Tell me what you think about my next project
September 20, 2008 10:37 AM
Lessons you've learned from online distribution? What do you think about the strategy i will outline below?
Mefite musicians what are some of the lessons you wish you would have known before releasing your first album in the internet? I am currently an R&B single and I am thinking of self-releasing my album on the internet....I have an ok fan-base on the internet with an old demo but i've decided to go all out and do "real" recording. I will be releasing 3 singles at the end of October and would have those posted in Itunes, amazon Mp3 and snocap for sale. then I'll try to gig, build my fan base as much as possible and little by little expand my collection until I'll release most of my songs by February 15, that day I am planning on releasing my album as a whole titled "After-Valentines", I will be pressing about 200 copies on cd which I will sell on CD baby and will give out to friends, family, people and others to spread the word. Not expecting to sell them all but really just to establish myself out there as a serious artist and a force to be reckoned in the business....Do you think this approach will aid my career?
posted by The1andonly (8 comments total)
Mefite musicians what are some of the lessons you wish you would have known before releasing your first album in the internet? I am currently an R&B single and I am thinking of self-releasing my album on the internet....I have an ok fan-base on the internet with an old demo but i've decided to go all out and do "real" recording. I will be releasing 3 singles at the end of October and would have those posted in Itunes, amazon Mp3 and snocap for sale. then I'll try to gig, build my fan base as much as possible and little by little expand my collection until I'll release most of my songs by February 15, that day I am planning on releasing my album as a whole titled "After-Valentines", I will be pressing about 200 copies on cd which I will sell on CD baby and will give out to friends, family, people and others to spread the word. Not expecting to sell them all but really just to establish myself out there as a serious artist and a force to be reckoned in the business....Do you think this approach will aid my career?
I have a question... I have this pistol, see, and... should I put it to my temple and pull the trigger?
Well, nevermind... let me address your question:
I am currently an R&B single...
Are you seeking a partner for marriage? There are plenty of C&W singles out there who wanna take a walk on the wild side!
I am thinking of self-releasing my album on the internet...
Do so, by all means. The internet will beat a path to your door.
i've decided to go all out and do "real" recording.
That's better than a "fake" recording, as far as I'm concerned.
...then I'll try to gig, build my fan base as much as possible...
Gigging is a good idea, as is building your fan base as much as possible.
...and little by little expand my collection...
Stamps? Coins? Ceramic frogs?
I will be pressing about 200 copies on cd...
Do 500. It'll probably cost the same.
...to establish myself out there as a serious artist...
But don't forget to tell a few jokes onstage every now and again. That can help in building your fan base.
...a force to be reckoned in the business...
Like I say, do 500. It'll probably cost the same.
Do you think this approach will aid my career?
Enjoy playing music. Especially while you're young.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 5:40 AM on September 22, 2008
Well, nevermind... let me address your question:
I am currently an R&B single...
Are you seeking a partner for marriage? There are plenty of C&W singles out there who wanna take a walk on the wild side!
I am thinking of self-releasing my album on the internet...
Do so, by all means. The internet will beat a path to your door.
i've decided to go all out and do "real" recording.
That's better than a "fake" recording, as far as I'm concerned.
...then I'll try to gig, build my fan base as much as possible...
Gigging is a good idea, as is building your fan base as much as possible.
...and little by little expand my collection...
Stamps? Coins? Ceramic frogs?
I will be pressing about 200 copies on cd...
Do 500. It'll probably cost the same.
...to establish myself out there as a serious artist...
But don't forget to tell a few jokes onstage every now and again. That can help in building your fan base.
...a force to be reckoned in the business...
Like I say, do 500. It'll probably cost the same.
Do you think this approach will aid my career?
Enjoy playing music. Especially while you're young.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 5:40 AM on September 22, 2008
But the most important thing is: no matter what, don't get discouraged. You love music? Play music. Record music. Get it out there. No telling what'll happen, really. People might love it, and you'll make a good living, doing exactly what you want to do. People may be indifferent, or hate it, and you won't be able to make a career of it. But even still, do it. If you love it, do it. And good luck!
posted by flapjax at midnite at 7:00 AM on September 22, 2008
posted by flapjax at midnite at 7:00 AM on September 22, 2008
Age 15: tried to take music lessons, didn't do well because I didn't own (and couldn't afford to rent) the instrument I was supposed to be practicing. got frustrated and gave up.
Age 16-19: played for myself, had a great time.
Age 20: got involved in a typical college bar band. didn't enjoy practicing with the rest of the group, who lived out in bumblefuck and never wanted to *play*. quit.
Age 21-29: played music in my living room late at night, played it for friends, had a great time.
Age 30: recorded my first professional music track, for an online car ad, and got so pissed off at the non-musical creative director wasting my time with ignorant directions, vowed never again to do music for money unless I had creative control.
