the song immediately (if you really want to be played on radio). But live is a different animal. In fact, live you want to be creative, draw your audience in, and captivate them – with the intro!

Most of you reading this blog are “dating” your audience. In other words, you haven’t sold millions of records, appear regularly on TV, and aren’t known by everyone watching & listening. So you need to win your audience as soon as you can. That won’t happen just because you play your songs correctly.

Watch this video and get a little taste of what I’m talking about:

For at least 10 seconds at the beginning of this artist’s performance, Read more »

What is a Musical Copyright?

By Chris Robley

May 17, 2013{ No Comments }

And what does musical copyright have to do with music publishing?

Copyright is a designation of intellectual property similar to a patent or trademark. Once an original composition has been fixed in a medium from which it can be reproduced (having either been recorded or written down in some fashion), the composer is granted exclusive rights to that piece of music, including:

• the right to reproduce the song

• the right to distribute the song

• the right to perform the song

• The right to create derivative works

One of the keys to understanding how money is made in the world of music publishing is the fact that every recorded piece of music has two separate copyrights (which are not always owned or exploited by the same persons or parties).

How to Copyright Your Music

By Guest

May 16, 2013{ 5 Comments }

Why independent songwriters should register the copyright for their music

[This article is written by guest contributor Anthony Ceseri.]

Please Note: This article discusses opinions on copyrighting your music and should not be considered legal advice. If you’re unsure about how the copyright laws in your country will affect you, please contact a lawyer before proceeding.

When you submit a song for copyright you’re simply proving the date of submission of your work. The fine folks of the copyright office don’t sit around listening to every submission to see if they’ve heard it before. That would be an impossible task. When you write or record your song, technically, you’ve created it — and thus you own the copyright to it. By submitting a song to the copyright office, you’re protecting your music simply by acknowledging the date of its creation.

It’s also important to note that certain aspects of your song are not protected even if you’ve registered the copyright. These include:

* chord progressions

* the overall idea or concept of your song

* and a title or short phrase

1 Out of 14 Paid Downloads Starts with Shazam

By Chris Robley

May 14, 2013{ No Comments }

Get your music on Shazam, the world’s most popular music identification app!

According to our friends at Digital Music News, 7.2% of all download sales in 2012 were generated after a person used the Shazam app on their mobile device or iPad to identify a song. Then they immediately clicked over to an affiliated download store and purchased the track.

That’s $300 million in digital download sales (a figure which is projected to double by next year); and as DMN points out, those are only the sales that can be directly tracked (it doesn’t include folks who ID’d a song with Shazam, made mental note, and then purchased it later). If 1 out of 14 paid downloads begins with Shazam, shouldn’t your music be included in their database?

Good news: if you’re a CD Baby artist, your music IS on Shazam. (Or it will be soon — since we’re still making music deliveries to them).

For more details, read our article “How to Get Your Music on Shazam.”

The Stool Pigeon Guide to Music Journalist Bull$#!%

By Chris Robley

May 13, 2013{ No Comments }

Beware these music criticism clichés

Hipsters, indie-poppers, freak-folkers — come have a laugh at your own expense, and also at the expense of the journalists that write about your music.

The Stool Pigeon has put together a glossary of sloppy musical terms that will make you cringe, blush, and chuckle. Check it out and then make sure to avoid these terms when writing about your own music.

But don’t be TOO hard on yourself; I’ve been guilty of using at least 2 of ‘em over the past few years (“angular,” and “effort”).

Join The Stool Pigeon on “a magical journey through clichés as we look at the drivel that’s dearest to music writers’ hearts.”

Music Promotion for Independent Musicians

Well, here are two modern-day record clubs that are worth checking out:

Mixtapes, playlists, and your own subscription service

The greatest collection of Recording Software & Equipment we’ve ever assembled. And it could be yours.

Prize list: Read more »

Ever wondered what the world of music management is like?

Have you collected all the royalties you’re owed from streaming services like Spotify and Rdio?

Four ways you can make money through Spotify

How to court your concert audience with more creative song intros

Do you want to develop a fan base from stage or not? It begins with the introductions to your songs. (And I’m not talking about speaking to your audience!).

And what does musical copyright have to do with music publishing?

Why independent songwriters should register the copyright for their music

Selling Your Music on Facebook Just Got Easier.

Get your music on Shazam, the world’s most popular music identification app!

Beware these music criticism clichés