Age 31-37 (now): learned to play ukulele, started doing songfight, started writing songs for my kids, play the occasional open mic or day care center, and once in a while submit fuck-off quick recordings for mefi. Having a great time.
The music business is a business, and you need to apply all your business acumen to it. At the same time, never forget why you love to do music, and don't let the business side of things interfere with your enjoyment. Good luck.
posted by davejay at 1:45 AM on September 23, 2008
Age 16-19: played for myself, had a great time.
Age 20: got involved in a typical college bar band. didn't enjoy practicing with the rest of the group, who lived out in bumblefuck and never wanted to *play*. quit.
Age 21-29: played music in my living room late at night, played it for friends, had a great time.
Age 30: recorded my first professional music track, for an online car ad, and got so pissed off at the non-musical creative director wasting my time with ignorant directions, vowed never again to do music for money unless I had creative control.
Age 31-37 (now): learned to play ukulele, started doing songfight, started writing songs for my kids, play the occasional open mic or day care center, and once in a while submit fuck-off quick recordings for mefi. Having a great time.
The music business is a business, and you need to apply all your business acumen to it. At the same time, never forget why you love to do music, and don't let the business side of things interfere with your enjoyment. Good luck.
posted by davejay at 1:45 AM on September 23, 2008
I, too, am about to self-release a solo album on the internet.
I'd like to direct you to these fine sites that offer to host your album and allow others to download it for free:
http://bandcamp.mu/
http://cllct.com/
I believe there are several other sites along these lines, and I encourage you to at least give them consideration.
Point is, I feel like from your post you kind of want to have it both ways: you want to build a community of fans by offering your music to as many people as possible, and you want to make money now, off the music you are currently releasing.
In my humble O, your are shooting yourself in the foot. People don't buy mp3s by unfamiliar artists off iTunes or Amazon. If you make it easy for people to get the music free, they might listen. Make them pay ninety-nine cents, and they probably won't bother.
This is not to be harsh against you - for all I know you could be the next Prince or something. I just think there's a lot of waffling in the music biz about how to monetize online downloads right now, and you have an opportunity to leap out in front and give people something of value without making them jump through dumb hoops.
Give your mp3s away for free online. Come February, play gigs to your newly expanded fan base, sell them the pressed CD (with a couple of remixes and bonus tracks) and reap the profits of your forward-thinking ways and goodwill towards fans.
posted by arcanecrowbar at 1:11 PM on September 24, 2008
I'd like to direct you to these fine sites that offer to host your album and allow others to download it for free:
http://bandcamp.mu/
http://cllct.com/
I believe there are several other sites along these lines, and I encourage you to at least give them consideration.
Point is, I feel like from your post you kind of want to have it both ways: you want to build a community of fans by offering your music to as many people as possible, and you want to make money now, off the music you are currently releasing.
In my humble O, your are shooting yourself in the foot. People don't buy mp3s by unfamiliar artists off iTunes or Amazon. If you make it easy for people to get the music free, they might listen. Make them pay ninety-nine cents, and they probably won't bother.
This is not to be harsh against you - for all I know you could be the next Prince or something. I just think there's a lot of waffling in the music biz about how to monetize online downloads right now, and you have an opportunity to leap out in front and give people something of value without making them jump through dumb hoops.
Give your mp3s away for free online. Come February, play gigs to your newly expanded fan base, sell them the pressed CD (with a couple of remixes and bonus tracks) and reap the profits of your forward-thinking ways and goodwill towards fans.
posted by arcanecrowbar at 1:11 PM on September 24, 2008
ha! online sales? - if you want to do a 'serious' release press a CD and find a few distributors to get it into teh shops. play loads of gigs and try and get some good press coverage in music mags.
or just let go of trying to make a career out of it..
post the album on line for free and don't worry how many peopel download it.
I've tried both. strangely enough I made more money from the seond as one of the songs I posted ended up being used in a TV advert.
posted by mary8nne at 4:30 AM on October 19, 2008
or just let go of trying to make a career out of it..
post the album on line for free and don't worry how many peopel download it.
I've tried both. strangely enough I made more money from the seond as one of the songs I posted ended up being used in a TV advert.
posted by mary8nne at 4:30 AM on October 19, 2008
Seconding flapjax and mary8nne on everything. Also, if you're going to press as many as 200, go whole hog and spring for 500. It'd only run you about $300 more (around $600 as opposed to $900).
posted by saulgoodman at 8:00 PM on January 15, 2009
posted by saulgoodman at 8:00 PM on January 15, 2009
But you might consider only ordering a few copies short-run as you need them for a while.
posted by saulgoodman at 8:01 PM on January 15, 2009
posted by saulgoodman at 8:01 PM on January 15, 2009
You are not logged in, either login or create an account to post comments
posted by Higaininput at 3:14 PM on September 20, 2008